Stirling and Donna serve in Angola with SIM USA, where they work in agriculture. Through cattle ranching, they live as Christian witnesses and share the gospel with their community.
Deepening Roots Through Agriculture Service in Angola
Daily work on the ranch involves managing livestock and infrastructure, like fuel generators, water pumps, cold storage for meat, satellite communications, vehicles, tractors, and other equipment. The cattle require constant attention: tracking the herd, registering calves, and providing feed and salt. The 50,000-acre property also requires ongoing care, including maintaining roads, fences, and clearing fallen trees.
However, the ranch is much more than just a workplace; it is also a hub for community outreach and resources.
“We grow cattle, and that creates a certain amount of natural credibility. Then the ranch creates a foundation or platform for the community,” Stirling said. “We use the cattle ranch as a way of evangelizing a nearby rural people group,”
Around 300 community members live on the ranch long-term. While Stirling and Donna work on the ranch, not everyone on the property is staff. Many people who live there are part of the broader community they are reaching.
Essential needs like housing, education, and healthcare are provided for everyone. Teachers live here, and doctors regularly visit throughout the year. These resources allow families to stay and thrive there. They also encourage people from nearby communities to visit the ranch.
“The health ministry has really brought a lot of people to the ranch. People come from all the neighboring farms and villages for healthcare. They feel loved and cared for, and that’s bringing people back,” Donna said.
In this way, the ranch becomes both a workplace and a close-knit community. It creates a natural environment for discipleship, gospel conversations, and genuine friendships.
“Most everybody lives on the property. It’s amongst them that is the nucleus of outreach, evangelism, and discipleship. Then it creates the connection to go to their extended family, cousins, and the whole community in the district,” Stirling said. “The purpose of the operation is really to provide an opportunity to have input into people’s hearts and lives, and to be able to share the gospel with them.”
“Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.” 1 Peter 4:10
Cheers & Kind Regards,
Donna
