Luanda, Angola - UPF-Africa Regional Director Dr. Katsumi Otsuka made his first visit to Angola from Nov. 7 to 11, 2013, to participate in a UPF conference and visit Ambassadors for Peace.
On Nov. 7, Dr. Otsuka arrived in the Cabinda exclave, which is separated from the rest of Angola by a narrow strip of land which is part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. In Cabinda he met with local UPF representatives before flying to Luanda, the Angolan capital, the next evening.
A UPF conference on “Family, Citizen and Values” was held on Nov. 9 in Luanda’s five-star Talatona Convention Hotel. Two hundred nineteen guests attended, representing various aspects of Angolan society: religion, government, the media, police and the military. Rev. Michel Futila, secretary general of UPF-Central Africa, explained the global vision of UPF in a PowerPoint presentation that touched the heart of many in the audience. Dr. Joaquim Antonio Rodrigues, the UPF coordinator for the Cabinda province, spoke about the family and universal values. Finally Dr. Otsuka explained about human development. Citing the growth of the Republic of Korea from a once-poor nation to a leading economic power, he outlined the great potential of Angola.
Also on Nov. 9, Dr. Otsuka and various UPF representatives visited Bishop Afonso Nunes, the leader of the Our Lord Jesus Christ Church in the World, which was founded by the African prophet Simão Toko. Bishop Nunes, who is an Ambassador for Peace, was very happy to receive the UPF delegation. His church, which is working in partnership with UPF, has about 1 million members.
The next day, Dr. Otsuka attended the Sunday worship service at the Prophetic Church of the Winner in the World, founded by another Ambassador for Peace, Dr. Jorge Lino Cambundo (Enoque). At this service Dr. Otsuka addressed the congregation.
Nov. 11 is the Angolan Independence Day, and before leaving Angola, Dr. Otsuka, accompanied by Rev. Futila and Dr. Rodrigues, visited the site where a Peace Embassy is being built.