God is actively at work in our world, and we believe that God's missionary purpose is to purchase and restore to Himself a people from every nation on earth. Since the dawn of creation (and the fall of man), God has been working at restoring and redeeming. We read how Israel was God’s chosen nation, and was called to be a light and blessing to the other nations (Isaiah 49:6). We see in the life of Christ, God making redemption perfect and available to all (John 3:16). Lastly we see in the church a people called by God to be his agents of change (1 Peter 2:9, Matthew 28:20).
Although we are certainly called to be missionaries in our homes, work place, schools and varsity, there is also a missionary mandate to serve others outside of our community. At St Martin’s we have certainly been blessed, and have a wealth of resources. We are going to be sharing some of these with a community of believers outside our border in July. From the 26th to 29th July we sent a team of people from St Martin’s to serve the church in Mozambique. See the pictures below fromt he mission.
Our heart is that every year we would be able to send a mission team, to serve and minister to a community in need. Besides wanting to be obedient to God in his mission mandate, we also go to have fellowship with our brothers and sisters in the faith across our border. This is so valuable in terms of building relationships, and also for being encouraged in our own faith. As a result of our participation in outside mission, we are blessed in return, as mission work has the wonderful ability of bringing together community, not to mention the bonding that will take place amongst the mission team members themselves.
MOZAMBIQUE MISSION 2007
>> LEBOMBO CELEBRATION
There are various strands that run interwoven throughout the Scripture and find specific and practical expression in the New Testament. Undoubtedly, one of the greatest of these is love. We are constantly encouraged to love one another – with a special mandate to love our brothers and sisters in Christ. Above all else, this was again evident to us during our third trip to Mozambique in July this year. Meister Eckhart comments, “If the only prayer you said in your whole life was, "thank you," that would suffice.” Upon leaving Mozambique this was certainly the prayer on our hearts – thanks to God for what He is doing in the lives of believers in Mozambique, and also for the love that they showed us.
A passage shared by one team member during our daily prayer meetings was from Romans 12:9-12:
Your love must be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to each other with mutual affection. Excel in showing respect for each other. Never be lazy in showing such devotion. Be on fire with the Spirit. Serve the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in trouble, and persistent in prayer. Supply the needs of the saints. Extend hospitality to strangers.
(Rom 12:9-13)
This passage so wonderfully describes what we say and experienced: love for God, devotion to their faith, respect for their neighbors, and hospitality towards us. Something that encouraged us the most, was as Paul says in the letter to the Romans, “Be joyful in hope, patient in trouble”. The amount of joy that the Mozambican people radiate is more than inspiring. Despite a tumultuous history, limited resources, and abject poverty, there is a persistent hope amongst the people, and which we have seen in the church’s case, has lead to concrete action. This more than anything else is what is encouraging, as it shows how joy and hope can sing a melody much more striking than suffering and trouble.
The primary reason for our visit, was to graciously accept an invitation to one of our sister church’s centenary celebration. We were honored to be invited and looked forward to sharing in this occasion with the saints in Mozambique. Six eager members of our community headed across the border together and shared in the journey. We were warmly welcomed and accommodated with families from the local church. It was clear that anticipation was ripe amongst the congregants, as builders layed final stones on the soon-to-be dedicated monument, mothers began to prepare food and energetic youth carried benches and other furniture around.
The celebration itself began on the Saturday evening with a 6 hour service, in which 102 confirmations, 82 baptisms, and numerous inductions into the various congregational groups took place. The following morning the actual celebration service took place. This was a monumental occasion and the service definitely embodied it. Benches were borrowed from neighboring churches, colorful tents adorned the church property, and even a small tent was erected and respectively decorated as a museum. Several hundred people arrived for the service, alongside many invited dignitaries including the Secretary General, Judicial Head, and Minister of Security. The 4 hour service involved songs of celebration and praise, words of encouragement from the Bishop, dedicating of the newly built monument, renewal of baptismal vows, and the celebration of the Holy Communion. The service was tailed with a feast fit for the 5000, and no mouth was left unfed.
During our trip we were also afforded the pleasure of a trip to the Cathedral, located 200kms north of Maputo in the Xai Xai district. The Cathedral itself is located in a serene and secluded village called Maciene. Not knowing much about Maciene, we didn’t have many expectations – and even if we had they would have been reduced to not much. The Cathedral and presence of the Church remains the central heartbeat of a community of around 7000 people, and not only in a geographical sense, but socially and spiritually. We were struck by Maciene in the sense that it was almost as if the place had evoked the ancient dream of divine community - modeled in the Trinity, and realized in Eden. Here was a community living almost a theocratic existence, and realizing its true calling.
Embracing customary Africa wisdom such as umuntu ngumuntu ngabantu (we exist because of each other) and a holistic approach to life (the inexplicable connection between spiritual, emotional, physical and social), the result is an almost self-sufficient people, built on the foundation of God and his involvement in life. As a result of the Church’s initiation, there exists a school, hospital, bakery, school of arts, and the newly built carpentry school. Again we experienced heartwarming hospitality during our short stay, and were given a full tour of the community’s vibrant programs.
W.T. Purkiser rightly says, “Not what we say about our blessings, but how we use them, is the true measure of our thanksgiving.” This is something perfectly understood and radiantly demonstrated in the communities we visited during our stay in Mozambique. We are continually blessed through our partnership with the Diocese of Lebombo, and notably its flourishing under the dynamic leadership of Bishop Dinis Salomão Sengulane.
3rd July 2008
>>REVITILIZATION AND RENEWAL
On our recent trip to Mozambique, we shared with the Bishop, clergy, and all the churches of the Southern Mozambique as they gathered for their annual Diocesan Family Camp (Diocese of Lebeombo). Around 1500 people gathered for the occasion, this year especially anticipated as alongside the annual celebration was the rededication of the Cathedral. The Cathedral is not located in Maputo as most would imagine, but rather in Maciene, a secluded village 3 hours drive from Maputo. More details about Maciene is available at the webpage mentioned above. The Cathedral is over 100 years old and until recently, only had a thatched roof. The last 3 years have seen several renovations and improvements take place, amongst others a new roof and floor for the 800-seater church. Apart from joining in the celebrations, our aim was to spend some time in teaching and ministry to the young people. From our previous trips we had noted a prevailing sense of religion and tradition, but in many places – especially amongst the young people – this outweighs the personal and spiritual component of what it means to be in relationship with God. We shared with the young people and were amazed at how receptive they were, and were also able to leave some resources for them to continue what Paul refers to as the ‘message and ministry of reconciliation with God’ or more intimately as Eugene Peterson phrases it in the Message, ‘developing friendship with God’ (2 Corinthians 5:16-20). We look forward eagerly to continue to develop this ministry, and rejoice that ministry is coming as a natural overflow of the same ministry taking place at our church and local ministry.
October 2008
>> PLANS FOR 2010
During the latter part of 2010 we are planning to help facilitate a youth conference in connection with 1/2 of the Anglican churches that we have built relationships with over the years. On the trip we hope to assist these churches in running a youth conference where the focus will be on spiritual renewal - a specific ministry focus that began on previous trips to Mozabique, and that we hope to continue.
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