‘Fully Accepted and Embraced’: Town of Brooklyn Welcomes UMC Pastor with Congolese Flag
November 13, 2025
share
Brooklyn showed its spirit of welcome as the Ruritan Club and Grace United Methodist Church raised the flag of the Democratic Republic of the Congo to honor Pastor Guylain Yumba. The new flag joins the town’s Community of Flags, celebrating the pastor’s heritage and the deep sense of belonging he’s found in Brooklyn.
On Wednesday, August 6, 2025, the Brooklyn Ruritan Club helped Grace United Methodist Church’s pastor, Pastor Guylain Yumba, raise the flag of his birth country—the Democratic Republic of the Congo—at the town’s popular Community of Flags display. The new flag joins the 50 U.S. state flags that line the hillside next to the Brooklyn Museum, an excellent sign of welcome and gratitude for a pastor and his family who have quickly become part of the town’s community.
“I was deeply moved and humbled to see members of the community come together to raise the flag with me that day,” Yumba recalled. “Through this experience, I have come to understand not only the true meaning of loving one’s neighbor but also the beauty of being fully accepted and embraced by a community. This spirit of love, belonging, and acceptance extends beyond my congregation; it is reflected in the warmth, kindness, and unity that define the people of Brooklyn. I am profoundly grateful to serve among the wonderful communities of Brooklyn, Victor, and Ladora.”
Since 2024, Yumba has served Grace UMC and the Brooklyn community with warmth, humility, and a spirit of bridge-building, embodying the Gospel’s reconciling love in his ministry. The assignment includes Brooklyn, Grace-New Covenant Parish: Victor-Heritage (Ladora/Ohio).
“Guylain is a phenomenally gifted pastor and a gift to the whole church,” said Southeast District Superintendent Rev. Brian Oliver. “This act of welcome bears witness to his service to the church and the community. It is also an inspiration to us all to follow Jesus’ command to welcome the stranger.”
Born in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Yumba is the seventh of eight children and grew up in a busy home with two sisters and five brothers. He is married to Sarah Mwepu, and they have one daughter, Guryah.
A gifted encourager of young people, Yumba first sensed a call to ministry as a youth and later discerned a call to full-time ministry while working in human rights in D.R. Congo. He spent a significant amount of time working with incarcerated youth, during which he witnessed the transforming power of hope. Academically, he earned a B.A. in Environmental Studies from Africa University and a Master of Divinity (United Methodist Ministry concentration) from Drew Theological School in Madison, New Jersey.
Outside the pulpit, Yumba has long used soccer as a tool for discipleship and community. As a teen, he organized church leagues and poured “countless hours” into the game—not only to sharpen his skills but also to build discipline, teamwork, and fellowship in Christ. He also finds spiritual renewal in nature. The farms and rolling landscape around Brooklyn, he says, are a daily reminder of “God’s majestic presence and the beauty of God’s creation” that brings “incredible peace.”
Reflecting on the congregation’s welcome, Yumba shares his gratitude: “Your generosity and hospitality have been overwhelming. I am profoundly encouraged by the unconditional love I have witnessed among you.”
Brooklyn bears the title of a “Community of Flags,” inspired by the flags that greeted Register’s Annual Great Bike Ride Across Iowa (RAGBRAI) riders in 1991. The front row highlights special guests and occasions—now including the flag of the DRC in honor of Yumba.
Founded in 1854 and named for the two nearby brooks, Brooklyn honors its past while being open to new people and stories. With the Congolese flag now flying on the hill, the town celebrates not only a pastor’s heritage but the shared future he is helping to shape.
TheBrooklyn Ruritan Club, part of a national service organization, partnered in the flag-raising as an expression of its motto—Fellowship, Goodwill, and Community Service. The club’s diverse membership reflects the town itself: rooted in tradition, eager to serve, and open to neighbors from around the world.
Dear Friends and Family of Grace United Methodist Church,
Peace and grace to you from God, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. I am writing to express my deepest gratitude and excitement for the opportunity to join the Grace United Methodist Church community. Your generosity and hospitality have been overwhelming, and I am profoundly encouraged by the unconditional love I have witnessed among you. I look forward to serving in ministry with a dedicated and caring congregation.
I was born in the Democratic Republic of Congo in Central Africa. My parents, Leyna and Wilbert, raised me alongside my two sisters and five brothers, making me the seventh of eight children in the family. I am married to Sarah Mwepu, and together, we are blessed with a daughter, Guryah Yumba.
I was always highly active during my teenage years, with a particular passion for playing soccer and organized soccer leagues among different churches. I devoted countless hours to practicing and perfecting my skills on the field, participating in local leagues and school and church teams. Soccer was not just a sport for me; it was a way to make disciples of Jesus, build discipline, participate in the community, and foster a sense of teamwork and camaraderie. Also, my love for nature stems from its ability to vividly display and evoke the presence of God, providing a serene and spiritual sanctuary. Living in a city surrounded by numerous farms has been a tremendous blessing, constantly reminding me of God’s majestic presence and the beauty of God’s creation. Living in Brooklyn reminds me of God’s majestic presence, beauty, and great power that brings such incredible peace.
I graduated from Africa University with a Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Studies. Subsequently, I pursued advanced theological education at Drew Theological School in Madison, New Jersey, where I earned a Master of Divinity degree with a concentration in United Methodist Ministry.
I received my call to ministry at a young age, but I first realized my call to full-time ministry during my work with human rights in the Congo. While working in human rights, I dedicated significant time to youth ministry, particularly with incarcerated youth in the Congo. My seminary studies focused on pastoral care and counseling, further shaping my approach to ministry. As I join you, I am excited for the future and the opportunities ahead. I am thrilled to work alongside you in ministry, collaborating and encouraging one another to use our gifts and talents for the glory of God. Though sometimes change brings a mix of emotions and feelings, we can trust that God is faithful to us. The old hymn “Great Is Thy Faithfulness” reminds us, “Thou changest not, Thy compassions they fail not, As Thou hast been, Thou forever wilt be.”
