Revitalization in Mozambique
by Francine Taylor-Thirus, Director of Congregational Revitalization, General Board of Discipleship

Giving all praise to God, I was honored to be a part of a team from the General Board Of Discipleship to go to Mozambique, Africa, in February 2002. It was an inspiring trip, and we all returned to the United States with hearts uplifted and full of inspiration. I celebrate the participation, preparation, and presentation of each member of the team from Mozambique and America!

This was the second seminar in Mozambique sponsored by the General Board of Discipleship. It was held in Xai Xai the first week and in Cambine the second week. The General Board of Discipleship's first seminar was held in the new "North of the Save [River] Conference" June 4-15, 2001.

The staff of the General Board of Disciplehsip and the conference staff in Maputo did a lot of work in planning for the seminar. We agreed with the conference staff in Maputo that it was better if all participants were growing and learning at the same pace to provide consistency and continuity.

Mozambican church leaders were part of the training team. The Rev. Fernando Matsimbe, Conference Director of Evangelism and Faith Formation, was our logistics coordinator, and he provided training leadership. Matsimbe, along with other staff members, worked long hours in preparation for our arrival and during our two-and-one-half-week stay. His singing, translating, presentations, preaching, and energy focused and motivated the participants, presenters, staff, and the many volunteers.

The goal of the seminar was to provide evangelism and church growth training and education to leaders from the districts so that they could train and teach others in their districts. The leaders needed strengthening in fundamental theology of evangelism training and in "how-to" skills.

Some of the subject areas we presented were:

• Teaching and Learning: Foundation for Christian Education
• Biblical Foundation for Preaching and Evangelism
• Leading Your Church to Growth
• Group Discussion and Practical Application on Leading Your Church to Growth
• The Holy Spirit and Sanctification in Wesleyan Tradition
• Fundamentals of The United Methodist Church
• The Church in Mission
• Planning the Growth of Your Church
• Financial Policy
• Stewardship in the Wesleyan Tradition
• Ten-Step Action Plan for a Vital Congregation
• Steps to Make Your Own Accountable Action Plan
• Participants' Presentations of Their Action Plans

Praise be to God for such a spiritually rich experience.

"GO OUT AND SERVE"

Posted 3-21-02