The Rev. Eric Kalumba is a missionary with the General Board of Global Ministries working in congregational development. He is a church planter for the Madagascar UMC. Active in the church throughout his life, Eric sang in the Nuru Chorale at Luena (Angola), participated in the youth group, served as a class president and was his congregation’s lay leader. After teaching school in the mid-1990s, Eric decided to study theology. Serving as a pastor for several years, he became the superintendent of two districts. In 2020, he became the first assistant to the bishop. An elder in the Tanganyika Annual Conference, he is married to Louise Numbi Luse, and the couple has eight children, ranging in age from 10 to 27 years. Recalling his faith journey, Eric said, “I received Jesus Christ as my savior when I was very young because my family is Christian.” After serving in various positions in the church, he said, “I began to understand my call. “God called me to become a pastor,” he asserted. “Now I need to go outside of my country [as a missionary]. I know God is with me.” In his new role, Eric will focus on planting congregations; evangelizing communities; training and building capacity of local communities and church members; preaching, teaching, baptizing, confirming and officiating in other church activities; serving as a liaison between the Madagascar United Methodist Church and the rest of the Mozambique Episcopal Area; and teaching English and leading an English Bible study on the university level.

Dennis Daniel Maada Sandy is a Global Missionary with the General Board of Global Ministries of The United Methodist Church. He serves as the financial officer for the East Africa Episcopal Area in Uganda. A lay member of Baughman United Methodist Church in Freetown, he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in accounting and finance at the University of Sierra Leone. He is a Certified Management Accountant (CMA), as well as a Fellow and a Master Financial Modeling Specialist™ with the Global Academy of Finance and Management. He has worked extensively in the mining sector, both in Sierra Leone and Australia. He also served as lecturer at the United Methodist University in Sierra Leone. He is a devoted husband and father with two young children. “My faith journey,” Sandy said, “has been a tapestry woven with threads of family influence, personal exploration and community engagement. Raised in a home where spiritual values were paramount, my formative years were shaped by lessons of love, compassion and communal interconnectedness.” As he grappled with existential questions, Sandy explored his faith. “College became a crucible for diverse perspectives, challenging and enriching my understanding of spirituality,” he said. “During this time, I found resonance with the inclusive and justice-oriented ethos of The United Methodist Church.” Through mission trips and volunteer work, Sandy gained firsthand experiences of faith in action. “Witnessing the tangible impact of collective efforts to build communities and uplift the vulnerable,” he said, “reinforced my commitment to a faith-driven life. “Today, my faith stands as a testament to growth, inclusivity and a resolute belief in the transformative power of service. The narrative continues to unfold, with each chapter reinforcing my connection to God, a dedication to justice and an unwavering conviction in the ability of faith to inspire positive change.” He is excited about the next steps in his religious and professional development.