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Personal Stories

Rev. Titus Panzela Nhancale, Retiree, Mozambique

At the age of 70, after more than 30 years in ministry, the Reverend Titus Panzela Nhancale is not in good health and his wife, Essineta Cossa, also has serious health problems.

The limited pension Rev. Nhancale, a retired itinerant elder, receives makes it difficult for him and his wife to afford medicine. "Our pension is what it is, but now it does not stretch as far as we need,” he says. “At our age, it is difficult to stay healthy, and our drugs are very expensive."

Before becoming active in the Church, Rev. Nhancale was a domestic worker and later worked at the Victorian-era Polana Hotel in Mozambique. As an adult, he felt called to lead. He quit his job and attended theological school at Cambine—the UMC mission station 300 km. north of Maputo. He served four churches before becoming the chaplain at the ecumenical theological seminary in Maputo.

Although, at times, the Church was unable to pay Rev. Nhancale, he was grateful because he felt appreciated.

“In the Church, if you do well, everyone will love you,” he says. “In the Church, your own people hold you in high esteem, and that is ample compensation all by itself.”

Rev. Nhancale also is grateful for the extra pension payments he received in 2006 and 2007 due to an emergency grant from the Central Conference Pension Initiative (CCPI). He hopes that he and his wife will be active participants in building a new community. The Kingdom of God “is not a place where we are going, it is coming here,” says Rev. Nhancale. “The Church exists to help prepare the earth anew for the well-being of everyone.”

For more information on the initiative, explore www.ccpi-umc.org or write to ccpi@gbophb.org. Donations can be made online or by calling (847) 866-4230.