South Georgia United Methodists give more than $22,000 for North Katanga partnership

At the 2022 South Georgia Annual Conference session, South Georgia United Methodists gave $22,708 to support two North Katanga Conference ministries: Kamina Orphanage and Wings of the Morning Aviation. 

On Monday morning, Rev. Garth Duke-Barton, conference secretary of Global Ministries and senior pastor of Epworth UMC in Jesup, presented a check to the Kamina Orphanage and the Wings of Aviation ministry of the North Katanga Conference. Receiving the check on behalf of Global Ministries were Jim and Bernice Keech, Southeastern Jurisdiction mission advocates. 

“The Wings of the Morning Aviation Program is saving the lives of many people, especially those living in remote villages and yet seeking high quality medical attention,” said Bishop Mande Muyombo, episcopal leader of the North Katanga Episcopal Area of The United Methodist Church. “I am grateful to the South Georgia Annual Conference for giving hope and loving these young men and women. Thank you for advancing God’s kingdom with Christlike concerns for the orphans." 

Since 1997, Kamina Orphanage has helped thousands of children, orphaned by disease, violence, and poverty, have hope and a future. South Georgia’s support of the orphanage will help provide children with meals, healthcare, tuition, and care.

An aviation ministry of The United Methodist Church in North Katanga, Wings of the Morning is under the care and supervision of the General Board of Global Ministries. 

With little or no transportation infrastructure such as paved roads or a railway system, the Wings of the Morning airplane is a lifeline to the 6 million people of the Katanga province and provides vital services including: carrying life-giving pharmaceuticals and supplies to remote villages and towns; transporting critically ill patients to clinics and hospitals; providing transportation for pastors, missionaries; and volunteers; and delivering payroll and other supplies to villages, towns, and churches.

“The gifts given for this special offering give hope and love in ways we can only imagine,” said Kelly Roberson, assistant to the Bishop and director of Conference Ministries/Communications. “What a beautiful expression of our connection as we offer these gifts to God to be used for His glory.”

Over the past two years, South Georgia has helped the North Katanga Annual Conference build and reconstruct several local churches, host empowerment training events and leadership training conferences, and train local farmers.

The mission partnership that began three years ago when a team of six South Georgia United Methodists traveled to the North Katanga Annual Conference, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), continues to develop.

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• Read more about the ministry of Kamina Orphanage | Visit their Facebook page
• Read more about the ministry of Wings of the Morning Aviation