In the streets of Kamina, creaking bicycle chains and ringing bells now resonate like a hymn to freedom.
For 97 community members living with disabilities, what was once a dream of mobility has become a tangible reality, thanks to the generosity of The United Methodist Church. The church’s North Katanga Conference recently distributed 97 bicycles adapted for people with limited mobility.
The effort was funded through the initiative of a layperson from St. James United Methodist Church in the North Georgia Conference, with financial support from Dunwoody (Georgia) United Methodist Church, which helped with customs clearance and local transportation costs.
Bringing Hope to Those Isolated
The goal is to break the isolation of people with limited mobility in a region where daily travel is often an insurmountable challenge. Recipients were selected from a variety of denominations.
The initiative draws its inspiration from the roots of the faith, said Bishop Mande Muyombo. He leads the North Katanga Episcopal Area, which includes the North Katanga and Tanzania conferences.
The Rev. Odette Kyakutala, program coordinator for the elderly and people with limited mobility, oversaw the distribution. The first phase reached almost all parishes in the districts of Kamina Ville and Kamina Cité, as well as the districts of Nord Baluba, Kaniama, Lwena and Kilubi, she said.
Bishop Muyombo said the gesture goes beyond simple charity; it is central to the region’s development.
Ministry Project Expands to Community at Large
The Rev. Makonga Mpyana, secretary of the North Katanga Episcopal Area, announced the development of an expanded ministry project designed to support not only people with disabilities, but also older adults, people in prison and the most vulnerable within United Methodist districts and congregations.
The initiative extended to various local communities, illustrating the church’s openness toward its neighbors.
Among the beaming faces was that of Kabange Wa Sungu Ken, 38. A member of the Kamina Centre congregation, this father of three has lived with a physical disability since 1990.
Before receiving a bicycle, every trip was a struggle. “I walked slowly and was often late for work, the market or even the soccer stadium,” he confided. For him, this gift is much more than a simple means of transportation; it is a tool for dignity.
The conference wants to add production capacity.
“In the near future, we plan to renovate our woodworking shop so we can start assembling bicycles on site,” the bishop said.
As the new cyclists rode their first few meters amid cheers from the crowd, North Katanga Conference leaders expressed deep gratitude to their American partners.
“The church hopes that this wave of hope will not stop here,” Kyakulata said. “By transforming physical mobility, The United Methodist Church in our region continues to demonstrate that faith translates into concrete actions that change lives, one kilometer at a time.”
excerpt from a story by Yamba Kisonga Barthélémy, communicator for the North Katanga Conference.
