College reopening brings light, joy, to Angola
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A UMNS photo by Mike DuBose United Methodist Bishop Jose Quipungo celebrates the rededication of Quéssua College following an 18-month rebuilding program.
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United
Methodist Bishop Jose Quipungo celebrates the rededication of Quéssua
College near Malanje, Angola, following an 18-month rebuilding program.
Quéssua, a United Methodist institution that included a chapel, college,
theological school and hospital, was bombed out of existence at the
beginning of the country's long civil war, in an act of revenge against
the first president of Angola, who was a United Methodist. A UMNS photo
by Mike DuBose. Photo # 06-1251. Accompanies UMNS story #642. 10/30/06 |
Oct. 30, 2006
By Kathy L. Gilbert*
MALANJE, Angola (UMNS) —
The opening of Quéssua Theological College is bringing the light back
to a place that has lived in darkness for the last 20 years.
At the beginning of
Angola's long civil war, Quéssua, a United Methodist institution, was
bombed out of existence in an act of revenge against the first president
of Angola, who was a United Methodist.
Set a few miles from Malanje in a gently rolling countryside, Quéssua educated many of the leaders of Angola today.
"We need this school
for our children. We are hoping after today the students will come
back," Bishop Jose Quipungo told those gathered to celebrate the
inauguration of the pre-university school Sept. 28.
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A UMNS photo by Mike DuBose The Rev. R. Randy Day (center) cuts the ribbon to reopen the Quéssua Theological College.
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The
Rev. R. Randy Day (center), top executive of the United Methodist Board
of Global Ministries, cuts the ribbon to reopen the Quéssua Theological
College, near Malanje, Angola. "We need this school for our children,
we are hoping after today the students will come back," Bishop Jose
Quipungo told those gathered to celebrate the inauguration of the
pre-university school Sept. 28. A UMNS photo by Mike DuBose. Photo #
06-1250. Accompanies UMNS story #642. 10/30/06 |
The Rev. R. Randy Day, top executive of the United Methodist Board of
Global Ministries, was on hand to cut the ribbon at the inauguration.
"We are here to bring the light back to Quéssua," he said.
After the school's
launch will come the reopening of the hospital and school of theology,
Quipungo promised the large crowd filling the meeting room.
In its glory days,
Quéssua included a chapel, college, theological school and hospital.
Hundreds of students lived in boys' and girls' dormitories, and
teachers, missionaries and medical professionals made their homes on the
campus.
Even in ruins, the
beauty of Quéssua still shines through in the pink stucco walls and
arched doors and windows. Tall grass grows where schoolchildren once
lived and learned. The graves of the missionaries who started the
complex lie behind a rusted iron fence, choked with weeds.
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A UMNS photo by Mike DuBose A bombed-out window frames a view of flowers in the ruins of the former community hospital.
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A
bombed-out window frames a view of flowers in the ruins of the former
community hospital at the Quéssua Methodist Center near Malanje, Angola.
The center, considered by many to be the cradle of Methodism in Angola,
was bombed out of existence during the country’s civil war in an act of
revenge against the country’s president, who was a United Methodist.
The newly rebuilt Quéssua College was dedicated Sept. 28, following an
18-month rebuilding program. A UMNS photo by Mike DuBose. Photo #
06-1255. Accompanies UMNS story #642. 10/30/06 |
The chapel has been restored, and the restored college will be able to
accommodate 240 students in morning and afternoon shifts. Quipungo says
seven professors will teach subjects ranging from anthropology to
African theology.
The institution has
never been just for United Methodists, and it will be open to everyone
when classes begin in the next academic year, Quipungo said.
It took 18 months to
rebuild the school, and the United Methodist Board of Global Ministries
contributed more than $247,000 to help in the construction.
Angola has only been calm for four years, Quipungo said. "I think the peace is irreversible; we can see the fruits here today."
"We hope the government takes us as one of their daughters," he said. "There is still a lot of work to be done."
Joyful day
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A UMNS photo by Mike DuBose The Rev. Simao Antonio walks through the ruins of the former community hospital at the Quéssua Methodist Center.
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The
Rev. Simao Antonio, pastor of Eva de Andrade United Methodist Church in
Malanje, Angola, walks through the ruins of the former community
hospital at the Quéssua Methodist Center, considered by many to be the
cradle of Methodism in Angola. Quéssua, a United Methodist institution
that included a chapel, college, theological school and hospital, was
bombed out of existence at the beginning of the country's long civil
war, in an act of revenge against the first president of Angola, who was
a United Methodist. The newly rebuilt Quéssua College was dedicated
Sept. 28, following an 18-month rebuilding program. A UMNS photo by Mike
DuBose. Photo # 06-1254. Accompanies UMNS story #642. 10/30/06 |
Groups of women worked all morning under the trees behind the
schoolrooms, preparing hot food for the hundreds gathered for the
occasion. Reporters and crews from television, radio and newspapers were
on hand to record the historic event.
Men and women busied
themselves polishing the door frames and sweeping the red-painted stage
lined with blue-covered tablecloths for the dignitaries invited to the
opening. The smell of fresh paint lingered in the spotless classrooms as
many former students roamed around pointing out where they once sat for
daily lessons. Many children and adults who sat on the red steps
carried part of the school opening back home on the seats of their
pants.
The Rev. Simao Antonio,
pastor of Eva de Andrade United Methodist Church, was an elementary
school student at the "Escola Amore Alegria" (School of Love and
Happiness).
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A UMNS photo by Mike DuBose "We need this school for our children, we are hoping after today the students will come back," Bishop Jose Quipungo says.
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United
Methodist Bishop Jose Quipungo says the newly-rebuilt Quéssua College
near Malanje, Angola, will help lead a revitalization of the United
Methodist Center, considered by many to be the cradle of Methodism in
Angola. "We need this school for our children, we are hoping after today
the students will come back," Bishop Jose Quipungo told those gathered
to celebrate the inauguration of the pre-university school Sept. 28. A
UMNS photo by Mike DuBose. Photo # 06-1256. Accompanies UMNS story #642.
10/30/06 |
He walked through his former third-grade classroom while waiting for the
festivities to start. "I hope the rebuilding will bring a ration of joy
and happiness for the community," he said.
The governor of
Malanje, Cristovao da Cunha, an alumnus of the school and a member of
the United Methodist Church, thanked the church for its support over the
years. Monsignor Louis Maria Hornrite, Catholic leader in Malanje,
participated in the ceremony and praised the school's ecumenical spirit.
"Hundreds of youth saw their horizons expanded here," Cunha said.
Quipungo said everything was in ruins when he first returned to Malanje after being away for 20 years.
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A UMNS photo by Mike DuBose A workman patches plaster walls in a school building at the Quéssua United Methodist Center.
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A
workman patches plaster walls in a school building at the Quéssua
United Methodist Center near Malanje, Angola. The institution,
considered by many to be the cradle of Methodism in Angola, is being
rebuilt following more than a quarter-century of war. A UMNS photo by
Mike DuBose. Photo # 06-1258. Accompanies UMNS story #642. 10/30/06 |
"All I could do was weep," he said. "I asked God, 'Why did you bring me
back here to live among ruins?' But God showed me the role he wanted me
to play in rebuilding."
Bishop Timothy
Whittaker and members of the Florida Annual (regional) Conference
visited the complex a few years ago and have pledged to help rebuild the
theological school, Quipungo said.
United Methodist
missionaries built Quéssua in the early 1900s with the help of the
Methodist Board of Missions. The site is named after a nearby river.
Beautiful ghosts of the
old buildings stand in the now-quiet countryside. In the distance
stands a cross, planted on a high hill by the founding missionaries as a
symbol of peace.
At the end of the day,
Quipungo said, "I feel very happy today. One more stone has been laid in
rebuilding. It is a good witness."
Donations
Donations to help
rebuild the Quéssua Medical Center may be sent to the Advance for Christ
and His Church, the denomination's second-mile giving program.
Contributions can be sent in four ways:
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Online. Go to http://gbgm-umc.org/advproj/AdvProj_detail.cfm?ID=15062.
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Local church. Checks
should be made payable to the local church. Write the name of the
ministry and Advance #15062N on the check.
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Mail. Checks can be
made payable to "Advance GCFA" and sent to: Advance GCFA, P.O. Box 9068,
GPO, New York, NY 10087-9068. Write the project name and its Advance
code number.
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Telephone. Call (888) 252-6174 to make a credit-card donation.
*Gilbert is a United Methodist News Service news writer based in Nashville, Tenn.
News media contact: Kathy L. Gilbert, Nashville, Tenn., (615) 742-5470 or newsdesk@umcom.org.
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Resources
Quessua Medical Center Advance
Florida Annual Conference
Country Profile: Angola
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