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Elder Ronald A. Rasband of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles concluded a ministry visit to five countries in East and Central Africa on November 2, 2025. He described the region as being "on the front edge of the gospel in the Africa Central Area." Elder Rasband emphasized that efforts in these countries are focused on building a strong foundation for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to grow.
"Everything that we’re doing here is putting in place a foundation for the Church to grow strong and be healthy and bring many, many more souls to the Lord Jesus Christ," Elder Rasband said.
He was accompanied by his wife, Melanie; Elder Kevin R. Duncan of the Presidency of the Seventy and his wife, Nancy; and members of the Africa Central Area Presidency during this ministry.
In Brazzaville, Republic of the Congo, Elder Rasband visited young adults at a BYU–Pathway Global Education Center, one of four such centers worldwide. The program offers spiritually based online education. Elder Rasband noted, "As I went from room to room, they were packed with students. They’re not only there for Pathway, but they’re there for institute. It was a joy for me to see how members and nonmembers are responding to the invitation to learn English."
Other global education centers are located in Nigeria, the Philippines, and South Africa.
Elder Rasband also traveled across the Congo River to Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), where he met with local church leaders and dedicated a new missionary training center (MTC). The DRC is among the fastest-growing areas for Latter-day Saints. According to Elder Rasband, "Many young converts are of missionary age, and they want to go on missions. And so, this MTC in the Congo will cater more to the Congolese missionaries."
President Myles Proudfoot, mission leader at the DRC MTC, added that missionaries from other parts of Africa come there to learn French or English.
Missionaries shared their experiences at the new center. Elder Khalifa Kikuli from Tanzania said he has learned much about English as he prepares for service in South Africa. Elder Deniel Siles Acquaah expressed appreciation for being among those who witnessed the dedication: "I felt honored to be part of the missionaries who witnessed the dedication." He is also noted as being "the first Ghanaian missionary to be trained in the Kinshasa MTC."
Sister Julie Proudfoot commented on Elder Rasband's visit: "What a wonderful occasion for them to hear an Apostle speak to them and to feel his message and to give them encouragement to go out and serve with all their heart, might, mind and strength."
While in Nairobi, Kenya, Elder Rasband reunited with young men from South Sudan whom he had previously challenged two years ago regarding missionary service. Ten are now serving missions; others hold assignments within their congregations.
During his trip, Elder Rasband also met with government officials and religious leaders. In Ethiopia’s capital Addis Ababa on October 30th, he met President Taye Atske Selassie and His Holiness Abune Mathias I of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church. In Seychelles’ capital Victoria, he was welcomed by its new vice president.
The visit included worship with Latter-day Saints in Seychelles alongside pioneers Evan and Marie Healy—Marie being originally from Seychelles—who have returned as missionaries. Marie stated her motivation: "I wanted to come and share the gospel with people here because they need it."
Reflecting on his travels before returning home to Utah, Elder Rasband said: "It has been a very broad, excellent trip... I think we have brought people closer to Jesus Christ, which was my ultimate goal everywhere I went."
