New Mozambique Covenant Partnerships Needed
Covenant partnership has transformed congregations in both Mozambique and Missouri. A church covenant partnership includes prayer, correspondence, leadership, financial support ($990/year for 3 years) and subscribers to e-communications.
Covenant Needed for Mozambique Church of Xitandane UMC
Xitandane (pronounced shee-ton-don-ee) UMC is a rural church in the Morrumbene South District of Mozambique. People subsist on farming and some collect and sell cashews. Pastor Celeste Julião Cumbane lives in a thatched roundhouse made with mud floors and walls. The Xitandane congregation worships in a semi-permanent chapel made of cane and with mud floor. “Macuti”- coconut leaves cover the roof and logs make benches. But the congregation is committed to their United Methodist Church. If your church is considering an outlet for meaningful risk-taking mission, consider Mozambique covenant partnership.
Pastor Celeste Julião Cumbane leads a congregation with more than 480 members and average attendance in 2003 was about 100. There are four local churches and 7 classes. The church is located in about 32 km from the Cambine Mission Station and accessed by a reasonable dusty road. The people of Xitandane fetch water from a well funded by Missouri few meters from parsonage. There is a small clinic and a primary school (1-5th grade) about 2kms from parsonage.
Members are mostly agriculturalists and animal grazers. The local language spoken is Xitswa and Portuguese. There is no telephone or electricity available in the area.
A permanent parsonage was under construction and may be finished. There is little means of transportation. There is high illiteracy and the people are often affected by draught and hunger.
With your commitment to Xitandane IMC in Mozambique you would covenant to:
- Appoint a layperson as Mozambique Ministry Leader and send the name of that person to the MI.
- Place the name of your covenant partner on your church prayer list so that our sisters and brothers in Mozambique are remembered in prayer daily,
- Support your covenant financially ($990/year - 3 year standard covenant),
- Write one letter per year to your covenant partner (email to MI representative, Ezequiel Nhantumbo at enhantumbo@tvcabo.co.mz, and;
- Send 5 email addresses to the MI to receive first-hand information from and about Mozambique.
Prayerfully consider engaging in meaningful risk-taking mission with a covenant partnership. Visit www.moumethodist.org/mi/partnership and click to make an online covenant. Please e-mail Carol Kreamer or call 636-271-4455 for further information.
Covenant partnership has transformed congregations in both Mozambique and Missouri. When Carol Kreamer visited the Zimpeto church in Mozambique, the Lay Leader stated in worship, "We (our covenant partner and Zimpeto) are one in Christ. If it was not for their support when we started as a new church, we would not be so strong in this neighborhood!" The church was packed that Sunday as they celebrated a newly appointed pastor, saying farewell to the district superintendent who had assisted them until that moment.
What: A standard covenant includes a commitment to pray for your partner, correspond with your partner, build awareness in your congregation or group, and support financially with $990 per year (church) and $1,320 per year (district) for three years.*
Who: Churches, groups and individuals may make covenant commitments.
How: Make commitment online or download the covenant partnership commitment card.
More information: If you would like your church to experience transformation and know more about engaging in a covenant partner relationship, please contact Carol Kreamer, coordinator, The Mozambique Initiative, P O Box 754, Eureka 63025-0754.
* Partial covenants are accepted beginning at $330/year – MI will seek other partners to fulfill the complete covenant.