On Wednesday, I had lunch with a new Good Shepherd friend who grew up in Angola.
My friend connected with Good Shepherd about ten months ago and has been a faithful attender ever since. His young adult daughters are some of the best volunteers we have in our K-Zone children’s ministry as well.
Here are a few things I discovered during our lunch:
- People like to talk about their home country. I did not know, for example, that Angola had been colonized by the Portugese and as a result about 20% of the population today is light-skinned.
- Angola was ruled by a communist regime from 1975 – 1991. That system fell at the same time the Soviet Union disintegrated.
- The land is rich in oil and in diamonds.
- Angola shares a long border with the Democratic Republic of the Congo AND the Angolans & Congolese regard each other much like Candians & Americans. Without all the “eh” jokes, I guess. Good Shepherd has a number of people from the DRC and the way they have welcomed my Angolan friend into our church family has been a sight to behold.
- Though my friend has been in church most of his life, I am the first pastor he’s ever shared a meal with. (Wha-what?)
- Angolans like fish better than beef. “I eat fish every day!” he said. So we both ordered Oregon Cedar Salmon!
- He appreciates that a service at Good Shepherd makes a point and lasts an hour.
- When I asked him about serving in a ministry, he said, “Of course. It’s for God who has given me everythng.”
- Amen.