Ondjiva - The provincial governor of Cunene Province, Gerdina Didalelwa, on Sunday in the city of Ondjiva praised the partnership between the Angolan authorities and the churches in the moralisation of society, contributing to the well-being of communities.
She was speaking at the closing ceremony of the United Methodist Church's lay council, emphasising that this partnership has been promoting civic and moral values in the implementation of social projects with the aim of improving citizens' living conditions.
She recognised the particular way in which the contribution of the United Methodist Church has been made from colonial repression to the present day, promoting crucial values, harmonious living with national unity and reconciliation, as well as its contribution in the fields of education and health, as well as social assistance for families.
Gerdina Didalelwa said that currently the society is facing several problems that contribute to the degradation of the social values due to the delinquency, excessive alcohol consumption, drug use, domestic violence, the malicious use of social networks, particularly among young people, which require complementary action between the government and the churches to combat them.
"These evils demand a serious commitment from all of us by promoting initiatives to combat them, so the churches have a challenge that they must fulfil for the good of the communities", she said.
She then explained that the Church, as a place of socialisation and the most comfortable meeting point for families, should make the best use of these occasions to nourish its members with the values not only of the Gospel, but also those that are fundamental for affirming the construction of responsible citizenship and solidarity.
"The Churches, due to their capacity for intervention and mobilisation, are called upon to make their contribution, providing believers and other communities with emotional balance and a perspective of hope so that they give themselves to the cause of building up the homeland", she concluded.
In turn, the lay guiding pastor of the West Angola Conference, Laurinda Neto, said that the meeting, which took place from 22 to 25 February, brought together 120 members from the 18 provinces, in order to carry out consultation on missionary action in Cunene.
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