Our friends in Mozambique have excelled in applying kingdom principles to their communities and culture. Over the last few years, we’ve had the privilege of learning from Mozambican church leaders and partnering with them in a variety of projects. Most of these projects developed through our connection with Scott Marques, who leads River of Life Church in Harare, Zimbabwe, and oversees a group of Newfrontiers churches in southeastern Africa, called Disciple Nations.

Mozambique is one of the world’s poorest and most economically underdeveloped nations, so one of the best strategies for planting a church there is to start a business. When Scott moved to Nampula, his team planned to do just that. Beginning with an egg cooperative and later expanding to a crocodile farm, they developed successful, sustainable businesses that continue to provide regular income for families. Not only that, Scott and his team have used job opportunities as discipleship opportunities, helping people see how kingdom principles apply to work and daily life.

Leaders from River of Life Church in Harare also helped establish Rapale International School in Nampula. Originally, their goal was to provide a high quality education for children of missionaries. However, Rapale soon became known as one of the best schools in the country, and they are now enrolling local children, as well. Many of these kids have grown up in families that practice other religions, and as they’ve heard stories about Jesus, several students and their families have come to faith in him.

Confluence churches in the southeast have sent two teams and given $100,000 toward projects in Mozambique through our annual Celebration conferences. These funds helped pay for the construction of new buildings for Rapale, providing much needed classroom space. They’re also serving as office space for the businesses and a meeting place for the church, which currently has four congregations.

Christine Fogle from Jubilee Church (Atlanta) with students from Rapale International School

While Confluence has been able to offer financial support and invest in the growth of businesses in Mozambique, we see our connections there as more relational than financial. We’ve received much more than we’ve given. We’re learning from Mozambican believers and gaining a global perspective on what the kingdom of God looks like as it impacts communities and nations.

This past June, Jubilee Church (Atlanta) and Lifehouse Church (Tennessee) sent a team to Mozambique. Below is a testimony from Jessica Vincent, who was a member of that team.

“I had heard from the previous team about how amazing it was visiting Mozambique, but as I began our journey, I was unsure about what to expect. Would I be too shattered by the poverty around us? Would I even get time with the people of Mozambique or would I just be with our American team? Would God meet me through this at all? All those concerns aside, I was open to whatever God had for us.
On our first day driving through the city, I was struck by the living conditions and the amount of people and children. Even though their living conditions were poor and they didn’t have anything, there was a contagious smile, joy, and playfulness among the people.
When we got to tour the businesses, training center, and school that had been built by the people and teachers we were teaming up with, I got a glimpse of what a massive blessing this is for the country of Mozambique.
Scott told us that the Mozambique people just think of how to survive each day. With these businesses and training center, people are able to finally provide for their families and be trained in business, farming, and to have a hope for the future!
I am so proud that we as a church family get to partner in helping an entire country have a future and a hope!”