A new film series about African Saints who thirsted for tranquility and found peace in the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Latest News

7: Just in Time: Three Converts Return Home (Episode 3)

On 13 February 1986, Mucioko and Régine BANZA and Dieudonné NKITABUNGI MBUYI, along with other Church representatives, prior to signing documents that began the process of legal recognition of the Church in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. They had each joined the Church in Europe some years earlier. To legally organize, the signatures of…
7 August 2024

6: A Woman of Faith: Sara Beysolow Nyanti, Foreign Minister of Liberia

During a 24-hour stop in Kinshasa on June 12, Chris Miasnik and I were invited for a short visit to the Embassy of Liberia in the DR Congo by our longtime friend Da Moynson Tarr, Chargé d’Affaires. He mentioned that he would be leaving the following week for Salt Lake City where he would be…
7 July 2024

5: Filming “An Impossible Meeting with MOBUTU” (Episode 2)

With this blog post, we are pleased to announce the release of the second episode in the Not by Bread Alone series, “An Impossible Meeting with Mobutu.” This episode tells the story of the miracles that began to unfold around the time President Spencer W. Kimball received the revelation on the priesthood (told in part…
20 March 2024

4: “You Can Take Your Hand Off Africa Now”: A New Short Film about President Kimball, David M. Kennedy, and the Revelation on the Priesthood

As a young man, I remember vividly the thrill I felt when I first read the address that President Kimball gave at the April 1974 regional representatives seminar entitled, “When the World Will Be Converted” [2]. I was enthralled by the film version of his message, “Go Ye into the World,” that came out shortly…
7 November 2023

3: “We Absolutely Fell in Love with the People”: A New Short Film About Africa with Elder and Sister Renlund

In the early days of “Not by Bread Alone,” Junior Banza and I discussed what a treasure it would be if Church members could see and hear senior Church leaders reflect firsthand on their experiences in Africa. Given the direct involvement of several of them in the growth of the Church on the continent as…
7 November 2023

2: A Place of Peace in War-Torn Goma

Goma, a large city in eastern DR Congo had been plagued for decades by warring militias competing for access to valuable minerals and by active volcanoes whose flowing lava had cut areas of the city into pieces. Now, in the spring of 2020, it came under a new threat: severe famine. Provoking further food panic,…
18 October 2023

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Preview Video

Junior Banza takes you on a quick trip to the heart of Africa for a glimpse of some of the personal stories that will be featured in future episodes.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Why are you doing this?

    To tell some the little-known yet highly inspiring stories of the Saints in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DR Congo, formerly Zaïre) in celebration of the dedication of the Lubumbashi temple. Additional episodes will share the stories of Latter-day Saints in the Republic of Congo, Rwanda, Burundi. The scope of the series may eventually extend to other parts of Africa.

  • Who is the audience?

    The series is aimed at an “Africa first” viewership. However, we expect it will also provide vivid reminders to people throughout the world of the truth and goodness of the Gospel.

  • Who is behind the effort?

    The film series is produced by the Interpreter Foundation, a non-profit organization whose aim is to support the Church through scholarship. The point of contact for the project is Jeffrey M. Bradshaw. We are working in association with Redbrick Filmworks, an award-winning Latter-day Saint producer of inspirational media.

  • Is the Church History department involved?

    Yes, we are striving for strict historical accuracy of the events portrayed in the film and simply could not succeed without the cooperation of the Church History department. A memo of understanding provides guidance on roles, relationships, and intellectual property issues. Interpreter is recognized by the Church as an “independent advocate” and has previously provided limited financial support for Interpreter’s mission. However, the Church provides no explicit or implied endorsement of Interpreter projects.

  • How are African members involved in the project?

    African members of the Church are involved in many facets of the production, including:

    • Local film productionNearly all of the scenes are being shot on-site in Africa with local members participating in interviews, reenactments, and technical roles.
    • Script consultation and narrationJunior Banza, whose family was among the first to join the Church in the DR Congo, has donated his time as a key team member to ensure cultural richness and authenticity in how the stories are told. Instead of anonymous voiceovers, we are treated to his warm visual presence as a narrator. Other African members narrate inspiring autobiographical stories.
    • MusicOur production will highlight traditional, religious, and contemporary music from African artists, including R Néphi Kaluwa and others.
  • What will the series look like?

    The series is structured as a series of episodes, typically from 8 to 12 minutes long. Each episode is separately filmed and narrated in French and English, with subtitles when appropriate. We will also release monthly bonus shorts.

  • When will it be completed?

    A short preview video along with an initial set of bonus shorts have already been posted on the website. Starting in 2024, we will begin releasing episodes on the history of the Church in the DR Congo, including the construction of the Kinshasa temple and the story of Willy Binene Sabwe and Lilly Kabumba Sabwe. Additional episodes, relating the construction and dedication of additional temples and the stories of Saints in other African countries, will naturally follow over the next few years.

  • How is the series financed?

    Through generous in-kind donations of time and resources by volunteers, we aim to finish the film series for a small fraction of the typical costs of similar productions. On-site filming in Africa in 2023 was made possible through seed funding from the Interpreter Foundation and the very generous production rate afforded by Redbrick Filmworks for a continuous month of action-packed filming fieldwork.

    Now comes the mountain of post-production work as well as additional production in Africa. We are looking to friends like you to help us complete the series through your donations.

  • How will the Church and its members benefit from the project?

    The project is conceived as a not-for-profit effort, in the hope that this video history will be a blessing to members of the Church in Africa and worldwide. Because of our interest in making these stories available to as many people as possible, the Interpreter Foundation will provide non-exclusive rights to the Church. The film series will be available for worldwide distribution through online sources at no cost.

  • Aren’t there more urgent needs in Africa?

    Our answer to this question is found in the words of Jesus: “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God” (Luke 4:4). While essential charitable efforts provide the daily “bread” that permits struggling souls to live, the “word of God” inspires believers with the will to love—and to nourish hope in Christ despite hardship. The film series will demonstrate the spiritual and practical relevance of Jesus’ words in the lives of African Saints.