Pastors’ wives help strengthen ministry in East Congo

Wives of pastors and district superintendents from eastern Congo, wearing T-shirts bearing the logo of the United Methodist Board of Global Ministries, stand and applaud during a training session in Kindu, Congo. More than 60 women participated in the leadership development program in February. Photo by Chadrack Tambwe Londe, UM News.
Wives of pastors and district superintendents from eastern Congo, wearing T-shirts bearing the logo of the United Methodist Board of Global Ministries, stand and applaud during a training session in Kindu, Congo. More than 60 women participated in the leadership development program in February. Photo by Chadrack Tambwe Londe, UM News.

In the predominantly rural eastern region of Congo, where access to basic services is a challenge, the training of pastors’ wives has gone beyond a purely religious framework to address hygiene, interpersonal skills and economic empowerment.

Fono Lohalo, president of the Pastors’ Wives Association for the East Congo Conference, emphasized the importance of this social aspect.

Subscribe to our
e-newsletter

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

Keep me informed!

“We are called upon to organize awareness sessions on nutrition and disease prevention,” she said. “We must also initiate income-generating activities, such as crafts, agriculture and micro-savings, to improve the living conditions of our families and the congregation.”

In some contexts where access to school is limited, these trained wives even become literacy advocates, opening new opportunities for younger generations.

Bishop Kalema expressed his gratitude to Global Ministries for the support that made this training possible.

“Investing in the training of pastors’ wives is investing in the future of a strong and transformed church,” he said.

Yanga is director of communications for the East Congo Episcopal Area.

News media contact: Julie Dwyer at [email protected]. To read more United Methodist news, subscribe to the free UM News Digest.

Sign up for our newsletter!

Subscribe Now
Global Health
Bishop Mande Muyombo (right) helps a woman settle into her new adapted bicycle in Kamina, Congo. At left are lay leader Kiluba Yolola Elie and Pastor Joseph Kasongo Mukolomone. The United Methodist Church distributed 97 bicycles to people living with disabilities in the North Katanga Conference. The initiative is funded by United Methodist partners in the North Georgia Conference. Photo by Yamba Kisonga Barthélémy, UM News.

Adapted bicycles break barriers, enrich lives in Congo

The United Methodist Church provides mobility assistance to people with disabilities in Kamina, including members of other religious denominations.
Social Concerns
Gubernatorial candidate Olu Brown (left) mingles during a campaign event. The retired United Methodist pastor is running in the May 19 Democratic primary election in Georgia. Photo courtesy of the Olu Brown campaign.

Retired pastor running for Georgia governor

Olu Brown, a United Methodist and formerly pastor of a prominent church outside of Atlanta, is campaigning for the Democratic nomination for governor in Georgia. The primary election is May 19.
Church History
A 1961 map shows the location of churches and the borders of episcopal areas within the Central Jurisdiction, which the Methodist Church established to segregate Black members from the wider church. The union that formed The United Methodist Church in 1968 dissolved the Central Jurisdiction. During the Council of Bishops spring meeting in Jacksonville, Fla., bishops explored the legacy of the Central Jurisdiction as denominational leaders consider changes to the geographic jurisdictional system. Image courtesy of Archives and History.

Lessons from past shape jurisdictions’ future

United Methodist bishops learned more about the legacy of the segregated Central Jurisdiction and history of the jurisdictional system, as leaders contemplate possible changes to that system.

United Methodist Communications is an agency of The United Methodist Church

©2026 United Methodist Communications. All Rights Reserved