Mpia

Mpia lives in Kinshasa, a large city in western Democratic Republic of Congo. Kinshasa is in a region characterized by a stark contrast between immense wealth and extreme poverty. Mpia would say that her family belonged to the latter class. Growing up, basic necessities were difficult to come by. In addition to lacking resources, she was denied a stable home life. The heartbreaking cycle of being forced out of one home to another began when her father left the family when she was five. She felt unwanted and uncared for the better part of her childhood.

It wasn't until a local Young Life leader invited Mpia to club that she started experiencing positive changes in her life. What began as a hobby became a life-changing moment at camp when she started a relationship with Jesus. It was her first genuine encounter with unconditional love. This perfect love from her heavenly Father stood wildly different from the limited affection she had experienced in her adolescence.

As a Developing Global Leader, Mpia attends the National Pedagogical University. She will earn a psychology degree and be the first college graduate in her family. Equipped with the appropriate education, Mpia's goal is to help heal the mind and the soul by embodying the actions and teachings of Jesus.