Transformation is Happening on Mozambique Island
There were no Christians on Mozambique Island, a poor and primarily Muslim community with a culture of witchcraft and voodoo, when Rodger and Lynne Schmidt moved there and began their unique ministry fifteen years ago. Slowly and persistently and person by person, transformation is happening. Today twenty-five people proclaim Jesus Christ as their savior, and about 20 more are seeking God, as they participate in weekly small groups.
“Believers on Mozambique Island pay an overwhelming high social price to be followers of Jesus. They are marginalized, humiliated, threatened, excluded, and made less of within their own families and community,” Rodger said. “To align yourself with Jesus is to reject your identity in your family and in your community, but we are their family and their church and walk with them and support and encourage them.”
Ministry for the Schmidts looks different than what most envision as mission work, as they focus on disciple-making—raising up followers of Jesus—through a business strategy and by offering meaningful work.
“Jesus saw in the disciples what they were incapable of seeing themselves, and he cast a vision and walked with them to maturity” Rodger said. “We strive to walk with young people and reach people through job creation and mentoring in business, economics, and work ethic, and through casting a vision for the future, encouraging them to provide for their families, become godly people of character, and lead their community.”
The Schmidts run Rickshaws, a boutique hotel and Restaurant on Mozambique Island. Their general manager, Robsen, was formerly unskilled and homeless before being mentored by Rodger. Robsen is now a responsible Christian leader in the community, businessman, and provider for his family. And there are many stories like this!
COVID required Rickshaws to furlough 66% of its staff, and the Schmidts personally paid furloughed employees’ salaries for two years. They are now trying to recover from tropical cycle Gombee, which decimated the island in March, destroying each of their employees’ homes, as well as causing flooding to Rickshaws and tearing the roof off the building.
Please pray for the Schmidts, for the people of the community, and for the economic survival of the business following the challenges of COVID and the cyclone. Pray, too, for their safety and for their community, as there is a dangerous Islamic insurgency seven hours north. And please consider supporting Rodger and Lynne personally as well as making a one-time donation to the cyclone relief fund—they still need $40,000 to rebuild and prayerfully open for business again in August of this year.
Stay up to date with the Schmidts and their journey by following them at www.facebook.com/rodger.schmidt.7. If you’d like to support mission partners, including the Schmidts, go to lakesidechurch.com/give and choose “Missions.”
Attend On Mission: Mozambique Sunday, June 26 and hear from Rodger firsthand as he shares stories of how Muslim young people are becoming passionate followers of Jesus in spite of significant spiritual and societal opposition. REGISTER HERE!