Bibles for Mozambique

Background

Mozambique is a former Portuguese colony in southeast Africa. Situated to the northeast of South Africa, and directly west of the island of Madagascar, the country only gained independence from Portugal in 1975 after being a Portuguese colony for 470 years. Prior to being a Portuguese colony, Muslim Arabs occupied parts of the coastal region [1]. After only two years of independence, the country descended into a protracted civil war that lasted until 1992. In 1994, the country held nationwide elections and has since been a relatively stable presidential republic.

Mozambique as a country faces challenges from droughts and destruction from recent cyclones. Cyclones Idai (March 2019) and Kenneth (April 2019) left scars in the form of destroyed homes, lost crops, lives, and weakened infrastructure in many parts of Mozambique. In many parts of the country, the people live close to the soil, depending on it for sustenance, resilience, and survival [2] yet, this proximity to nature means vulnerability, especially when these cyclones or torrential rains do strike [3].

Mozambique is considered a low income economy, with the population primarily engaging in subsistence farming. Nearly 63% of the population is below the poverty line.[5] Infrastructure is also very limited. Only 33% of the population has access to electricity; only 20% of the total population is on-line.[5] Many families barely get by with what little resource they have and with what they can make monetarily. Mozambique ranks #126 in the CIA world factbooks GDB purchasing power, below Laos, Myanmar/Burma, and Afghanistan.[4]

In addition to the economic and natural disaster challenges, there is a growing threat of radical Islam. Beginning in 2017, Muslim radicals began attacking northern Mozambique towns. In 2019, these radicals started aligning themselves with ISIS [6], while also targeting Christian communities with violence, kidnappings, and beheadings [7]. In attacks in July of 2025 alone, 46,000 people were displaced in northern Mozambique and 6 Christians were beheaded [8].

The Bible situation in Mozambique

There is a vibrant Church in Mozambique, but access to God’s Word is extremely limited. Most pastors lead their churches with no Bible or only small hand copied text portions. Our in country contact recently shared the stark reality of the Bible situation in rural parts of the country:

“One of the most serious challenges facing the Christian community … is the severe scarcity of Bibles, a reality that has crippled the growth and maturity of the churches ... The roots of this scarcity are both economic and environmental … [F]amilies often struggle to secure enough food for survival. In such conditions, purchasing a Bible is far beyond reach for most households, leaving many Christians without access to the written Word of God.

The problem was dramatically worsened by Cyclone Idai in 2019, which ravaged [many parts of the country] with unprecedented destruction. Torrential rains and flooding swept away homes, schools, crops, and churches. For many pastors and church members, their Bibles and Christian literature were among the possessions lost to the floodwaters. In the aftermath of the cyclone, when people desperately needed spiritual encouragement, the reality was that entire congregations were left without even a single Bible to turn to for comfort and guidance. Pastors who once faithfully preached from their worn Bibles suddenly found themselves with nothing but memory and fragments of Scripture to sustain their messages.

The absence of Bibles … has had serious consequences for spiritual life and church growth. Many pastors, unable to read directly from the Scriptures, are forced to preach based on what they have heard from others, recall from memory, or from the Gospel portions provided [by other ministries]. While this reflects their dedication and resourcefulness, it inevitably leads to gaps in teaching, misinterpretations, and a weakening of doctrinal foundations. Congregations are deprived of the richness and depth of the Word, resulting in shallow understanding and stunted spiritual growth.

Young believers, in particular, suffer the most. Without personal access to the Scriptures, their faith often remains dependent on oral teaching alone, making them vulnerable to discouragement, doubt, and even false teachings. Sunday services lose the depth that comes from a shared reading of the Word, and discipleship becomes limited. For many churches … the absence of Bibles has become a heavy barrier to raising mature, grounded disciples of Christ.”

While there is a Bible Society office in the far southern capital of Maputo, the distance between Maputo and the far north of Mozambique is the same as the distance from the Panhandle of Florida to the northwest corner of Vermont. This distance is impossible for a typical pastor to travel who doesn’t have a vehicle, much less for the typical Christian who is a subsistence farmer.

The first step to meeting the need of Bibles to God’s people in Mozambique is to first equip the pastors, elders, deacons and evangelists with God’s Word as the leaders will then be able to adequately feed their congregation with spiritual food, the Word of God. We have been told by our national contact that Biblia Global is the only ministry partnering with our local contacts to provide full Bibles free of charge to pastors and other Christians in all of Mozambique. It is for such a situation that Biblia Global exists! Our desire is to continue this long term partnership to provide the Word of God to the Church in Mozambique.

Distribution #2

In this distribution, Pastors, elders, evangelists and church leaders from the region gathered at a central church to receive Bibles funded by Biblia Global. The pastors received a Bible in their language and also received a new pair of shoes from a ministry named Soles for Jesus.

Distribution #3

In this distribution, graduates of a ministry training program called “Be Fruitful and Multiply” (first location) run by Every Home for Christ Mozambique received a Bible funded by Biblia Global

Distribution #4

In this distribution, graduates of a ministry training program called “Be Fruitful and Multiply” (second location) run by Every Home for Christ Mozambique received a Bible funded by Biblia Global.

Mr. Augusto, 63, church Counselor, Mozambique

My name is Mr. Augusto. I am sixty three years old from the Sena tribe, and I serve as a counselor in a local church. I am grateful to share my testimony of how I came to know Jesus Christ and what God has done in my life.

I accepted Jesus Christ as my Savior in the year 2018. Before that time, I did not believe in Christ. My life was deeply rooted in traditional beliefs, and we trusted in customs and ancestral practices. For many years, I lived without knowing the truth of the Gospel.

One day, through the preaching of the Gospel by my pastor, I heard clearly about Jesus Christ and His power to save. The message touched my heart, and I decided to accept Christ as my Savior. Looking back today, I can confidently say that this was the best decision I have ever made in my life.

My faith became even stronger when God delivered my daughter from demonic oppression. Before her deliverance, she suffered greatly. She went through repeated marriages and divorces, and her life was unstable and painful. After receiving prayer and deliverance, her life changed completely. Today, she remains in her home, living peacefully, and I now enjoy the blessing of seeing my grandchildren grow up in a stable family. This miracle confirmed to me that God is powerful and faithful.

Even though I serve as a counselor in the church, I had never owned a Bible before. I would only see the Bible with the pastor, and sometimes I used a Gospel tract. This was because I could not afford to buy a Bible. In our area, life depends mainly on agriculture, and resources are very limited. Today, I finally have my own Bible. This brings me great joy. From now on, I commit myself to learning more, reading regularly, and seeking deeper knowledge of the Word of God. I am truly happy and grateful to have this Bible in my hands.

The Bible verse I love the most is Matthew 7:21, which reminds us that not everyone who calls on the Name of the Lord will enter the Kingdom of Heaven, but only those who do the will of the Father. This verse challenges me to live a life of obedience and sincerity before God. I sincerely hope that our brothers and sisters continue to show love and generosity by giving to the work of the Kingdom of God. Through your support, lives like mine are being transformed.

Mr. Isaías, 44, Evangelist, Mozambique

I was born into a pagan family. My father did not want to hear anything about the church, while my mother was Catholic. Growing up in a home without Christ was like living in a constant war. Every day there were fights between my father and my mother, and this affected us deeply as children. I lost the desire to live and felt hopeless.

One day, I had an opportunity to hear the Gospel in a very simple way. I had gone to a barber shop to cut my hair, and while I was there, I heard someone sharing the message of Jesus Christ. That moment touched my heart. I began attending church, and with time, I accepted Jesus Christ as my personal Savior. From that day, my life began to change.

The greatest thing I have seen God do is through the power of His Word. The Word of God gave me a future and hope. Through the transformation that happened in my life, I later saw my own father accept Jesus Christ as his Savior as well. This was a great miracle for our family and a sign of God’s saving power.

Since the day I was born-again, I did not have a physical Bible. I have been using Gospel portions because in our rural area it is very difficult to get money. Our livelihoods depend mainly on agriculture, and Bibles are expensive and hard to find. Receiving a Bible for free means that today we have been honored. It is not easy to have a Bible in our area, so this gift is very precious to me. I commit myself to protect it, take good care of it, and use it faithfully to grow in the Word of God.

I sincerely thank everyone around the world who gave offerings so that my people and I could receive Bibles freely. Your generosity has reached our community and strengthened our faith. One of my favorite passages is Matthew 7:1-6, which teaches us not to judge others so that we may not be judged by God. Another verse that guides my life is Psalm 115:105, “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” These Scriptures remind me to live with humility, love, and obedience to God’s Word.

My encouragement to all believers is that we continue helping one another grow strong in the Word of the Lord. Let us teach more about loving our neighbor and living according to God’s truth.

Pastor Marco, 41, Mozambique

Christianity reached my village through a Christian ministry. Through the preaching and witness of this church, I heard the message of salvation and came to understand that Jesus Christ is the true Savior. Before I knew Christ, my life was in darkness. I lived without spiritual direction, without true peace, and without the assurance of eternal life. But when I believed in Jesus Christ, everything changed. I received salvation, and I began walking in a new life with God.

God has transformed my life in a real and practical way. One of the things that has strengthened my faith is seeing how God uses the Gospel to bring unity and spiritual growth, even among believers from different denominations. I have shared the message of the Gospel with a brother from another church denomination, and God used that relationship to encourage faith, build mutual respect, and strengthen the work of Christ. This reminded me that the Gospel is bigger than one local church name. It is the power of God for salvation, and it brings people together around Jesus Christ.

Yes, I have had a Bible, but it is now badly damaged. I have used it for about eight years, and it is already worn out and falling apart because I had received it as a second hand Bible. In our district of Marromeu, it is not easy to get a Bible. When Bibles are available, they are very expensive, and most people cannot afford them. Because of this, many pastors and believers continue serving God without a personal Bible, or they depend on someone else’s Bible.

The Bible I have is old and destroyed, and I desperately needed a new one. The Word of God changed my life and gave me a new life in Christ Jesus. Because I am a pastor, I need the Bible not only for myself, but also to teach others, preach with accuracy, and disciple believers in a strong biblical foundation.

Receiving a new Bible means becoming a renewed man, strengthened in faith and prepared to handle the Word of God correctly. It means being equipped to read, study, teach, and preach the Gospel more effectively. It also means spiritual growth, because the Word of God is the light that guides us and the source of wisdom for daily Christian living.

I would like to express my sincere gratitude to all those who gave so that we could receive Bibles. Your gift is not small. It is a powerful support for the work of God in our district. Through your generosity, pastors and believers are being equipped with the Word of God, and this will impact families, churches, and communities. May the Lord bless you abundantly for your sacrifice and love.

One of my favorite passages is Matthew 28:16–20. This Scripture speaks about the mission of the disciples, where they worshiped Jesus Christ and recognized that He has all authority in heaven and on earth. Jesus then commanded them to go and make disciples, preach the Gospel, and teach people to obey all His commandments. This passage is special to me because it reminds me of my calling as a pastor. It teaches me that evangelism is not optional. It is a command from Jesus, and it is the way God saves lives and builds His church.

What I would like Christians in the West to know is that here in my town, we desire to expand the Gospel and strengthen the church, but we face many limitations. We ask that you continue supporting us with prayer, with Bibles, and with ministry materials that help us teach and evangelize. Your support helps us reach more people, disciple new believers, and build a stronger church in places where resources are scarce.

May God bless you and continue using you to strengthen His work.

Miss Isabel, 33, Mozambique

My name is Miss Isabel. I worship at a local church. I belong to the Sena tribe, I am thirty-three years old, and I serve in my church as the local vice maestro, helping lead worship and praise.

I received the Word of God through my father. From my childhood, he would take me with him to church, and together we attended services regularly. Because of this, I grew up hearing about God, learning to pray, and being exposed to the teachings of the church from an early age. The faith that was planted in me during my childhood became the foundation of my spiritual life.

The greatest thing I have seen God do in my life is the transformation He brought to me personally. There was a time when I suffered greatly from spiritual attacks. I often felt unwell, and evil spirits would appear around me, bringing fear and torment. My life during that period was very difficult, and I lived without peace.

By the grace of God, through prayer and faith, I was delivered. God healed me completely, and today I am well. I no longer live in fear, because the Lord has set me free. This transformation is a powerful testimony of God’s mercy and power in my life.

The Bible I have is very old and damaged, with most of pages missing. Because of this, it is difficult for me to read and understand the Scriptures clearly. I needed a new Bible so that I can have a better understanding of the Word of God and continue growing spiritually.

Receiving a Bible is a great blessing to me. For a long time, I have been using an old torn Bible, but this is not always easy. In our district, it is very difficult to find physical Bibles. Even when someone has money, it is often hard to find a place where Bibles are sold, and when they are available, they are expensive.

I thank God very much for touching the hearts of everyone who came to offer us Bibles. This gift means a lot to me and to my community. I pray that you continue with the same generous and loving hearts, because through your support, many lives are being strengthened by the Word of God.

One of the Bible verses I love the most is John 3:16. This verse speaks about the great love of God for humanity, shown by giving His only Son so that we may have eternal life. This verse reminds me that God’s love is the reason for our salvation and hope.

To Christians in the West, I would like to encourage you to remain firm in the Word of God until the coming of Jesus Christ. Your faithfulness, prayers, and support are a blessing to us. May God bless you abundantly.

Pastor João Z., 45, Mozambique

My name is Pastor João Z. I am forty-five years old, from the Ndau tribe, and I serve as a pastor in a local church. I am grateful to share my testimony and what God has done in my life.

I was raised in a Christian family. From my childhood, I heard the Word of God daily and experienced its transforming power. I did not have a childhood outside Christianity because my father was also a pastor. In our home, learning the Word of God was part of our daily life. Prayer was not optional. It was our first response to every situation.

One of the strongest influences in my life was watching my father respond to problems through prayer. Whether it was sickness, family conflict, or difficult decisions, he always chose to pray and trust God. Time after time, we saw God respond to those prayers. These experiences deeply marked my heart. They taught me that God is real, faithful, and powerful. Because of this, I chose to dedicate my life fully to God and to serve Him faithfully.

I carried this same practice into my own family. In times of illness and conflict, we pray, and God answers us. Seeing God work in these situations has strengthened my faith and confirmed my calling to live for Him and to serve His people.

The Bible is extremely important to me. It is the foundation of my faith and my ministry. Unfortunately, the Bible I have been using is no longer complete. During the floods that affected our area, my Bible was soaked with water, and many pages were damaged or lost. Since then, it has been very difficult to replace it because Bibles here are very expensive and not easily available.

For a long time, I continued ministering with a damaged Bible because I had no other option. This has been a great challenge, especially for preaching, teaching, and evangelism.

Receiving a new Bible today is a great joy and blessing for me. It brings renewal to my heart and strength to my ministry. With this Bible, I will evangelize, preach, teach, and guide others more effectively. It will be my companion in the work of the Lord and in my personal devotion.

My favorite Bible verse is Matthew 3:2, which calls us to repentance and reminds us to prepare our hearts for the Kingdom of God. This verse speaks strongly to the times we are living in today.

The world is changing, and the love of many is growing cold. We need to teach more about the love of Christ, repentance, and faithful living. This is my message and my commitment as a pastor.

I sincerely thank everyone who helped me receive this Holy Bible. May God bless you abundantly and continue to use you to strengthen His work and His church.

Mr. Daniel, 39, Church Secretary, Mozambique

I received Christ through the work of evangelists who were preaching from home to home in our community. Although I was raised in a Christian environment, I did not truly know Christ. In fact, for a long time I mocked people who went to church and believed that God did not exist. My life at that time had no direction, no spiritual position, and no purpose.

As time passed, a group of evangelists continued sharing the Word of God with me. Through their preaching and patience, I began to understand who God is and what it means to follow Jesus Christ. I then made a personal decision to accept Christ as my Savior. From that moment, my life changed. I moved from a life without direction to a life with purpose, responsibility, and spiritual stability.

I have witnessed God perform many miracles. First, God transformed my own life when I needed deep spiritual change. He restored my heart and gave me a new way of living. Another miracle I experienced was when I prayed and asked God to answer my request for employment. God answered that prayer and opened a door for me.

I have also seen God heal the sick. On occasions when I was trusted to pray for those who were ill, God poured out His Holy Spirit, and healing took place.

One powerful testimony I heard from my pastor involved a family whose child was very sick. They brought the child to the pastor’s house for prayer. As the pastor held the child and prayed, the child was healed. This strengthened my faith and confirmed the power of God.

Yes, I had a Bible, but I have now been without one for about one year. I need a Bible to teach the people and help them know the truth of God’s Word. Unfortunately, my first Bible was lent to a brother who lived in a rented house. When he moved away, he forgot to return my Bible, and I no longer have his contact. Since then, I have deeply felt the absence of the Bible in my life and ministry.

Receiving a Bible for free is a great blessing to me. It has been very difficult to obtain Bibles here, especially after floods, when many people lost their belongings, including their Bibles. Having a Bible again strengthens my faith and equips me to serve God and His people more effectively.

I want to say thank you very much for the love you have shown to me and to our community. These gifts were not something I expected, but today I have received this opportunity with great joy and gratitude. May God bless you for your generosity.

My favorite Bible verse is Mark 5:35. This verse is very important in the spiritual world because it speaks about faith and transformation. It reminds me of how faith in Jesus Christ brought change and healing, and it reflects how my own life was transformed.

I would like to share that God is love, and it is never too late to repent and return to Him. Jesus Himself said, “Come to me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” This invitation continues to change lives, including mine.

May God continue to bless you and strengthen His work through His Word.

Pastor João R., 40, Mozambique

My name is Pastor João R. I am forty years old. I serve as a pastor. I am grateful for the opportunity to share my testimony and what God has done in my life.

I converted to Christianity around the year 2000 through the work of a pastor who evangelized me. At that time, the Gospel reached our village through evangelism carried out by volunteers committed to spreading the message of Christ. It was through this faithful evangelistic work that the message of salvation arrived in our community.

Before my conversion, my life was deeply rooted in tradition and witchcraft. I depended on ancestral practices and traditional beliefs, thinking that they could protect and guide my life. However, this way of life brought great pain. During that period, I lost my child as a result of following these traditions. This tragedy deeply affected me and made me reflect seriously on the direction of my life. Through this painful experience, I realized that the path I was following was not good and did not bring life or hope. I then made the decision to leave my old ways and follow Jesus Christ as my Savior. From that moment, my life changed. I experienced freedom, forgiveness, and a new beginning. I clearly saw the hand of God delivering me from my past life and giving me salvation through the blood of Jesus Christ.

I am very happy today because I have received a new Holy Bible. The Bible I had before was destroyed by water during Cyclone Fred, which affected our region [in 2023, see note below]* Since then, I have struggled to minister without a proper Bible. Receiving this new Bible brings great joy to my heart and strength to my ministry. This Bible will help me greatly in preaching, teaching, and ministering the Word of God to the people. It will also strengthen my personal spiritual life and deepen my understanding of Scriptures.

My favorite Bible passage is Malachi 3:1, which speaks about God preparing the way and fulfilling His promises. This verse reminds me that God is faithful and that He works according to His perfect plan, even when we do not fully understand His ways.

My encouragement is that you continue helping more people, just as you have helped us. Your support is changing lives and strengthening the work of God in our communities. I would like to express my sincere gratitude to everyone who contributed, directly or indirectly, to making this Bible available to me. Thank you very much, and may God bless you abundantly.

* Editors note, Cyclone Freddy, 2023, was the longest-lasting tropical cyclone ever recorded worldwide and produced the second-highest accumulated cyclone energy of any individual cyclone on record globally.[9]

Notes:

[1] CIA World Factbook, Country Background, Mozambique, cia.org [home page on-line]; available from https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/mozambique/; accessed 18 September 2025.

[2] From digital conversations with in-country partner, October 2025.

[3] In-country partner, Idib.

[3] Idib.

[5] CIA, Idib.

[6] Danielle Wallace, “ISIS soldiers behead Christians in Mozambique, burning church and homes: 'Silent genocide',” foxnews.com [home page on-line]; available from https://www.foxnews.com/world/isis-soldiers-behead-christians-mozambique-burning-church-homes-silent-genocide; accessed 19 September 2025.

[7] Ibid.

[8] Ibid.

[9] “Cyclone Freddy” en.wikipedia.org [home page on-line]; available from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyclone_Freddy; accessed 19 January 2026.