The recent purchase of sport utility vehicles is good news for bishops and United Methodists of the Congo Central Conference. The SUVs will facilitate mobility and allow bishops to carry out their pastoral responsibilities more effectively, even in the most difficult conditions.
Financial support from the United Methodist Board of Global Ministries enabled the vehicles to be purchased and transported to their destinations.
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“The availability of all-terrain vehicles will enable our bishops to respond more effectively to the spiritual needs of our communities, particularly during periods when road conditions are most difficult,” said Pierre Omadjela, Congo Central Conference communicator.
Philippe Okonda, lay leader of the Eastern Congo Annual Conference, also spoke to the challenge posed by poor roads.
“Degraded and impassable roads can be a significant obstacle to mobility, and this can limit the access of our bishops to the various communities and parishes they are called to serve,” he said.
Unda expressed joy and satisfaction at receiving a vehicle. His first Toyota Prado vehicle was purchased by Global Ministries in 2012. The bishop recently received a 4x4 vehicle, a gift from the president of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
The new vehicle, Unda said, “will do the church's work. I started by riding it over 300 kilometers (186 miles) from Kindu to Kibombo for the Eastern Congo Annual Conference meeting. Today, we've got to keep breaking it in.”
In the North Katanga Tanganyika-Tanzania Episcopal Area, the purchase was well received.
The Rev. Betty Musau Kazadi, communications director, called the brand-new Land Cruiser, purchased locally in Lubumbashi, “a major asset” for episcopal transport.
The Rev. Irung Emmanuel, special coordinator of projects for the North Katanga Area, said that on a bumpy, dusty road, the new car adapts very well to the rural conditions.
In the Eastern Congo Conference, reactions from lay faithful and pastors were positive.
“It's a great joy for us, parishioners of the Kibombo churches, to see our bishop receive an all-terrain vehicle,” said layman Norbert Kunga. “The roads in our region are very bad, especially during the rainy season. This vehicle will enable our bishop to get to the villages more easily, which will facilitate his mission.”
The Rev. Kalema Tambwe, Kindu Sud District superintendent, called the vehicle “a blessing (that) will enable our bishop to continue serving his people, even under the most difficult conditions.”
Pastor Célestin Lohalo Malamba, Bethlehem Francophone Local Church, called the vehicles “a sign of God's love for our community,” adding, “We thank God for this grace.”
Okonda was thrilled to see his bishop receive a vehicle to facilitate his mobility.
Frido N. Kinkolenge, Africa Area Liaison for United Methodist Global Ministries, said the vehicles will help support mission work and build relationships.
“While there are many ways to foster relationships, face-to-face interactions are a critical means, especially in the DRC, where electronic and other remote means of communication and connection are limited. Purchasing vehicles will allow the leaders of the episcopal area to practice a ministry of presence in mission, especially with the poor, those in rural areas, and people who are otherwise marginalized in society,” he said.
“The presence of church leadership with those on the margins shows that God and the church value these children of God.”
excerpt from a story by Chadrack Tambwe Londe, communicator and publisher, Congo and The Rev. Betty Kazadi Musau, director of communications for the episcopal region of North Katanga, contributed to this article.
The World Service Fund provides basic financial support to program-related general agencies, which are especially important to the common vision, mission, and ministry of The United Methodist Church. Through World Service funding, agencies support annual conferences and local congregations in living out God’s mission for the worldwide Church. General agencies also provide essential services and ministries beyond the scope of individual local congregations and annual conferences through services and ministries that are highly focused, flexible, and capable of rapid response.
