About Us
We are a partnership of United Methodists who are globally united to support the survivors of rape in East Congo.
The partnership consists of the California-Pacific (Cal-Pac), East Congo, Memphis and Tennessee Annual Conferences.
At the local level, The United Methodist Church is working to combat stigma, connect survivors to quality health services, provide counseling, supply transitional housing, and offer income-generating classes. Bishop Gabriel Yemba Unda, presiding bishop for East Congo Episcopal Area, has made this issue his top priority and has appointed a team of professionals to oversee the work. Dr. Richard Letshu, Honorable Chief Prosper Tunda, Professor Jacqueline Luhahe Lumumba and Professor Marie Claire Yandju lead the team with United Methodist Women and United Methodist Youth.
In the United States, the church is supporting the local initiative by raising funds for the women’s center – named the “Mama Lynn Center” after Bishop (Tennessee/Memphis) Bill McAlilly’s wife Lynn. Bishop McAlilly and Bishop Grant Hagiya (Cal-Pac) co-lead this support network through a team of committed volunteers and conference staffpersons. They are:
Rev. N. Neelley Hicks and Rev. Bill Lovell – Co-Coordinators; Lane Camp, Amy Hurd, and James Kang – Communicators; Rev. Greg Batson, Rev. Phil Jamieson, Rev. David Lewis (Chair) – Fundraising; Rev. Randy Cooper (Chair), David Farley, and Angela Overstreet – United Methodist Volunteers in Mission.