PASTOR ERIC J. MUKWENDA BRIEF TESTIMONY AND BIOGRAPHY.

Pastor Eric Mukwenda and family, wife, Elisikia, Deborah, Miriam, Samuel, and Abraham

Rev. Eric J. Mukwenda
Senior Pastor, Maranatha Christian Center and overseer of Maranatha Christian Center churches.

Eric Mukwenda was born in Dar-Es-Salaam City, Tanzania, East Africa. Among 120 tribes of Tanzania, Eric’s tribe is Haya in Bukoba area in Kagera region near Lake Victoria, north Western part of Tanzania. Eric received Christ as his personal savior (born again) after rejecting the "good news" for a long time. As a youth he lived in worldly life away from the Lord.

Eric attended a student’s Christian conference in Dodoma where he received a prophecy given by two women, that he had to be born again and that God had a plan to use him for ministry. Eric rejected what he was told and said, "I have no need for God to use me." As he was on the train from conference to Dar-es-Salaam, he had a vision where he saw many people surrounding him telling him he must be saved (born again). In the morning, a Voice continued to speak in his heart. When he got home, he began to preach to his relatives and confessed that there is salvation in Jesus Christ. He went to believers who led him in prayer of repentance. And it was interesting when he reached Tanga region, where he was studying. He found a letter from those women who gave him a prophecy in the Dodoma. The letter was saying that, "we know by now, that you have accepted the Lord". He was zealous for the Lord from the first day of his salvation.

Eric started to sense God’s calling in his life just a few months after he was saved. In 1984 God spoke to him in his heart through Isaiah 41:8-16. After that he experienced God speaking to him about his calling, through visions and an audible voice. He received confirmation from other servants of God, believers that were sent to him by God to tell him about entering a full time ministry. In 1986 Eric sensed God speaking to him about entering full time ministry. This was a time of struggle in his heart as he was supposed to attend a college, but now came this direction to go to full time ministry. After much struggle, he said to God, "I am going to go to college". While I am there confirm to me if it is time for full time ministry. I will quit college and go into ministry. When he arrived at the college of Co-operative Studies and Development, he had no peace in his heart. He felt empty inside. There was a Christian woman at college who did not know anything about Eric. She prophesied to Eric at one of the prayer meetings saying that the Lord says, "You are running away from His calling." Eric trembled. He decided to obey the Lord. He did not need any more confirmation.

Eric began full time ministry in September of 1986 as an itinerary evangelist. He preached gospel crusades in different parts of Tanzania. He became an assistant pastor in 1987. After being examined and found qualified, he was ordained on September 21, 1988.

In 1990, he founded Maranatha Christian Center with 20 to 25 people and it has now grown to over 400 people, with several branch churches, different ministries, and a Christian school. Pastor Eric, apart form pastoring, preaches in regular services and conducts seminars and revival in churches in Tanzania. He travels to preach in gospel crusades in different parts of Tanzania. He has traveled to minister in Kenya and the United States of America. And Canada. In 1984, he received a vision from the Lord about going to different nations to minister.

Pastor Eric was married to Elisikia in July 21 1989. The Lord gave them three precious children: Deborah, Miriam, and Samuel. In 1998, Eric and Elisikia adopted Eric's cousin, Abraham.

Pastor says he needs your prayer and your support so that we can see the vision of God’s calling fulfilled in the Glory and Power of the Holy Spirit. Always remember to pray for Pastor Eric; he enjoys doing whatever God has called him to do.