Report on a church planting project in Southern Africa

I'm honoured to bear witness to God's work in the Lichinga village church plant. I was privileged to attend the church planting conference in Lichinga, in northern Mozambique, focusing on the Lake to Sea Project. While there, I attended the opening ceremony of the newly constructed church in Lichinga, and visited two additional church plants-one in Matola village and the other in Utuculu village-each a result of God's work through the labour and efforts of the Lichinga pastor, Pastor Zondeia. Not only did I visit newly planted churches, but newly planted church buildings, as well. Wow, how amazing is that!

When we talk of how church planting that takes place in Africa there is a typical question in the back of our minds. Will the pastor take the initiative and ownership to ensure the newly planted church survives? Would Pastor Zoneia be such a man? After spending two weeks in Lichinga and the surrounding villages, I have no doubt that he has indeed taken initiative and ownership, to the glory of God.

When Pastor Zondeia arrived in 2008, suffice it to say, he was more than just a little out of his depth. He came from a part of Mozambique where it is an understatement to say that life was a lot easier for him and his family. With the cost of living and the cost of food forever on the rise, and a salary that barely lets him, his wife, and five children survive financially to the end of the month, he has no easy task at hand.

Coupled with the starting of a new, baby church in a region where Islam is not just a religion, but a culture, he has no mere hill to climb, but a mountain. However, this man of God has purposed to forge ahead, being about the Lord's work with faith, diligence and excellence.

I have to admit, I was pleasantly surprised by the outstanding workmanship of the Lichinga church. As you are no doubt aware, to construct any kind of building is not an easy task, let alone a cheap one, in any part of the world.

I sat down with Pastor Zondeia and asked him, "How did you do it?" His gracious reply was, "It was only by God." I learned that the 50-or-so members of the church had banded together to help raise funds and contribute skills. That, along with the help of earnings from a humble bread business that Pastor Zondeia began to help support his family and ministry, supplied the funds to erect the building.

On the 26th of July, the Grand opening of the church, which seats about 80 people, was held. The entire congregation, out in full force, sang and danced, praising God for His blessings. It was truly a joy partaking in the excitement surrounding this celebration of God's work-work that was facilitated by His grace through caring churches and individuals giving of their time, money, and of themselves.

The church and Pastor Zondeia send their regards. With much anticipation, they look forward to the possibility of more churches sending outreach teams to plug in to God's work in northern Mozambique. They invite you to once again share first-hand in their excitement. Your team was sorely missed this year, but the church continues to pray for future possibilities of working together with you.

The work in Matola is also moving ahead under the oversight of Pastor Zondeia. He explained to me, however, that there are so many people and the need for evangelism, training, and discipling so great, that a team is much needed to help strengthen the work.

In Utuculu, God's work is progressing. The church is still in the tender, vulnerable stages of growth and they've experienced a setback. A horrific storm took the grass roof off of the church. Making plans to fix it, the members ask that you pray not only for the repairs of the church, but for their protection. The presence and spreading of the Gospel to the surrounding villages is far from easy, not without spiritual attacks from the devil, therefore they covet your prayer covering all the more. They move forward with faith and have committed to persevere, come what may.

Blessings in Christ

Patrick Charping
World Mission Centre
Southern Africa – Mozambique

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