New Testaments Rejuvenating churches in Mozambique

Teresa Joao Raul, a widow and mother of three, lived in the remote village of Sussundenga in Manica Province. Sussundenga is a quiet, mountainous village surrounded by lush greenery, with fertile land that most residents depend on for farming. The village is a beautiful yet isolated community where life moves slowly, and traditions run deep. While the people of Sussundenga are known for their warmth and hospitality, they are also bound by longstanding cultural practices. Many villagers hold deeply rooted beliefs in ancestral worship, witchcraft, and rituals performed by traditional healers to ward off misfortunes. These practices have been passed down through generations, becoming part of everyday life. It was within this environment that Teresa grew up, and like everyone around her, she believed that failing to follow these customs would bring disaster upon her family. Life had never been easy for Teresa. She lost her husband at a young age and was left to raise her children alone.

As a widow in Sussundenga, she carried not only the burden of providing for her family but also the stigma attached to widowhood. Some in the village believed that widows carried bad luck, and Teresa often felt isolated from her community. To protect her family from harm, she followed the customs she had been taught since childhood consulting witch doctors, performing rituals, and making offerings to ancestral spirits. She feared that if she neglected these practices, her children would suffer from sickness, poverty, or other misfortunes. Despite her efforts, Teresa’s life remained difficult. Her farm barely produced enough to feed her family, and she constantly worried about her children’s future. Her nights were sleepless, filled with anxiety about the unknown. She feared illness, bad luck, and even death. The rituals she performed never brought her the peace she longed for. Deep down, she felt trapped in a cycle of fear and hopelessness, unsure of how to break free.

Her life took an unexpected turn when a team from Every Home for Christ Mozambique visited Sussundenga as part of our home-to-home evangelism campaign. It was a hot afternoon when Teresa saw the team approaching her home. She was surprised to see them, as visitors from outside the village were rare. The team, walking along the narrow dirt paths in the village, greeted Teresa warmly and introduced themselves as missionaries sharing a message of hope and salvation. Out of curiosity and politeness, Teresa invited them into her humble home. The evangelists began by sharing the story of Jesus Christ. They explained that God created every person with love and purpose and that He desires a personal relationship with each individual. They spoke about how Jesus came to bring freedom from fear and forgiveness for sins, offering eternal life to all who believe in Him. The team also explained that relying on ancestral spirits and traditional rituals could never bring true peace or security. Instead, they pointed Teresa to Jesus, the only one who can offer lasting peace and freedom. As Teresa listened, she felt a mixture of curiosity and skepticism. She had never heard anything like this before. The idea that she could be free from fear and find peace through Jesus intrigued her, but it also challenged everything she had believed for so long.

 One of the evangelists handed her a booklet titled The Gospel of John and read aloud a passage from John 8:32: Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free. Those words stayed with Teresa long after the team had left. Could it be true? Could there really be a way to be free from the fear that had gripped her for years? Before leaving, the team gave Teresa a New Testament Bible in Portuguese. They encouraged her to read it, explaining that the Bible contains God’s Word and that it holds the answers to life’s deepest questions. They prayed with Teresa, asking God to reveal His truth to her and bring peace into her heart and home. Teresa accepted the Bible with gratitude, though she wasn’t sure what to expect. For several days, the New Testament sat on a shelf in Teresa’s home, untouched. She continued with her daily routines, but the words of the evangelists echoed in her mind. The phrase ‘the truth will set you free’ seemed to resonate deeply, though she didn’t fully understand why.

One evening, after her children had gone to bed, Teresa finally picked up the New Testament and began to read. She started with the Gospel of John, as the evangelists had suggested. At first, the words felt foreign to her, but she kept reading, driven by a desire to learn more. As she read about Jesus healing the sick, forgiving sinners, and bringing hope to the hopeless, something began to change within her. His teachings spoke directly to the emptiness and fear she had carried for so long. She was particularly moved by John 14:27, where Jesus says: ‘Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not be afraid.’

Tears streamed down Teresa’s face as she read those words. For the first time in years, she felt a glimmer of hope. The heavy burden of fear that had weighed her down seemed to lift, replaced by a sense of peace she couldn’t explain. That night, Teresa knelt on the floor of her home and prayed, asking Jesus to take away her fears and guide her life. She confessed her reliance on rituals and spirits and asked Jesus to be her protector and provider. The following day, Teresa attended a Christ Group meeting that the evangelism team had established in her village. The group was made up of other new believers from the village, and it provided a safe space for them to learn more about the Bible and grow in their faith. Teresa shared her experience of reading the New Testament and how it had touched her heart. She found support and encouragement from the other members, who welcomed her warmly and offered to help her on her spiritual journey. As Teresa continued to study the Bible, her faith grew stronger. She learned that she no longer needed to live in fear or rely on traditional rituals. Instead, she discovered that Jesus is the ultimate source of peace, provision, and protection.

Her favorite verse became 2 Corinthians 5:17: ‘Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!’ She took this verse to heart and declared herself a new creation in Christ. One of the most significant changes in Teresa’s life was her decision to abandon the rituals and practices she had once followed. This wasn’t an easy choice, as it went against everything she had been taught. Some members of her community criticized her, accusing her of disrespecting their traditions. But Teresa stood firm in her faith. She explained to her children that they no longer needed to live in fear and that Jesus would protect and guide them. Her home, once filled with anxiety and fear, became a place of peace and joy. Her children noticed the difference in their mother. The fear that once consumed her was gone, replaced by confidence and calm.

She began teaching them how to pray and encouraging them to read the Bible with her. They no longer feared spirits or curses, they trusted in Jesus, just as their mother did. The New Testament Bible that Teresa received became her most treasured possession. She carried it with her everywhere, reading it whenever she felt uncertain or afraid. “This Bible has become my lifeline, she said. ‘Whenever I feel anxious or troubled, I open it and read. The words remind me that I am not alone, Jesus is always with me.’

Teresa’s transformation became a powerful testimony in Sussundenga. Her neighbors noticed the change in her and were curious about what had brought about such a dramatic shift. Teresa began sharing her story, explaining how the Gospel had set her free from fear and how the New Testament Bible had changed her life. She encouraged her neighbors to read the Gospel literature and discover the truth for themselves. One of her neighbors, Marta, was particularly inspired by Teresa’s story. I saw how Teresa changed, Marta said. She was always anxious and fearful, but now she is full of peace and hope. I wanted to know what made that difference in her life, and she told me about Jesus. Through the power of the Gospel and the simple gift of a New Testament Bible, Teresa Joao Raul’s life was completely transformed.

She no longer lives in fear or follows traditional practices that once enslaved her. Instead, she walks in the freedom and peace that comes from knowing Christ. I was once lost in fear and hopelessness, Teresa says. But when I heard about Jesus and received my New Testament, everything changed. The truth truly set me free. Today, Teresa Joao Raul continues to grow in her faith, attending Christ Group meetings and sharing her testimony wherever she goes, bringing the light of Christ to her community in Sussundenga. Her story is a powerful reminder that God’s Word has the power to break chains, transform lives, and bring hope to even the most remote and forgotten places.

Another powerful testimony came from Caetano Moisés, a widowed father in Zambezia. After the death of his wife, Caetano struggled to care for his children and felt abandoned by his community. The ministry’s outreach brought him a renewed sense of hope and belonging. He shared how the church became his new family, providing him with both spiritual and practical support. Caetano expressed deep gratitude for the help he received, including food and financial assistance, and testified to the transformative power of Christ in his life.

In Maputo, the Araújo family shared how the ministry’s prayer and fasting efforts supported them during a difficult time. Their wedding had to be postponed due to political unrest, but the ministry stood with them in prayer. The family eventually experienced peace and breakthrough, and they expressed gratitude for the spiritual support they received from the ministry.

Looking ahead, we recognize the need to address some of the challenges faced during the December outreach period. Providing more Bibles and discipleship materials to pastors and church leaders will be essential to sustaining the spiritual growth witnessed in these communities. Expanding MTC programs will ensure that more communities have well-equipped leaders to disciple new believers. The ministry also plans to strengthen partnerships with local churches and community leaders to facilitate smoother operations in challenging regions.