United Methodist Pastor Set to Lead Congo University

A United Methodist Pastor urging support in constructing

Reverend Jon Mac Taylor often traverses two worlds in his work as between Little Rock, Arkansas and Kamina, Congo. In the States, Taylor commonly goes from church to church championing for the needs of the Congolese people. While in the Congo, Taylor serves as president for the University of North Katanga in Kamina. Taylor has had experiences working in the Congo, pastoring for 23 years and often leading medical teams into the Congo. Taylor sees newfound opportunity in the Congo since civil war hostilities ceased in 2001.

The university Taylor is currently leading began life as the Kamina College, constructed in 1985 using funds provided by the United Methodist Church. Since then the school has grown into a university of 600 attendants. Due to growth in numbers, Taylor has pushed for the university to go through a major overhaul.

By next year, Taylor hopes that the university will be remodeled with “real bricks and stone” in order to construct a liberal-arts school. In addition, Taylor has asked the United Methodist Church to help gather and train skilled-teachers willing to serve in the school. He also commented that the college will offer additional classes in French, History, Business, and Technical Training. The school is already is already reputed to having the best nursing-care in the Congo. Taylor expressed that the ultimate purpose of this school is to train future spiritual leaders equipped with specialized skills. The graduates, he says, will serve their community for the best.

At the time of this writing, Taylor is in the states attempting to raise funds for the school. So far he has had some success in acquiring the necessary funds to off-start his plans. Recently, the Arkansas Tech Wesley Foundation gave away $15,000 to build a Wesley Foundation on the Congo campus. In return, Taylor stated that he will bring back photos of the Bobby Jackson Memorial Wesley Foundation during its construction. Taylor plans to return to Kamina in January 2005.