Welcome to the Global Ministries Mission Live Webinar with Donna Dudley, missionary working with the Evangelical Congregational Church in Angola The presentation will begin at 7:00pm. Please mute your computer microphone and turn up your computer speaker audio volume.

Challenges & Realities for the Church in Angola

National Context: Background 1974: Portuguese colonial rule ends 1975: MPLA victory; ongoing civil war with UNITA 1989 – 1994: failed peace accords 2002: Peace accord that is holding 2008: Parliamentary elections held

Political and Social Realities Civil war leaves winners and losers, destroyed infrastructure, legacy of structural and domestic violence, broken lives and divided communities. Peace is the cessation of armed hostilities, not peace with justice. A weak civil sector and high levels of abuse of human rights prevail.

Economic growth benefits only the few while the great majority survive on $1 per day. Paralyzing fear grips and controls most people; if you stand up, you stand out and are at risk. The truth that sets people free is yet to be spoken. Political and Social Realities (2)

Statistics that Challenge Us Life expectancy: 40 for men; 41 for women People actively participating in the economy: 32% Population below poverty line: 68% Population without access to basic health services: 76% Population with access to basic sanitation: 16%

Population with access to potable water: 47% Population age 20 and under: 60% Infant mortality rate: 154 for every 1,000 live births Child mortality rate by age five: 274 per 1,000 Maternal mortality rate: 1,500 per 100,000 Statistics that Challenge Us (2)

Evangelical Congregational Church in Angola (IECA): Background & Landmarks 1880: founded by North American missionaries to begin rich history of evangelization and community development 1930: first jubilee celebrated; 10 missions and 822 branches, generally rural and central Civil War: Destruction of mission stations and flight of rural people to cities

1991: Dept. of Social Assistance, Studies and Projects (DASEP) created to revitalize community development 2009: IECA is Angolas second largest church with… presence in 15 of 18 provinces, over 900,000 members, 2,800 congregations, fewer than 180 pastors, and resolve to be 100% urban and 100% rural Evangelical Congregational Church in Angola (IECA): Background & Landmarks (2)

IECAs Strategic Outlook Mission Slogan Evangelize, teach and promote integral and lasting peace in Angola by Word and Works Vision Slogan To create a more just Angolan society, founded on ethical- moral and biblical principles, leading to a better world for all

IECAs Strategic Priorities Evangelization – to grow the church and to create and sustain hope Education – for children and adults to improve literacy and academic attainment

Training – for teachers, vocational preparation, and for church and community leadership Sustainable Development – to improve life for individuals, families, and communities IECAs Strategic Priorities (2)

Health/HIV-AIDS – to reduce epidemics, infant and maternal mortality, and prevent the spread of AIDS Gender equity for women and protection for children – to empower those individuals most at societys margins Institutional Development – to improve the general administration of churches and projects and to increase institutional credibility IECAs Strategic Priorities (3)

Additional Concerns Cited by Clergy and Laity Continuing healing from the war, for individuals and society Encouraging reconciliation among former combatants and between various sectors Sharing ideas regarding how to live in peace, with a healthy sense of community

Educating individuals for citizenship: promoting voting rights; encouraging government accountability; and empowering civil society Developing leadership, within both church and community Additional Concerns Cited by Clergy and Laity (2)

Additional Concerns Cited by Clergy and Laity (3) Creating opportunities for self- sustainability of the church and projects, to lessen the impact of outside control Strengthening positive internal and external partnerships that foster community development

Advocating for human rights, including special populations Encouraging cultural development and pride Additional Concerns Cited by Clergy and Laity (4)

Examples of Forward Progress, Signs of Hope: Canata Pre-School Program Opened in March 2009 Enrolment of 100 children, ages 3 – 5 Has a strong arts component, provides recreational activities, encourages teamwork, and exposes children to pre-reading skills

Cuio Water Project The goal was to improve poor peoples access to safe water and basic sanitation to improve health and living conditions Construction of a pump-and- gravity system to deliver water Local women manage the project and resisted government attempts to increase pricing People have moved to the town to benefit from this safe, secure water supply

Faces of the Future

Faces of the Future (2)

Faces of the Future (3)

Faces of the Future (4)

Partnering to Create a Shared Vision of the Future I served as an assistant to Luis Samacumbi, DASEPs General Director, from January 2008 through December 2009 Helped develop organizational capacities Assisted in enhancing strategic and operational planning and implementation Offered guidance on a variety of projects Assisted in strengthening relationships with existing partners and creating links to new ones

Working together to build the one body of Christ in two different places

The Journey Yet to Come: Critical Presence Meeting Gods People at the Point of Deepest Need

Thank you for participating in this Global Ministries Mission Live Webinar. Global Ministries is able to send missionaries, like Donna Dudley, on behalf of Disciples and UCC because of your generous support of Disciples Mission Fund (DMF) and Our Churchs Wider Mission (OCWM). Thank you for sharing the story of Gods mission in Angola in your congregation and please tell others about our next Mission Live Webinar on January 28, 8pm when Emily Christmas, Global Mission Intern serving in South Africa will share her story.