6 Mozambique's unreached peoples are still numerous and large, but there are few without a witness or an indigenous Christian presence

a) The Makhuwa

b) The coastal Swahili-related peoples have long been Muslim

c) The Makonde in the north-east are part Muslim, part animist

d) The Yao of Niassa Province along the shores of Lake Malawi are 96% Muslim

e) The peoples of the Zambezi valley

7 Sections of the population that are less evangelized:

a) The cities

b) The Northern Provinces of Cabo Delgado and Niassa are the least evangelized

c) The Muslim population has grown since independence

d) Students. There are only three University-level institutions with 7,000 students

8 Expatriate missionaries were expelled in 1975/76, but since 1982 doors have opened once more. Conditions are often harsh, travel difficult, the cities violent and disease common,

9 Bible translation and distribution. Lack of Bibles, foreign currency and means of distribution limit this ministry

10 Christian help ministries

a) Literature is easily imported but in short supply

b) Radio has been used of God in church-planting and teaching

c) The JESUS film has been used among refugees and in some areas in Mozambique, but only 5% of the population have seen it

d) GRN have prepared messages in 23 of Mozambique's languages

e) Development programmes by Christian agencies are welcomed by the government

Politics

A Portuguese colony for 470 years.

Religion

Government policy between 1975 and 1982 was the exclusive propagation of Marxism, 'all-out war on the churches' and 'destruction of religious superstitions.'

Churches in Mozambique

Missionaries from Mozambique

32 in 8 agencies

Missionaries to Mozambique

491 in 75 agencies from 26 countries

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Geography

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Area 799,380 sq.km. The Zambezi and 24 other rivers divide the 2,800 km-long land and make north-south travel difficult.

Population (2000) 19,680,456 +2.51%AGR

Capital Maputo 2.2m.

Peoples

Bantu peoples 97.7%; Northern peoples 54.3%; Central peoples 19.2%; Southern peoples 24.2%; Other 2.3%.

Literacy 40% (official); 20% (functional). Official language Portuguese – spoken as first language by 6.8%; understood by 30%. All languages 39. Languages with Scriptures 9Bi 5NT 9por 12w.i.p.

Economy

One of the world's poorest countries – the result of centuries of colonial neglect, application of Marxist economic theories and 30 years of intense guerrilla warfare. HDI 0.341; 169^th/174. Public debt 225% of GNP. Income/person $140 (0.5% of USA).

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