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Luanda, Angola
Angola MB church growing despite country’s struggles


Pakisa Tshimika, Africa program director for MBMS International, visited with Mennonite Brethren churches in war-torn Angola. He recently reported on the social and political situation in that country. Since his last visit about four years ago, war has resumed in most provinces under the rebel group UNITA’s control.

The consequences of war are noticeable in the streets of Luanda. Many children and young people have lost a leg or both or an arm because of grenades or land mines.

Mennonite Brethren churches are growing in spite of the struggles in Angola. There are currently five congregations each in Luanda and Uige.

In Malange, Pastor Makila and several refugees who returned from Congo have established 62 congregations with a total membership of about 2,000. Makila received his training at Nzash Mwadi Bible School in Congo. He is working among his people, targeting those living close to the Angola-Congo border.

Due to the similarity in the sound of “Mennonita” and UNITA, government officials perceived the Mennonites in Malange to be members of the UNITA movement. As a result, Mennonites were persecuted. When fighting resumed in the region, their churches were destroyed and members were dispersed into the forest.

Makila was thought to have been killed by government forces, but he is still alive and energetic, living in Luanda. His goal is to move back to Malange and establish new congregations and to reorganize others scattered during the fighting.

A delegation carrying official documents was sent by the church in Luanda to meet with provincial officials in Malange in order to clear up the misunderstanding caused by the Mennonite name. After reviewing the documents, the confusion between “Mennonita” and UNITA was cleared up, and the church was encouraged to continue its activities in the province.

 – from a report by Pakisa Tshimika and Eleanor Miller, Mennonite World Conference

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Last modified July 20, 2007.

© 2007 Mennonite Brethren Herald.
Published by the Canadian Conference of MB Churches.
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