By: Fr. Lewis Teah Togba Sr. | UMC Liberia
The United Methodist Church (UMC) African Communicators convened in Tanzania’s capital, Dar es Salaam, for a week-long strategic gathering focused on planning, sharing experiences, and embracing new innovations to amplify UMC stories across Africa.
Sixty-seven communicators from 24 African nations were joined by renowned UMC leaders, collaborating on innovative methods to share the message of the UMC in Africa and beyond, to spread the transformative message of Jesus Christ.
In a pivotal moment, African UMC Communicators attended a second session dedicated to refining communication strategies, particularly around regionalization, aimed at fostering clearer understanding. Bishop Mende Muyombo, President of the African College of Bishops, emphasized the theme “Go and Tell” as he encouraged communicators to actively share the stories of the church, highlighting that regionalization does not equate to same-sex marriage acceptance in the UMC in Africa. He described those promoting false narratives as “blackmailers” attempting to disrupt the church.
Reflecting on the challenges faced by African UMC leaders, including personal security risks and misinformation, Bishop Muyombo underscored the importance of resilience and clarity in messaging. He noted incidents such as attacks on Bishop Samuel J. Quire of Liberia, urging communicators to counter misinformation and affirm UMC’s commitment to social justice, poverty alleviation, and education.
UMCom Secretary General Dan Krause commended the gathering, which included 57 UMC communicators from 24 countries and an additional 36 UMC members supporting regionalization awareness. Krause reaffirmed UMCom’s commitment to supporting training for African communicators to advance their communication skills, pledging resources to aid in using innovative tools and methods to reach church communities effectively.
At the end of the conference, participants engaged in joint sessions at Serena Dar es Salaam and Four Points Hotels, where Krause awarded certificates of participation. A panel discussion recapped lessons from the training, focusing on the potential of technology and innovative approaches to reach and serve African communities.
Representatives from the Liberia Episcopal Area, including Director of Communications Fr. Lewis Teah Togba Sr., ELUM Station Manager Edward Lahai Massaquoi, Rev. Caleb Dormah, and Human Rights Director Jefferson Knight, attended the event, strengthening the mission of regionalization.
This is the first of a two-part series from Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Reporting by Lewis Teah Togba Sr.