“Unless the LORD builds the house, the builders labour in vain.” (Psalm 127:1)
“Our church was completely destroyed. Now we are striving to rebuild it.”
These were the words of Pastor Santos after Cyclone Chido caused devastation across northern Mozambique.
In December 2024 more than 380,000 people were affected by the cyclone, with the worst devastation felt in the provinces of Cabo Delgado, Nampula, and Niassa. The cyclone not only destroyed homes and farmland but also left many church buildings in ruins.

Twenty-six church buildings were completely destroyed by the cyclone in Mecufi District, Cabo Delgado. Can you help us to rebuild them?
Mozambique, one of the world’s poorest nations, is facing some of the most profound challenges of its history.
The instability that followed the October 2024 general elections is continuing. An Islamist insurgency is being waged in the same areas worst affected by the cyclone. The country’s resilience is being tested daily.
Yet amidst these trials, the Church remains a source of hope. Across the country, churches are working tirelessly to support their communities, providing spiritual and practical care to those who have lost so much.
But these churches are struggling to continue their work in the face of destruction. They need our help to rebuild, restore and strengthen the Body of Christ in Mozambique.
Faith, community and hope
Cyclone Chido’s destruction has been felt deeply in communities already enduring the pain of displacement and violence due to the Islamist insurgency.
In Mecufi District, located in Cabo Delgado, 26 church buildings were left in ruins. For many of these churches, the loss is not just of a building, but of a place where faith is nurtured, where community is gathered, and where hope is restored in the midst of hardship.
“We are all in misery. Our homes were destroyed, and now we are all struggling to rebuild,” said Pastor Xavier

Pastor Xavier says that Christians have not stopped meeting for worship since their building was destroyed, but the rainy season is making things more difficult
Believers are continuing to worship the Lord despite their circumstances. “Our church was completely destroyed,” says Pastor Julio. “Since that day we have gathered in makeshift tents. … But we have not lost faith.”
“Despite it all, we never stopped meeting,” adds Pastor Xavier.
The builders of the Church
While the physical rebuilding is important, there is another urgent need: the training of pastors.
In Mozambique’s independent churches, more than 90% of pastors have no formal theological training. This lack of education means that many pastors struggle to equip their congregations with the Biblical knowledge and leadership skills necessary for spiritual growth and community development.
In a country where the church is often under scrutiny by the government, which questions its relevance in transforming the nation, the need for trained leaders has never been greater.
God willing, we aim to reconstruct 26 church buildings destroyed by the cyclone and provide training and spiritual mentorship to 30 pastors.
With your prayers, we can make this time of physical rebuilding a time also of spiritual rebuilding.
How you can help
Please donate As Mozambique faces unprecedented challenges, the Church’s role in rebuilding lives and communities has never been more crucial. Let’s come together to restore hope, strengthen faith, and empower leaders in Mozambique.
£6 ($7.20; €6.60) could purchase a 50kg bag of cement
£32 ($38; €35) could provide a wooden pillar
£37 ($44; €41) could pay for a zinc roofing sheet
£50 ($60; €55) could pay for a month of pastoral and theological training for a church minister
£1,264 ($1,517; €1,390) is the estimated cost of reconstructing one church building