Call Campaign: Gilbert’s Story
God has taken Gilbert Baseswa on an amazing journey from African refugee camps to Stockholm.
There are few lands more war-torn than the Democratic Republic of Congo. The statistics are devastating: 5.4 million people have died and more than two million people from the DRC are displaced around the world.
One of those displaced people is Gilbert Baseswa, who leads the Swahili-speaking congregation at Grace Church, Stockholm. His story is sobering. In 1996, eight-year-old Gilbert and his family were woken by gunmen. Fleeing into the bush, he was left with his younger brother, Jacob, as his parents dashed back to get blankets. The gunmen were mercilessly killing all the male adults they encountered, but when they came upon Gilbert and Jacob they decided the boys were too young to kill.
Miraculously, his parents also escaped harm. The family sought sanctuary on an island, but first had to wade through a crocodile-infested river to reach it. Their survival was a real Red Sea experience, but their safety was short-lived. Some weeks later, gunmen found the island and killed everyone, but when they got to Gilbert’s tent the family were again spared.
By the Grace of God
They went on the run again, this time to Tanzania. The journey involved a perilous lake crossing in a dangerously small, overcrowded boat. ‘Everyone was crying out to Jesus,’ says Gilbert, and by God’s grace they arrived unharmed.
After four years in a Tanzanian refugee camp they moved to a camp in Malawi, where they spent the next 18 years. Refugees there had no rights: they were denied employment, education and freedom of movement. They were dependent on the UNHCR for food and given enough for a fortnight at a time, but three months could pass before the next delivery arrived.
One day, after two days without food, Gilbert was encouraged to go up a mountain and pray. He decided to give it a try and as he prayed an angel appeared, telling him to go back down the mountain where he would find food; which miraculously he did. Since then God has given him clear guidance in many amazing ways.
In 2017 the UNHCR started a resettlement programme. Sweden offered to take Gilbert, his wife Stella and all their family; 16 people in total.
The culture shock of moving from an African refugee camp to a capital city like Stockholm was massive, and his experience led him to help others arriving in Sweden under similar circumstances. He also started a business selling African food thanks to a loan from RM’s Seed Fund and mentoring support from RM’s Business Link, with hopes that the business will expand so he can give employment opportunities to others.
When Gilbert found Grace Church, he knew it was the place he needed to be. ‘I am really grateful to find a family full of love’, he says. After asking if he could bring his friends along he turned up with 30 Swahili speakers! As their numbers grew week by week, the elders decided they should add a Swahili-speaking congregation, and asked Gilbert to lead it.
Rachel Nightingale sums up Gilbert: ‘In the world’s eyes he should be carrying lots of baggage. He doesn’t live like that at all; he is just a man of peace’.
Do you know of someone who wants to start up a business that could have a Kingdom impact? Encourage them to apply to the Seed Fund for a loan. You can find out more about Business Link and the Seed Fund on their website: www.businesslink.site