APOSTOLIC FAITH MISSION

MALABO CHURCH REPORT, EQUATORIAL GUINEA

EQUATORIAL GUINEA: FACTS AND FIGURES

• Capital: Malabo (current) Ciudad de la Paz (New city under construction)
• Area: 28,050 sq km
• Population: 1.6 million
• Official Languages: Spanish, French, Portuguese
• Life expectancy: 59 years (men) 63 years (women)

Equatorial Guinea is located on the west coast of Central Africa, covering an area of 28,000 square kilometers (11,000 sq mi). It consists of a mainland region, Río Muni, and an insular region comprising the islands of Bioko and Annobón. Bioko Island is home to the capital city, Malabo. Río Muni is bordered by Cameroon to the north and Gabon to the south and east.

As of 2024, the population was estimated at 1,795,834. The Fang people constitute the dominant ethnic group, making up over 85% of the population. The Bubi people, indigenous to Bioko, are the second largest group at approximately 6.5%.

The majority of Equatorial Guineans are nominally Roman Catholic. However, traditional forms of worship are still practiced, such as the Mbwiti cult on the mainland. There is also a small but significant Sunni Muslim population.

Equatorial Guinea possesses substantial reserves of petroleum and natural gas, which have become the dominant force in its economy since exploitation began in the late 20th century. Petroleum is the primary export, leading to a dramatic increase in GDP. The country also has deposits of gold, titanium, manganese, iron ore, and uranium, but these remain largely undeveloped. Despite its oil wealth, the distribution of wealth is uneven, and the country ranks low on the Human Development Index.

THE APOSTOLIC FAITH ACTIVITIES IN MALABO, EQUATORIAL GUINEA.

The above chart shows that the presence of the Apostolic Faith as an organization falls within the 2.1%.

The Apostolic Faith work started in Agropolis (a remote community), Malabo in 2011, two years after the current leader, Brother Samuel, moved in from Gabon. Prayer meetings and later Sunday school services were held in the sitting room of one of the willing worshippers while the search for a worship center was ongoing. Eventually, God provided a space, which was demolished and converted to a worship center in 2018. This space is a temporal structure erected with wood, with a plan of converting it to a block structure later on.

In 2012, a group of 2 representatives led by Brother Samuel visited Nigeria to attend the 2012 Annual Camp Meeting Convention under the guidance of Reverend John Oladiran of Gabon. The sister who joined Brother Samuel was saved, sanctified and baptized with the Holy Spirit, and a few days after their return home, she passed away. Again in 2013, Brother Samuel invited two other people who came for the 2013 camp meeting. Worship activities continued after their return from Nigeria and God added another family to the number of worshippers. Sunday school and exhortation sessions were held regularly coupled with daily prayer meetings.

In January 2024, a family moved by God decided to relocate to Malabo from Lagos, Nigeria, to help spread the gospel work (though they are also pursuing their career) as this has been the desire of the church ministry for years. By the grace of God, the gospel work in Malabo is advancing through outreaches targeted at younger children. We now hold Elementary Sunday School, Young and Adult Sunday School (combined), Morning Devotional and occasionally Evening Evangelistic services. On Sunday afternoons, we visit some homes that are kind enough to receive us, to share God's Word, sing and pray with them.

We are grateful to God for rewarding this little effort. We have had the privilege to join live webcast services from WeCA Headquarters, Anthony Lagos on several occasions such as Camp meeting Ministers and Workers Conference and some doctrinal teachings of the last camp meeting, Couple conference, October 1 Prayer Retreat, and some other key services as led by the Holy Spirit through the leadership here. We normally follow the live diffusion in French and have been blessed as a result).

• Mondays – are for church site work and cleaning
• Tuesdays & Fridays – are for prayer meetings
• Wednesdays – Bible Study
• Thursdays – for Musical classes & rehearsals
• Saturdays – for mini-conference
• ATTENDANCE
• Children = 21
• Youths and Adults = 10

A total of 31, as at the last count, (Christmas service) now worship with us on Sundays.

ONGOING PROJECT

We are currently doing little work around the church premises, such as installing a toilet facility for worshippers' convenience. By God's grace, we are also planning on extending the worship space to accommodate a prayer room and a children’s room.

CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES

Since the main official language here is Spanish, it is best for us to receive gospel tracts and magazines in Spanish (70%), French (25%), and English (5%). This will assist in reaching out to more souls for the Lord.

The current location of the Church, within Agropolis, a remote area of the city, is prone to thuggery and robbery. Many times, we have met broken doors or sides of the church open by hooligans who parted away with some properties. Now, we have to move almost everything in the church away whenever we are through with worship and keep them at one of the worshipper’s house, not far from the church. Please note that the church's structure is woody. There is a plan to convert it to a block structure soon.

Conclusion

In conclusion, we are grateful to God for how He has been helping in the progress of the gospel work here. We testify that one of the worshippers who was pregnant, being scared of safe delivery, was invited to attend services with us, and was miraculously delivered of a baby boy. The baby was brought to church on Christmas day for Thanksgiving. We are praying and hoping in God that He would increase the population of worshippers, by saving, sanctifying and baptizing them. We pray also that in due time, God will give us a new terrain that can be developed and owned by the Church at a more favourable and strategic location for the salvation of many.

Reporting Officer:

Joel Olaniyan

apostolicfaithequitorialguinea@gmail.com

+240 222 103 140

Brother Samuel (Leader): +240 222 463 086