Protected through many dangers

He travelled through rivers in a dugout, walked for miles because congregations could not be reached by car, and crossed potentially dangerous rickety bridges that shook with every step. Apostle Dominique Makindu risked his life many times in his work as an Apostle.

The early years

Dominique Makindu was born near Maquela do Zombo on 17 August 1952. He was the third of four children. This is a town in the north of Angola, close to the border with the Democratic Republic of the Congo, which was still called Zaire at the time. His parents were members in a Baptist church in which he grew up. Yet he remained a seeker.

After completing his schooling, Dominique Makindu worked as a laboratory technician. In December 1972, he met Helena, whom he married on 3 August 1974. The couple had seven daughters and one son.

Finding a new spiritual home

Dominique Makindu’s brother, who had the same first name, lived in the DR Congo for some time where he heard about the New Apostolic Church. He was one of the first Angolans to be sealed by Apostle Gottfried Schwarzer from Canada and ordained a Subdeacon. On his return to Angola in 1982, he told his brother about the Apostle ministry. When a good friend, Miguel Jadó, also told him about it in 1984, Dominique Makindu finally accepted an invitation and started to attend divine services.

The then Apostle Armin Brinkmann from Germany sealed Dominique Makindu on 22 August 1984 and ordained him a Priest on the same day. Soon after, he served as an Evangelist, a Shepherd, and a District Evangelist. He looked after many congregations in northern Angola, most of which could only be reached by walking for hours.

Deadly ambush

Angola was being battered by a bitter civil war at the time. In early 1989, the situation seemed to improve. In August of the same year, Dominique Makindu was travelling in a car with Apostle Brinkmann and Apostle Sukami Landu Ronsard. Everything was going well until suddenly, without warning, three men opened fire on the group in the white four-wheel drive. Apostle Ronsard was fatally shot. The others remained virtually unharmed.

Prisoners freed

When Dominique Makindu received an invitation to a divine service with the Chief Apostle on 4 September 1994, he travelled there in a roundabout way via the DR Congo. Travelling within Angola was almost impossible because of the ongoing civil war. In this divine service, Chief Apostle Richard Fehr ordained Dominique as an Apostle. To be on the safe side, he made his way home again via the DR Congo and met his good friend Miguel Jadó, who had in the meantime also been ordained as an Apostle.

As they were making their way across the border into Angola in Uíge province, they were arrested. They were suspected of secret service activities. “When we said that we were Apostles of Jesus, we were labelled as bandits,” Apostle Makindu said in an interview once. They were arrested and thrown into jail in Maquela do Zombo.

When the members from the local congregations learned that two Apostles were in prison they came there in large numbers. “They lined up in front of the prison in their Sunday best. The District Elder prayed and then the brothers and sisters sang our songs,” Apostle Makindu said. “The prison director and the military commanders were at a loss. Evening came, and the people kept singing. Night fell, and the people were still there and continued to sing all night.”

The Apostles were eventually released, initially on condition that they did not leave the city. Every day they conducted divine services to which they also invited those who had arrested and imprisoned them.

A sad dedication

Some years later, in September 1997, the New Apostolic people in Angola were full of excitement at the upcoming dedication of a new church in Lubango. The two friends, Apostle Jadó and Apostle Mukinda, were also busy with the final preparations for the celebration. On 13 September they got into a car with other Apostles and some members. The rutted dirt roads were pockmarked with potholes and they had an accident. Apostle Makindu died in the vehicle and his friend Jadó was thrown out and succumbed to his injuries. Apostle Chicomba Rocha Tomás, District Evangelist Ndofunso Toko, and Sister Mayola Wampuna Mbuta were also killed.

“When such a tragedy strikes, we must bow to the will and hand of God,” Chief Apostle Fehr wrote when he announced the sad news at the time. “May the Holy Spirit bring much comfort and peace to the grieving families and members.” In a memorial service on 15 September, two biological brothers of Apostle Jadó and Apostle Makindu were called to assist.

Despite the many dangers he faced, Apostle Makindu was always grateful: “The heavenly Father protected us through many dangerous situations,” he once wrote.