My Story
My name is Nzash U LUMEYA, son of Nzashi and Ikuma Lumeya from Democratic Republic of Congo. On October 7, 1949, I was born in Kimbengi, Democratic Republic of Congo. I’m married to Christina Maria LUMEYA. We have three daughters. I’m grateful to our Lord Christ Jesus for calling me to follow and serve him.
In 1989, the Lord allowed me to earn a Ph.D. in Missiology at Fuller Seminary, Pasadena U.S.A. (major: Old Testament and Minor: Behavioral Science). In 1989, I received a Theology Award, School of World Mission, Fuller Seminary, Pasadena, U.S.A. In 1977, I graduated with a Master in Theology at la Faculte de Theologie Evangelique de Vaux-Sur-Seine, France. In 1970, I received a Certificat d’ Etat at the Mennonite Brethren Secondary School, Democratic Republic of Congo.
For three decades, it has been a great privilege to serve the Lord through shepherding and teaching. Most of the times, the Lord has connected me with humble beginning of a church plant or Mission Schools in Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo or the United States. In each location, God has been faithful to advance his Kingdom. God provides. Each country has helped me to grow in understanding God’s miraculous way of taking care of his people. In Kinshasa, the war could not stop both the extension and expansion church or Mission school. Glory be to God for his divine auto-presence. God is trustworthy.
My Dad’s Story
Lumeya Nzashi (b. ca. 1928)
Rev. Lumeya Nzashi, an influential teacher and preacher of the Communauté des Églises de Frères Mennonites au Congo (Mennonite Brethren Church of Congo), was born in the village of Kimbengi near the Kafumba mission station. While in primary school he accepted Christ and was baptized. In 1944 he graduated from the four-year course of the Mennonite Brethren Bible Institute at Kafumba.
From 1945 to 1965 Lumeya taught at the Kafumba Primary School, where his teaching ability became apparent. Together with the head-pastor, Djimbo Kibala, Lumeya was also active in Bible teaching in schools and churches, and in village evangelization. He was a Bible teacher in official schools in the city of Kikwit from 1962 to 1968. In 1968 he was ordained for church ministry and became pastor of the Kikwit, Kimpwanza congregation. He held this position for four years. After 1973 Lumeya was coordinator of evangelism in the entire northern district of the Mennonite Brethren Church of Congo, which included a population of ca. 350,000. He spent much time in the villages giving seminars for pastors and other church workers and counseling members and others in need. He was long known as an ardent Bible student and a sincere and powerful preacher. His oldest son in 1988 was completing his doctoral studies at Fuller Theological Seminary and his second son was a lawyer in Kinshasa.