wfn.org | Discipleship Staff Person Named to Africa

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"UNITED METHODIST DAILY NEWS 97" by SUSAN PEEK on April 15, 1997 at 14:24
Eastern, about DAILY NEWS RELEASES FROM UNITED METHODIST NEWS SERVICE (285
notes).

Note 284 by UMNS on Aug. 27, 1997 at 16:19 Eastern (1972 characters).

 Produced by United Methodist News Service, official news agency
of the United Methodist Church, with offices in Nashville, Tenn.,
New York, and Washington.

CONTACT: Linda Green                           472(10-31-71B){284}
         Nashville, Tenn. (615) 742-5470             Aug. 27, 1997

Nashville-based United Methodist Board of 
Discipleship names first overseas staff member

     NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UMNS) -- The Rev. Michel Lukaso Membele, a
pastor in the Democratic Republic of Congo, has been named by the
Nashville, Tenn.-based United Methodist Board of Discipleship to
represent the agency in Africa.
     The board provides educational, worship and inspirational
resources and leadership training aimed primarily at the local
church.
     Membele, a pastor and district superintendent, becomes the
board's first staff member serving outside the United States.  The
denomination has 8.5 million members in the United States and more
than one million in Africa, Europe and the Philippines.
     As part of the agency's emphasis on transforming the world,
its 58-member governing body last March authorized creation of a
staff position in Africa. The action stemmed from a request by
United Methodist Bishop Fama Onema for a liaison person to assist
with evangelism, Christian education and spiritual formation.
Mumbele will also distribute resources from the agency and serve
as editor and publisher of a French-language edition of The Upper
Room. 
     The Upper Room, which includes a wide variety
interdenominational resources, is a unit of the Board of
Discipleship. Central to its work is the pocket-size daily
devotional printed in 41 languages.
     Membele arrived in the United States in late-July to attend a
Board of Discipleship event at Boston University and received
orientation about the agency's work. He is now in Nashville for
additional training. 
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