Our Mission

The City of Refuge International Inc.'s primary purpose shall be to directly serve the people of the Democratic Republic of Congo (D.R.C) by:

• - Caring for Orphans
• - Providing Microloans
• - Empowering the Disadvantaged
• - Providing Crisis Relief
• - Funding Livestock Development
• - Feeding the Hungry
• - Supporting Agriculture
• - Offering Medical Services
• - Providing Humanitarian Aid
• - Promoting Sustainability
• - Offering Christian Ministry
• - Providing Education & Training
  

Meet Our President

Richard
Banza Kitumba
President
Richard was born and raised in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and lived there until he was in his early twenties. He graduated with a degree in teaching education and taught there for 3 years.

Additionally, he played in a professional first division soccer team for 5 years. He speaks several languages, and has worked as a translator.

Richard has provided motivational speaking and Christian ministry in Europe, Africa, and North America, offering services to schools, businesses, and small groups.

With a passion to empower the people of the DRC, he founded The City of Refuge International, Inc. in 2007. Since then, he has been providing energy and insight necessary for helping thousands people in the DRC.

Richard currently lives in Springfield, Oregon with his wife and son.

Meet Our Dedicated Team

John
Mpoyo-Ilunga
Vice-President
Born and raised in the DRC, John graduated with a degree in teaching education and taught for 3 years. He speaks several languages and also worked as a translator for several years.

John has worked and traveled throughout Europe, Africa, and North America. He has a passion to help the underprivileged, and his love for children is astounding.

He helped to form the City of Refuge International, Inc., and has a deep love for the people of the Congo.

John lives in Springfield, Oregon, with his wife.

David Lanning
Chairman

David grew up in Springfield, Oregon. He went to the University of Oregon, where he received a BA and an MA in physics. He also attended Northwest Christian College of Eugene, Oregon and Ministries Institute at Eugene Faith Center. Before becoming a pastor, he worked as an engineer for about four years.

He helped to plant what is now Eastside Foursquare Church in Kirkland, WA in 1978. He pioneered the Columbian Foursquare Church in Richland, Washington in 1982 and pastored that Church for eleven years. He is currently the senior pastor of Springfield Faith Center
in Springfield, Oregon, and has been
since 1995.

David traveled to the DRC in 2005 and 2010. He has seen firsthand the conditions there. It was after his first trip that he began helping The City of Refuge International, Inc. In his own words, “the children of Africa are deeply imprinted upon my heart”.

Gwen
Dockery
Secretary
Gwen was raised in Springfield, Oregon. She spent three years studying Pre-med at the University of Oregon, and graduated from Lane Community College with a degree in Dental Hygiene. For 20years, she has worked part-time for Dr. Mark Worthington. Her full-time job is raising three beautiful children with her husband of 13 years. She currently lives in Harrisburg, is active in the Alpha program at her church, Eugene Christian Fellowship, and volunteers regularly at her children's school. She has a passion for children, waterskiing, and reading.

Patricia
May
Treasurer
Patricia is a CPA, recently retired from a local CPA firm as a Principal in the Taxation Department. She has over 30 years' experience in accounting and taxation and has her BS in accounting from the University of Oregon. Pat is married and has two grown sons, as well as two grandsons. She lives in Springfield, Oregon.She traveled with a group of board members to the DRC in summer of 2010.