Summer 2024

Solar Installations

Solar kits continue to be installed across rural Mozambique. Namarroi UMC in Zambezia north, Makhate UMC in Manica, and Macedonia UMC in Nampula all finalized installation last month. These solar units continue to provide access to electricity, often for the first time, to communities in rural Mozambique.

Two Missionaries Commissioned to Support Mozambique Episcopal Area

Two missionaries in the class of 17 were commissioned at General Conference to extend emerging areas of ministry in the UMC. Rev. Dr. Jovanir Lage, a native of Brazil, will be teaching at the United Methodist University of Mozambique in Cambine where he will lecture in theology. An ordained elder in the Igreja Metodista Quarta Região in Brazil (Methodist Church, Quarters Region), Lage has said "the pastoral vocation, combined with educational practice, has become a great learning experience, making me very happy so that more people can prepare for God’s mission."

Rev. Eric Kalumba from the Democratic Republic of Congo will become the first Global Ministries missionary to serve as a church planter with the United Methodist Church of Madagascar. Bishop Nhanala and the Mozambique UMC have been working to establish a number of growing congregations. A former district superintendent and assistant to the bishop in the DRC, GBGM reports that "in his new role, Eric will focus on planting congregations; evangelizing communities; training and building capacity of local communities and church members; preaching, teaching, baptizing, confirming and officiating in other church activities; serving as a liaison between the Madagascar United Methodist Church and the rest of the Mozambique Episcopal Area; and teaching English and leading an English Bible study on the university level."

These missionaries join six other GBGM missionaries already working in the Mozambique episcopal area. You can read more about each of these missionaries here.

Mozambique Partners Visit Missouri

We were delighted to host Ezequiel Nhantumbo, the Mozambique Initiative representative based in Mozambique, and a group of musicians on both a musical tour of Missouri and at Annual Conference. Many of you likely got to experience the band's music as we opened Annual Conference! If not, you can watch it at this link. Additionally, we celebrated over 30 years of partnership with a reception during Annual Conference. Read more in this story from The Missouri Methodists Magazine →

Missouri Groups Return from Mozambique

As soon as the delegation from Mozambique returned home, two Missouri groups traveled to Mozambique! Face-to-face connections like this encourage the relationship between Missouri and Mozambique United Methodists. In June and July Missouri groups visited:

Carolyn Belshe and Dondo orphanages
Chicuque Rural Hospital
Agricultural and educational projects at Cambine
The Center of Hope
Gondola Training Center
Gileteni Methodist School
Several United Methodist churches

We celebrate the strong connection between Mozambique and Missouri!