THE MIRACLE OF MOCUBA

From humble beginnings in Swaziland in 1974, Trans World Radio-Africa has grown from broadcasting in five languages to a network of radio stations broadcasting to 40 countries in Africa in more than 60 languages each day. Africa needs Jesus, and TWR-Africa has committed itself over the past 30 years to preaching and teaching the Word of God to a continent characterised by poverty, conflict and famine. More recently a pandemic of HIV/AIDS has exacerbated the problems facing these people.

Even so, Africa is a continent of people who have dreams, aspirations, expectations and hopes. TWR-Africa is as committed as ever to sharing the life-changing Gospel of Jesus Christ with the people of the continent in a way that will not only bring them to salvation, but will go further in teaching them how to live by the Word of God. This, we believe, will empower them to bring about change in their lives and in the communities where they live.

30 years of dedicated broadcasting by radio has seen miracles of God’s grace take place as entire communities have been transformed, with churches planted and discipled all across Africa. One such miracle of grace can be seen in Mozambique. Mozambique is a country in the southeast part of the continent, covering a geographical area of 784,000 square km with a population of 17 million people speaking some 39 languages. Nine of these languages have been identified as viable for radio broadcast. In the central region, the Zambezi Province, lives a group of 2.8 million people who speak Lomwe. They are amongst some of the poorest people in Africa, eking out a meager existence living off the land.

In the past, evangelising the Lomwe has been difficult due to communism, introduced not long after independence from Portugal in 1975. A civil war from 1978 till 1994 made it impossible for missionaries to reach these people.

How is it possible, then, that if you visit the Zambezi Province today you will find more than 350 growing and developing churches amongst the Lomwe people? A people filled with hope? The answer to this question can be found in the miracle of Christian radio.

It all began in 1989 through a partnership between Trans World Radio and Words of Hope, resulting from an invitation from the United Baptist church of Mozambique. This led to Pastor Avelino Mutilimo broadcasting Words of Hope on short wave from Swaziland into Mozambique in the Lomwe language. 15 years later his programme still receives an incredible response.

For so many people who had virtually lost everything, the broadcasts from TWR remain a rich source of spiritual comfort. In refugee camps and remote villages many have gathered to hear Words of Hope and countless people have come to know Jesus Christ through this outreach. Pastor Mutilimo has received thousands of letters of gratitude for these broadcasts.

“I thank God who saved me as a result of listening to the Words of Hope programme. I was born again when my uncle invited me to listen to your programme that he used to listen to day by day. One day the programme spoke directly to my heart convicting me of my sin. The Spirit of God moved me and I desired to change the way I was living. I went to the Church of Christ and I became a member. Please, brothers pray for me.”

“I was born into a Muslim family but I have friends who invited me to listen to the programmes. I listened to the programmes about Moses, Abraham and Isaac. Muslim people know those people. I was very happy because I knew that Jesus is a descendant of Abraham. I decided to give my life to Jesus Christ because I learned that He died to save my soul.”

“Dear pastor, This is the third time that I am writing to you. I just want to thank God for allowing Lomwe people listen to the Word of God in their own language. Thank you for giving me a radio. Now I can listen to your programme in my house. I am 84 years old and my wife is 70. I congratulate all of you for the work that you do. In my church I see people that come to know Jesus Christ through your programme. Many come from very poor homes but it is always good to see the joy and hope when they come to Jesus Christ through your programmes and they come to church. Please keep making such excellent programmes.”

In the first four years of broadcasting, more than 50 churches sprung up in this region as a direct result of the broadcast. Today there are more than 300 churches each reporting memberships varying from as few as 20 people to as many as 500.

As the number of Christian converts increased and churches were planted, the need for leadership development became obvious. The challenge that faced TWR and Words of Hope was that the majority of church leaders needing development were unable to read or write. Being a culture that learns by listening and applying, radio was definitely the answer to this dilemma.

And so a second ministry thrust came through a Theological Education by Extension programme or TEE. A partnership was formed between Trans World Radio-Africa, Trans World Radio Netherlands, the Christian Reformed Church of the Netherlands and the local churches in and around the town of Mocuba.

In 1995 a fact-finding mission was sent to Mozambique that resulted in the Christian Reformed Church of the Netherlands sending Pastor Jan vant Spyiker and his wife, Fennie to Mocuba to assist in 1998. Almeida Mala was recruited to produce and present the programme while Pastor Jan vant Spyiker held workshops with church leaders at their churches.

At the same time property was purchased in Mocuba and shipping containers were brought from Durban, South Africa, and converted into a radio studio. Pastor Avelino Mutilimo and Almeida Mala relocated to Mocuba to live amongst the people they were ministering to and continued to produce their programmes.

The focus of the Theological Education by Extension programme is the training of pastors and church leaders in Macuba. This involves the broadcast of radio programmes following an interactive text. The programme is broadcast twice a week, giving two opportunities to listen to the text. This enables time for discussion groups to meet and study the material.

Over 800 people registered for the first Theological Education by Extension programme. This has now increased to more than 1000 per intake. The programme has been so successful that leaders are being developed and equipped to care for the new converts and to teach and encourage their congregations.

In a recent report Pastor Vant Spyiker wrote: "In my opinion we have in our project an excellent example of a good form of cooperation. The combined effort of using the radio programmes and working with follow-up really works and is a blessing to the churches. We cannot even measure the impact of our project since there are many more listeners (who are at the same time students) than those we find in the groups where we do the follow-up. In this way we can only hope that it will be possible to continue the cooperation for a long time."

What has happened in Mocuba is truly a miracle of God. God used the availability and vision of a few and the airwaves of Trans World Radio to reach many and to bring salvation and renewal to countless thousands.

But what about the road ahead?

The TEE programmes will continue to meet the basic need of reaching emerging leaders, most of whom cannot read nor write. Nevertheless, there is a growing number of church leaders who now have the capacity to study further than what the current level of education offers. The need has arisen to provide a more formal means of theological education for those who have completed their formal schooling and the TEE course. These leaders will come to Mocuba to attend two weeks of residential courses several times a year.

Currently an evaluation of the Theological Education by Extension programme is underway and will be completed at the end of the third quarter of 2004. Meanwhile, a new radio programme has been added at the elementary level. The Radio Bible, a programme involving a dramatized version of the Scripture, took to the airwaves in 2003 and has received widespread acceptance.

The Christian Reformed Church of the Netherlands has purchased property that will incorporate a Bible school and a new radio studio with provision for an FM radio station in the area. This will see theological education taken to new levels with radio programmes to assist the process of learning amongst the new generation of leaders.

From humble beginnings in a container in Qualemaine, with one man, Pastor Avelino Mutilimo broadcasting Words of Hope to a relatively unreached people in Mozambique, to more than 350 churches established as a direct result of Christian Radio, the miracle can only continue to bear lasting fruit so long as people like you and me are willing to participate meaningfully.

In Mozambique, radio is still one of the only means by which we can reach and disciple people with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. As Trans World Radio and its partners continue to broadcast Words of Hope over the years, we sense the hunger and thirst of the Lomwe people for more.

TWR remains committed to ensure that people go through life with the joy and privilege of knowing Christ as a personal Saviour. The people of Mozambique are close to the heart of Trans World Radio, and with the help of our partners the miracle can continue.

Article by: Rev. Brent Bartlett
27 February 2004