Theology Untethered; Solutions for Angola’s Unreached

Hi, I’m Fiona Killough.

I am many things.

I’m a communicator, a cross-cultural worker, an artist, an educator, a dressmaker, a linguist, an explorer, a mother, a storyteller, a learner, a designer, and a writer.

Above all, I am a child of God, and an ambassador of Jesus Christ.

Today, I invite you to consider an endeavor that I believe is critical to the needs of unreached people groups in our region of Southwest Angola.

The story so far…

For the past fifteen years, my husband David and I have poured ourselves into serving international communities with Overland Missions. The last ten years we’ve lived in the arid expanse of the Namib Desert in Southwestern Angola. Our mission has been to share the transformative message of Jesus Christ with the unreached nomadic tribal groups in this formidable region.

Southwestern Angola is home to remote and neglected people groups, who are largely overlooked, or exploited. Extreme environmental conditions and linguistic isolation mean that most tribes in our region have no Christian witness whatsoever. We have made our home amongst them, and it’s here that we’re raising our four children, while fervently evangelizing and nurturing disciples in the faith.

I dream of our Kuvale brothers and sisters confidently preaching the Gospel for generations to come; grounded in Biblical truth, sound in doctrine, pure in character, and whole in their cultural identity.

A Critical Shortfall.

As we are watching the Gospel take root, we’re aware of a vital gap. The absence of robust, relevant, and accessible theological and ministerial training for indigenous leaders is a rising concern. Angola’s parliament is reviewing legislation that will soon require all ministers of religion to have formal theological training equivalent to a bachelor’s degree.

Coming from non-institutionalized and pre-literate backgrounds, the needs and learning profiles of people like the Kuvale tribe are unique and dynamic. The only theology training options available in Angola present significant barriers; they require high literacy skills in Portuguese, and familiarization with Western methodologies and forms of assessment.

I believe the Lord has burdened me with a sense of responsibility to prepare to mitigate this shortfall. To nourish and sustain the move of God beyond our lifetime, I believe the development of sound theological education solutions tailored to this specific cultural context is of inherent value, and paramount importance.

Next Steps.

After much prayer and reflection, I am excited to apply to the Master of Arts in Theological and Cultural Anthropology (MATCA) course at Eastern University. This program is uniquely designed to investigate the intersection between faith and culture. Anthropology presents a pathway to effectively approach non-industrialized cultures on their own terms. I hope to better understand what our Kuvale brothers and sisters are truly thinking and meaning, not just linguistically, but in the deeper cultural sense. I don’t yet know exactly what form my theological education dreams for Kuvale ministers will take; that’s where the MATCA program comes in. I’m hopeful it will give me the further knowledge and tools I need to pioneer responsible, context-sensitive training solutions for the future taking shape before us.

This endeavor builds on my prior qualifications as an educator in the UK’s lifelong learning sector, and in theology through a Brazilian-American seminary. Offered online and part-time, this course allows us to remain in Angola and continue ongoing ministry uninterrupted.

I am looking for like-minded individuals who align with this vision, and would like to play a part in making it a reality. Initially, I was hoping to secure grant funding or scholarships. Unfortunately, after inquiring with hundreds, to date, I have not found any funding options for which I am eligible to apply. The overall costs, including tuition, fees, and books, are projected to be around $18,000. I have broken down this total cost, based on the timeline in which I anticipate needing to make payments.

Books: $1,000 (now fully pledged)
1st term tuition & fees, due Nov 2025: $4,250
2nd term tuition & fees, due May 2026: $4,250
3rd term tuition & fees, due June 2026: $4,250
4th term tuition & fees, due Nov 2026: $4,250