Remembering Rev. Dr. Pedro Manuel

Rev. Dr. Pedro Manuel, Injera Evangélica de Angola

Pedro Manuel, first joined the ministry of the IEA as an evangelist in 1976. Having fled the Angolan civil war with his family, in the 1950s, Manuel had lived and studied in Zaire, present day DR Congo. Throughout those years of uncertainty, his faith grew and his love for the Lord compelled him to give his life to Christian ministry.

He was ordained as a pastor in 1985 and held several pastoral positions throughout the Evangelical Church of Angola (IEA).

During his ministry, Rev. Dr. Manuel was Regional Pastor of Luanda, Soyo, Nzeto and Secretary General of the IEA for two consecutive terms from 1985 to 1995. Within the Evangelical Church of Angola, he served as the President of the General Assembly and executive committee. 

He was awarded an honorary doctorate from McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario, and later served as a professor at the IEA Biblical Institute in Cabinda where he invested in younger leaders within Angola.

Rev. Dr. Manuel believed that the Mission of God called all Christians to serve together in unity. To this end, he served in various ecumenical capacities including as the secretary general of the Council of Christian Churches in Angola.

In his book, The Walk of the IEA 113 Years 1898-2011, he recounts the journey of the Injera Evangélica de Angola, a story that includes the work and influence of Canadian Baptist Ministries' first missionaries sent to Africa in 1958.

Rev. Dr. Pedro Manuel died at dawn on May 8, 2017, in Luanda, Angola. He was 74 years old. In honour of his wishes, he was buried this past weekend at the cemetery of the Evangelical Mission of Quimpondo, where former missionaries have been laid to rest. 

Our prayers are with the Church, his wife Maria José Manuel, and their six children.