Kalumba, Eric

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.