Reverend Decal Nono is the founder and Senior Pastor of Devine Restoration Church, one of the largest African-led and multi-ethnic christian congregations in Melbourne.
Reverend Nono is media shy and doesn’t want to talk about himself or his church, but his accomplishments are quite significant. In less than 10 years since he arrived in Melbourne from his native Democratic Republic of Congo, after spending some time in Zimbabwe, Reverend Decal Nono has managed to grow his church from a small group of about a dozen members into a large congregation of over 400 members.
Reverend Decal Nono, Senior Pastor at Divine Restoration Church
Reverend Decal Nono’s ministry may not be the biggest African- Australian congregation in Melbourne, but it is certainly the biggest one that is not dominated by a single African ethnic group. Other large congregations include Ethiopians or Sudanese. Devine Restoration church attracts many nationalities from Africa and beyond. The majority of his congregants come from Liberia, Sierra-Leone, South Sudan, Congo and at least a dozen more nationalities, including many non-African families.
Unlike many faith leaders who struggle with the issue of securing suitable venues for their activities, Ps Decal Nono has managed to buy three large venues for his congregation in less than 10 years. His church initially bought and renovated an old post office facility in Doveton (Melbourne’s South East) with a capacity of about 150 seats. Within about 4 years the congregation outgrew the venue and bought a much bigger venue in Lynbrook two years ago with a capacity of about 500 seats.
Early this year, Divine Restoration Church purchased another venue at Brooklyn near Footscray, as part of its expansion plan for the evangelisation of the Western and northern suburbs of Melbourne. The Brooklyn branch of Devine Restoration church is also growing rapidly and may outgrow the venue very soon.
The secret to the exponential growth in his ministry is partly explained by the Church’s choir performance and style of praise and worship. Sunday morning and Wednesday night services at Divine Restoration church are a celebration of faith filled with African style dancing and singing, all for the glory of God. Many people who visit the church tend to stay or join soon after. Ps Decal Nono’s preaching and teaching is also quite down to earth and connects very well with the psychology and culture of many African-Australians.
Reverend Decal Nono is quite active within the Assembly of God network in Victoria.
