United Methodist men fight climate change in Congo

Agronomist Rachid Mutoro (right), a United Methodist in the Kivu Conference, helps a member of United Methodist Men tend to a new tree nursery the men have started in Goma, Congo. The men’s group is planning to transfer the trees to United Methodist church land in the region. Photo by Philippe Kituka Lolonga, UM News.  

Agronomist Rachid Mutoro (right), a United Methodist in the Kivu Conference, helps a member of United Methodist Men tend to a new tree nursery the men have started in Goma, Congo. The men’s group is planning to transfer the trees to United Methodist church land in the region. Photo by Philippe Kituka Lolonga, UM News.

United Methodist men in Congo are helping to fight climate change through education and action.

“The effects of climate change are felt in Congo. … It is our responsibility as men to see far away and begin to counter it through our actions,” said Martin Lubamba, president of United Methodist Men in the Kivu Conference.

During a recent celebration of the men’s organization, the group reflected on ways to combat climate change. They appealed to agronomist Rachid Mutoro, a young adult in the conference, to teach them about global warming and the measures they can take to protect the environment. 

“The challenge is significant,” Mutoro said, “because despite the threat, our society is struggling to review its waste management habits in households and industries that are located in urban areas.”

Mutoro urged the men to raise awareness of the dangers of climate change and the consequences, including rising temperatures and sea levels, flooding and decreased agricultural production.

He said United Methodists need to practice good management of household waste and garbage and to reforest empty spaces to reduce greenhouse gases.

“All this will leave the future generation with a better climate and clean air,” he said.

Mutoro said the destruction of forests is a problem facing the country.

“Today, Congo is threatened by heavy deforestation by a large number of uninformed farmers and is at great risk of extinction of some (fauna and flora) species,” he said.

Mathieu Bahindula, who is in charge of projects for the Kivu men’s group, said he is planning training for United Methodist farmers to help them deal with climate change issues.

The men’s group also has begun planting trees in Fizi and Uvira, and efforts are underway to begin the activity in other districts such as Bukavu, Goma, Kisangani, Kindu and Beni.

Trees absorb carbon dioxide and transform it into energy, Mutoro said, so planting new trees is a good first step in reducing carbon dioxide and limiting global warming.

Alimasi Musafiri, president of United Methodist Men in Fizi, said the group has its own tree nursery and the men distribute the trees to different sites for planting.

The United Methodist Men of Kivu vowed to plant trees on United Methodist church grounds and to educate church members and the community to act now to make a difference for future generations.

The men have created a temporary tree nursery to allow them to start planting in church plots, and Mutoro said he hopes it will become a permanent tree nursery.

The Rev. Felix Okende maintains a tree he planted in front of Kitumaini United Methodist Church in in the South Kindu District of East Congo, where he is pastor. The agronomist plants trees next to United Methodist churches, schools and health centers to help protect the environment. Photo by Chadrack Londe, UM News.  

The Rev. Felix Okende maintains a tree he planted in front of Kitumaini United Methodist Church in in the South Kindu District of East Congo, where he is pastor. The agronomist plants trees next to United Methodist churches, schools and health centers to help protect the environment. Photo by Chadrack Londe, UM News.

In the East Congo Conference, the Rev. Félix Okende has been reforesting land belonging to The United Methodist Church for nearly three years.

“One of the natural and effective ways to fight global warming is the reforestation of our forests, which is why I prefer to contribute as a pastor in this struggle by planting trees,” he said.

Okende, pastor of Kitumaini United Methodist Church in the South Kindu District, is an agronomist and currently has more than 800 seedlings in his nursery ready to be reforested at several United Methodist sites.

“I’m planting the trees next to our local churches, United Methodist schools (and) health centers. This will bring a good air next to our churches and allow worshippers to worship God with peace of mind,” Okende said.

In addition to helping the environment, the pastor’s tree planting is providing extra income.

Subscribe to our
e-newsletter

Like what you're reading and want to see more? Sign up for our free daily and weekly digests of important news and events in the life of The United Methodist Church.

Keep me informed!

“I use two types of trees in the reforestation activities I do: fast-growing trees and fruit trees. The fruits that these trees produce, I’ll eat them with my family and some will be sold to allow me to have some money. It is a way for me to demonstrate that it is easy to have the money thanks to the reforestation that also allows us to fight against global warming,” he said.

Dr. John Manga, president of United Methodist Men in Bukavu and head of the government’s Office of the Environment Division in South Kivu, said it is important to fight climate change because it’s affecting people’s health.

“Today, we have several diseases that through global warming or climate change begin to occur in humans like chikungunya, Ebola, dengue and salmonellosis,” he said.

In his opening remarks at the Kivu Annual Conference in Goma, East Congo Bishop Gabriel Yemba Unda acknowledged that climate change is one of the greatest threats to human development efforts today.

“Climate change affects many sectors of the economy and threatens the achievement of the goals of sustainable development,” he said.

He called on all United Methodists to do their part to protect the environment and bring about positive change.

Kituka Lolonga is a communicator in the Kivu Conference. Chadrack Tambwe Londe, a communicator for the East Congo Conference, contributed to this report.

News media contact: Vicki Brown, news editor, [email protected] or 615-742-5469. To read more United Methodist news, subscribe to the free Daily or Weekly Digests.

 

 


Like what you're reading? Support the ministry of UM News! Your support ensures the latest denominational news, dynamic stories and informative articles will continue to connect our global community. Make a tax-deductible donation at ResourceUMC.org/GiveUMCom.

Sign up for our newsletter!

Subscribe Now
Violence
Nurse on duty Bienfait Kabeya Ntumba (right) recounts how he was beaten during an attack on the United Methodist Irambo Health Center on the night of March 18 in Bukavu, Congo. Dr. Jimmy Kasongo (center), medical director of the health center, listens during a staff meeting. It is the second time in a month that armed gunmen invaded the hospital. Photo by Philippe Kituka Lolonga, UM News.

United Methodist hospital staff attacked in Congo

Armed men invaded two church health centers in eastern Congo, leading to violence and looting.
Global Health
Christine Ntamubano expresses gratitude to The United Methodist Church in Burundi for providing clean drinking water closer to her home. Around 5,000 people in the region now have access to drinking water, thanks to a borehole installed by the church. Photo by Jérôme Ndayisenga, UM News.

Borehole offers hope to Burundi town

A drinking system, installed by United Methodists, provides access to water and contributes to the economic and social development of Ruburizi.
Bishops
The Rev. João Filimone Sambo of Mozambique receives the United Methodist  episcopal pin from Bishop LaTrelle Easterling. Sambo was elected bishop March 15 by the Africa Central Conference. Photo by Priscilla Muzerengwa, United Methodist Communications.

João Sambo elected as bishop

The Rev. João Sambo, an elder in Mozambique, was elected a United Methodist bishop on the 14th ballot at the Africa Central Conference.

United Methodist Communications is an agency of The United Methodist Church

©2025 United Methodist Communications. All Rights Reserved