Covenant News

Former CEUM President Dies After Lengthy Illness

KARAWA, CONGO (June 4, 2002) - Pastor Babete Bernard, who served as president of the Covenant Church of Congo (CEUM) during the 1970s, died last week following a lengthy illness.

Pastor Babete was one of the early presidents of CEUM, according to longtime missionary to Congo Janet Thornbloom. He was noted for his evangelistic fervor during his ministry, which included pastorates in several village churches.

According to Gordon Christensen, who served in Congo and now is interim pastor at Moses Hill Covenant Church in Loomis, Nebraska, Babete became president after the Evangelical Free Church and the Evangelical Covenant Church separated their organizations in Congo. Babete was one of 11 members in the Congo's first pastor's training institute graduating class (Bible Institute of the Ubangi) in 1955, a joint effort of the Free and Covenant churches.

"He (Babete) was a very enthusiastic person with a vision," said Christensen, who taught pastor Babete during his seminary training. "He was so like Milt Engebretson (longtime Evangelical Covenant Church president). He was so excited in being one of God's servants. He was a great example to others. One of the current CEUM leaders, pastor Duale Langba, emailed me recently and said Babete was one of his great role models in the Lord."

Covenant missionary to Africa Ken Satterberg wrote to Christensen May 28, reporting that Babete died while CEUM leaders were readying for a church wide council meeting. The meeting was postponed in order for leaders to attend the funeral service.

In a letter to CEUM President Luyada Gbuda, Department of World Mission representative Byron Amundsen stated, "We appreciated his (Babete's) years of service and leadership of the CEUM, as a dedicated and humble servant of God. On behalf of President (Glenn) Palmberg, the people of the Evangelical Covenant Church and the Department of World Mission, we extend our sympathy to his family and all those who will feel the loss at his death. May God comfort them knowing how he is rejoicing in Heaven, where tears and suffering are no more. He certainly has received the blessing 'Well done, you good and faithful servant.'"

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