Chuwang Pam

Chuwang Rwang Pam’s Call Story

Born into a Christian family, I was the youngest of eleven children. I completed my elementary and secondary education in Nigeria in 1974. In 1977 I arrived in Los Angeles, California to begin my college education. Upon graduation with a bachelor’s degree in film and television, I returned home to Nigeria and in 1983 began a successful business enterprise which included music recording. In 1984, I met Grace, and we got married in 1985. My wife and I celebrate 40 years of marriage this year and are blessed with three children, three grandchildren, and we are soon expecting the fourth.

In 1986, my wife and I were visiting Los Angeles. A couple nights before our return to Nigeria, I had a dream which now we know was a revelation. In the dream, I appeared before Jesus Christ led by an angel. I was greatly rebuked and disapproved by Jesus and then given instructions to go back and do the right thing. I woke up and shared the dream with my wife, describing the place in the dream. For the next few days we both attempted to debrief the revelation and sense what God was saying.

Once back home in Jos, we consulted with our local church pastor who explained how God calls people to salvation in Christ Jesus. I accepted that I was a sinner and had fallen short of the glory of God, repented, and gave my life to Jesus Christ, becoming born again. I joined the church’s new believers’ class and began to grow in faith. I participated in several Christian evangelistic groups with community activities aimed at bringing the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the unsaved and unchurched.

I completed many Christian Leadership certificate programs before starting an evangelistic ministry in which I applied my musical skills to reach high school and university students. Later I enrolled in the Nigerian Mission for Christ Bible school.

I received deep biblical revelation on the end times and many pastors sought me out to teach and explain to congregations the mysteries of the book of Revelation. In 1994 I informed Grace that God was prompting me to return to Los Angeles.

Together with our three young children, we immigrated to the U.S. with very little knowledge of what God had in mind. Once in Los Angeles, we found a local church and committed to serving God in the worship and children’s ministries. In 1995 I joined a predominantly African church and had opportunities to teach and preach. In 1996 I was called to serve as a pastor in an emerging church. The congregation grew rapidly, yet personal interests from certain individuals locked me out of the church. So, we then started a home Bible study group that grew into a church.

The doors of Los Angeles Faith Chapel opened in the fall of 1996 with about 6 members who were committed to each other in worship and a similar passion for service. The same group followed God in leading me to start a homeless outreach ministry. Since I gave my life to Christ, I have had a deep passion to see people saved.

I started going to downtown Los Angeles every Sunday to evangelize, and with an old van I transported unhoused people to our church. My wife Grace and the other sisters began to serve puff-puff (African donut) and coffee to the unhoused, then moved to cooking hot lunches. I was introduced to (current Mosaic Leadership Minister) Bishop Jeff Wright in 1997 and Faith Chapel joined Pacific Southwest Mennonite Conference of Mennonite Church USA. I served as a staff associate under Bishop Wright, relating with other African churches to expand the member congregations of people of color.

In 2000, after I saw there were many homeless people who wanted to get off the streets but had nowhere to go, we acquired two properties on a lease for unhoused people. By 2002, Los Angeles Faith Chapel had four homes to provide shelter. The homeless ministry increased membership to the church and many broken, downtrodden, and hopeless men and women were restored.

I have been given a gift for nurturing and raising up men and women for ministry. Close to twenty pastors have been ordained and released to continue ministry, and several of them are still serving today in different capacities in the Mennonite church. Through Mennonite Central Committee I have had the opportunity to support youth and young adult programs. I also run international relief programs, and human development and empowerment programs in Africa to help internally displaced persons to rebuild their communities.