The Rev. Neusa Ndalamba
COURTESY PHOTO
The Rev. Neusa Marta Pedro Joaquim Ndalamba grew up in the United Methodist Church of Belém, Luanda, Angola. In the ordained ministry for three years, she serves the United Methodist Church of Bethel, Luanda. She describes herself as “the second pastor in a congregation of more than 3,000 members.”
Expressing her faith in deeds as well as words is important to Ndalamba. She shares her love for Jesus through local church activities and social work that breaks down barriers. She is a youth advisor and a member of the district education committee.
Ndalamba’s dream is to teach ethics and educate women in cooperation with Angola’s Ministry of Family and Women’s Promotion.
She feels an intense call to “make a change in Angolan society through Christian ethics. Angola has been in war for more than 30 years,” resulting in a lack of love, respect for life and for others, hope morality and culture.
“In Christ’s name,” she says, “I believe I was called to bring all that back to people.”
She is drawn to United Methodists’ “unity in Christ, sharing and our traditions because that does not only make us different from other communities, but (also) keeps us in the right path, the path to God.”
The greatest challenge for Angolan clergy, she says, is “the church’s inability to provide for its ministers. We are fighting to solve such issues, but our fight is not yet enough. Solving this problem would solve many others in the church.”
Ndalamba also points to leadership concerns in Angola and the sexuality debate globally. “I would not say that we are growing and changing for better,” she says. “However, challenges are to be overcome.
“On one side, Methodists are loving and tolerant. We will keep on learning until we get to understand God’s love. On the other side, we need to learn to discern the times. Time to say, ‘Yes,’ and time to say ‘No.’ To discern truth from lie.”
What does she hope never changes about The United Methodist Church? “Our traditions,” Ndalamba replies.
“I dream of a United Methodist Church closer to God,” she adds. “Challenges will always be there, but if we reach a high level of communion with God, then it shall be all right!”
Barbara Dunlap-Berg