My first reaction when my web designer, who happens to be my husband, asked me to write my bio was to panic. I neither like talking about myself, nor do I love being at the frontline. But truth be told, I ran and hid from this responsibility long enough that God gave me no choice.
I even enrolled in seminary, where I completed one full academic year and a semester.
In all these places, there was one thing in common—the love of God flowed through everything I said and did. It was evident to those around me that there was a divine presence I was carrying with me.
I fell in love with God at a very young age as a result of my parents, who demonstrated trust in Him.
That trust and their dedication to serving in our community in His name created a profound curiosity in me to want to discover who God was. The more I wanted to know about Yahweh, the more I wanted to serve.
However, there was one problem: I did not have the gift, or so I thought.
To me, serving God required some extraordinary ability—such as speaking in tongues, prophesying, performing miracles of healing the blind, praying for the demon-possessed individuals, and receiving a vision.
Little did I know that serving God required something as simple as being present. Present to listen, to give a hug, to give a word of encouragement, to smile, or simply holding hands.
But society and culture obscured this knowledge with the idea that I needed a special gift.
Consequently, I did not even think writing or speaking were among God’s gifts to me.
With the help of the Holy Spirit through my husband and children, I began to recall my experiences in the different places God had used me. The more I discerned my experiences around the world with diverse communities in the past few years, the more I saw the work of God.
It is that work of my Lord that I will be sharing. The things that broke and built me, those that shaped and remolded me. The injustice that awoken me. The cry of the destitute. The places where God seemed impossible to find but used the unlikely to leave His print.
That’s the story I am called to write and speak about. And, this is my bio and the reason I panicked. Who I am is weaved in these stories.
Odette Kajoba
You are such a beautiful lady, mama Joy! A woman of prayer, always there for others…. You are a blessing and I love you so much. May The God you serve keep on blessing you. Shimama imara, Mungu aku kumbuke pour toutes les vies que tu as touché et continues A toucher. Thank you for being you, “JOY”. Love you.
Beyond Ministry Development
2019 - Present
Registered Respiratory Therapist
— GA, USA
2017 - 2018
Program Managers’ Assistant & United Methodist Church Annual Conference Coordinator
— General Board of Global Ministries, Atlanta, GA, USA
2016 - 2017
Program Area Liaison for Global Health & Missionary Service Units
— General Board of Global Ministries, Atlanta, GA, USA
2014 - 2016
Student Pastor
— New Sharon United Methodist Church, Hillsborough, NC, USA
2015
Student Pastor
— Hillcrest Methodist Church, Durban, South Africa
2015
Guest Speaker
— Kearsney College, Durban, South Africa
2012
Interpreter & Volunteer
— Mulungwishi Clinic of the United Methodist Church, Mulungwishi, DR Congo
2012
Interpreter
— Central Conference of the United Methodist Church, Kolwezi, DR Congo
2011
B.S. Degree in Respiratory Care
— Salisbury University, Maryland, USA
Photo: With my late father, Rev. Kajoba, PhD. Dad was a United Methodist pastor and educator. He was a Hebrew scholar and Old Testament professor at the Mulungwishi Theological Seminary, Katanga Methodist University in DR Congo, where he was also Dean Emeritus. He passed away in 2015. I miss him a lot. May his soul rest in peace.
2009 - 2011
President
— Best Buddies at Salisbury University, Maryland, USA
2009 - 2011
President
— Wesley Foundation at Salisbury University, Maryland, USA
2004 - 2005
President
— International Student Club, Baltimore City Community College, Baltimore, MD, USA
2002 - 2006
Youth and Young Adult Leader
— Epworth United Methodist Church, Maryland, USA
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