Mozambique Outreach Report - March 2004 (by Willie Crew)

Mozambique is one of the poorest countries in the world. We traveled over 7000 Km in eight days in pouring rain and on some of the most difficult roads in Africa.

Our journey took us to two people groups where the first churches ever were started during the last three years. The road to the Natempo was so wet and muddy that we even had our 4 wheel drive vehicles stuck in the mud. But what a joy to meet the newly appointed Pastor and to hear the people gathering together to sing songs of praise to the Lord Jesus. All over the village the children were singing “Hallelujah – Amen”. Jesus has truly come into their hearts. The village chief who is now a member of the church welcomed us and thanked the team for taking the time to bring the Gospel to them and that a church of the Living God was started among his people.

During the evening we showed the Jesus Film. Hundreds attended and many made a first time commitment to the Lord. After the film was finished they asked if we could not show it again – WHAT A HUNGER!!!!

From the Natempo we had to travel back through the mud to drive to the Sangage people. Our team first stopped and cut down branches and filled the “deep” mud trenches that we had made the day before. At the Sangage the newly appointed Pastor and many of the church members met us. Soon after we arrived, we learned that 28 people wanted to be baptized. The joy in my heart was unspeakable. Quietly I sat watching the baptism of these new converts in the Indian Ocean. What a privilege!!! If we never see them again here on earth, we certainly will do so in heaven.

After the baptism was over we proceeded to do the first Christian marriage in the Sangage. May the Name of the Lord be praised for the quick work that He is doing through very ordinary people.

That night we returned to the city of Nampula traveling 170km on a mud road in pouring RAIN!!!! During our visits to both these people groups the negotiations were finalized to buy property in each of the two people groups on which to build church buildings. Lord willing the paper work will be completed by July 2004. After which we believe the Lord to supply the finances to build the buildings.

Returning from Nampula we drove south to the town of Chimeo where we ministered to Pastors and leaders from the northern provinces of Mazambique. The theme of the message was for the church to rise up and reach the nation of Mozambique with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Two days later we joined the “Levites Camp” in the capital city of Maputo. This gathering of Pastors was arranged by Pastor Zakes Nkumalo. The 3-day meeting was held in an “African” church building that can seat around 3000 people.

During the evening we had a crowed of 2000 people. The response to God’s call to rise up and “Do” that which “He” is saying was amazing. I had the privilege to meet an old friend, Pastor Zimba, a senior Pastor in the city. When he heard the report that churches had been established among the Unreached People Groups of his country he was overwhelmed.

He said, “We had discussed this in 1995 at the GCOWE Conference – South Korea and again in 1997 at the GCOWE conference in Pretoria.” He told me that he had been struggling to understand how these people would be reached. They are so far away (+- 3000km), so difficult to get to and who knows if they would be open to the Word.

But, God in His grace sent the World Mission Centre focus team and valiant missionaries from the tiny country of Swaziland to open the way. Today the church has been started and is now being run by Mozambican pastors. Praise the Lord!!!

Pastor Zimba said, “let us focus on reaching all the villages in this distant part of the country”

This was a hard trip to say the least. It was an epic journey of eight days in rain, mud and potholes. The team that went with was amazing. No complaints just focused on doing what needed to be done.

All along the journey the question in my heart was, “If it’s hard does it mean we do not go???”