Passover in Portugal
The special relationship between Portugal and South-Africa, started in 1488 when Bartolomeu Dias managed to round the Cape of Storms and landed at Mossel Bay. This enabled Vasco da Gama, in 1498, to explore a new trade route as far as India. For the following 150 years, the colonization of Angola and Mozambique were the focus points of Portuguese development in Southern-Africa. They navigated well and served the world, looking for new means of survival.
Much later, in 1974 and 1975, South-African Churches were involved in a huge humanitarian effort to help tens of thousands of Portuguese refugees, fleeing from Angola and Mozambique, due to civil wars and independence policies.
Eventually, five Portuguese-speaking Dutch-Reformed congregations were established among these uprooted families, who lost basically everything: from houses, vehicles, income and trust in whatever they knew. This uncertain time favoured a new seeking of God as well as the essential directions from His Word.
In 1987 dr. Pine Pienaar, who pioneered the Christian work and guidance of the refugees, followed many of these Portuguese who later on went back to Portugal. A Reformed Church was established where Pastors Vitor Maia and Manie Taute served during the last 18 years. Gerrie and Arlene Coetzee also ministered in Portugal as well as teams from Global Challenge and other churches from South-Africa.
The need for encouragement and Christian service was again communicated and Global Challenge in Jeffreys Bay took on this challenge in 2023.
A small group of five was selected and visited Portugal during the Passover celebrations. Following the example of Jesus, when He washed the feet of his disciples during the Passover meal, we focused on encouraging and serving Christians in Portugal.
The first opportunity to serve was at the Reformed Congregation in Massamá. Members with special needs were visited and the Bible monument, erected in 2011, received a face-lift.
The second week was dedicated to the yearly Bible Conference of the Portuguese Bible Institute, working inter-denominationally. We helped to prepare the classrooms and venues. Psalm 22 was the centre of several Bible studies and sermons. South-African “koekies” were made and served by the team during breaks, as well as many other tasks performed by the Global Challenge team.
A pleasant surprise was the 30 pastors from around Lisbon that came to the Reformed Church to pray for a much-needed spiritual revival in Portugal. We also continue to pray for God’s orientation and that many Portuguese people will find the True North in Jesus Christ, the Way, the Truth and the Life of all ages!