Kinyarwanda Mission Group Expands in Lexington

What began as a small gathering of five individuals has grown into a thriving congregation bringing together more than 140 members in Lexington, Ky. The Kinyarwanda Lexington Mission Group, composed largely of refugees originally from the Democratic Republic of Congo, has steadily expanded since its beginnings in 2017.

Initially meeting within the Lexington Church sanctuary using translation devices, the group quickly recognized the need for a separate worship space as attendance increased and language barriers persisted.

“For many of our parents, it’s not easy to learn another language… so being able to worship in their own language is very important.” Member Justin Bisengo said. “When someone speaks your language, the understanding is very clear. That’s when we decided to take one room at the [Lexington] church so they can start gathering as a separate group.” 

The Lexington Church offered their chapel to the Kinyarwanda Group, but as the congregation continued to grow, even the church’s chapel became too small. In 2025, the group began renting another church facility to accommodate its expanding membership and frequent visitors, which can bring attendance to up to 200 individuals during special events. 

The mission group is now taking steps toward becoming an official church. Support from the Lexington church and the Kentucky-Tennessee Conference has also been instrumental in the group’s development, providing financial assistance, resources and pastoral support over the years.

Beyond Lexington, members hope their model can inspire similar ministries in other cities where immigrant communities are still seeking connection and consistent fellowship.

“Our goal is to have more believers and to spread the gospel beyond our city, and to help other cities build churches as well,” Bisengo said. “We’ve seen people come from other places and get excited by how we are growing, because many cities are still struggling to gather consistently every Sabbath. It’s a blessing to see so many people active and coming regularly. Ultimately, our goal is to reach more people and bring them to Jesus.”