Mozambique Initiative [link removed] Give the Gift of Electricity This Giving Tuesday

Help Us Equip 50 Parsonages with Solar Panels
Most modern conveniences – like working after dark and charging a cell phone – require power. Yet, 65% of United Methodist pastors in Mozambique don’t have electricity in their parsonage. Solar panels can solve this problem. When installed on local church parsonage roofs, the panels provide clean and sustainable energy to the home below. So far, your generosity has provided 18 parsonages with solar panels.
Would you, your local church or small group consider making a gift towards the Mozambique Initiative’s solar panel project? Our hope is to achieve our partners’ goal by providing 32 more solar panels before the end of 2023.
We’ve made several resources available – including videos, graphics and an informational one-pager - to help promote this effort.
[link removed] View Project Details and Resources →
The cost of installing solar panels is $2,500 USD per parsonage. Your support, combined with that of other Mozambique Initiative supporters, will make a real difference in the lives of pastors and their families in Mozambique. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to reach us via [link removed] our contact form.
Reflections on a Ministry Partnership

In early October, a group from The Gathering in St Louis took a trip to visit Mozambique. When they returned, Rev. Matt Miosky reflected on the unique connection with the UMC in Mozambique:
"Our partnership with the UMC in Mozambique is valuable, rare, and beautiful. It is hard to adequately express how much this ministry truly is a partnership in every sense of the word. The Gathering provides one key piece of the puzzle - funding - but the completion of a well requires so much more. We need the local Mozambican well drillers and solar installation experts (we got to meet and share meals with both of them). We need the local pastors and district superintendents who identify sites for wells. We need Bishop Nhanala of Mozambique and her leaders who work with local and regional governments. We need the staff of the Mozambique Initiative, especially our long-time friend, Ezekiel, who makes sure that all of these pieces come together. These are relationships that The Gathering has formed and strengthened over 12 years, and we had the opportunity to spend time with and thank all of these people during our trip. This is not charity. This is a partnership, and it was incredible to see it in action." [link removed] Read more here [link removed] →
Mourning Bishop Machado
We were saddened to hear of the loss of Bishop João Somane Machado. Bishop Machado served as the Bishop of The United Methodist Church in Mozambique from 1988-2008.
Bishop Machado was born in Morrumbene, Inhambane, Mozambique. He holds the B.D. degree in Theology from the Methodist School of Theology in Brazil and an advanced degree also in Theology from the Protestant Faculty of Theology in Kinshasa, Zaire.
Bishop Machado taught African Theology, Philology and Bantu ethics at the Ricatla Seminary. He was Headmaster and teacher at Cambine Theological School and served pastorates at Malhangalene, Cambine and Machava. He was Assistant to the Bishop at the time of his election to the episcopacy.
João Somane Machado was elected to the episcopacy in 1988. The consecration ceremony was held in Lubumbashi on August 19, 1988. Bishop Machado was assigned to the Mozambique area where he served until his retirement in 2008.
We continue to pray for Bishop Machado's wife, Nocia Madonela Machado, their extended family, and all those who were impacted by his life.
Resources


Whether you’re planning your Christmas Eve offering or reporting on connectional ministry in your small group, materials are available to support sharing the story of the Mozambique Initiative and its partners:
[link removed] Media Library: Download high-resolution photos and video stories for our active projects.
[link removed] Resources: Find one-page informational PDFs on our projects, shareable inforgraphics, liturgy for worship and more.


Forward this email [link removed]
View in browser [link removed]
To unsubscribe or manage mailings go to [link removed]
[link removed] Subscribe to our newsletter
Missouri Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church
3601 Amron Court, Columbia, MO 65202 | Phone 573-441-1770 | www.moumethodist.org