Children's Ministry Around the World - Mozambique, Africa

As we continue to look at Children's Ministry and the lives of children from around the world, today we "journey" to Mozambique, Africa.

Mozambique is a former Portuguese colony located on the Southeast coast of Africa with 26 million people (World Population Review) and is rated as the fastest growing non-oil economy in sub-Saharan Africa (World Bank). Despite this, it is still one of the world’s poorest countries. As of 2011, about 54 percent of the country’s population lives below the poverty line (WorldVision). Sixteen years of civil war along with repeated floods, droughts and cyclones contributed to widespread poverty (Prayercast).

Life in Mozambique today is very difficult. The government is extremely corrupt and drugs from Asia and South America are brought to Mozambique to send on to other countries (US Department of State). HIV/AIDS (the fourth highest rate in the world), malaria, typhoid, diarrhea and cholera are all illnesses people run a very high risk of contracting. It is estimated 400,000 children in Mozambique have become orphans because of AIDS (humanium). In addition, it is estimated 1.47 million children are orphans and most of them end up living on the streets. One third of the children in Mozambique end up working; most in cotton fields or tobacco or tea plantations or being trafficked (humanium).

In Mozambique all children are required to attend school through the primary level, but many children do not go to school because they have to work (Wiki). Of the children who go to school, most are boys; upon completion of primary school, children are tested to see who may go on to higher levels of school (Wiki).

Mozambique has freedom of religion and according to the CIA; the people are 28.4% Roman Catholic, 17.9% Muslim, 15.5% Zionist Christian, 12.2% Protestant, 6.7% other, 18.7% none. My church supports a mission in a small town in Southern Mozambique and Sara, a friend of mine, has made several short-term mission trips to serve with my church. Sara says, “One of our missionaries from Mozambique trains teens and young adults in children’s ministry to hold ‘Bible Clubs’ throughout the city and in some villages for children ages 5-15. A Bible Club consists of outdoor games, singing, a Bible lesson, memory work and review games. Clubs last up to an hour and a half and are held one or two days per week. A club ‘looks’ a lot different than our typical Sunday morning; the teaching is entirely oral with no or few props, the singing is acapella. Children in Mozambique love to sing, dance, laugh, and play games.” Sara says, “There are churches in Mozambique, but many are theologically weak and often led by pastors who are not sufficiently trained.”

As you think about Mozambique, with 15% of the people unreached, please pray for –.

• God to draw believers to Him.
• For children to have better access to the basics of life like clean water, healthcare, and education.
• Laborers to go and serve children who are in need.
• Children to see God is real, He loves them and they can know Him!
• The church in Mozambique to grow and be able to be a light to their communities!

Mozambique is a beautiful country with children and families who need to know God loves them! While you may not be able to travel to Mozambique to serve the church, you can pray and, “When a believing person prays, great things happen.” (James 5:16 NCV) Let’s pray and trust God for great things in Mozambique!