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.
A Critical Shortfall.
As we are watching the Gospel take root, we’re increasingly aware of a vital gap. The absence of robust, relevant, and accessible theological and ministerial training for the emerging indigenous leaders is a rising concern.
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; the convergence point in which I find myself submerged daily. Offered online and part-time, this course allows us to remain in Angola and continue ongoing ministry uninterrupted.
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. To undergird this growing move of God to the best of my ability, I am motivated to deepen my understanding of the nuances involved with developing theology and ministry education solutions in this context. I believe the Kuvale and similar neighboring tribes are worthy of accessing theology training solutions designed for, and informed by, their differentiated needs.
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 $31,000. I have broken down this total cost, based on the timeline in which I anticipate needing to make payments.
Books*: $1,000
1st term tuition & fees: $7,500
2nd term tuition & fees: $7,500
3rd term tuition & fees: $7,500
4th term tuition & fees: $7,500
I am currently seeking sponsorship towards the cost of books and the first term’s tuition. To participate, please reach out to me via WhatsApp or email, where I will be delighted to share more details.
*Due to the difficulty of getting materials to Angola, I intend to source all the books that are required for the entire course up front. If you are interested in helping me with the very practical need of physically receiving books in the US, then packing them up into one shipment to mail to Angola, please reach out!
© 2025 Site content, David and Fiona Killough. The opinions contained on this website are personal and do not in any way represent Overland Missions.
