Cheerful worship songs, rousing biblical messages, and hundreds of commitments to God and His mission through baptism marked the closing day of Impact Mozambique 2026 in Maputo, Mozambique, May 23. Thousands of church members and regional church leaders gathered at the Zimpeto National Stadium to welcome the new members, listen to General Conference (GC) president Erton Köhler and other church leaders, and commit to get involved in sharing hope with relatives, colleagues, and friends.
“We would like to thank the government of Mozambique,” said Harrington Akombwa, president of the Southern Africa-Indian Ocean Division, in the opening greeting to the crowd attending the day of celebration. “Thank you for creating the conditions and embracing us.”
At the beginning of the worship service, Pathfinders entered the stadium holding the Mozambican and Pathfinder flags. Hundreds of women who support Women’s Ministries at local levels across the country also walked into the stadium singing joyfully, as church leaders acknowledged their support and commitment to mission.
A Culture of Hope
A few minutes later Eduardo Joaquim Mulémbwè, minister in the Presidency for Parliamentary, Local Government, and Provincial Assembly Affairs in Mozambique, walked onto the stage to deliver a special message on behalf of Mozambican president Daniel Chapo.
“The government of the Republic of Mozambique fully acknowledges the role of religious organizations in promoting peace, fostering social cohesion, and advocating for ethical and moral values,” Mulémbwè said. He highlighted the commitment of the Adventist Church to “areas of public interest,” including education, health, social assistance, and moral development.
Mulémbwè also emphasized what he called the Adventist Church’s “culture of hope, active responsibility, and commitment to one’s neighbor.” In that regard, Impact Mozambique inspires the country’s citizens, Mulémbwè said, “to project themselves to a better future through concrete initiatives which support human development and solidarity.”
Only One Family
At the beginning of his May 23 message Köhler acknowledged the government’s support, “so that the Adventist Church may be able to serve and fulfill its mission.” He noted that Mozambique is “a young country, formed by young people,” a clear similarity, according to him, to the origins of the Adventist Church.
Köhler brought the approximately 398,000 baptized Adventist members in Mozambique a special greeting on behalf of the global Adventist family. “I like seeing this church as a family, under one Father, purchased by the same blood, and belonging to the same nation—the heavenly kingdom,” he said. “We have the same message, the same mission, and the same hope of seeing Jesus’ soon return.”
Joining God’s Mission
In his worship message, Köhler called on listeners to embrace and become part of God’s mission. “The gospel will be preached with or without us,” he reminded church leaders and members. “But I believe miracles will be more striking if we join the effort.”
Calling members and visitors to reflect on the sad state of the world, Köhler provided the wider context of what he defined as God’s forbearance. “God is waiting for humans to respond to His love,” he explained. “Jesus says, ‘Satan will do evil and keep doing evil, but I’ll keep waiting because I want everyone to have the opportunity to be saved.’ ”
On those grounds, Köhler emphasized, “Impact Mozambique has been an opportunity to be saved. That’s why we Adventists keep preaching—because we want everyone to come to Jesus and be saved.”
Köhler closed by reminding every undecided person that “heaven is waiting for you. . . . Jesus is waiting for you before He returns.”
Not a One-Site Event
A subsequent baptismal ceremony saw hundreds of young and old commit to God through baptism. A dozen pastors, including Köhler and Akombwa, baptized the candidates who waited under the sun in long lines for their turn.
The massive ceremony at the Zimpeto National Stadium in Maputo, however, was only one site of more than 660 across the country, as local pastors and regional church leaders conducted baptismal ceremonies in the ocean, rivers, lakes, baptismal pools, and even plastic bathtubs.
During the celebration at the stadium, Akombwa mentioned that many regional church leaders were not present there that day. “They are not here because they have been preaching for two weeks at various sites and are today leading baptismal ceremonies across Mozambique,” he explained.
Regional church leaders, including Mozambique Union Mission president José Moreira, said they hope to get accurate figures of the number of new accessions in the next couple of weeks. “We believe that with God’s blessing we will cross the 400,000-membership mark today,” he said.
Working Together for Mission
The afternoon program focused on OneVoice27, an initiative of the world church to engage every member and leader to share Jesus through 2027 and beyond. “Our church was created for evangelism,” Akombwa reminded church members.
The initiative will culminate in September 2027 in commemoration of 2,000 years since Jesus’ baptism and the beginning of His ministry on this earth. “In September 2027 every church member, every pastor, every leader, every media outlet—everyone together, in their own way—will speak about the Jesus that already came and the Jesus who will come back,” Köhler said.
Köhler celebrated that the Adventist Church in Mozambique worked seamlessly together during the Impact Mozambique initiative. “But it was just a beginning,” he said, “because now Mozambique will join the whole world to proclaim Jesus concurrently.”
He explained that the initiative will combine media messages with small group ministry. Others will lead evangelistic series. “Every place will find the best way to implement OneVoice27 locally,” Köhler explained.
How OneVoice27 Will Be Implemented
To that point, Odailson Fonseca, communication coordinator for GC Presidential, explained that OneVoice27 will be based in communication, which implies proclaiming the same truth, continuously changing the way that truth is shared. “Truth does not change,” Fonseca reminded church members, “but the way we share it certainly does.”
Against that background, Adventist leaders called on every church member and leader to use the easiest available tool at hand—their cell phones—to share the hope that is in Jesus. “Dedicate your social network channels to God,” Fonseca challenged listeners. “Consecrate your media consumption. Place all your media channels to the service of Jesus.”
Köhler agreed, as he called attendees to raise their cell phones with their hand held high. “OneVoice27 has already started,” he said, seeing thousands of cell phones across the stadium. “We are ready to launch a mass movement from the palm of our hands.” He added, “I call you to use your social media not just for fun; use it as a means to proclaim salvation.”
