About the Mozambique Initiative

Our Mission

The Mozambique Initiative aims to walk slow, listen and create equitable partnerships that meet the greatest needs of partner communities.  

While all of the Mozambique Initiative projects are defined by the needs of each community, most projects fall into one of three main categories.  

  • The Mozambique Initiative works in local communities to build schools, provide scholarships, support those in need and catalyze income generating projects.  

    • Improving Schools 

    • Scholarship Programs 

    • Library Projects 

    • Revenue-Producing Projects 

    • Social Services at Hanhane Women's Shelter, CB Orphanage 

    • Disaster Relief 

    • Social Justice Work 

  • The Mozambique initiative supports hospitals, clinics, and wellness programs to provide immunizations, obstetric care, viral treatment and more.  

    • Chicuque Hospital 

    • Mobile Clinics 

    • Center of Hope Rural Health Deployment 

    • Safe Water 

    • Shared Meals 

    • Public Health Initiatives 

    • Shared Meals 

  • The Mozambique Initiative supports spiritual and leadership growth across Mozambique.  

    • Salary Grants for Pastors 

    • Leadership Development 

    • Pastor Training 

    • Congregational Resources (Bibles, hymnals, etc) 

    • Parsonage and Chapel Buildings 

    • New Church Starts 

    • Spiritual Renewal through Cultural Exchange 

The impact of these community-centered projects often reaches far beyond the initial defined need.  

Delivery of clean water to Mozambican homes can reduce sickness in a community. Access to adequate medical care means that kids miss less school. When you support one of these goals, you truly transform a community.

Staff

Ezequiel Nhantumbo

Ezequiel had the privilege of growing up in several different towns in Mozambique before attending Africa University in Zimbabwe. He majored in agriculture and developed expertise in sustainable development projects. Since joining MI, Ezequiel has overseen the implementation of all projects, developed comprehensive reporting strategies, and worked tirelessly to connect people with opportunities both in the United States and Mozambique.  

MI Representative - Mozambique

Lucas Endicott

Since 2015, Lucas has helped implement projects in several countries, primarily in Latin America and the Caribbean.

A native of Missouri, Lucas holds master’s degrees from Regent College in Vancouver, Canada and Princeton Theological Seminary in New Jersey. Lucas completed his doctorate in education with a focus on underserved communities at the University of Texas at El Paso. Lucas is an ordained elder and has worked at the Missouri Annual Conference Office since 2015 in an effort to connect individuals and groups in Missouri to sustainable projects in the developing world.

MI Representative - U.S.

Mozambique Initiative History

You can download our printable timeline here

In 1986 The Missouri Annual Conference began a relationship with the Mozambican Annual Conferences of The UMC.

1986

  • 1988 UMCs raise $19,580 for Mozambique Hospital

  • 1988 “Church-to-church” covenant partnerships begin with Bishop W.T. Handy. Covenant contributions between U.S. and Mozambican churches total $43,600

1988

In October 1992 the Peace treaty signed to end the Civil War in Mozambique and a small school was built by the Mozambique Annual Conference.

1992

The One Great Hour of Sharing raises money to support Mozambique.

1993

U.S.-based Mozambique coordinator is announced at Annual Conferences.

1999

Partnerships grow stronger during floods across 1/3 of Mozambique; Bishop Sherer’s leadership in response to the flooding helps raise more than $3,000,000 through UMCOR giving.

2000

  • July 1, 2002 Nine teams travel from Missouri to Maputo, Mozambique, to celebrate and strategize on shared work.

  • 2002 A MI Representative in Mozambique is hired.

2002

December 31, 2006 Giving for safe water increases to $135,000.

2006

2010

July 1, 2010 MI begins to focus on supporting income-generating projects with the aim of self-sufficiency.

  • March 2014 Grand opening of the Gondola Training Center in Mozambique.

  • November 2014 Manchester UMC funds new primary school in Mabumbuza.

2014

2015

$736, 564.60 total giving and 25 safe water wells completed.

  • 2020 Bishop Farr leads motorcycle ride for Mozambique

  • 2020 The Gathering Students raise $10,700 for fresh water.

2020

2023

2023 in the past three years more than $70,000 have been donated through MI to support mobile health clinics

2026 The Gathering raises $384,000 for women and children’s health facilities in Cambine

2026