Barbosa Oliveira was born and grew up in Brazil.  He has been working in Southern Africa for the last 18 years in leadership development and saturation church planting movements.  Ordained in 1983, he served as a pastor in two province capitals of his country before earning a Masters in Missiology from Fuller School of Intercultural Studies in 1989.  Throughout this time he was involved in leadership at a large Presbyterian Church.  After graduation, he served for six years in Swaziland and seven years in South Africa prior to moving to Maputo, Mozambique.  Currently Barbosa is the Field Director for OC Africa in Mozambique.

Since his early days in Africa, Barbosa’s minisry has focused on Mozambique. For many years, his ministry was devoted to teaching the Scriptures and helping pastors who have never had the chance to study in Bible School or Seminary. He has traveled extensively in Mozambique and in neighboring countries with the vision of mobilizing the Body of Christ towards a healthier church, more mature leadership and new churches planted within and beyond the borders of those countries.

Barbosa is married to a sharp Agricultural Engineer named Sinara. They have an active five-year-old son named Rafael. The family is based in Maputo from where Barbosa and his team minister throughout Mozambique and Angola. 

At MANI 2006, Barbosa was commissioned to serve as the MANI coordinator for African Portuguese-speaking countries.