Afonso accepted Christ when he was around 12 years old, amid several difficult situations, when it seemed that there was no more direction or meaning to his life. He decided to pay attention to the Word in church and seek to obey. It was there that he began to see that God had a plan still hidden for him. He sought out opportunities to learn and grow in his faith through Youth for Christ, youth camps and whatever opportunities he could find. He went on to work in several relief and development projects in the UIEA denomination and received a bachelor’s degree from ISTEL Bible College in Lubango. Becky grew up in a mission-minded church in Alberta and trusted Jesus for salvation as a pre-teen. Summer camp and youth group were places of growth, and she went on to study music first, then intercultural studies, at Prairie Bible College. Her first missions experience included 5 months in the Philippines, as well as studying "Perspectives on the World Christian Movement." During that time she committed to a career in missions. She arrived in Angola in 2002. Afonso and Becky became friends and, in time, realized they shared a passion for the growth of the church in Angola. They were married in 2009 and became parents to 3 kids. Afonso joined SIM in 2013 after finishing Bible College. The Chinhamas’ primary ministry is to throw the pebble of a discipleship vision and strategy into the UIEA denomination of Angola, and watch as it creates ripples across the church. Their primary investment is in the national and regional leadership of the church as well as strategically training and mentoring young pastor couples, to encourage and equip them to understand and experience what discipleship is. The expectation is that, in time, these ripples of transformation will reach to the lives of every church member. As the apostle Paul said to the Galatian believers, "I am again in labor until Christ is formed in you." (Gal. 4:19) The Chinhama family has been part of a church plant in their local community of Humpata since 2021, with the desire to keep discipleship at the heart of the congregation. Afonso is currently serving as the director of SIM Angola, seeking to encourage team-work, clarify purpose and vision for the field, and to build a strong leadership team as the field grows and becomes more diverse.  

“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:18–20 (NIV)

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned.” John 15:1–6 (NIV)

“My dear children, for whom I am again in the pains of childbirth until Christ is formed in you.” Galatians 4:19 (NIV)