Transportation for Pastors in Angola

Angola

The Evangelical Congregational Church in Angola (IECA) is a longstanding partner of Global Ministries, founded in 1880 in the Chilume Mission, Bailundo, and Huambo Province. Since the earliest days of its existence, IECA has paid great attention to church-based social development and education efforts.  Improvements have been made in the lives of many people through projects of rehabilitation, training, literacy, health, peace, and reconciliation.  Such improvements have helped the lives of many, and have been beneficial in building relationships between various groups of the church’s people.  IECA also has participated in rural and urban community development through education, agriculture, and various other means of training.  

Angola was ravaged by a 27-year civil war, which destroyed much of IECA’s church and community development efforts, particularly in rural areas.  A great number of IECA’s facilities in rural areas were damaged or destroyed during the war.  Currently Angola is in a phase of peace-building, return of refugees, and re-development – a very exciting yet difficult time for church and community alike.   

As IECA pastors work hard to rebuild the church communities and outreach efforts, they visit communities that are long distances one from another and have no other alternative but to walk these long distances and spend days on the road going from place to place.  This situation, combined with pastors’ very low salaries, makes their work very disheartening and slows down the rebuilding process.  

Reliable transportation for pastors would include both second-hand automobiles and motorcycles.  Once a car is purchased, it will be the responsibility of each church district to maintain the car used by pastors.  Inflation and cost of living is high in Angola so even a second-hand car will cost $10,000 to $12,000 in today’s market.

Motorcycles are a viable option to travel to places where standard vehicles like trucks and cars cannot reach.  Motorcycles also cost less, maintenance is less expensive, and they can travel without roads in rough areas and go longer distances. The purchase of motorcycles will transport workers and pastors safely and reduce travel time. This will help them accomplish more for the people they serve.

The important work of the pastors will ultimately result in more people in the communities growing spiritually and socially.