Missionary Support for Erik and Kim Free
Mozambique
The United Church of Christ of Mozambique has been working with many small communities on rural development projects including digging of wells, rebuilding of churches, establishing health clinics, and promoting agricultural efforts. The United Church of Christ in Mozambique has requested that Kim Free, a registered nurse, and Erik Free, a pastoral minister, walk with them as they grow these exciting ministries as fully-appointed Global Ministries missionaries for a period of four years.
The partnership between the United Church of Christ in Mozambique (UCCM) and Global Ministries has its roots in the 1870s when the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Mission (ABCFM) showed an interest in working in Mozambique. Today, the mission of the United Church of Christ in Mozambique is to serve God and bring people to a progressive religious experience inspired by Jesus Christ through worship, preaching, and the sacraments.
Mozambique gained independence from Portugal in 1975, but was ravaged by a protracted civil war from 1977 to 1992. The country is still recovering, and evidence of the 15 year war is still visible over 20 years later and Mozambique is one of the least developed nations in the world, ranking 185th out of 187 countries on the Human Development Index – nearly 25 places behind Haiti.
Kim and Erik are invited to serve in a variety of capacities across the life of the UCCM, including with many of their outreach and service projects. Having
served previously with the Amity Foundation in China and with their professional backgrounds, Kim and Erik are prepared to assist with the priorities of this project as outlined by the United Church of Christ in Mozambique–-education and health.
In April 2013 Kim and Erik Free were approved by the Common Global Ministries Board (CGMB) to serve pending financial support. Global Ministries needs to raise $50,000 for each year of their four-year appointments in order to make their missionary appointments possible.