David's Reflections on Angola

I had the privilege of travelling to Angola with Samuel. The reason for our trip was to visit the work of Every Home for Christ Angola and travel with an evangelism team to their work in various provinces within the country. Something I picked up on very quickly was that the guys we were travelling with were full of the joy of the Lord, singing praises to God and praying - they knew the love of God-they were on mission for their Saviour and in the power of the Holy Spirit.

During the course of the next few days we had the joy of meeting partner churches and encouraging them in their evangelism efforts. Samuel had the opportunity to share about our own work at RMA and the importance of Gospel literature in evangelism. From leaving home on the Sunday morning and after 64 hours of travel and some sickness it was so wonderful to finally have a bed to sleep in.

Rested and re-energised, the highlight of the trip for me came the following day, when we travelled to a remote village that had only been engaged with the Gospel last year. Samuel and myself both had the opportunity to share encouragement from the scriptures with the people. It was wonderful to see just how responsive these people were to the gospel message. After Emanuel preached, 40-50 people came forward to receive Christ.

We got to see this openness and responsiveness of the people when we did some door to door work with a partner team back in Benguela City. People were only too ready to receive the tracts we were giving to them and the message that the team had, namely that there is a God who loves them and has made a way for their Salvation. Again we saw God move in peoples’ hearts. Two young girls received Christ and we also met a man who claimed he had murdered someone in his past. He took a tract and listened intently to the Pastor who spoke with him for around 15 minutes.

I could tell story after story about the things we saw and the people we met, but the most inspiring of them all was the team of men we travelled with. Men of God and Men of mission. Unknown outside of their own country but known by God. They don’t have money and are limited in resources, but they know how to pray and prayer is their Strength! As a partner Organisation and a people that are blessed with many resources we can yet learn from these guys, that above all prayer is our most powerful weapon to make a difference in global evangelism.

Angola is the land of diamonds, a precious stone and the hardest substance known to man. These men that we journeyed with for 9 days were spiritual diamonds. Tough men that have a unique ability to go anywhere and endure anything. Always praising - always praying, fulfilling the great commission of our Master and shining like diamonds while they do it.

Please pray for them and for their network of Gospel partnerships including us, and that their area of influence would continue to be enlarged. Isaiah 43v4 - “Since thou wast precious in my sight, thou hast been honourable, and I have loved thee: therefore will I give men for thee, and people for thy life.”