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7th June 2009 |
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Pray for Mozambique
A population of 21.6 million. The Zambezi and 24 other rivers divide the 2,800 km-long land and make north-south travel difficult. 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. Climatic extremes of flooding and droughts have further impoverished the population. Fertile agricultural land and large mineral wealth were under-utilized, and most rural areas became a depopulated no-man’s-land. Road and rail links are few and barely usable. Heavily dependent on foreign aid. After peace came in 1995 improvements were excellent — until the setback caused by the massive damage of the cyclone in 2000.
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Government policy between 1975 and 1982 was the exclusive propagation of Marxism, ‘all-out war on the churches’ and ‘destruction of religious superstitions.' Since 1988 there has been religious freedom. 57% are Christian. Sporadic but severe persecution of evangelical believers occurred. Under Marxism all Christians suffered. Missionaries were expelled, Christian leaders intimidated and imprisoned, and many churches and institutions seized or destroyed. Discriminatory legislation was passed to limit Christian gatherings to recognized church buildings. Then began the growth. At independence in 1975, Evangelicals were 3.7% of the population. By 2000 this was nearly 12%. During the 1990s Catholics began to grow again. Please pray for this needy country.
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