Journal: Priscilla Papers
Volume: PP 35:4 (Autumn 2021)
Article: A Glimpse Into The Life Of A Courageous Woman: The Story Of Emilienne Niangui Loubota
Author: Médine Moussounga Keener

PP 35:4 (Autumn 2021) p. 3

A Glimpse Into The Life Of A Courageous Woman: The Story Of Emilienne Niangui Loubota

Médine Moussounga Keener

Médine Moussounga Keener (PhD, University of Paris 7), originally from Congo Brazzaville, is Community Formation Pastoral Care coordinator at Asbury Theological Seminary. She coauthored with her husband Craig Impossible Love: The True Story of an African Civil War, Miracles and Hope against All Odds (Chosen Books, 2016), a story of her war experience and her and Craig’s romance. She also coauthored with Dr. Sue Russell Loved: Women Who Found Hope and Healing in Jesus (Cross Perspectives, 2019).

In a time when women in the West and certain other countries are standing up for their rights, especially through the MeToo movement, I am reminded of one courageous Congolese woman who stood up against sexual exploitation of women in school and saw God answer her prayer to be involved in pastoral ministry.

Emilienne Mboungou Mouyabi is an uncommon hero and a foremother to the women pastors in the Evangelical Church of Congo. Born a day before Christmas 1957, in Congo Brazzaville, Emilienne Loubota was the eldest child of eight. Her parents were God-fearing members of the Evangelical Church of Congo. She took her role as a big sister seriously, caring for her younger siblings much like a mother.1 In Congo, girls learn to take care of their siblings and help with household chores at a tender age.

Emilienne’s parents believed girls and boys deserved equal educational opportunities and sent her to school. Though she started school at age eight, considered late in some cultures, Emilienne loved school and excelled at it. Many children started school at about this age because they had to get stronger to walk long distances or their parents wanted them at home a couple more years to help with chores. Being the eldest and a girl, Emilienne was likely assigned to help with younger siblings. Nevertheless, she was grateful for the opportunity to attend school, knowing not all young girls at that time were so fortunate.

In 1972, fifteen-year-old Emilienne finished elementary school with flying colors. She plowed through her first year of middle school with the same gusto, but male teachers soon asked her to exchange sexual favors for good grades. After her second year in middle school, Emilienne was weary of being “courted by teachers.”2

Sexual harassment and abuse of female students has caused many young women to develop sexually transmitted diseases, unwanted pregnancies, or a troubled life of sexual promiscuity. Sex for grades reduces girls and women to objects and prevents pursuing their studies...