Pastor Tsawe-Munga (Lawrence) Chidongo
Tsawe-Munga (Lawrence) Chidongo was born and brought up in Kenya, Kwale County in a family that was dominantly Islam. In junior school, he was introduced to Christian religious classes, and eventually encountered Jesus Christ the son of the living God. He experienced renewal of life, underwent catechist classes, was baptized and confirmed as a full member of the Methodist Church in Kenya in 1976. He became a lay preacher on training (preacher on trial) in the local church. He has 3 children from his first marriage; Samson Chidongo Munga, Isaac Chiti Chidongo, Rhoda Mwenda Munga. His daughter is a certified Medical Doctor GP, one son works with human rights organization and the other son is a Hotelian (catering). He later married Joyce Kabibi Kazungu. They adopted a girl, Jane Uchi Munga, and later had two girls, Loice Chihunga Munga, and Gwendolyn Mwenda Munga and a boy DunnWilson Chiboya Munga. The Chidongos are blessed with six grandchildren; two girls and four boys During his free time, Pastor Chidongo enjoys taking his family out to view nature at places like Mount Kilimanjaro, Mount Kenya and Lamu Islands.
Pastor Chidongo responded to the ordained ministry in 1995, was accepted into ministerial training at the Methodist Ministerial Training Institute 1996-1999. He was later seconded by the Church to Pwani University Kenya to teach religious studies in the department of Philosophy and religious studies, He was a senior lecturer but has been active in church services and activities in general.
Having undergone ministerial training and theological education that is rooted in church planting, church growth and community service, Pastor Chidongo studied and researched on inter-religious dialogue, intercultural and cross-cultural relations, a phenomenon that he embraced along the way. This has exposed him to offer pastoral services in churches and communities that accommodate members of diverse cultural expressions.
He served the Church at different levels including superintendent minister and synod administrative secretary. Later, the Church seconded him to Pwani University in the department of Philosophy and Religious Studies to teach religions and applied theology.
He feels blessed due to the work of missionaries who came to Kenya and is convinced that it is now time to give back in faith and practice to the global community, particularly in the Illinois Great Rivers Conference. The mission that is in his heart is to build a transformative Christian community that exercises social justice and spearheads social change, sustainable development and co-existence of cross-cultural and multi-religious communities.