Adventures WorldRace SethBarnes Sponsorship Giving

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Mozambique emerged broken and wounded from colonialism and three decades of civil war. In 1995 it was reckoned to be the world’s poorest nation. The government has worked hard to open up the economy, lay true democratic foundations, grant religious freedom and bind up the wounds of the past. Turn these major challenges it faces into prayer:

  • Continuing natural disasters – much of the infrastructure of the more developed south was destroyed in the cyclone and flooding of 2000.
  • The danger of regional disaffection – the more heavily populated north feels neglected.
  • The growing calamity of AIDS with nearly 14% known to have HIV and 310,000 AIDS orphans. Medical services are rudimentary for the vast majority.

 

Mozambique has had religious freedom for the first time in its history. The Catholic monopoly under Portuguese rule was only breached in the southern third of Mozambique. Protestant ministries were restricted or forbidden. Sporadic but severe persecution of evangelical believers occurred. Under Marxism all Christians suffered. Missionaries were expelled, Christian leaders intimidated and imprisoned, and many churches and institutions seized or destroyed. Discriminatory legislation was passed to limit Christian gatherings to recognized church buildings. Then began the growth. At independence in 1975, Evangelicals were 3.7% of the population. By 2000 this was nearly 12%. The Evangelical Alliance of Mozambique was formed in 1993. Pray that this growth may be maintained and the believers become a wholesome leaven in a society that is morally bankrupt and where life is cheap and short.

 

Intense suffering created spiritual hunger.  Pray that this massive movement might become Bible-based and mature.

 

Training of church leadership is an urgent priority. Most congregations are led by men and women with little or no education, and very few by those with theological training of any kind, nor are there funds or adequate facilities to provide it. The government insists that each group provide adequate training for their leaders. Pray for:

  • Seminaries and Bible colleges, have increased in number in the south however, there is little training available in the northern half of the country.
  • Non-formal training which has proved successful

 

Mozambique’s unreached peoples are still numerous and large, but there are few without a witness or an indigenous Christian presence. Much of existing outreach is through Mozambican missionaries and pastors. The challenges:

  • The Makhuwa. Some 30-60% are Muslim, 10% Catholic and maybe 10,000 are Evangelicals, but the more Muslim areas towards the coast are less evangelized.
  • The coastal Swahili-related peoples have long been Muslim. Only a handful of Mwani believers are known.
  • The Makonde in the north-east are part Muslim, part animist. Only Catholic and Assemblies of God, African churches are known to exist. There were about 30 evangelical congregations in 2000.
  • The Yao of Niassa Province along the shores of Lake Malawi are 96% Muslim. Only about 2% are Christian of any kind (mainly Anglican, Catholic and Assemblies of God, African). Both radio and the JESUS film have made an impact.
  • The peoples of the Zambezi valley – especially the Sena, Kunda, Podzo, Nyungwe, Chwabo, Lolo, Kokola, Manyawa, Marenje and Takwane.

 

Sections of the population that are less evangelized:

  • The cities. War, famine and poverty have filled Beira and Maputo with refugees. Violence and crime are widespread. AIDS is a major problem.
  • The Northern Provinces of Cabo Delgado and Niassa are the least evangelized.
  • The Muslim population has grown since independence, but is largely confined to the north and the coastal provinces. Until recently there was little outreach to Muslims and committed workers are still few.
  • Students. There are only three University-level institutions with 7,000 students.

 

Expatriate missionaries were expelled in 1975, but since 1982 doors have opened once more. Conditions are often harsh, travel difficult, the cities violent and disease common, so the loss-rate has been high. Pray for perseverance in learning Portuguese and local languages, health, safety and fruitfulness. Much evangelism has been done in short term efforts but few converts become disciples. Mozambique is still a pioneer field and more missionaries are needed for this task. The greatest need is for all levels of leadership training, initiating youth and children’s work, aid programs, involvement in medical needs – especially in AIDS-related ministries.

 

Bible translation and distribution. The Bible Society has a bookshop and 3 depots and great freedom to operate, but lack of Bibles, foreign currency and means of distribution limit this ministry. Projects for new translations or revisions have also been hampered. The government changed its language policy in 1982 to actively encourage the use of local languages, but a nation-wide policy on orthography is needed or in progress.

 

Christian help ministries for prayer:

  • Literature is easily imported but in short supply. Distribution and high costs are major problems, and Christian bookstores are limited in number and in range of stock. People are eager for literature.
  • Radio has been used of God in church-planting and teaching. There is a Christian FM station in Maputo.
  • The JESUS film has been used among refugees and in some areas in Mozambique, but only 5% of the population have seen it in one of the 10 language editions available. A further 12 language versions are in production. Pray for the resources and strategies to make more effective use of it.
  • Development programs by Christian agencies are welcomed by the government.