By Rev. Garth Duke-Barton, Conference Secretary for Global Ministries
As part of my role as the Conference Secretary for Global Ministries I have the privilege of researching and highlighting missionaries who might otherwise go unnoticed.
Gaston Nkulu Ntambo is based in Luena, Angola, where he serves as a pilot and mechanic with the Wings of the Morning Aviation ministry in the North Katanga Conference. The ministry provides transportation in hard-to-reach areas of Africa, especially in emergency situations. Recently there was an outbreak of measles. This is what he told me via email:
“Measles entered the town of Manono, a town of about 400,000 people with only about 5 percent of the locals previously vaccinated. The town was averaging about 40 deaths each day and mostly children. I pushed myself in very difficult weather to get the medicine to Manono town. I flew a total of three times but it is all gone this weekend. Bishop Mande promised to reach out to UMCOR for help. The medicine I flew came from a mining company and the Catholic Church. We hope to do more flights next week. My wife Jeanne and I are very much looking forward to hearing back from you and sharing with you the work that the Lord is doing for our people through Wings of the Morning flight ministry.”
Gaston is married to Jeanne Kabove Ntambo, also a GBGM missionary. They have five children: Andy Nkulu, Lorree Nkulu, Gabriel Kahenga, Noah Kabove, and Eileen. Gaston’s father is retired Bishop Ntambo Nkulu of the North Katanga Conference. Gaston is a member of a local United Methodist church in Luena.
Please be in prayer for Gaston, Wings of the Morning Aviation, and, if possible, support this vital ministry, which will be one of the recipients of the 2022 South Georgia Annual Conference special offering. For more information about the Annual Conference special offering, visit
www.sgaumc.org/specialoffering. Congregations are encouraged to send and present their offering during Annual Conference’s June 5 opening worship service.
Rev. Garth Duke-Barton, pastor of Epworth United Methodist Church in Jesup, also serves as Conference Secretary for Global Ministries.
