“An African & An American Testify Of Jesus” featuring hosts Dennis Eversen and Theo Makombe
Background & Friendship Origins The hosts, Dennis Eversen (from small-town Wisconsin) and Theo Makombe (a missionary from Rwanda), reflect on their 16-year friendship. They initially met in a YMCA hot tub in Springfield, Missouri. Despite their vastly different backgrounds—Dennis growing up with small-town freedoms and Theo escaping genocide and dealing with severe PTSD—they bonded over their shared faith. Dennis immediately recognized the Holy Spirit in Theo and invited him to share his testimony, sparking a long-term partnership.
Core Theme: “Ministry in the Mundane” & True Discipleship A major focus of the conversation is finding divine appointments in everyday life rather than relying on structured church programs.
- Finding the “Person of Peace”: Theo shares a profound story of going to the downtown Springfield square every day to find a “person of peace” to disciple. He approached a man named Waldo and accurately relayed the exact details of Waldo’s dream from the previous night. This led to Waldo’s immediate surrender to Christ.
- Everyday Encounters: Dennis shares a recent story of reading a waterproof Bible in a public pool at Doling Park. A young man approached him, and their conversation led to the creation of a new local YouTube show, “417 Testimonies of Jesus Christ.”
- Critique of Modern Church Culture: Both men express frustration with churches that prioritize social clubs, potlucks, and attendance numbers over genuine discipleship. Theo recounts a vivid dream comparing an aimless, food-focused church gathering to a trap of “demonic activities” that he could only escape by calling on the name of Jesus.
The Reality of Spiritual Struggles & “Battle Buddies” The hosts discuss the necessity of having close Christian friends (“battle buddies”) to share deep struggles and remain accountable. They note that the enemy frequently uses distractions, frustrations, and feelings of disqualification to derail believers. Theo emphasizes that when you face heavy resistance, it is a test meant to stop you, not a sign from God that you should change your destination.
Healing vs. Survival Mode Theo discusses his transition from mere survival to true healing, which is the focus of his new book, Race for Healing (following his first book about the Rwandan genocide, Race for Life).
- Running Toward Life: Theo explains his life thesis: “My first race was away from death; my race now is toward life.” He explains that many people spend their lives in “survival mode”—running from past trauma and operating out of fear—rather than running toward the true life found in Christ.
- Confronting Trauma: Theo shares an intense story of working at Walmart with a coworker who hated him and tried to get him fired. Prompted by God, he told her that God wanted to heal her from her childhood abuse. The woman broke down in tears, dropping her defenses and finally beginning her healing process.
Leadership and Speaking the Truth
- The Loneliness of Leadership: Theo describes leadership as the “loneliest place in the world” because a leader must walk the path alone first before returning to guide others.
- Trusting God Over Methods: Theo shares a story of speaking at a regional conference where he was supposed to raise missionary funds. Instead of giving a fundraising pitch, he delivered a challenging prophetic message God gave him. While his supervisors were initially angry that he forgot to ask for money, several unknown pastors who heard the message were so moved that they independently funded his ministry anyway.
Conclusion The broadcast closes with a prayer by Theo, asking God to protect their message, encourage struggling leaders globally who feel isolated or rejected, and guide believers to find the right people to disciple. Dennis wraps up by reminding viewers that time is their most valuable asset and encourages them to invest it in serving the Lord and others.
[00:00 Opens in a new window ] Introduction & Meeting Story: Bishop Dennis Eversen introduces his long-time friend, Theo Makombe from Rwanda. They reflect on their 16-year friendship and recount the divine appointment of their first meeting at a YMCA hot tub in Missouri.
[07:34 Opens in a new window ] Discipleship & The “Person of Peace”: Theo explains his approach to finding a “person of peace” by intentionally looking for those in need. He shares a powerful story of ministering to a man named Waldo in downtown Springfield, whose life was changed after Theo shared a message that matched Waldo’s dream from the previous night.
[19:34 Opens in a new window ] Ministry in the Mundane: Dennis discusses his own experiences of finding ministry opportunities in everyday life. He shares a story about meeting a young man at a public pool while reading a waterproof Bible, which eventually led to the creation of the “417 Testimonies of Jesus Christ” YouTube channel.
[25:36 Opens in a new window ] True Connections & Distractions: The two discuss the difference between simply transferring information and true Christian discipleship, which involves walking alongside people through their struggles. They explore how easy it is to get distracted by “doing God’s work” while missing the actual calling God has for you.
[43:54 Opens in a new window ] Critiquing Modern Church Culture: Theo shares his perspective on large mega-churches and organized events. He expresses frustration with churches acting more like social clubs than places for genuine healing, emphasizing that finding and connecting with just one person is often more impactful than trying to entertain thousands.
[01:08:46 Opens in a new window ] The Power of Writing for Healing: The conversation shifts to Theo’s books, particularly his transition from writing about surviving the Rwandan genocide to his new focus on healing. He discusses how writing down traumatic memories is a painful but necessary step to stop hiding and start healing.
[01:15:25 Opens in a new window ] “Running to Life”: Theo shares a profound realization: for years, he was simply “running from death.” He encourages listeners to move out of survival mode—where you constantly react to past trauma—and instead consciously “run to life” and rest in Jesus.
[01:21:30 Opens in a new window ] The Loneliness of Leadership & Speaking Truth: Theo and Dennis discuss the challenges of leadership, noting that bringing people to a new destination requires going there alone first. They touch on the pushback leaders often face when speaking difficult biblical truths instead of comfortable messages.
[01:33:17 Opens in a new window ] Closing Prayer: Theo concludes the session with a heartfelt prayer for the viewers, asking God to provide direction, healing, and community for anyone feeling lonely or struggling on their spiritual journey.
