Dr Jongimpi D. Papu was born in Cape Town, South Africa, in the very early 60’s. He is the third born from a family of 5 children, two older sisters and two younger brothers.

He got married in 1986, to Nomthandazo Patricia, and together they have been blessed with two young adult sons, Bulumko and Sihle. He accepted the call to ministry in 1983 and did   his ministerial and theological training at Bethel College, South   Africa and   Oakwood University, Huntsville, Alabama, USA. He   became an ordained minister of theSeventh Day   Adventist (SDA) Church in 1995. 

He holds an MA in Religion from Andrews University, USA and an   MA in Missiology from the University of Free State, South Africa,   and a Doctor of Ministry degree from Andrews University and also   a PhD   candidate of the University of Free State.

Dr Papu is a supremely gifted and popular speaker with many   years of experience in ministry. He is an  energetic man of vision  and deep spirituality with an unusual ability to communicate not only to church   oriented people, but also to the myriad of secular- minded people of today. His spontaneous humour and   intellectually stimulating approach to holistic Christian living are some of the reasons he is a joy to listen to.

He has served the Seventh-day Adventist (SDA) Church at a number of different levels. Amongst these are   serving as the Youth Director of the Southern African Union (SAU), and as the Vice President for Student   Affairs at Helderberg College, Somerset West, South Africa. He is currently serving at the Southern Africa-   Indian Ocean Division (SID) heading both the Ministerial and Family Ministries departments.

His wife, Patricia and two children support him in his ministry. His include distance running and cycling. He was born and bred in Guguletu, Cape Town, third born out of five children. He did his high school at Victor Poto High in Libode, Eastern Cape and I.D Mkize in Guguletu Cape Town. He attended  his tertiary education at Bethel College, Butterworth, Eastern Cape and is a graduate of Oakwood University. He is an ordained minister in the Seventh-Day Adventist church.