Rafael, a young Christian in northern Mozambique, is one of thousands displaced by Islamist terrorism. Only 15 years old when his brother was shot and killed by an Islamic State fighter, Rafael found safety and renewed hope in a community of displaced people served by Pastor “Gabriel”.
What is life like for a Christian in northern Mozambique?
For several years, the people of northern Mozambique have endured relentless attrition from Islamic State (IS, ISIS, ISIL, Daesh).
The province of Cabo Delgado is the epicentre of a jihadist insurgency that began in October 2017. The region has suffered years of violence claiming a devastating death toll of around 2,700 civilians.
One of many Christian women widowed when her husband was beheaded by extremists
The terrorists often boast of targeting Christians for their faith.
“The moment they come into contact with you, there’s no compromise,” says one Mozambican Christian. “If they catch you, they will kill you.”
Another adds, “They attack people using swords and other weapons. They kill people. They burn houses.
“If they find girls there, they take them to make them their wives,” he continues. Some boys are forced into becoming child soldiers.
Family tragedy forces family to flee
Rafael was 15 and living with his family in the far north when his older brother was shot and murdered on the side of a road by Islamist terrorist. Like many others, Rafael was forced to run, and his life was reduced to only what he could carry.
Rafael has had to come to terms with his brother being murdered by jihadists
He had to focus on staying strong and finding a safe haven even though grief for his brother was welling up.
“There are still times when I really feel the grief of everything that I left behind, even when I remember my brother,” he reflects. “I just have to be strong and pick myself up.”
Refuge found
Still scarred by the loss of his brother, Rafael and his family were forced to flee more than 200 miles to the nearest settlement for internally displaced persons.
After surviving in destitute poverty for four years, food scarcity drove them further south, where they met “Gabriel”, the pastor of a church for displaced believers.
“When I first arrived at this settlement, the Lord asked me to start a church, just me and my wife,” Gabriel recalls. “We faced a lot of difficulties because it was a new area for us, but it was in God's divine plan. He was setting me up to do ministry in a different area to other displaced believers.”
Rafael’s faith deepens and leads to conviction
At the time, Rafael was not a committed believer, but through the ministry of the church, his faith was deepened and he was reminded of the Gospel and what Jesus had done for him.
“God gave me a new conviction, ‘I have to teach’,” he shares. “It is so important for me to pass on an education to the next generation because these children could be the next presidents, the next doctors or even teachers like me with a passion to help!”
Rafael is motivated by the conviction that God wants him to teach
Affording any formal education has always been a struggle for Rafael. “Even before we had to flee, I was struggling to afford to go to school, but the displacement meant that my schooling had to end,” he reflects.
Violence and displacement compounded the problem. Without an education and stranded in a remote settlement, believers struggle to find work and feed their families.
Gabriel’s vision being realised through Barnabas support
When Gabriel saw the frailty of his congregation, he decided to step up and live out the command of Christ.
Gabriel ministers to his congregation through prayer, but he also wanted to provide through farming, so that his church could eat. But even this wasn’t enough; the needs of the church were too great to look beyond day-to-day survival and the grip of perpetual poverty. So, Barnabas Aid stepped in to help.
Donations from Barnabas supporters are enabling Christian children to look to the future with hope
“Now that Barnabas have come on board, we have been able to buy a maize mill… and goats to distribute to the congregation,” he explains. “Many in the church have given testimony to say that with the money that can be earned from these donations, their children will be able to go to school!”
In time, this means young men like Rafael will be able to continue their education and pursue a career that brings hope to the future generations that have already lost so much.
Please pray
- Pray for persecuted Christians in northern Mozambique. Ask the Lord to protect them and cry out for an end to the ongoing terrorist violence.
- Pray for many, like Rafael and his family, who have had to flee their homes in search of safety. Pray that the Lord will direct their steps as they seek to rebuild their lives.
- Praise God for men of vision such as Pastor Gabriel that they will experience divine wisdom and compassion as they minister to their flock and receive the resources to build His Church.
- Pray that the Church will know much joy even in displacement as God’s people grow in numbers and spiritual depth.
- Lift up to the Lord young believers including Rafael, asking that they will have opportunity to pursue the dreams they receive from God and know His faithfulness abounding as they are faithful to their calling (Hebrews 10:23).
