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About CDL

Who we are, where we’re going, and how you can make a difference.

Our History

Who We Are

In response to the crying need of evangelicals in Mozambique and Portuguese- speaking nations of Africa, the Center for Development of Leadership was founded in 1994 by Dr. Isaias Uaene, a native of Mozambique. 

Our Ministry Context—Where in the World is Mozambique?

Our ministry began in a post-independent country after being Portugal’s colony from 1498 to 1975, when it became independent on June 25, 1975. Three significant wars affected Mozambique’s socio-economical and spiritual fabric. From 1964 to 1974, Mozambique fought its liberation war; from 1976 through 1982, the country was subject to a Civil War culminating with Peace Agreement in 1982, and it has been one of the world’s poorest countries. For the last four years, Mozambique has suffered from the insurgency, particularly in the North, provinces of Cabo Delgado and Niassa. The cost of the current insurgency is the decimation of countless lives, and hundreds of people become refugees in urban areas and neighboring countries.

Mozambique is in a unique spot. It is a country on the Southeast coast of Africa by the Indian ocean. It borders to the North with Tanzania; to the East, the Mozambique Channel, which separates it from the island of Madagascar; to the South and Southwest, South Africa and Swaziland; to the West, Zimbabwe, and the Northwest, Zambia, Malawi, and Lake Nyasa. The surrounding countries were former anglophone colonies (English-speaking countries), and Madagascar is a

Our founder and Executive director

About Dr. Uaene

francophone country (French-speaking country). Mozambique is the only Portuguese-speaking country in the SADC region (SADC—Southern African Development Community, existing since 1980). Other African Portuguese-speaking countries include Angola, Cape Verde, Guinea Bissau, and Sao Tomé and Príncipe. Because of its position as an island-like country linguistically, people are eager to learn English to facilitate communication and business regionally. When people come from abroad, young people are readily available to translate for them and to grasp job opportunities from NGOs (Non-Governmental Organizations) and multi-national companies.

Mozambique is a former colony of Portugal that became independent in 1975. Initially, under a socialist regime with strong Marxist tendencies (one party-state), a country with a population of 32 million has gone through many hurdles since its independence after ten years of the liberation war. Mozambique went through Civil War for sixteen years, which ended with the Peace Agreement held in Rome in 1992, becoming a democratic country only in 1994 (now operating in a multiparty system although the ruling party is socialist). At one point, Mozambique became one of the poorest countries in the world. Due to all the factors noted, it is a developing country currently facing an insurgency in the North and all the other hurdles, including HIV/AIDS, other tropical diseases, and now the global covid-19 and its mutations.

Dr. Isaias Uaene is a native of Mozambique and hold degrees from Dallas Theological Seminary in Dallas, Texas, Union University in Jackson, Tennessee, and a PhD in Missiology from Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary in Memphis, TN. He is the Founder and current Executive Director of the Center for Development of Leadership in Maputo, Mozambique. Dr. Uaene has served as the National Director of the Far East Broadcasting Association (FEBA Radio) for 12 years and is on the board of numerous Christian organizations. He has also served as Senior Pastor for over two decades.

Dr. Uaene’s wife, Quezia Uaene, also earned her MA in Christian Education from Dallas Theological Seminary and her PhD in Christian Education at Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary, where she also earned an MDiv in Christian Education.

Both Dr. Uaene and his wife are engaged on the leadership team and in teaching endeavors at CDL in Maputo, Mozambique. They are also involved in church development and church planting ministries in Mozambique and Portuguese speaking countries of Africa.

They have two children, Samuel Alexander and Anna Beatriz.

Drs. Uaene

Our guiding principles

Where We’re Going

Our Mission

To provide Bible-based training to people who will equip others and nurture the churches in Mozambique and other Portuguese-speaking nations in Africa. (2 Tim 2:2; Col 1:28-29)

Our Vision

To continue training a new generation of servant leaders and to foster a sustainable theological institution of higher learning that will provide a solid Bible-based, Christ-centered, and Spirit-led education across denominations in Mozambique and other Portuguese-speaking nations of Africa.

Our Goals

To equip in leadership foundations and skills, educate for servant leadership in the church and teaching ministries, and empower for ministry collaboration among evangelicals.

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How You Can Make a Difference

Pray

Pray that God will continue to use CDL to raise up men and women with a strong desire to impact others through multiple areas of ministry.

Give

Because we are training pastors and church leaders in low economic countries, CDL provides training at virtually no cost to the students. Please consider helping us provide this ministry.

Come

We have many short-term ministry and missions opportunities throughout Mozambique. We offer on-site accomodations.