Historia ya Bishop Luka Rwandiko
Wasifu wa ushuhuda, wito, malezi ya huduma, na kuzaliwa kwa Penuel Global Church
Kuzaliwa na Malezi ya Awali
Bishop Luka Rwandiko alizaliwa tarehe 20/04/1983 katika kijiji cha Tairo, kata ya Guta, wilaya ya Bunda, mkoa wa Mara. Alizaliwa katika jamii ndogo ya Wasukuma, ndani ya familia ndogo ya wakulima na wavuvi.
Katika familia hiyo walizaliwa watoto watatu, naye Bishop Luka akiwa ni mtoto wa pili kwa kuzaliwa. Alikulia katika mazingira ya kawaida ya kijijini, akijifunza maisha ya kazi, uvumilivu, na mshikamano wa familia—misingi ambayo baadaye ilichangia kwa kiasi kikubwa katika maamuzi na mwelekeo wa maisha yake.
Wokovu (Mwanza — 2005)
Bishop Luka Rwandiko alimpokea Yesu Kristo kama Bwana na Mwokozi wake mwaka 2005, mwezi wa saba, akiwa anaishi Mwanza. Aliokoka katika mkutano wa mhadhara wa majadiliano kati ya Waislamu na Wakristo. Katika mkutano huo, alivutiwa sana na namna Yesu Kristo alivyokuwa akitajwa na kutangazwa.
Wakati wa mwito wa kupokea Yesu Kristo, siku ya kwanza hakupata ujasiri wa kutoka mbele. Hata hivyo, siku ya pili aliweza kutoka mbele na kumpokea Yesu Kristo rasmi. Baada ya hapo, aliwasiliana na waandaaji wa mkutano na akaelekezwa kwenda Kanisa la EAGT, kwa mchungaji Paul Nyabagaka. Alipofika, alijitambulisha kwake kuwa aliokoka katika mkutano wa mhadhara, ndipo safari yake ya wokovu ilipoanza rasmi.
Kuanzia hapo, alianza safari ya kukua kiroho. Alipatiwa vitabu na masomo ya kukulia wokovu, na alihudhuria semina ya wiki moja ambapo alijazwa Roho Mtakatifu kwa mara ya kwanza, kisha akabatizwa kwa maji mengi.
Katika hatua za mwanzo za wokovu, alipatiwa vitabu na masomo ya kukulia wokovu. Aidha, alihudhuria semina ya wiki moja, ambapo katika semina hiyo alijazwa Roho Mtakatifu kwa mara ya kwanza, kisha akabatizwa kwa maji mengi.
Kuhamia Tabora na Malezi ya Kiroho (2005)
Baada ya hapo, mwaka 2005 mwezi wa kumi, alihamia Tabora kwa sababu za maisha. Alipofika Tabora, alianza kutafuta kanisa la kuabudu na akaungana na Kanisa la TAG, chini ya mchungaji Lutengano Mwasongela. Mchungaji huyo ndiye aliyemlea kuanzia mwaka 2005 mwezi wa kumi, hadi wakati alipopata wito wa kufungua Kanisa la Penuel Global Church.
Wito wa Huduma (2008–2010)
Kuhusu wito wake, Mchungaji Luka anaeleza kuwa awali hakuwahi kufikiri kuwa siku moja angekuwa mtumishi wa Mungu, kwa sababu anatoka katika familia ya watu wapagani wasiomjua Mungu, na kanisa alikuwa analihudhuria kama kawaida au desturi. Vilevile, alikuwa na asili ya aibu na hakuweza kuongea mbele za watu.
Mwaka 2008, alikumbuka siku moja kanisani ambapo kiongozi mmoja wa section ya kijimbo alikuwa ametakiwa kuhudumu kwenye moja ya kanisa kwa ziara, kama mkurugenzi wa vijana. Wakati huo, yeye alikuwa mshirika wa kawaida, na alikuwa ndiyo amepewa nafasi ya kuwa shemasi. Kiongozi huyo alimwambia amepata dharura, na akamwomba aende kuhudumu kwa niaba yake.
Jukumu hilo lilikuwa zito sana kwake. Ndipo akaanza kuingia kwenye maombi ya kina sana ili aweze kupata ujasiri wa kuhubiri. Mungu alimsaidia na akamtumia kwa kiwango kikubwa, na baada ya hapo akachaguliwa kuwa Mwenyekiti wa Idara ya Uinjilisti.
Akiendelea na maisha yake ya kawaida ya kuuza mpunga, aliendelea kufanya maombi mengi ya kufunga—siku 3 kavu, siku 7 na kadhalika. Kadiri alivyokuwa anarudia maombi haya mara kwa mara, alianza kusikia msukumo wa ndani wa kumtumikia Mungu. Hali hii iliendelea kumsumbua sana hadi mwaka 2010, ambapo msukumo huo uliongezeka kwa nguvu zaidi.
Matukio ya Hasara na Utii wa Wito (2010)
Alipoendelea kupuuza msukumo huo, anaeleza kuwa Mungu alianza kumkumbusha kwa njia ya matukio yaliyoathiri shughuli zake. Anakumbuka matukio mawili makubwa:
- Tukio 1 Alinunua mpunga na baadaye akagundua wote ni wa njano—karibu gunia 20. Kwa wafanyabiashara wa mpunga, aina hiyo ya mpunga si nzuri, na tukio hilo lilisababisha hasara kubwa. Hatimaye aliacha biashara hiyo kwa kukosa mtaji.
- Tukio 2 Rafiki yake alimnunulia pikipiki kwa ajili ya boda-boda, lakini kwa namna ya ajabu pikipiki iliharibika ndani ya wiki chache tu za mwanzo, na mwenye nayo akachukua. Alijaribu tena kuendesha daladala ya baiskeli, nayo iliharibika ndani ya wiki chache. Ndipo akakubali kuwa Mungu alikuwa anamwita.
Mwaka 2010 mwezi wa tano, aliamua kwenda kumweleza Mchungaji wake kile alichokuwa anakisikia na matukio yote aliyopitia. Anaeleza kuwa alithibitishiwa kuwa inampasa kutii sauti ya Mungu—aache shughuli nyingine na aanze kumtumikia. Ndipo akaanza kuwa msaidizi wa mchungaji, akienda ofisini kwa mchungaji kama msaidizi wake, kusaidia huduma za kiroho.
Katika kipindi hicho, kulikuwa na mchungaji aliyekuwa anakuja kanisani kufanya semina kwa jina la mchungaji Martin. Mchungaji Martin alikuwa muombaji sana, na ndiye aliyemfundisha maombi ya kufunga muda mrefu—siku 7, siku 21, na siku nyingine kadhalika.
Chuo cha Kupanda Makanisa na Kutumwa Goyeko (2010–2011)
Ilipofika mwezi wa nane mwaka huo huo (2010), mchungaji wake alimshauri ajiunge na chuo cha kupanda makanisa ambacho kilikuwa kimeanzishwa na TAG mwaka huo. Akakubali, akasoma kozi ya miezi mitatu, kisha akarudi kanisani na kuwepo hadi mwaka 2011 alipohamishiwa kijijini.
Mwaka 2011, alipelekwa kijijini Goyeko, Wilaya ya Uyui, Mkoa wa Tabora kuanzisha kanisa. Alipofika, alihubiri mkutano wa injili, na ndani ya mwaka mmoja, huduma ilikua kutoka kwenye sebule ya mtu hadi kuhamia darasani.
Ndoto ya Ramani ya Dunia na Uthibitisho wa Huduma Mpya
Akiwa anaendelea kuchunga kanisa hilo, aliota ndoto usiku mmoja: aliona ametoka Kanisa la TAG, na katika maono hayo aliona ramani kubwa ya ulimwengu. Aliona kuna mtu yuko mbele yake anamtangulia; wakawa wanatembea juu ya ramani ya dunia, wakikanyaga nchi mbalimbali na mabara mbalimbali.
Alipotoka kwenye maono hayo, alijiuliza yana maana gani. Kesho yake asubuhi, alienda kumtembelea mshirika mmoja ambaye ni mwalimu. Alipofika, aliona ramani zile zinazochorwa shuleni—ramani ya dunia. Ndipo akasikia sauti ikimkumbusha ile ndoto, na akaelekezwa tafsiri yake: Mungu alimwonyesha wazi kuwa huo ni uthibitisho kuwa atatoka TAG na kufungua huduma mpya itakayofikia ulimwengu wote.
Masomo ya Diploma, Ndoa, na Kupokea Jina “Penuel” (2012–2016)
Ilipofika mwaka 2012, alijiunga tena na Chuo cha Biblia ngazi ya diploma. Kanisa alilikabidhi kwa baba yake wa kiroho, ambaye aliweka mchungaji mwingine kulilea na kuliendeleza. Alikaa chuoni hadi mwaka 2013, kisha alisimama kwa muda ili kurudi kuoa.
Alioa mke wake wa sasa, Mama Askofu Zita Noah. Katika maisha yao ya ndoa, Mungu amewabariki kupata watoto watatu, kati yao watoto wa kike wawili na mtoto wa kiume mmoja.
Baada ya ndoa, alikwenda tena mlimani kwa maombi ya siku nne. Katika maombi hayo, alipewa jina “PENUEL”. Anaeleza kuwa alisikia neno hili likitamkwa mara nyingi—na hiyo ilikuwa mara yake ya kwanza kabisa kusikia neno hilo. Akiwa anawaza, alisikia sauti ikisema kuwa kanisa na huduma itaitwa Penuel. Ndipo akarudishwa kwenye ile ndoto ya ramani ya dunia, na akaonyeshwa pia Mwanzo 32:30–32, akafahamu maana yake: “Nimeonana na Mungu uso kwa uso.” Hapo ndipo alipolipata neno “Penuel” na maana yake. Hapo ndipo alipolipata neno “Penuel” na maana yake.
Mwaka 2015, alirudi tena chuoni kumalizia masomo yake ya diploma in theology, na akahitimu mwaka 2016.
Huduma za Mikutano na Kusimikwa (2016–2018)
Baada ya kumaliza chuo mwaka 2016, alirudi kanisani na kuendelea kujishughulisha na kuhubiri mikutano ya nje ya injili, kwa kuwa alikuwa Mkurugenzi wa Idara ya Umisheni Mkoa wa Tabora. Alipewa makanisa ya kuchunga, lakini alikataa, kwa sababu Mungu tayari alikuwa amezungumza naye kuwa ataenda kuanzisha kanisa la Penuel.
Aliendelea kuhubiri mikutano mbalimbali akiwa mchungaji msaidizi pale kanisani, na aliweza kufika sehemu mbalimbali ndani ya Tanzania na nje ya Tanzania—ikiwemo Kenya na Rwanda.
Katika kipindi hicho, mchungaji wake alienda nje ya nchi (South Africa) kwa masomo, na alimwomba abaki na kanisa hadi atakaporudi. Alitii na kubaki hadi mchungaji wake aliporudi mwaka 2018. Ndipo mwaka huo alisimikwa rasmi kuwa mchungaji.
Maandalizi ya Kuanzisha Penuel Global Church – Mwanza (2018)
Baada ya kusimikwa, alianza maandalizi ya kuanzisha huduma. Anasema alikuwa ameshaomba Mungu, na Mungu alimwelekeza aje kufungua huduma Mwanza, eneo la Maduka Tisa—Nyasaka.
Alipofika Mwanza, alipata eneo Maduka Tisa Nyasaka (Gengeni). Eneo hilo lilikuwa pori wakati huo. Akaanza kufyeka na kukata miti, kisha wakaweza kujenga kanisa. Wakati huo walikuwa yeye na fundi pekee, na familia yake—mke na watoto—aliwaacha Tabora.
Walipokamilisha ujenzi, alirudi kanisani kwa ajili ya kuagwa rasmi. Mchungaji wake Lutengano alimwekea mkono yeye na mke wake, kwa ajili ya kusimikwa na kutumwa rasmi na baraka za kwenda kutumika.
Ibada ya Kwanza na Mwanzo wa Ukuaji (03/06/2018)
Baada ya hapo alirudi Mwanza akiwa na mtoto wa dada yake, kwa kuwa mke wake alikuwa mtumishi wa Serikali na haikuwezekana kuja naye moja kwa moja Mwanza. Jumapili ya kwanza kabisa, ibada ilifanyika watu wawili tu: yeye na mtoto wa dada yake aitwaye Jimmy. Ibada hiyo ya kwanza ilifanyika tarehe 03/06/2018. Hiyo ndiyo ilikuwa ibada ya kwanza kabisa ya Kanisa la Penuel.
Jumapili iliyofuata, aliongezeka binti mmoja mwanafunzi wa chuo, wakawa watatu; lakini jumapili iliyofuata binti huyo hakurudi tena. Jumapili ya tatu, walipata wageni wawili. Baada ya hapo, walianzisha programu ya kuonyesha sinema pale kanisani kila siku jioni. Kupitia vipindi hivyo vya sinema, ndipo walianza kupata washirika; na watu walianza kuokoka katika vipindi hivyo.
Hatua ya Umiliki wa Eneo na Mwelekeo wa Baadaye (2023)
Kanisa liliendelea katika eneo la kukodi hadi mwaka 2023 mwezi wa sita. Kwa Neema ya Mungu, waliweza kununua eneo lao wenyewe katika eneo hilo hilo la Maduka Tisa, jirani na eneo la awali walilokuwa wanakodi. Ndipo walipo hadi sasa. Kwa Neema ya Mungu, wamefanikiwa kujenga kanisa, huku wakiendelea na mipango ya jengo kubwa zaidi.
History of Bishop Luka Rwandiko
A profile of testimony, calling, spiritual formation, and the birth of Penuel Global Church
Birth and Early Upbringing
Bishop Luka Rwandiko was born on 20/04/1983 in the village of Tairo, Guta Ward, Bunda District, Mara Region. He was born within a small Sukuma community, in a modest family of farmers and fishermen.
Three children were born in that family, and Bishop Luka was the second-born. He grew up in a typical village environment, learning the values of hard work, perseverance, and family unity—foundations that later contributed significantly to the decisions and direction of his life.
Salvation (Mwanza — 2005)
Bishop Luka Rwandiko received Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior in 2005, in the month of July, while he was living in Mwanza. He was saved during a public lecture-style discussion meeting between Muslims and Christians. In that meeting, he was deeply drawn to the way Jesus Christ was being mentioned and proclaimed.
During the call to receive Jesus Christ, on the first day he did not have the courage to step forward. However, on the second day he stepped forward and received Jesus Christ openly. After that, he connected with the organizers and was directed to the EAGT Church, to Pastor Paul Nyabagaka. When he arrived, he introduced himself and shared that he had been saved at the lecture meeting; from that point, his journey of salvation began in a clear and intentional way.
From there, he began to grow spiritually. He was provided with books and discipleship lessons for growth in salvation, and he attended a one-week seminar where he was filled with the Holy Spirit for the first time, and later he was baptized in abundant waters.
In the early stages of his salvation, he received books and lessons for spiritual growth. In addition, he attended a one-week seminar where he was filled with the Holy Spirit for the first time, and then he was baptized in abundant waters.
Moving to Tabora and Spiritual Formation (2005)
After that, in October 2005, he moved to Tabora due to life circumstances. When he arrived in Tabora, he looked for a church to worship and joined the TAG Church under Pastor Lutengano Mwasongela. That pastor nurtured him from October 2005 until the time he received the calling to establish Penuel Global Church.
The Calling to Ministry (2008–2010)
Concerning his calling, he explains that at first he never imagined that he would one day serve God in ministry, because he came from a family background of traditional beliefs and did not know God, and he attended church mainly as a routine. He was also naturally shy and could not speak in front of people.
In 2008, he remembers a day in church when a leader from the “kijimbo” section was scheduled to minister at a visiting church as the youth director. At that time, he was a regular church member and had just been appointed as a deacon. That leader told him he had an emergency and asked him to minister on his behalf.
That responsibility felt extremely heavy to him. From that moment, he began to engage in deep prayer so that he could gain courage to preach. God helped him and used him greatly, and after that he was selected to serve as Chairman of the Evangelism Department.
While continuing his ordinary life of selling rice (paddy), he also continued to pray and fast frequently—three days dry, seven days, and more. As he practiced these fasts regularly, he began to feel a strong inner push to serve God. This continued to press him heavily until 2010, when that inner voice and conviction grew much stronger.
Losses and Obedience to the Calling (2010)
As he continued to ignore that conviction, he explains that God began to confront him through events that affected his livelihood. He recalls two major incidents:
- Incident 1 He bought paddy rice and later discovered that it was yellow—nearly twenty sacks. Those who trade in paddy understand that this kind is not good. This resulted in a significant financial loss, and he stopped the business because he lost his capital.
- Incident 2 A friend bought him a motorcycle to operate boda-boda, but in an unusual way the motorcycle broke down within the first few weeks, and the owner took it back. He tried again with a bicycle rickshaw, and it also broke down within a few weeks. At that point, he accepted that God was calling him.
In May 2010, he decided to go and explain to his pastor what he was sensing and the events he had experienced. He was assured that he needed to obey the voice of God—leave other pursuits and begin serving. He then started serving as an assistant pastor, going to the pastor’s office as a helper in spiritual ministry.
During that period, a pastor named Pastor Martin used to come to the church to conduct seminars. Pastor Martin was a strong man of prayer and taught him extended fasting—seven days, twenty-one days, and other durations.
Church-Planting Training and Being Sent to Goyeko (2010–2011)
In August 2010, his pastor advised him to join a church-planting school that TAG had established that same year. He agreed, studied the three-month course, returned to church, and remained there until 2011 when he was sent to a rural area.
In 2011, he was sent to Goyeko village, Uyui District, Tabora Region, to start a church. When he arrived, he preached an evangelistic crusade, and within one year the work grew from meeting in someone’s living room to moving into a classroom.
The World Map Dream and Confirmation of a New Work
While he continued shepherding that church, he had a dream one night: he saw himself leaving the TAG church, and in that vision he saw a large world map. He saw someone ahead of him leading the way, and they walked on the map of the world, stepping across different countries and continents.
After the vision, he wondered what it meant. The next morning, he visited a church member who was a teacher. When he arrived, he saw a classroom world map. At that moment, he heard an inner voice reminding him of the dream, and he received the interpretation: it was confirmation that he would leave TAG and start a new ministry that would reach the world.
Diploma Studies, Marriage, and Receiving the Name “Penuel” (2012–2016)
In 2012, he enrolled again in Bible College at the diploma level. He handed the church to his spiritual father, who appointed another pastor to continue nurturing and leading it. He remained in college until 2013, then paused for a season to return and get married.
He married his current wife, Mother Bishop Zita Noah. In their marriage life, God has blessed them with three children—two daughters and one son.
After the marriage, he went again to the mountain for four days of prayer. In those prayers, he received the name “PENUEL”. He explains that he heard this word being spoken many times—this was the first time he had ever heard it. As he reflected, he heard a clear voice that the church and ministry would be called Penuel. He was then taken back to the world-map dream and was also shown Genesis 32:30–32, understanding its meaning: “I have seen God face to face.” That is where he received the word “Penuel” and its meaning.
In 2015, he returned to college to complete his diploma in theology and graduated in 2016.
Crusades, Wider Ministry, and Ordination (2016–2018)
After completing college in 2016, he returned to church and continued engaging in evangelistic meetings outside the local church, because he was the Regional Director of the Missions Department in Tabora. He was offered churches to pastor, but he declined, because God had already spoken to him that he would go and establish Penuel.
He continued preaching in various meetings as an assistant pastor, and he ministered in different parts of Tanzania and outside Tanzania— including Kenya and Rwanda.
During that period, his pastor traveled abroad (South Africa) for studies and asked him to remain in charge of the church until he returned. He obeyed and stayed until his pastor returned in 2018, and in that year he was officially ordained as a pastor.
Preparing to Establish Penuel Global Church — Mwanza (2018)
After ordination, he began preparations to establish the ministry. He explains that he had already prayed, and God directed him to start the work in Mwanza, at Maduka Tisa—Nyasaka.
When he arrived in Mwanza, he found a place at Maduka Tisa Nyasaka (Gengeni). The area was bushland at the time. He began clearing the land and cutting trees, and then the church structure was built. At that time, it was only him and a fundi (builder), while his family—his wife and children—remained in Tabora.
After completing the building, he returned to church for the official farewell and commissioning. Pastor Lutengano laid hands on him and his wife, officially commissioning and blessing them to go and serve.
The First Service and the Beginning of Growth (03/06/2018)
After that, he returned to Mwanza with his sister’s child, because his wife was a government employee and could not move immediately. On the very first Sunday, the service had only two people: him and his sister’s child named Jimmy. That first service took place on 03/06/2018. It was the first ever service of Penuel Church.
The next Sunday, one female college student joined them and they became three, but she did not return the following Sunday. On the third Sunday, two visitors came. After that, they started a program of showing films at the church every evening. Through those film sessions, they began to gain members, and people started to receive salvation during those sessions.
Land Ownership and the Way Forward (2023)
The church continued in a rented place until June 2023. By the grace of God, they were able to buy their own land in the same Maduka Tisa area, near the place they had been renting. That is where they are to this day. By the grace of God, they have managed to build the church, while continuing to plan for an even larger building.