In 1997 , OMS missionary Steve Doxey befriended a guard on his street . The guard had heard that a small group from the community was meeting near his home , under a tree , trying to understand the Bible . The guard asked Steve to teach this group the truth of the Word . Thus , the first OMS church in Mozambique came into being . Soon , that church planted a second and third church through these new friends . Every Community for Christ ( ECC ), a ministry of OMS , church planting teams began discipling and training new believers and church members . New churches were quickly established in five provinces in Mozambique . Today , more than 60 churches across the country are active and growing . In 2005 , the church officially registered as Igreja Evangélica Palávra Viva ( The Living Word Evangelical Church ).
As churches were planted and established , the long-term goal was to develop a seminary in the heart of Maputo , the capital city , to train future Mozambican pastors and leaders . OMS raised funds to purchase land and build a beautiful four-story building , which was completed in 2007 . Through tragedy and many challenges , classes didn ’ t officially begin at the Maputo Biblical and Theological Seminary until 2010 . Today , Mozambican director André Molombe leads the seminary , which has more than 120 students in both day and night classes . Students come from several denominations around the country . The seminary is in the process of obtaining recognition by the Mozambican government and is seeking to become fully accredited .
The Helping Hands ( Maós Ajudando ) ministry in Mozambique started in 2010 . OMS missionaries Melvin and Sharon Kelly saw the large number of disabled children and adults in the community who received little care and realized that they were a group abandoned by society . This ministry has continued to grow through the partnership of the church and with help from the OMS team . Containers loaded with wheelchairs and disability equipment have been shipped from Northern Ireland and distributed free of charge . At the Khongolote church , Mozambican Christian brothers run a workshop to repair or redesign disability equipment and wheelchairs , all free of charge . Not only is the ministry meeting physical needs , but those serving there also share God ’ s love and provide hope and comfort , impacting many families . In the past , disabilities
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