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Congoboston:
Hello Luke, Tell us about you and how
long have you been doing gospel music?
Luke Irung:
I want to give all the glory to my Lord
and savior Jesus Christ. My name is Luke
Irung and I was born in my beautiful
country Congo as y’all know. My
childhood was pretty well layback in the
little town of Katanga and I have nice
parents who love me and love the Lord;
they are actually alive and I'm glad
they have got good
spiritual and social foundation as
well. When I was little boy, I had a dream
at my very young age I was going be a musician
but it wasn't the Gospel music I started doing “streets” music,
along with friends in my school, etc. We had a lot of fun,
imitating local stars from my country.
When I started Gospel music also at very
young age, it was more like a hobby. I
wanted to take this moment to say that When
God appointed someone for a specific
ministry, people will notice it while
you still young, therefore I think
parents need to encourage their kids and
their focus in what they are very good
at and what they like to do. Everybody has not
been called to be a doctor, a lawyer or
a pastor. We are, each one of us, unique
in what God assigns us to accomplish,
and I know talents will open doors for
an artist. I
think God’s question to us will be: What did
you do with the gift I gave you?
Congoboston:
What made you like music, especially
now, the Gospel music so much? Some word
of mouth we got here and there said you
were student in Music back in South
Africa. Is that the reason?
Luke Irung:
Well, Franklin, Gospel music is the
source of all kind of music; my love for
that kind of music got birthed in me.
Nothing made me love that music that
music, I think it was just in my blood. The
Bible says: In the beginning was the
word and word was with God, and was God. Everything
was created by the word.
Yes, I went to
music school in South Africa ten years
ago at the Rhema Bible Church for two years. I attended
the school with my friends, Pastor Jose and Patricia Muzingu, Brother
Lazard Takasasa who works now with Radio
Sango Malamu. Going to school did not
make me sing well, but it helped me a
lot to make permanent what I know today.
That was a good choice I took and I am
happy about it.
Congoboston:
Thank you, Brother Luke. I know
most of people discovered you in Boston
where you lived for sometime. But I'm trying to go back to your roots...Can you tell me
more about your
network back in Africa?
Luke Irung:
Talking about Africa, my story will
focus on South Africa because I left my
country (DR Congo) at a very young age. When I got
in South Africa, life was not easy for
me, still I met few new people there. I continued my
music in one of local churches with
Pastor Daniel Muteba and made my first
album "Eternal". Some wonderful people
helped me to make my debut's dream
become possible. They are people whom,
in fact, I will never forget:
Pascal Zambili helped me financially
and Babo kabasu was my music producer,
one of the best music directors I have
known.
Also, Pastor Jose and Patricia Muzingu
were my spiritual advisors and many
other friends like Rev. Pacific Zagabe,
Barbara Mutund, etc. Africa was a representation of a good spiritual
foundation for me. I learned how to
stand up in difficult time, to love
people, and to work hard, while depending
completely in God.
Folks
who were with
me at that time will tell you and
confirm what I mean. I also helped, in
my part, local
gospel singers, such as Itani Madima and
Travis Chapman. I had the privilege to
learn music from one of the most known
singer in the country, Tom English. He
actually sang several times with with Hosanna Integrity. I
benefited a lot
from Carol Moundy of Rhema Bible Church,
Lucky Dube and Lazar Takasasa. This was a blessing from heaven and from
other people around me. I know only
the will of God was fulfilled when
people started to discover me.
Congoboston: If
you can tell us of any particular
amazing experience
while serving in the ministry back in Africa?
Luke Irung: Yes,
I believe my good experience was to gain
knowledge and a great foundation,
learning the Scriptures (The Bible) with great preachers like
Pr. Daniel Muteba, Pr. Johachien
Bukasa was like my Daddy and Pr. Bob Kalonji
as well.
Congoboston:
There is a little unknown chapter of
your journey in Boston: your passage at Eagle Heights
Church in Revere parkway. What really
did happen to you?
Luke Irung: Eagle Heights Church has done
wonderful things spiritually and
socially for me. For a short journey like you said, God used me like
I was there for years. I glorify Jesus
for Pastor James Collins, whom I respect
as a Godly man. I
won’t think twice to be under the authority
of men of God like him. Eagle Heights
church, as a church was
there when I was in the prison; they
supported me in many ways I cannot
number. Nevertheless, many other people
helped, cried and prayed with me like yourself, Brother
Franklin and Olivier. You gave me refuge
when I did not have anything. Some came to
visit me in prison thank you to brother
Gilbert Mulamba and sylvia…. I would
never fully understand why God
allowed that to happen until now.
Today,
I thank
God for that "prison time",
which made me stand
up to say like Jesus Christ, Lord
forgive them because they don’t know what
they are doing (those who caused my
difficulties) Many churches, especially
Congolese-based churches need to
stand in unity and in love for one
another and that is what we've missed back in
La Vie Abondante in Boston. I will say it without fearing
that the Church of Christ is
not a personal business: Many souls are
suffering; marriages are being broken,
church people are still in need of spiritual help; It does not matter
who they are, what position they've got in
the Church, we should always look humbly
for help from one
another. That rough experience of mine maybe nothing for someone today,
but the fact that I am still alive means
God watches over us, and the world is
watching too.
Congoboston:
You are now a "Texan" guy! Can
you narrate us about some of your ministry
starting episodes in Dallas?
Luke Irung: Before
everything, Dallas is home for me. God guided me to
Dallas for a purpose, I don’t say things are
perfect but I don’t mind to live in
Texas doing my ministry. More folks
around here became like family: My Pastor Alex
and Fariala Ehambe. Many good things happened
in my ministry, like now I'm back and
forth between Texas and Los Angeles
where I'm accomplishing what
God called me to do soon. I am going to
accomplish the task, before I go back
home in Texas. In LA, I've been helping
with coaching churches with their praise and
worship team. Soon, I will be ready to release my
new album with God’s help.
Congoboston:
Some people would say, Brother Luke has
been dragging feet too long with
this precious ministry calling,
given the talents and opportunities you
hold. Your next album happened to be a
long time promise to the public ever.
Why?
Luke Irung: Ministry
and talents are God's gifts and everything
happens at the right time with the right
people around you .Also, it's not about people
only, I rely on God for this ministry.
If it was just depending on me, brother,
I would have been singing and cutting albums every
time. I think I need to wait God’s time.
Sometimes, people I have worked with just wasted my talent and time.
I should say that the public knows who I am and my endeavors, by the grace of God,
and this is not a
competition in the
body of Christ.
Also, I needed good
distribution companies among African
people; those who respect artist's work
(who don't illegally copy music), while
artists spent their time in studio because God
will bless us, if we are faithful in
little things. I have a good
connection made possible by Pastor Jose
and Patricia Muzingu I won't say
much until the appointed time, and
you
are all going to be happy. We are still
working on and very very soon, you will hear about it.
Congoboston:
Where did you get the inspiration from,
writing your album’s 10 songs? How were
your studio workshops? You just mentioned
it...Any plans in distributing this next
album in Texas, Boston and else where?
Luke Irung: Simple!
I got the inspiration from the Bible and
during
my difficult times; sometimes in the church during
preachers' sermons and sometimes right in
the studio while recording ... Holy
Spirit will just drop in something. The
other great
thing about is that when I need
help artistically, I don't hide it; I will ask some
artists like me and they always give me
a hand to
make my work perfect. Like I said
before, I am working on a project to
come out soon and on my website as well.
Congoboston:
Would you consider just for a moment
performing and ministering some day in Boston Mass and in Africa?
Luke Irung: Yes!
Anytime, anywhere God commands me to be, you will see me
there. I don't have anything planed so
far beyond April
2006, but I am just busy right now traveling
and taking care of business. Good news is
that I am going to Africa the month of April with South Lake Church,
located in Portland Oregon. We will be going
to Ivory Coast for a mission under God's will.
Congoboston:
Good for you brother Luke! I don’t mean to make it hard on you, but
I want to give you an opportunity to say
here a personal message, may be someone you still have back in Boston. It can be a
friend, family, a church member, or your
kids......
Luke Irung: I
will say that life is very short and we need
to love one another. I don't know what
people think about me and I care less
about, anyways. Many people heard about me but
never had a chance to talk with me. It
was almost predictable the way things happened and
what judgment I got off of it. But, praise
be to God
because He knows our hearts and motives.
To Congolese church members in my
community in Boston, I'd love to say:
I
learned a lot through what I have been
through. Hey, everybody has a testing time!
Above all, Jesus made it possible to
overcome on the cross.
To my kids, I love you all and... the truth
shall set you free too. Finally to all my
friends, let keep on praying for one another for that is why
friendship was made for.
I will leave them with Scriptures from I
John 2:19 - "They went out from us
but they were not of us; for if they
were, they would,
no doubt, have continued with us. But
they went out that they might be made
manifested because they were not all of
us."
Congoboston:
The Bible says: “ All things work
together for the good for those who love
the Lord, those He has called for His
purpose” Any good lesson you got from
your past struggles that grow your
ministry today? Any regret at all?
Luke Irung: Yes
brother, you can not imagine how much my
past struggles changed my life and set me
on the solid Rock. Those who know me now
say they are blessed. I believe God
dealt with me a lot. I am not going to say the work
is complete or that I am perfect, but a lot
of junk were surely pulled out as
feedbacks I'm getting, Praise God! No doubt
for my
ministry and myself, we needed this
breakthrough! If you read in
the Bible, and you know it, great people of God have been
through difficult time, but later there was
the Glory of God manifested. Even Jesus himself
experienced that on the
cross. We are growing and learning every day.
I don't regret at all, I thank God for all
those who used
to give me difficult time.
Congoboston:
Well, here I guess, we are talking to a mended
heart and an established minister of the
Gospel
music. If you can grade now your next album,
what would you and the people say
about it?
Luke
Irung: I will let you guys listen and
appreciate it. No comment about it. One
thing I know: I
like what I am doing now.
Congoboston:
I thank you so much for humbly opening up your
heart to us, allowing many who knew you to learn and
take advantage from your enduring
experience in your personal life to
become wise. One of the things the
church is to know about our interest in
getting this interview is that we
believe in personal experiences that can
change many, can inspire artists songs
(live David and Asaph) and even strengthen the
preaching of the Gospel. I
value your noble ministry and all the support
you got from your home church
in Texas.
May you increase, Brother, and always
carry a message of a pure gospel through
your music. Once again, I thank you, on the
behalf of the editorial team. I know
many back in Boston love you and wish you the best. The Network will stay
on the look for your new album !!!
By
Franklin Katunda
Editor-in-Chief
© Congoboston, December, 2005
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