Introduction / History

In the last couple of decades thousands of construction workers, engineers, doctors, cooks, and petroleum engineers have migrated from China to Angola. Current estimates are 258,000 Chinese living in Angola. They are extracting oil and developing Angola's damaged infrastructure after many years of war. Angola is China's largest supplier of oil, according to a BBC News article. The Chinese companies are using local materials, but hiring Chinese people from the Peoples Republic of China (PRC), so this is not providing jobs for the Angolans. The Angolans resent this situation, especially since it causes higher prices for average people.

Where Are they Located?

The Chinese workers are located all over the country, but specifically in the northern oilfields. They live in separate compounds. Many live in the city of Luanda in the northern part of Angola.

What Are Their Lives Like?

The Chinese have a strong work ethic, and they work long, hard hours in their new environment. They are in Angola temporarily on work visas. Unfortunately, there has been much crime against Chinese citizens including kidnappings by armed gangs. Some Chinese citizens have contacted yellow fever before traveling home. These unresolved issues have made the Chinese weary of living in Angola and many have left.

In the last couple of decades, thousands of construction workers, engineers, doctors, cooks and petroleum engineers have migrated from China to Angola.

What Are Their Beliefs?

Most of the Chinese in Angola are secular in their mindset, though some worship their ancestors and look to them for their needs to be met.

What Are Their Needs?

There are clear barriers of language and culture between the Chinese and the local population. Chinese workers also live separately from Angolans in specially-built compounds. Many hoped that they would transfer their skills to Angolans starved of education and training by the war years, but this has not happened.

Prayer Points

Pray for more tolerant attitude and closer working relations between the Chinese and the Angolans.
Pray that the secularized Chinese will have the chance to hear and respond to the gospel in the more religiously tolerant Angola.
Pray that Angolan evangelicals will use the many available Christian media resources to witness to the Chinese visitors.

Scripture Prayers for the Chinese, general in Angola.

References

(Written by Allan Starling of GRN)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_people_in_Angola
https://joshuaproject.net/people_groups/12051/CH
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/shared/spl/hi/picture_gallery/07/africa_china_in_angola/html/1.stm
http://www.wsj.com/articles/angolas-boom-fueled-by-china-goes-bust-1446072930
http://www.reuters.com/article/us-angola-china-insight-idUSKCN0PJ1LT20150709
http://www.reuters.com/article/angola-oil-finance-idUSL5N16H3EV