Pastor-in-Training

Selemani Sikasabwa (or Solomon for English speakers) was born and raised in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).  He was abruptly forced to leave his home country as a result of an ongoing civil war in Congo, fleeing to Tanzania in 1996. 

He spent 19 years in Tanzania as a refugee, where he attended and graduated from high school.  After graduation he joined a Bible school and obtained a diploma in the biblical studies in 2014.  Selemani speaks multiple languages including Swahili, Lingala, French and English. 

Selemani trusted in His Lord and Savior Jesus Christ at a young age. Prior to coming to the United States in 2015, he served as: a singer in the worship group; an Evangelist, a youth group leader and a staff member in the local church called Communauté des Assemblées de Dieu en Afrique (CADAF) or Tanzania Assemblies of God (TAG). 

In 2016, drawing upon his ministry experience, Selemani led small home worship services from home to home for the Swahili speakers in South Philadelphia in order to encourage each other, to heal broken hearts through the Word of God, and to bolster the faith of his fellow refugees in the saving work of Jesus Christ. 

Selemani joined Snyder Avenue Congregational Church in 2017. Starting in the fall of 2022, Selemani now leads the Swahili speaking church.  He also works as a Wellness Liaison for the Nationalities Services Center (NSC).