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Personal Stories

Rev. Francisco Macitela Macie, Retiree, Mozambique

The Reverend Francisco Macitela Macie lived through his country’s struggle for independence and the birth of his nation. At 83, he is now dependent on his children to survive.

Rev. Macie taught preaching techniques to many of the current pastors in the Mozambique Annual Conference. Although he is now retired after 37 years in ministry, Rev. Macie continues to work under an active pastor at one of the local churches, teaching and conducting various worship services in addition to those that are regularly scheduled.

Rev. Macie lives alone and relies on his seven children, who support him well. Other retired pastors in Mozambique are not as lucky.

“I am the only one,” says Rev. Macie. “The others, many of them, are really suffering.”

Like many of the retired pastors in Mozambique, Rev. Macie struggles to pay for health care.

“I spend 600 Meticals just to make an appointment with the doctor. That leaves only 400 Meticals for all my other needs for the month.” (Approximately 21.4 Mozambican Meticals equal one U.S. dollar.)

He says the emergency grants provided through the Central Conference Pension Initiative made a difference, and although the Church’s pension program will not solve all of the retirees’ problems, it will increase their quality of life.

Rev. Macie continues to spread the Gospel and speak of his love for the Church. “Being a pastor is about preaching,” he says.

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.