Capule, Salomao Augusto

Salomao Augusto Capule is a Global Missionary with the United Methodist General Board of Global Ministries. He is a member of Huambo Central United Methodist Church in Angola. His missionary assignment is agriculture coordinator for Cambine Mission Center in Maputo, Mozambique. He will share techniques for farming and raising animals for the center to feed a population exceeding 1,800, as well as an orphanage community.

“Gratitude” is how Salomao described his faith journey.

“It is a life of ongoing dependence on God,” he said. “It is a journey of thanksgiving, praising God for joy, abundant love and God’s steadfast presence in sorrow, despair and fear. Like any journey, the road is difficult to predict. As ministry leaders, may we grasp the richness of faith development in our own love and shepherd our people toward greater understanding of how stages of faith result in a transformed life and intimacy with God.”

Salomao believes that God equips all believers to serve in mission by developing their character, teaching them his ways and revealing his plan for their lives. “This preparation,” Salomao explained, “involves not only equipping believers with spiritual gifts and abilities, but also nurturing their hearts and minds to be receptive to God’s guidance.

“Mission, he continued, “helps define my life’s purpose, guiding my actions and providing a sense of direction and meaning. It can also help me identify my values, prioritize goals and make choices that align with my authentic self.”

He looks forward to building meaningful relationship, gaining new perspectives, and developing a greater sense of purpose and fulfillment. “Christian mission,” Salomao said, “also provides me an opportunity to share the message of hope and peace through Jesus with those in need, making a lasting impact in their lives. It is a chance to experience a life of purpose, witness the transformative power of faith and develop a deeper understanding of God ‘s love.”

His perspective of mission has been influenced by various factors such as theological shifts, historical events and cultural contexts. Salomao offered an example.

“The early church’s mission was driven by a belief in fulfilling Jesus’s command to spread the gospel,” he explained. “Over time, this has evolved to encompass broader humanitarian efforts and social justice initiatives. Additionally, the rise of globalization has shifted the focus from solely evangelism to addressing global issues like poverty and conflict.”

Salomao participated in a mission journey when a local church organized a short-term project that focused on children’s ministry and community care. The intent was to support and care for children by providing food, shelter and education and encouraging youth to stay in school.

A friend advised Salomao to reflect on his gifts for ministry.

“To participate in this mission journey,” he said, “I was impacted by the Bible that teaches us how to treat others, how to handle our fear and sorrows, and how to get our priorities straight. The wisdom of the Bible shows us how to become the people were meant to be. Reading the Bible can help us continue to grow and mature spiritually, renewing our faith and helping us to become more and more like our Lord and Savior.”

Mentors were key to Salomao’s discernment process. “The most important person for me was missionary John Nday who is serving in Mozambique,” Salomao said. “This missionary helped me to know the criteria of the program and how to apply. He sent me the Global Ministries website for me to start walking this road.”

Also influencing Salomao’s decision was Global Mission Fellow Thomas Funyani Kuchali who is serving in the West Angolan Conference’s agriculture department. “He has been my friend since the day he started working there,” Salomao said. He values his relationship with the conference where he has worked as farm manager and with various agricultural programs.

Salomao’s family is enthusiastic about his call to mission.

“All my family members are Christians committed to The United Methodist Church, and we worship at our local church,” he said. “My wife works for the Ministry of Health as a nurse. We love, respect and care for each other, share our problems and take suggestions from one another. I strongly believe that with the help of my family, together we are going to manage this mission with success because they encouraged me go for mission work.”