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:

• - Praying & Interceding
• - Creating Crisis Center
• - Providing Crisis Relief
• - Feeding the Hungry
• - Offering Medical Services
• - Providing Christian Ministry
• - Providing Humanitarian Aid
• - Promoting Sustainability
• - Providing Education & Training
  

Meet Our President

Richard
Banza Kitumba
President
Richard is now, by the grace of God, a Canadian citizen; though he was born. raised and lived in the Democratic Republic of the Congo until he was in his early twenties. He graduated in psychology and science of education, and taught for two years.

He also played in a professional first division soccer team for 5 years. He speaks several languages, and worked as a translator before going into full- time ministry.

Richard has been a Missionary Evangelist in Africa, Europe and Canada, and is now serving God in the United States. Richard's heart has always been to help and serve the people of the D.R.C.

He founded and formed The City of Refuge International, Inc. with the help of pastor David Lanning, John Mpoyo Ilunga, Patricia May, Laurene Bates, John Alden, Gwen Dockery and Doug Mason.  Current board members are David Lanning, John Mpoyo Ilunga, Patricia May, Laurene Bates, Randy Tryon, Gwen Dockery, Daniel Lanning, and Renee Phelps.

Meet Our Dedicated Team

John
Mpoyo-Ilunga
Vice-President
Born and raised in the town of Kamina in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, John is now a Canadian citizen, as well. He graduated in psychology and science of education, and taught for 3 years. He speaks several languages, and worked as a translator for several years, before he went into full time ministry. John was a Missionary Evangelist in Africa, Europe, Canada, and now is serving as a Missionary Evangelist to the United States. Ever since he was young his zeal was always to serve God and lay his life down for others. He helped to form the City of Refuge International, Inc., and has a deep love for the people of the Congo.

Pastor David Lanning
Chairman

David grew up in Springfield, Oregon. He went to the University of Oregon, where he received a B.A. and an M.A. in physics in 1977. He also attended Northwest Christian College of Eugene, Oregon and Ministries Institute at Eugene Faith Center. He worked as an engineer for about four years, before entering into full-time ministry.

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.

Pastor Lanning took a team of people to visit the Democratic Republic of the Congo (D.R.C) in October of 2005. He has seen firsthand the actual conditions of the D.R.C. and the plight of its people. It was through this trip that he was led to help form The City of Refuge International, Inc. In his own words, “the children of Africa are deeply imprinted upon my heart”.

Gwen
Dockery
Secretary
Gwen’s bio will be coming soon so you can get to know her.

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.