Mozambique
July 4th

“Mozambique, proclaim that ‘Your God reigns!'”

How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, “Your God reigns!”(Isaiah 52:7,NIV)

》 Country Profile

Continent | Africa
Population | 32.51 million
Area | 799,380㎢, Located on the southeastern coast of the African continent, bordered by the Indian Ocean to the east.
Capital City | Maputo (capital, 1.16 million people), Matola (1.85 million people)
People Groups | Total 61 groups, Bantu ethnic groups, 92% (Tsonga 14.1%, Makua 13.4%, Lomwe 8.5%, Sena 6.8%, Nyanja 4.3%), Portuguese 7.8%
Unreached People Groups | 11 (9.6% of the population)
Official Language(s) | Portuguese, Makwa, Tsonga
Total Languages | 57
Bible Translations | Completed 28, New Testament 13, Partial 4
Religion | Christianity 52.4% (Independent church 13%, Catholic 28%), Ethnic religion 26.7%, Islam 17.2% Evangelical 13.2% (4.29 million people)

》 About Mozambique

Mozambique was first introduced to Europe in 1498 when the Portuguese navigator Vasco da Gama arrived on its shores. It came under Portuguese rule in 1505 and was officially declared a colony in 1926. In the 1960s, the Mozambican Liberation Front (FRELIMO) led an intensifying independence movement, which ultimately resulted in Mozambique gaining independence in 1975. However, the newly independent country soon descended into chaos, plagued by severe droughts and a brutal civil war, driven by anti-government guerrilla warfare.
In 1989, FRELIMO abandoned its socialist policies, shifting towards a market economy and introducing a new democratic constitution to stabilize the nation. In 2004, Mozambique experienced an unexpected political shift when President Joaquim Chissano stepped down after 18 years in power. In 2017, the extremist Islamic militant group ISIS emerged as a new security threat. Mozambique operates under a presidential system, with Daniel Chapo being elected in 2025 and currently serving as president.

Following independence, Mozambique became one of the world’s poorest countries, largely due to failed socialist policies such as land nationalization and state-run farms, the mass exodus of Portuguese skilled workers, and civil war. While the country experienced strong economic growth after achieving political stability in 1994, half of the population still lives below the poverty line. Agriculture remains the backbone of the economy, with 90% of the population engaged in farming, and agricultural and marine products accounting for 80% of total exports. Despite having fertile farmland and abundant natural resources such as coal, iron ore, and tantalite, these resources remain underutilized. Recently, however, natural gas development projects have been launched to tap into the country’s economic potential.
Mozambique’s GDP per capita is approximately $647.

》 Scripture Focus

》 Prayer Points

1. Since gaining independence, Mozambique has endured severe persecution under a Marxist regime, with Christians being threatened, imprisoned, and church buildings destroyed. However, extreme persecution and poverty have only intensified spiritual hunger, leading to significant church growth. By 2010, the number of Christians had tripled compared to previous years, and believers continue to increase today. However, despite the rapid expansion of the church, there remains widespread ignorance of biblical teachings, along with the prevalence of syncretism and legalism. Additionally, 80% of pastors and church leaders have not received formal training due to high illiteracy rates, poverty, and a lack of training institutions and facilities. There are about 20 evangelical educational institutions, mostly in the southern region, and five theological colleges in the north. Short-term discipleship training, theological extension education (TEE), mobile learning, correspondence courses, and radio programs are now spreading throughout the country. Let us pray that through literacy and theological education, leaders will be raised as true witnesses of the gospel, and that the power of the cross will be restored. May the Mozambican church awaken, break free from past oppression, and boldly preach the gospel across the land.

2. Foreign missionary organizations such as the Netherlands Reformed Church, YWAM, the International Mission Board (IMB), SIM International, New Tribes Mission (NTM), and the General Assembly of the Church have played key roles in leadership training, education, medical missions, relief, and humanitarian aid. However, some churches have come to rely on missionary organizations primarily as sources of financial support, leading to division and complacency in faith. In recent years, Islamic extremist jihadist movements have intensified, leading to a rise in attacks against churches. In 2020, a horrifying event took place in which around 50 Christians, including women and children, were brutally beheaded. That same year, Mozambique entered the Open Doors World Watch List for Christian persecution for the first time, ranking 45th among the most persecuted nations. Let us pray that missionaries and the Mozambican church will awaken spiritually and put on the full armor of God’s truth to engage in spiritual warfare. May God comfort the believers who are living in fear due to persecution from Islamic extremists, and grant them boldness of faith to persevere and remain victorious to the end.

3. Mozambique has more unreached people groups than other countries in Southern Africa. The Makhuwa people, the largest ethnic group, are primarily Catholic in the interior, influenced by animistic beliefs, while Islam or syncretic faiths dominate the northern coastal regions. Through the efforts of Iris Global, the Church of Christ, IMB, and NTM, the gospel has been proclaimed, and relief work and miraculous signs have helped bring a spiritual harvest. The Yao people, who live around Lake Malawi, are predominantly Muslim, with only 1.4% identifying as Christian. The Mwani, Koti, Makwe, Swahili, and Ngoni peoples are also Muslim-majority groups residing in the northern coastal areas. Various mission organizations have sought to reach them, translating the Bible into their languages, but in many cases, pastors and believers have been expelled. Animistic ethnic groups, including the Sena, Tawara, Nyungwe, Lolo, Kokola, Manyawa, Marenje, and Takwane, are scattered throughout the Zambezi Valley.
Let us pray for the churches and missionaries to be even more active in sharing the gospel with the unreached people groups of Mozambique.

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