Huambo - Pastor Adelino Timóteo Mateus of the Evangelical Congregational Church in Angola (IECA) on Sunday in the southern Huambo province called on the people to respect state institutions, starting with the protection of public assets.
The religious leader, who was speaking at a Sunday worship service held at the IECA's Pastoral Mission-Academic Centre in Huambo, said it was important that citizens, especially members, refrain from any practice or act that jeopardizes the common welfare.
Pastor Adelino Timóteo Mateus said that the authorities, both governmental, religious and traditional, need to be respected, as they are established by God, according to the Holy Bible.
For this reason, he defended the safeguarding of civic, moral, patriotic, cultural and spiritual values, because “it is not right for a citizen who claims to love God to go out on the street and make cartoons or demonstrate against a state authority”.
In front of hundreds of faithful, the Pastor encouraged families, especially women, to report cases of domestic violence, with a focus on eradicating this social evil and protecting homes.
In addition to Adelino Timóteo Mateus, IECA in this region of the country, which is made up of five local synods: Bailundo, Caála, Dondi, Elende and Huambo, has 79 pastors, a total of 122 pastorates, 1,187 congregations, almost 1,210 deacons and deaconesses, 1,187 catechists, in a total of 215,614 believers, with temples in 11 municipalities.
The church was established in Angola on 11 November 1880 through missionaries from the American Board of Missions: Bagster, William Henry Sanders and Samuel Taylor Miller.
It was recognised by the Angolan government on 24 January 1987, under Executive Decree no. 9/87, and under Registration no. 1 of 24 October 2005 of the Ministry of Justice and Human Rights. ALH/MRA/DOJ
