
Rarely heard of in Christian circles, Angola is a country with few evangelical missionaries presently. The country has a history of remarkable missionary endeavours dating back to the first European explorer of the "Dark Continent", Dr. David Livingstone. Making the first trans-continental trek beginning in Luanda, Angola, he journeyed to the Indian ocean in 1854-56. However, the Portuguese had already been in Angola since the late 1400's, mainly trading in slaves, most of whom were shipped to the Portuguese colony of Brazil. Following Livingstone came a flux of missionaries led by Frederick Stanley Arnot who brought Christianity to central Africa, founding missions in Angola and Zambia, a number of which exist to this day.
The people of Angola not only suffered the ravages of slavery for over 350 years but in more recent history, the brutality of the civil war lasting from 1975 to 2002. This conflict resulted in significant loss of life and destruction of any development that the Portuguese had brought to Angola in over 500 years of colonization. It also resulted in the 60 expatriate assembly missionaries being forced to move to the capital or leave by the early 1980's and brought about the physical destruction of almost all of the 20+ assembly mission stations in Angola. Remarkably, the assemblies, which numbered around 400 before the war, now number more than 1200. The effects of war continue to be evident in the country and the people of Angola. Since infrastructure was destroyed, transport, health, and education are far behind countries such as Zambia which did not go through a war. In the assemblies, especially in rural areas, many believers remain illiterate. This results in assemblies where only a few can read the scriptures; resultant error in church practice and teaching is difficult to avoid in these circumstances. As well, in many instances lack health care and sound Bible teaching results in a dependence on traditional healers and witchcraft, even among believers.
The Lord has brought workers to Angola. In 1982, Ruth Hadley (UK) arrived in Biula, Lunda-Sul province, and within a few years found herself largely alone in that area of the country as other missionaries left or moved elsewhere; the Lord led her eventually to Saurimo, Lunda-Sul province where she continued through the war up to present. Brian and Debbie Howden (UK) arrived in early 1995 before they returned to England for the education of their sons in 2003. Ruth has been involved in a wide variety of outreaches from literacy work, to home Bible studies, youth outreach, support of medical clinics run by Angolan nurses, and, more recently, the building and overseeing of rural schools just outside of Saurimo. The Howdens have continued to make trips to Angola since their return to England, with Brian giving teaching in the many assemblies of the area and working closely with the Angola Literature Fund. Zambian missionaries Mutondo and Florence Masaha serve in Chilombo, Moxico province, close to Zambia, providing basic medical care along with a gospel outreach, and teaching in the assemblies in the area. An Argentinian medical team (overseen by Drs. Juan and Adrianna Palacio) has been running a medical clinic in Luena, Moxico for the past number of years, and Paulo and Raquel Alves (Brazil) labor in Lubango, in the south of Angola. Joel and Kaleigh Griffin from Fredericton, NB have completed language study in Portugal and are waiting on visas to enter Angola and serve in the Biula area. Elizabeth and I serve in Biula where we live with our five children; we are still adapting to life there. We have started working in two local clinics, and plan as we become more settled and gain fluency in Chokwe, to work with other assembly medical clinics, helping in connection with gospel outreach and teaching in local assemblies.
The opportunities and needs are so varied and plentiful that there must be clear direction from God each step of the way to engage in what He wants to be done in Angola. The opportunities and needs could occupy a host of new workers if there were those willing to leave the perceived safety and comfort of home to enjoy the challenge of walking by faith and seeing God work in Angola.
Summer 2015
Written by Dr. Samuel and Elizabeth Simonyi-Gindele - Angola