Discipleship training begins in Mozambique

Pastors and lay people alike are catching the vision for discipleship in Maputo, Mozambique. Recently, All Nations Cape Town member Raymond Makhamu started a discipleship training program for 16 small groups.

This training has been a long time coming. Raymond, a South African, first visited Mozambique in 2008 after completing CPx (Church Planting Experience) with All Nations in Cape Town. He visited for a few months on outreach with other members of his Limpopo community, planting six simple churches. 

Raymond returned to South Africa and didn’t go back to Mozambique for another four years, but when he did he was surprised to find the churches had remained strong and even multiplied. There were now 43 groups meeting throughout the region.

Raymond relocated to Mozambique in 2016, where he has focused on making disciples as well as establishing a cashew nut business. He’s also focused on raising up key leaders and now works in ministry as a team with Gregory, Zachariah and Shadrach.

In July 2019, Raymond and his team were joined by others from South Africa in a time of intentional local outreach. They shared the vision of All Nations and how the focus of the church should be on working for the kingdom of God rather than building up an individual church. They shared their focus on real discipleship rather than evangelism crusades or church programs. Many church leaders who they shared with were touched by the idea that the people of God are the church, the church is not the building. 

This outreach time created a lot of interest, with local leaders asking for more training and equipping in the area of discipleship. Raymond and his team were gearing up for a discipleship training when the pandemic hit last year and put all their plans for gatherings on hold.

This year Raymond has finally been able to move forward with his plans. He’s started a discipleship training program with the interest generated from the outreach in 2019, as well as others from local churches who have heard about the initiative.

There are 16 groups of about 10-20 people who began meeting regularly about a month ago. They will learn about discovery Bible studies and how to gather and facilitate a group. The training will also give them a background in the word of God, Raymond said, giving practical Biblical study principles.

Raymond is excited to see the fruit that will come from this time. “Honestly, some of the pastors, they have really really understood” the vision, he said. Recently, Raymond shared with the groups from where Jesus speaks in John 15:16 —

“You didn’t choose me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce lasting fruit, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask for, using my name.”

The message of this passage, Raymond said, is that God is the one who chose each of us. He’s the one producing the fruit, not us. And he wants to give us fruit that will remain. Raymond said he sees this fruit as people’s souls. And as people turn to God and follow him, that’s when God is glorified.

Find out more about Raymond’s ministry by joining his private group on Facebook called Acting in Faith.