The People
Mozambique is materially one of the poorest countries in the world, with its people struggling with poverty, economic difficulties, and the aftereffects of a 15-year civil war produced over 1 million casualties. In the northern part of Mozambique live the 4 million Makua people who speak Makhuwa. A sister language of Lomwe, Makhuwa is the most important indigenous language of the country. The Makua people's main religion is Islam.

The Need
The Makua people live relatively isolated lives full of hardships. They need to hear messages of peace and reconciliation to break remaining feelings of hostility. Most of all, they need to hear of hope, renewal and restoration that only comes through Jesus Christ.

The Ministry
In response to these difficulties, TWR partnered with Words of Hope to create the daily broadcast, "Molumo Olipelela" or "Words of Hope" (WoH). This program brings the Gospel to the relatively unreached Makua people. Pastor Caetano produces the program with the goal of proclaiming Jesus Christ through broadcasting and seeking to build the church by spreading the Word of salvation and by encouraging Christians in the life of discipleship.

The Results
Many Muslim families today are turning their lives to follow Jesus Christ. Groups of believers are forming churches. In fact, the new Christians of a Makua village recently transformed a mosque into a new church for worship of their Lord, Jesus Christ. Some government officials have even expressed their appreciation of the program. As of August 2008, 356 believers now attend up to 16 different churches. 7 more listener groups have been formed and a Muslim Sheik has been converted to Christianity by listing to the program with other people.

"I want to give many thanks for the TWR programs. At first it was hard and difficult to preach the Word of God in that area. When I joined a group of listeners, I was given a radio (Grunding) which helped me so much in evangelism. In 2006 when the program producer visited the area where the nucleus is, three more groups were created in the neighboring churches. There are two churches with approximately 48-60 members in each and more people are coming. They are in need of Bibles and other Christian reading material." - A Pastor from Twelve Apostles Church of Mozambique

"People from Muecate district in Nampula province say that the program is good and educational. When the programs started in Muecate district there were only four churches and now after five years of listening to the program there are five churches of Baptist Union, seven of the Assemblies of God, eight of Christ Evangelical and nine of other denominations. The churches in this district are a result of the program, Molumo Olipelela. Their wish is that the programs continue. They complain that the time of the program is very short." - A Listener from the Zion Church

"It was a surprise when we listened to the program for the first time in our lives; we heard about Jesus Christ the Savior in our own language. Since then we have always listened to the program. We belong to an Evangelical church in Mogincual district. That's how we received Christ in our lives. We ask for your prayers."

"I never had a religion before. One day I approached a group of people who always sat to listen to the radio programs. I wanted to know what was so important that made people sit and listen to the radio. There I found salvation in Jesus Christ. Since then I and my family have been listening to the program. We have received a radio and a Portuguese Bible. We ask for your prayers."

"I am married and I have five children. I was a Muslim and I am a Molumo Olipelela program listener for long time. At first I used to listen to the program alone and I accepted Jesus as my Savior. Today I and my family we are going to an Evangelical church. We feel very happy and we are free from our sins in Jesus Christ."

Get Involved

• Praise the Lord for the encouraging listener response to this program!
• Pray for transportation to enable visits to the listener groups and distribution of Bibles and other Christian materials.
• Pray for the producer, Pastor Caetano, that he will continue being faithful and encouraged in serving God in this ministry.