President Luyada Greets Annual Meeting

He and Moselo Ngendema, CEUM's director of Christian education and communication, both came to North America this spring to tell Covenanters about the ministries occurring in Congo since Covenant missionaries were evacuated in 1997. Last week, President Luyada attended the 118th Annual Meeting of the Evangelical Covenant Church and gave a greeting during Thursday's (June 26) opening business session. He was also part of an afternoon workshop session on Friday.

President Luyada began traveling around North America on May 2, speaking at a men's retreat near Portland, Oregon. He then headed to Seattle, to Oakland, California, and to many central and southern California churches later during the month. In June, he traveled to Covenant church in Georgia, North Carolina, Florida and Mississippi before heading to the Annual Meeting. He flies to Kinshasa, Congo, on July 16.

President Luyada said his whirlwind journey across the United States exceeded his expectations. "I was able to realize my goals and much more," he said.

President Luyada expressed thanks to Salem Covenant Church in New Brighton, Minnesota, which is helping CEUM leadership by providing the funds for bicycles, which are a valuable form of transportation in Congo. He also discussed the passionate way that local Covenant churches responded to his message. For example, he said, when he spoke at Sunago Grace Covenant Church in Oakland, California, "the people responded and they stood up and they wanted to make an offering right then and there."

"They gave over $3,000 and it was as if they were ready with compassion for Congo right away. In Irvington Covenant, it was a similar quick response," he said, "Another church in Mississippi, which was not a Covenant church, had heard about me through Covenant pastor Darryl Johnson of Walk of Faith Church in Mound Bayou. The television and press people were there and once again it showed to me that, when they heard about Congo, they responded in a compassionate manner but also with urgency."

Since missionaries left Congo in 1997, Congolese leaders have tried to continue the ministries of the CEUM, but finances have been hard to come by. President Luyada is hopeful that his connections with Covenant administrators will bring some definitive solutions.

"I'm very happy for the collaboration and brotherhood in the Covenant, President Luyada stated. "But one of the things that we're unclear about is this: How is it going to be in the future? When the missionaries were there, the missionaries were in an administrative role and the Covenant supported them financially. Now the missionaries are gone and we've taken the responsibilities, as it should be. But the time of war has reduced our resources and we have no clear solution for how we are to proceed."

When President Luyada arrives home, he'll have plenty to do - he heads a church of more than 175,000 people from 1,200 congregations. Bob Thornbloom, a long-time missionary in Congo, has seen President Luyada in action and knows how he will handle the increased load of correspondence and travel that goes with his position. "I know how he'll do it," he said. "He doesn't sleep. He'll work all day and then drive at night to his next stops."

As for how President Luyada will communicate the breadth of his experience - that should be less of a problem - he speaks eight different languages, including French, English and various tribal dialects. One thing is for certain: he will have plenty to talk about, including his favorite foods in North America (pizza and ice cream) and the love he felt from Covenanters everywhere.

"I'm very happy to be at the Annual Meeting and to be meeting people," said President Luyada. "I'm particularly happy to meet older friends that I've meet in previous visits and renew those acquaintances. And I'm glad to be at the Annual Meeting to understand how smoothly it works - it's a learning experience."

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