Huambo - The governor of the province of Huambo, Pereira Alfredo, praised on Sunday the secular work constantly developed by the Evangelical Congregational Church in Angola (IECA) in the education, health and social assistance of citizens.
The governor was speaking at the inauguration service of the temple of the Pastorate Headquarters Academic Mission, with the capacity to accommodate 5,000 people, in a ceremony presided over by the secretary general of the IECA, Reverend Luciano Chanhelela Chianeque, in the presence of deputies to the National Assembly and other political figures in the country
On the occasion, the governor said it was a church with a noble mission and an unavoidable partner of the Angolan State, hence the Executive's firm commitment to continue to work 'hand in hand' to build more infrastructures capable of giving greater dignity to citizens.
In this way, he recalled that the infrastructures of the University Campus of the Evangelical Mission of Dondi, in the municipality of Cachiungo, have been completed, which is certainly a living contribution of the President of the Republic, João Lourenço, in this partnership.
He said it is important that the church and the Angolan Executive, each in their own mission, do their part, for the development of the country, with a focus on peaceful and healthy coexistence.
When speaking about the temple of the Pastorate Headquarters Academic Mission, he said it is an imposing infrastructure and work of art, which will give the city of Huambo a new architectural beauty and dignity, which makes citizens proud.
He added that the new infrastructure obliges, in a good way, the Government of the province of Huambo to engage in the improvement of the urban plastic of the city, so that it is the best to be and complete the good works of art erected.
The temple, whose works began in 2007, cost more than 900 million Kwanzas.
It has 46 compartments, a 10-classroom school (in operation since 2023), two amphitheaters, a library and support offices.
The IECA in the province of Huambo has 215,000 members, 65 pastors in office and 13 reformed, 387 deacons, 134 pastorates, with more than a thousand congregations in the 11 municipalities.
The IECA was established in Angola on November 11, 1880, through the missionaries of the American mission board: Bagster, William Henry Sanders and Samuel Taylor Miller.
The church has, in this province, five local synods, namely Bailundo, Caála, Dondi, Elende and Huambo.
It was recognized by the Angolan Government on January 24, 1987, under Executive Decree No. 9/87 and under Registration No. 1, of October 24, 2005 of the Ministry of Justice and Human Rights. ZZN/ALH/DOJ
