History of existence
"All things have their origin and explanation. In scientific language, it is called ‘History of existence’.
This is, therefore, the history of the emergence of the Evangelical Christian Church of Angola (E.C.C.A). In 1964, the then Pentecostal Evangelical Church located on Lopes de Lima street was dissolved, and all its assets were confiscated by the Portuguese Government due to the conflicts that opposed Mrs. Joaquina Maria Fonseca Martins and the Church’s Pastor, Mr. Luís Campos de Aço. In June 1965, under the wise and competent leadership of the Elders and Pastor Luis Campos de Aço, flanked by 22 other Portuguese, they founded the Evangelical Christian Church of Luanda, with the aim of maintaining their faith and that of their families.
Meanwhile, the Church was led by Pastor José Joaquim Marquês da Silva, who would leave the country, following the social disturbances that preceded the Independence of Angola on November 11, 1975.
From 1976, the few nationals existing at the time began to organize themselves, and it is worth mentioning here the valuable help of the Evangelical Church of Southwest Angola (E.C.S.A), under the wise guidance of Rev. Eliseu Simeão, whose moral support we do not forget. The dynamism undertaken and the vision of the Work led the general assembly of 1978 to exclude from the nomenclature the expression ‘Luanda’ which gave it the connotation of being a Local Church, and it became known as the Evangelical Christian Church (E.C.C).
However, it was essential to pay attention to the training of workers and to equip the leadership with theological knowledge, without which, order and doctrinal dogmatism would never be felt. For this reason, in 1979 the first Angolan Pastor was formed, Mr. Carlos João and Mrs. Julieta Canoeira João. However, the Church needed to define itself geographically and, today, it is called the EVANGELICAL CHRISTIAN CHURCH OF ANGOLA (ECCA), recognized in the Republic of Angola under Executive Decree No. 12/92 of the Ministry of Justice, published in the Official Gazette No. 7, I Series of February 14, 1992, registration No. 8 of the Central Registry Office, thus giving it legal personality.
The history of the Evangelical Christian Church of Angola (ECCA) will continue to be written throughout the course of its existence, as it is inserted into society and the world."