Hundreds of phone lights lit up the sanctuary of the Central Seventh-day Adventist Church in Huambo on Sabbath, 18 July 2026, as members formally dedicated their mobile phones to be used as tools for sharing the gospel and spreading messages of hope on digital platforms.

The initiative, organised by the Communication Department of the Central Mission, was part of a broader mobilisation effort to strengthen the Adventist Church's digital presence in Angola and prepare members for upcoming online evangelism campaigns.

The challenge was presented by Pastor Diamantino Sawambo, Communication Director of the Southwest Angola Union Mission, the administrative body of the Church serving nine provinces across the Central, Coastal, and Southern regions of Angola. Speaking on the theme "Timeless Message, Timely Methods," Sawambo said the Church must meet people where they are.

"Today, millions of people spend a significant portion of their lives on social media," Sawambo said. "That is where the Church must also be sharing hope, faith, and the message of salvation."

Sawambo told participants about the rapid growth of digital media in Angola, where millions actively use platforms including Facebook and TikTok. That reality, he said, presents an unprecedented opportunity for every member to become involved in mission by transforming a mobile phone into a tool for witnessing, discipleship, and evangelism.

He also cautioned members to use their phones responsibly. Smartphones can connect people, he noted, but they can also be misused to spread misinformation, damage reputations, and cause conflict within families. He invited attendees to dedicate their phones to God and commit to using them to promote Christian values and messages that build others up.

The service's most memorable moment came when Abel Capingãla, secretary of the Central Seventh-day Adventist Church in Huambo, made a suggestion to the pulpit.

Related: Digital Missionaries Programme Expands to Southern Angola with 52 New Trainees

"Pastor, as we raise our phones, why don't we also turn on their lights?"

Within moments, hundreds of phone lights illuminated the sanctuary, a visual commitment to using technology as a means of carrying Christ's light into the digital world.

The dedication prayer was offered by retired pastor Alexandre Justino, who asked God to bless every phone so it might become a channel of hope, service, and gospel proclamation.

The event was coordinated by the Communication Department of the Central Mission under the leadership of Communication Director Pastor Armando Candumbo. The Central Mission encompasses the provinces of Cuando Cubango, Bié, and Huambo.

The dedication is part of a growing Division-wide response to the Adventist Church's global OneVoice27 initiative, a call for every member to become a digital missionary as the Church prepares for its September 2027 evangelistic emphasis.