A FORMER soldier in Angola is using peace-education techniques learnt in South Africa to help congregations find healing for their country, which has been torn by decades of war.

He is the Revd Luis Samacumbi, pastor of Bungo Congregational Church in the capital, Luanda, and he asks his congregation what would happen if they thought that someone in their street, or in their family, was the devil. He then shows them that that is what they have been doing to their former enemies.

Mr Samacumbi, who is 34, spoke about his work last week in London at the headquarters of Christian Aid. His church is a partner of the charity, which has made support for Angolan families its Christmas appeal.

Angola gained independence from Portugal in 1975, but outside interest in its massive reserves of diamonds, ore, and oil fuelled a civil war. A ceasefire was eventually agreed in 2002.

Mr Samacumbi once fought with the government MPLA forces, while his brother was part of the opposing UNITA forces. He went on to gain a Master’s degree in conflict resolution from the University of Natal. He believes peace education can break the spiral of violence.

"People have to learn that we are one, and the united body of Christ. At the end of worship, around the table, we gather in four or five or six groups in small ‘peace unities’. People from the same neighbourhood gather and talk about the image of describing someone as a devil.

"Then we link that situation with the country. If we consider our leaders as devils, we will never be at peace. Children and young people will develop revenge and rejection."

He also uses football to teach peace. He stops the game when one side is winning to ask how both the winning and the losing team feel.

Mr Samacumbi had to practise what he preached: after being demobilised in 1992, he was holed up in his church for 50 days while a battle raged around him. After he emerged, he was refused food because a member of his congregation would not issue him with a food pass because he was a former government soldier. "When I repeat these stories, I sometimes feel like crying," he said.

Angolans’ behaviour must now change, he said. "For 30 years, people have received humanitarian aid, and some people have become lazy. Sixty-eight per cent of the population lives on less than $1 a day. Through the projects, through funds from Christian Aid, we distribute basic agricultural tools for those returning to their villages, who have been internally displaced, or are returning across the border.

"We encourage people to grow crops, and, with part of their produce, buy livestock. They used to pay for their children’s schooling by selling livestock, but that was completely lost during the war. The projects come from the field, and are a result of discussions we have from people in the community — these are their real priorities."

One thing he did not fund was the building of bridges. "We encourage the community to reflect on the relevance of having a bridge to connect the villages. Then they will themselves mobilise the people, who will go into the bush and cut trees and lay a bridge.

"The church organisation is country-wide and is everywhere, even where the government is not. There is a catechist there, a deacon there. They are living with the people, and you don’t have to pay them," he said.

Mr Samacumbi had become "really sensitised" on his visit to England when he realised how hard people worked to raise funds for his Church. "When I return, I want to challenge our Churches to learn from this commitment, to give what they have, to volunteer, and to challenge those in the cities to give to those who have less in the country."