in april 1921, during the belgian colonization in congo, simon kimbangu started preaching to people and using the powers that he believed he had received from god in visions to heal people. during his ministry, he attracted a large group of people. under pressure from the catholic church, who was afraid of the popularity of the movement, the belgian authorities tried to arrest kimbangu on june 09, 1921. they failed in arresting him, and kimbangu escaped. he continued his ministry in secret before turning himself in on september 12, 1921. he was sentenced to death, but the sentence was changed to life imprisonment. he died in prison in 1951.