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En It Starts Small
The baobab begins as a tiny seed, small enough to hold in your hand, yet grows into a towering giant. Its massive trunk stores water to endure the harshest droughts, its fruit nourishes families, and its shade offers relief when the land is dry and barren. Every part of this tree native to Africa gives life. From almost nothing, it becomes a source of strength for generations.
John’s story began the same way—from something small and unexpected.
Diogo, a missionary with Word of Life Ministries and ShareWord Global partner, visited John’s father—a man deeply involved in witchcraft—to share the gospel. His father refused to listen, saying, “not for me—but here’s my son.”
Those words planted the first seed of a story that would grow tall in John’s life.
In that moment, John became a follower of Jesus. The change was so dramatic his father even kicked him out of the house. Yet John remained faithful.
A few short months later, in June 2024, Yerusha—a ShareWord Global staff member—joined a GO Trip to Mozambique. This trip was ShareWord’s first gospel impact experience in the nation that would equip local churches to share the gospel.
As part of the trip, the team hosted an Ignite Event—a day of relational evangelism training and outreach designed to inspire and equip believers to share their faith in practical ways. The event—a tent gathering of mostly fifteen-year-olds—was held at the Baptist Church of Inhambane.
That’s where Yerusha first met John—a bright, thin young man with a smile that lit up his face. At 20 years old, he was eager to learn and show up for every ministry activity. Though he was new to sharing his faith, his excitement was contagious, and he quickly became a cherished member of the team. And it was these first experiences with relational evangelism that sparked something deep inside him.
When Yerusha left Mozambique that year, her heart was full. She had seen a community reached with the gospel and watched John take his first steps in sharing his faith. But nothing could have prepared her for what she would discover when she returned to Mozambique a year later—just how much the gospel and one GO Trip can change a life.
In September of 2025 Yerusha visited the East African nation again. While preparing for another Ignite Event, Yerusha met John again and learned he was not only following Jesus—he had decided to pursue ministry full-time.
These days, John’s life is a rhythm of devoted service. Weekdays, he travels miles—two crowded vans and a ferry—to lead a Bible study for those too far from church. Then, when the weekend comes, he pours himself into his home church, discipling and serving.
After chatting about all of this, Yerusha handed him a study Bible, and his reaction said it all. It was like giving him a brand-new car—life-changing and priceless. He couldn’t stop smiling.
Today, John is enrolled in an online seminary class in Portuguese. His goals are clear: to grow as a leader and to see his community transformed by the gospel. And who knows what God will do next through his life?
The tent that once housed John’s home church is now gone. In its place stands a sturdy grey-brick church—a visible sign of growth and transformation in this Mozambican community. It still has no doors or windows, but its walls rise strong, promising a future where generations will gather to worship.
John now stands proudly in front of it—a young man whose life was changed by the gospel and who now longs to see that same change sweep through his community.
The power of one GO Trip doesn’t end when the plane leaves. It equips churches to share the gospel in hard places and raises up leaders like John—everyday gospel-sharers who will carry the message far beyond what a single team could do.
Let’s pray God continues to strengthen John as he studies and serves, and that the call Christ has placed on his heart will bear lasting fruit. Let’s ask Him to raise up more leaders like John—men and women who will carry the gospel far and wide, bringing hope to communities for generations to come.
