Kubatsirana, Mozambique CONNECTED CHURCH Kubatsirana, Mozambique

WE USED TO BE POWERLESS MARCH 2016

What do shepherd’s need to look after their sheep? Notes to leader: This is a fun question to get people engaged with the story. You could ask them to shout out answers or to talk to the person next to them first and then feedback.

Pastor Sibanda felt like he was shepherding his flock without a staff, or a sheepdog, or anything he needed! The church had no money, and his village was known for its poverty and lack of clean water. Notes to leader: This limited Pastor Sibanda and his people even in their church life as they felt they could not do any evangelism events or special services because there was no money to pay for them.

That is, until he did Umoja training with Kubatsirana. He felt they couldn’t do anything, as they had no resources to draw on. The area was dependent on outside help. That is, until he did Umoja training with Kubatsirana. Notes to leader: An example of their dependency: charities/NGO’s would often distribute water as there is not much clean water in the area. This helped with an immediate need but did not help the community in the long term.

Many of the believers took his words right to their hearts. Through Bible studies focused on identifying and using what they already had, Pastor Sibanda brought the message of Umoja to his church. Many of the believers took his words right to their hearts. Notes to leader: Umoja, also called Church and Community Mobilisation, asks churches and communities to think about what they already have in their hands, and to meditate on what God can do with the little we have. The Bible studies are on passages like the feeding of the five thousand, where five loaves and two fish fed a huge crowd. It shows that once we offer what we have to God, he can multiply it hundredfold.

Another church he pastors fixed a broken borehole in their village. Two churches pooled their money and bought materials to rebuild their church. Another church he pastors fixed a broken borehole in their village. Note to leader: This is just the beginning of the changes that the umoja training will bring! Churches often begin with their building, as once they have a solid church building, they feel the church will be viewed with more respect in the community, and then they can start doing more projects. The photo shows people from Pombo church working on one of their boreholes.

‘We used to be powerless, insignificant and despised by others because of where we were. Now even churches in the provincial capital are using us as an example. We are no longer powerless, we have a vision and we are empowered to achieve it.’ Pastor Sibanda

PRAYER For Pastor Sibanda as he leads his church, for courage and wisdom Thank God for the enthusiasm of the church members! Thank God for the changes Umoja is bringing to Mozambique