April 2003

Dear praying Friends,

Last week during my visit to Mozambique, the Reverend Nedson Zulu, our project coordinator, and I spent time with Rev. Candido Macuacua, the pastor of the Zobue Church and 21 other rural congregations in the area. It is an overwhelming responsibility for one pastor! Can you imagine preaching, teaching, leading, visiting, and caring for folks in 22 congregations? The training of elders (leaders) is of utmost importance and a key to the growth of these churches. Rev. Macuacua told us that there are many Christians here, but very few workers. Some things never change. Jesus said, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field” (Matthew 9:37-38). The best way to assist Rev. Macuacua is to help provide a means for training his lay leaders, thus multiplying his work through them.

We covet your prayers for:

• Adequate funding for evangelism and discipleship
• Training approaches that build leaders
• Good follow-through on the part of the pastors
• A God-given vision for making disciples of others—a ministry of multiplication

Other news

Each year we host a group of people from the Outreach Foundation of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). Our purpose in doing this is to expose American Christians and their churches to what God is doing through His Church in southern Africa. Upon their return to the United States, they will be advocates for people in this part of the world.

Our fourteen guests will be arriving on May 6, 2003. We will be spending time in and around Harare at various ministries and then traveling to Mozambique, where we will be visiting many local churches, including the Mphulu congregation. Rev. Macuacua is looking forward to being our host.

Please pray:

• For safety, good health, and energy
• For open minds and hearts
• For God to enlarge our vision
• On the home front

Bobbi continues to heal from her major back surgery and is getting stronger each day. We are so thankful to the Lord for His healing hand and for the many prayers, cards, phone calls, and special visits from family and friends who supported us through this time.

We celebrate with you and Christians around the world the risen Lord and His life in us!

Rejoicing in His name,

Bob and Bobbi Snyder

The 2003 Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, page 51