Angola is a nation of 31 million people on the coast of West Africa, where African Leadership has been training pastors and church leaders since 1997. As of March 2008, we have 386 students attending 9 classes, with over 1200 graduates who are active in church ministry.

Our National Director for Angola is Luis Nguimbi. In Angola, where the national average income is only 1980.00 per year, the vast majority of Angolans are poor, with very few resources for pastors or church leaders to go to school or seminary. Pastor training is essential for the health and growth of the church in Angola, for mature leadership, and to build church unity.

The people of Angola are rebuilding their lives following 27 years od civil war that ended in 2002, with over a million lives lost and more than 4 million displaced. Decades of conflict has affected the majority of the population, where despite the fact that 60% of the population is Christian, many people, including Christians, are very much attached to superstition. People commonly believe in fetishism or sorcery, living in fear of evil spirits.

African Leadership is thankful to have a presence in Angola. As African Leadership equips National Directors like Luis and his colleagues to spread the Gospel in churches and communities throughout Angola, we are grateful for the support of our donors who make this national transformation possible. As we visit with our African Directors and attend graduation ceremonies, we are amazed at the dedication of these pastors. They usually work full time jobs in addition to their pastoral workload, while attending classes 2-4 days a week. Their desire to be better teachers and preachers is reflected in their joyful completion of the 2-year program, which provides comprehensive training in all phases of church leadership, equivalent to a foundational-level seminary or Bible College degree, utilizing a 10-course, 2,500-page Bible centered curriculum, developed and translated by African Leadership.

Students attending leadership classes desperately need support to complete their courses and to graduate, so they may minister to their congregations with biblical maturity. Financial support is needed for feeding students, support for teachers, and for travel costs. It is a wondrous work of grace that so many pastors are able to attend training, as the truth of the Gospel is the only hope for most of these people, living in one of the poorest nations in the world.

Please pray for Luis and his family and staff, as they labor to bring hope to the communities of Angola, by increasing the impact of the Gospel through training of pastors and church leaders. African Leadership-Angola hopes to graduate some 190 students each year, who, when their training is finished, will periodically attend alumni training for HIV/AIDS issues, Islam apologetics, and financial management. Hopefully, from the networking of these alumni and teachers, new training centers may be established, spreading the word about our Training Program, resulting in more pastor registrations, and expanded educational opportunities for the maturity of the Church.

With such immeasurable need for training of pastors and church leaders, African Leadership is working to bring accessible, affordable training to Angola for the vitality and health of the Church. African Leadership team members and teachers face difficulties traveling, with dependable vehicles always in short supply, as they organize and teach their classes. Computer software and hardware is needed for classes and administration. Luis hopes to start an agricultural project to enable students and families with sustenance farming. Please consider how you might lend your support, as you pray for Luis and his family and staff, as they labor to bring hope to the communities of Angola, by increasing the impact of the Gospel through training of Pastors and church leaders.