First Center of ‘African Firewall’ Project Dedicated in Mozambique
The first of six ministry centers along the so-called “African Firewall” project was dedicated on January 17 on the outskirts of Maputo, the capital of Mozambique. The center was constructed in only 48 days by several teams from Men and Women of Action in the U.S. and workers from the Church of God in Brazil and Mozambique.
Leaders from the Church of God in Africa and the U.S. joined some 200 leaders and delegates from the churches in Mozambique to dedicate the attractive, functional center, situated on spacious property that was purchased by the Church of God in Brazil.
The new building, funded largely by donations from young people in the U.S. and Canada, will serve as training center for Firewall ministries in Mozambique, as national offices for the Church of God and as meeting place for the local congregation, which met for ten years under a tree, still standing in front of the new structure.
Under the umbrella of World Missions and Director Tim Hill, the African Firewall project is a combined effort of several ministries of the Church of God. Men and Women of Action is a leader in the construction effort, while Youth and Discipleship adopted the initiative as the 2014 YWEA project, raising more than $930,000 toward the effort.
Church members and special guests gather for the ribbon cutting on the first Firewall project (click on photo to enlarge)
At the ribbon-cutting, several guests gave their greetings, interspersed by songs from different church choirs—mostly in the inspiring a cappella style so impressively unique to the churches of Mozambique. The dedicatory prayer was made by the coordinator of the Firewall ministries from South Africa, Ray Lombard, and the ribbon was cut by the international director of Men and Women of Action Hugh Carver. Heinrich Scherz, a member of the African Firewall Tack Force, gave the dedicatory message, after which the prayer of dedication for the leaders was offered by the African field director for Church of God World Missions, Peter Thomas.
Armindo Magule, national overseer of the Church of God in Mozambique, moderated the celebration. He expressed his special appreciation for Don Johnson, the original Firewall visionary and coordinator of the construction process of the new center, but who could not be present for the dedication. He also acknowledged the valuable services of Celia Mendes, missionary from Brazil, who served as liaison to the Firewall team and as multitasking helper in coordinating the construction.
On open fires on the property behind the center, some twenty women from the church prepared a delicious meal from scratch, which was then served by young people on festively decorated tables out in the open under the trees.
“It was a happy day for the church in Mozambique as well as for visitors from abroad,” Scherz commented. “May God help us to use the new facility for His glory and the advancement of His purposes in this part of southern Africa.”
Additional Firewall centers are being planned for Addis Ababa (Ethiopia), Niamey (Niger), at the Horn of Africa (Kenya), N’Djamena (Chad), and in Dakar (Senegal).
“The African Firewall project is a marvelous demonstration of ministry and vision coming together for the Kingdom of God,” stated Director of World Missions Tim Hill. “The dedication of this building is just the first step in a powerful initiative to reach the harvest in Africa.”
