The International Community of Mennonite Brethren (ICOMB) is made up of 21 national churches in 19 countries with approximately 450,000 members. ICOMB exists to facilitate relationships and ministries to enhance the witness and discipleship of its member national churches – connecting, strengthening and expanding.

CEFMC mourns

The ICOMB family joins brothers and sisters of the Congolese MB Conference (CEFMC), the global Anabaptist community, and the citizens of the DR Congo in mourning the loss of Pascal Tshisola Kulungu, who finished his mission 16 January 2019, following a brief illness. He was 66 years old. Pascal was born in Kajiji, Democratic Republic of Congo, studied at Fresno Pacific University (a Mennonite Brethren school in California, USA), and returned to the DR Congo for a life of mission and service, both in the church and in the country. He made outstanding contributions in multiple ministries.

In 2004, Pascal Kulungu was on the ICOMB Confession of Faith Task Force. The Confession is studied and embraced around the globe and has since been translated into over a dozen languages, including Pascal Kulungu’s translation into French.

Pascal Kulungu’s callings and passions were large. In 2005, he became the founder/director of the Centre For Peacebuilding, Leadership, and Good Governance. This ministry reached far beyond Kinshasa or the MB conference. Pascal was tireless in giving seminars throughout the country in local churches, conferences and universities. For greater impact, he produced the widely used trainer’s manual on Peaceful Resolution, Mediation and Conflict Reconciliation (in French). Also in the service of building peace in the conflicted culture of the DR Congo, Pascal gave leadership to the Kinshasa Centre for Peacebuilding, and served on the steering committee for MWC’s emerging Global Anabaptist Peace Network.

His gifts and talents extended into healthcare and formal education. For many years, Pascal Kulungu served the Christian University of Kinshasa (UCKIN) as finance director and professor. The MB conference was a founding member of this multi-denominational university and continues as a sponsor. He also served as a hospital administrator for a season.

Pascal Kulungu offered his services to his country in the interest of the gospel of peace. For the 2006 elections, he trained thousands of Congolese in the dynamics of elections and democracy. He ran for political office in the national Parliament more than once. He was elected in late 2018 as representative for the Kasongo-Lunda District (which includes Kajiji, Kahemba and other Mennonite-populated towns). He died before taking office.

Pascal Tshisola Kulungu was a faithful disciple, a beloved family man, a servant-leader in the church and blessed peacemaker in his country. We give honour to whom honor is due, thanking God for his life. “Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith” (Hebrews 13:7).