Gifts for Mozambique and Missouri!
They came with gifts of covenant commitments, email addresses,
letters and tokens for partners, choir robes, pastor robes and stoles,
but especially they came with gifts of relationship. Who came? Persons
who attended the covenant recognition luncheon and visited the Mozambique
Initiative display booth, complete with a house "made of local
materials", a chapel with pews, and a bell to signal the start
of worship.
The 2003 Annual Conference Mission Fair, held on May 31st was the
venue for gift exchange for Mozambique partners. When one came to
the booth to put a gift in the basket, they received a "Hope
for the Children of Africa" sticker or a "Mozambique Initiative"
sticker with the African continent depicted.
Covenant partnership is the basis for most relationships with churches,
districts and individuals in Mozambique. Four new full covenants
and forty-two renewals were received at or around the Mission Fair.
Eight churches sent their gift of laity Mozambique Ministry Leader
names so that mailings and email would go to the appropriate address.
Seventy new email addresses were added to the "Friends of Mozambique"
subscription list. This is an important element of covenant as first
hand information is sent to each church and news of Mozambique helps
church members stay aware of current situations in Mozambique. If
you missed the opportunity to send any of these items, you can mail
your covenant commitment, names and email addresses at any time
to The Initiative at P O Box 754, Eureka, Missouri 63025.
Kuzwanana, the singing group from Mozambique, thrilled the audience
as they took center stage during the mission fair. Many in the audience
had made relationships with choir members during their tour. Others
heard them for the first time, and then followed them to their evening
concert that night in Boonville, Missouri. Kuzwanana, which is a
Xitswa name meaning understanding or being together, was the first
international touring choir for the United Methodist Church in Mozambique.
The choir graced at least twenty United Methodist Churches and several
schools, sang on a radio station, and visited tornado-damaged parts
of Missouri. Their gift was their songs and their presence and word
has been received that Bishop Machado would like for this to continue.
Over fifty letters and gifts were received for covenant partners
in Mozambique. Ezequiel Nhantumbo, Mozambique Initiative representative,
took these back to Mozambique to be translated and distributed to
the partners across the country.
During their tour in Missouri, an email request came in from Mozambique
seeking 30 choir robes for the Wesley choir. This was not known
by Wesley choir director, Joel Mauela who was leading Kuzwanana
at the time. So it was a surprise when the thirty robes were received
from Eureka United Methodist Church. Imagine Joel's surprise when
he learned he was taking a huge suitcase back with his choir robes
in it!
Some very special pastor robes and stoles were also received. With
great honor the Initiative received robes from deceased pastors,
given in their memory by spouses and friends. One was designated
to go to a rural pastor. The designation has been related to the
Council on Ministries Director, Rev. Xavier N. Guambe, in Mozambique,
who assured The Initiative that the robe will be so given.
A surprise gift from Mozambique was the presence of Zephanias Chihulume,
a Mozambican student from Africa University. Zefanias has been accepted
at Eden Seminary in St. Louis for the 2004-2005 school year. The
Initiative works with The United Methodist Church in Mozambique
to help develop its church leaders. Zephanias is one of those leaders.
New materials were made available by the Mozambique Initiative
as gifts to the churches of Missouri. These included a new Study
Guide, for churches and groups to learn about Mozambique, a revised
Covenant Partnership Guide, and the new brochure for Retired Pastor
Covenants. In Mozambique, retired pastors receive $4.26 per year
for each year they served the United Methodist Church -- and that
is only if funds are available. You can learn more about these opportunities
for learning and giving by contacting The Initiative.
The updated website was unveiled at the display with a live internet
hookup. Partner lists and the Mozambique church list, including
pastor names, are new features under the top and left tabs.
Certificates were presented to over four hundred covenant partners,
both past and present at the Mozambique Covenant Recognition Luncheon.
Over 260 persons attended the luncheon and those partners who did
not attend will receive their certificates by postal mail. Each
of these covenant contributions, no matter how large or how small,
has made a difference in the life of the church in Mozambique. Because
of covenant many wonderful relationships have been built and great
ministry has been shared.
Special recognition was awarded Rev. DS Ken Lutgen, Heartland Central
District, for his years of visionary leadership to the Miracle in
Mozambique. During Ken's leadership, the covenant relationships
were taken to a new level, over 100 persons traveled to Mozambique,
each year persons from Mozambique traveled to Missouri, and the
consultation model of ministry and Working Group for Mozambique
began to bring various conferences and agencies together in their
ministries. Ken will continue as an advisor to The Initiative but
turns over the chair to Rev. DS Dick Curry, Heartland North District.
To learn more about The Mozambique Initiative
contact:
Carol Kreamer, coordinator
The Mozambique Initiative
P O Box 754
Eureka, MO 63025-0754 USA.
To contact Carol with further inquiries phone: 636-271-4455 or by
email.
