Longonjo - The Minister of State for Social Affairs, Dalva Ringote, on Saturday highlighted the need for greater engagement of churches in the continuous promotion of peace and the implementation of programs to rescue moral values.
Dalva Ringote was speaking during the celebrations of the centenary of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, held at “Bongo’s Mission”, in the commune of Lepi, municipality of Longonjo, in Huambo province.
On the occasion, she said it was important that religious institutions continue to focus on the constant search for social harmony, based on respect for the secularity of the State, for the construction of a fair and democratic society.
The Minister of State considered the participation of all living forces in society to be fundamental in building human dignity, so that, together with state institutions, it is possible to open new challenges for sustainable development.
Therefore, she said that the church must be engaged in the promotion of moral values, to combat the vandalization of public property, the exploitation of child labor, harassment and sexual rape of minors, as well as all acts aggressive actions against women, through positive habits and teachings.
She recommended the construction of a behavioral matrix that defends human principles, to prevent investment losses resulting from the destruction of public goods, in addition to discouraging other anti-social behaviors at all levels.
The Minister of State recognized the social performance of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, which she encouraged to continue promoting ethical and moral values, so that there is greater involvement of communities in defending human dignity and preserving peace.
She reaffirmed the relationship of positive compatibility that exists between the State and legalized Christian churches, above all, in promoting social solidarity and respect for religious differences, with a focus on promoting the well-being of communities.
She said that joint engagement in the implementation of programs linked to education, health, basic social protection, reducing vulnerability in communities and counseling citizens in conflict with the law was notable.
The celebration of the centenary was marked by a thanksgiving service, which brought together close to 10,000 believers.
It is known that the first contact of the Seventh-day Adventist movement in Angola was established in 1922, by US pastor William Harry Anderson, who, accompanied by Reverend James Delmar Baker, achieved, on April 27, 1924, official authorization to establish the Bongo Mission, in the province of Huambo.
At the time, it was made up of the Mission Fields of Benguela, Bié, Cabinda, Cuanza-Norte, Cuanza-Sul, Huíla, Lunda-Norte, Lunda-Sul, Moxico, Namibe and Zaire.
Formally recognized by the Angolan State through Executive Decree No. 9/87, of January 24, the Seventh-day Adventist Church currently has four 4,626 temples, with a total of 2.600 million believers and 436 Pastors.
It has 58 educational institutions, 40 of which are at primary level, 13 at secondary level and five at the second cycle, at a time when it is working on the construction of a university campus at Bongo’s Mission, with the aim of becoming a national reference in the field of training of people. LT/ALH/DOJ
