Worldwide Prayer Meeting
Prayer Focus - Angola Territory
Kalandula Falls in Angola
O, come let us adore Him. This week as we approach closer to Christmas, there are a lot of last-minute things to be done. You may be preparing to travel or receive guests; ordering gifts or braving the malls and stores to shop; decorating or wrapping gifts. Or maybe you are involved in distributing Angel Tree gifts, food parcels or with trying to raise money for the Army during these last hectic days. These things are all important. They must be done. Include the time to adore the One who came, who is the center point of all that Christmas is. O, come let us adore Him. Christ, the Lord.
Prayer
Gracious Savior, Thank You for every reminder of You this Christmas season. I love the Christmas cards, especially the ones that honor You with beautiful artwork and lovely words about You coming to be our Savior. Thank You for the Christmas music that plays on the radio and while I’m shopping, and while a lot of it is about silly things like snow and reindeer, a lot of it is about You. Thank You for every Christmas light that reminds me that You came to be the light of the world. Thank You for every manger scene that shows a tiny baby in straw who came so humbly rather than coming in some stately palace in a golden crib. Thank You for the excitement of children as they anticipate gifts and I pray, holy Savior, that if they do not know You already, that they would be even more excited to welcome You into their hearts when You come to them with the gift of salvation. Thank You for Christmas, for coming to us, for coming to me. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
This is a timbrel drill with a distinctly Angolan cultural expression. Well worth the time to watch.
Background of the
Angola Territory
Angola was a Portuguese colony for 450 years. In 1975, Marxists orchestrated a coup that took over the government, ending colonial rule. This led to a long and bloody civil war that displaced millions and led to hundreds of thousands of deaths. In 1990, a peace was negotiated under the United Nations but further fighting broke out in 1998 that did not end until 2002. Since then, a stable government has emerged, and Angola has enjoyed one of the fastest growing economies in the world. Unfortunately, prosperity has been uneven, leaving many Angolans still living in poverty, with life expectancy among the lowest in the world as well as infant mortality among the highest.
Angola is blessed with many natural resources including huge oil reserves, good agricultural land, minerals and diamond wealth.
There is freedom of religion in Angola although under the Marxist government, there was widespread persecution of Christians. Over 94% of the population claim Christianity. Because of the lingering resentments from the long conflict, Christians have the challenge of leading reconciliation and showing love in action. Practical action is needed as the country still has widespread suffering, not the least of which is building infrastructure, clearing out landmines, and healing invisible wounds. Schools need still need to be rebuilt and the suffering among the poor, as evidenced by the high infant mortality rate and short life expectancy, are a challenge not only to the government but to believers as well.
The Salvation Army: In 1974, two officers originally from Angola but trained and serving in Congo (Kinshasa) entered Angola by Uige Province to commence Salvation Army meetings in that part of the country. In 1978, other Salvationists from Kinshasa met in Angola’s capital, Luanda, and “opened fire.” The work was officially recognized by The Salvation Army in 1985 and by the Angola Government on February 14, 1992. Having been part of the Congo (Kinshasa) Territory, it became a separate command on March 1, 2008 and a territory on March 1, 2023.
Facts, Stats & Leadership of the
Angola Territory
- Total population in which to fish and disciple: 37,885,849
- 56 Active Officers, 6 Aux. Captains, 4 Envoys, 1 Cadet
- 15 Retired Officers
- 47 Employees
- 37 Corps, 25 Societies and Outposts
- 4,745 Senior Soldiers, 358 Adherents
- 1,014 Junior Soldiers
Leadership
Lt. Colonel Stephen Malins - Territorial Commander
Lt. Colonel Theresa Malins - Territorial President of Women's Ministries
Major Sérgio Nsumbu - Chief Secretary
Major Ana Nsumbu - Territorial Secretary of Women's Ministries
Prayers Requests for the
Angola Territory
- The spiritual growth of The Salvation Army in Angola, both growth in the spiritual lives of individuals and the church.
- Numerical growth. One Wins One is the challenge to Salvationists in the Angola Territory.
- Women’s Ministry. Pray that God will bring renewal to the spiritual lives of women in the territory through this work. Please pray particularly for the finances.
- Our schools. Pray that God will provide a good team, capable of teaching effectively, so that the young people attending our schools will be set up for a good future.
- The health of active and retired officers.
- Those who are called to serve within The Salvation Army, that they will respond to God’s call. Please pray that God will raise up people to fulfil roles within the territory, particularly Territorial Youth Secretary and Candidates Officer, a Principal for the Officer Training College, Financial Secretary and Development Officer.
- The growing number of abandoned children and rising crime in the capital city of Luanda.
- The evaluation and preparation of the Territorial Strategic Plan. In February, there will be a meeting in Luanda to evaluate the plan.
Prayer Requests
USA Southern Territory
- Major Brenda Raymer, Territorial Director of International Personnel, Personnel
- Women’s Organizations
- Lesha Montford, Territorial Compensation Analyst, Human Resources
- Tuwanda Wilson, Grants Management Specialist, Social Services
- Christian Martinez, IT Assistant, Command Information Technology Department, ARC Command
- Christopher Corbitt, Music & Gospel Arts Director, Evangeline Booth College
- Cadet Heather Simpson
- Captain Jervonne Hinton, Candidates’ Secretary, Kentucky/Tennessee Division
- Colonel Sue-Ellen Betts, National Secretary for Personnel, NHQ
- Majors Bobby & Natalie Jackson, officers, beneficiaries, employees, and volunteers of the ARC Command
- Feeding Programs
- Anonymous prayer request for a great, great nephew who is 11 days old
- Anonymous prayer request for Eline as she is adjusting to this new country for her
- Robert C. is asking for prayer that after graduation from the ARC that he be able to find a place to live
Something to Consider
“The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it” (John 1:5).
Amid a world that shrouded a shadow, John 1:5 becomes a lighthouse of hope. This line is not only poetic, but overflows with spiritual power. Light and darkness are common in the Scripture, signifying the opposition of good versus evil, enlightenment versus ignorance, and divine revelation versus human blindness.
The light in the Gospel of John symbolizes the life and truth of Jesus Christ, a light that breaks through the darkest night. This message resonates with the truth of the gospel: in His life, death, and resurrection, Jesus one a clear victory against darkness: all sins, death, despair, and alienation are defeated.
In addition, the statement that darkness “has not overcome it,” is very emphatic. It is a declaration not only about a continuing war but also about the final victory of Christ. The darkness didn’t and can’t put out the light of Christ.
This truth gives hope and courage that the darkness we face cannot overshadow the light of Christ in our hearts. It calls on us to be children of light to confront darkness through our testimony to His truth and love.
The light of Christ is not a theoretical idea but a transforming energy, calling us to live lives in faith and under the guidance of the Spirit. In the light we find clarity, purpose, and a peace that passes understanding, because we are in line with the Invincible Light.
- From Embracing Shiloh
Captain Wayne Meads
Prayer
Lord Jesus, Light of the World, I am in awe of the victory You declare – darkness never has nor will overcome Your light. At those times when shadows seem to close in on me, You assure me that Your light is never defeated. Assist me that I might hold on to this blessed assurance and walk in faith, knowing that no darkness is too deep for Your light to penetrate. Amen.
Finally in closing, we enjoy one of the great Christmas songs, “O Holy Night,” brought to us by the First Baptist Church Choir and Orchestra from Dallas, Texas.