News from Africa
| NEWS FROM KENYA |  |
KAKUMA REFUGEE CAMP |
The situation at Kakuma is not easy. Problems are arising due to the influx of many additional refugees and the reduction of food allowances - owing to the lack of UNHCR funds. In these situations diseases spread easily and as a result hospital patients are having to be treated on the pavements and dirt road outside of the hospital, as the picture right and top of page 45 indicate.
Street hospital, Kakuma Refugee Camp Please remember them in your prayers
KIBERA | Bro Samuel Marinta
Hannah was truly a virtuous woman, as we read in the Bible. She was a woman of powerful prayer and faithfulness in keeping her promise to God.
She teaches us the proper way to approach and view our troubles and our adversaries. Why? Hannah was barren. She wanted a son but God had not granted her one. She begged the Lord for a child. In return, she promised to dedicate this young man to God’s service.
Her son was born and she followed the promise. She took the child, named Samuel, to Eli the priest and left him to be raised in the Tabernacle. She continued to have influence over the boy’s life through the years. Samuel grew up to be one of the most influential and God-fearing men in the Bible.
Bro Samuel Marinta
NYANGE | Bro Nasong’o Harron
The work here in Nyange Ecclesia is good; friends, brothers and sisters are grateful for the CAT’s work. The Christian literature that you always send to us is of great importance. It has given us ample information to explain to friends about the Kingdom of God, our Lord Jesus Christ and our heavenly Father.
Brothers, we are grateful each day for what the Almighty God always does for us. We appreciate every moment of life, and for the challenges that come forth, for they make us stronger in the Christian life. We pray that the Almighty Father will continue to give you strength and ability to fulfil your desires for spreading the word of God.
We have been reading your literature and have seen both our hope grow, and also our ability to explain to our friends about the love of our merciful Master, Jesus Christ. We are in need of Ki’Swahili Bibles, the European Version, because we have new friends and the Bibles would be very helpful, if available.
TONGAREN | Sis Monicah Situma
Praise God, brothers and sisters, as I am by name Monicah Situma. I was a member of the Anglican church, but I thank God that since I joined CBM many things have changed in my life.
I have learnt much in the Bible, and I knew the Truth, so that is why I decided to accept and be baptised into Jesus. I am happy to be in C.B.M. and I will always be there and ready to do the work of God. May God guide me as I walk towards the coming Kingdom, your newly baptised sister.
Sis Monicah’s baptism
| Bro Isaac Kapa
Tongaren is very strong in faith as we walk through the wilderness of this world, longing for the Kingdom. Below is the photo of the Bible School we held at Lela Children’s Home, Kamukuywa, Rift Valley area. The attendances were 172 brothers, sisters and friends from all over Rift Valley Ecclesias. In that very Bible School we had 17 baptisms.
Rift as a whole is growing rapidly, for it now has 525 members, but many of the Ecclesial buildings are still temporary. We pray that God will open ways so that some of the Ecclesias may build permanent structures to avoid serious damage and deterioration.
I would again request the Swahili Bibles for newly baptised members. May God bless you all.
| NEWS FROM NIGERIA | |
OHAFIA | Bro Gaius U Egwu
Greetings of love and peace in the wonderful name of YAHWEH and the hope we share together in Christ Jesus.
With gratitude of heart I thank you so much for all your support that you always render to me and to those we love in our small Ecclesia, both spiritually and physically. The good God will always reward you. (‘The bread cast upon the waters you will find after many days,’ Eccl. 11:1 and Isaiah 32:20). Once again, thank you so much.
Yes, we have cultivated and planted Cassava and what you sent really helped me in settling those who work with me in preparing the ground. In our area anything that you plant needs fertiliser, but to get it you need a sum of money and mostly it is at the hand of a politician, which makes it hard and costly to get. In fact, things are getting worse every day here, but all is directing us to ‘the consolation of the faithful. Therefore let us not grow weary while doing good’ – (attending Ecclesial meetings, helping those in need and the weak in faith, praying for brothers and sisters all over the world) – ‘for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart’ (when we will be rewarded in God’s Kingdom, when we shall see His face and be like Him), ‘that in the dispensation of the fullness of time He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth, in Him. In whom we were made His heritage, having been foreordained according to the purpose of Him who does all things after the counsel of His will.’
Beloved, I do not cease to give thanks for you in my prayers: may the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.
If the Lord permit, I will send you the picture of our Cassava Farm, but the one I enclose now was taken at our fraternal gathering, with beloved brother Ibeka Thoms and his two children, David and Leah, and my own two children, Emmanuel and Comfort, pictured opposite.
Bro Gaius, centre, Bro Ibeka Thoms, right and his two children, David and Leah and Bro Gaius’ two children, Emmanuel and Comfort
| NEWS FROM SOUTH AFRICA | |
KEMPTON PARK |
Several of our members attended the Study Weekend, held at Ithabiseng Guest Farm near Warmbaths. The studies, from Proverbs 30, proved once again that the Scriptures truly are inspired by a much greater intellect than man’s, as we dug deeper into the real meanings of the texts and found incredible parallels to our relationship with Christ and Yahweh. We also took a deeper look at the life of Samson, and discovered that he was perhaps not the shallow womaniser as Sunday School lessons like to portray him.
The weekend was especially memorable for our young Bro Keletso Ndlovu, as this was his first time presenting a Bible study session. We look forward to having him share many more of his thoughts on Scripture with us through exhortations and adult classes.
YEOVILLE |
We enjoyed the company of Bro Itayi Mutseka and family with Bro Peter Muliwa (Kempton Park) who visited our ecclesia. Bro Itayi encouraged us to have “Patience with God”. To God be the glory as we celebrate with the angels of God the new born baby in our Ecclesia Sister Grace Muleso, the wife of Bro James Muleso, who was baptized on the 7th of August 2016.
Sis Grace Muleso had been studying the truth from home in Malawi, then came with her husband to join Yeoville Ecclesia. Here she underwent extra Bible lessons for two years before her baptism.
A series of talks are taking place in Yeoville Ecclesia on Saturdays, time: 11:30am to 12:30pm, where we enjoy good lectures on different topics and everyone is welcome to join us. Hot tea and coffee is served during interactive time. The seminar in Alexandria is still in progress, as is preaching in Yeoville.
| NEWS FROM TANZANIA | |
NYARUGUSU
Bro Iyendi Absini helping his neighbour after a fire in his house; he got a severe burn on his arm
| Bro Mosses Kivuyo
I hope you’re doing well brother. I would like to thank you very much for your assistance, since you send Brother John to see me in Tanzania, and brought to me The Holy Bible, Misingi ya Biblia and one Swahili Bible, New Testament. I again received other resources, one Holy Bible, Bible Basics,and one Swahili Bible through the postal address.
Brother John has been a very helpful brother to me, he made a lot of support to me. You send me right person who have a burden to save. God thank you!
I am still learning the Bible through a lot of resources you send me, I am understanding the Bible truth. For sometimes I share the Gospel News to my neighboring families, even though I am facing a lot of challenges during presentation due to lack of electricity, projector and lack of enough Bibles, especially Swahili Bibles that can be the good references during learning with a group of people. I hope one day you will visit us. God bless.
| NEWS FROM UGANDA | |
BUGIRI | Bro Samuel Bukisa
Thank you so much for negotiating direct with the Post Master so as to free the mail sent to me whilst I was away for a couple of years. Those letters and literature are already helping to extend my knowledge of God, and to prepare myself more to be readier for Christ’s return to take over the Kingdoms of men and establish the wonderful Kingdom of God.
| NEWS FROM ZAMBIA | |
MAZABUKA | Bro Gibeon Hankamone
I love receiving many copies of ‘Gospel News’ and it is so uplifting to read and so much encouragement to hear about brothers and sisters around the world who share the same statement of faith all patiently waiting for the Lord Jesus to come and establish God’s kingdom here on earth.
The Fraternal Gathering in the south was successful at Daphan Ecclesia in Kalomo. It was attended by ecclesias such as Kafne, Mazabuka, Muzoka, Kalomo and Livingstone. The total number who attended was 88, even though there were others that could not manage to come. The theme of the teaching was ‘Principals of Ecclesial Life’ led by Bro Kelly Simayumbula. It was uplifting to see local ecclesias in Kalomo growing in faith.
Postage to the U.K. has been increased in Zambia, so that most brothers and sisters won’t be able to afford postage. The current price is now K20 instead of K2.50. This is going to be a big challenge for us. I prefer to communicate with you by e-mail which will be cheaper for me.
We had an opportunity of purchasing a church plot in Mazabuka and we sent the estimates to the Linkman in U.K. and later he said the project cannot be funded at the moment.
For we do not hope in what our eyes can see, but that which we do not see (Romans 8:24-25). And it is through this hope that we are saved. May we not lose hope and spiritual sight of the lasting and eternal hope we love and cherish so much.
| NEWS FROM ZIMBABWE | |
CHIPINGE | Bro Farai Makandeni
We had a good weekend with Bro Steve and Sis Ruth Moore from the U.K. at Hunnington Retreat Centre at Chinhoy. Bro Steve gave us a talk on fellowship matters, emphasizing that we as Christadelphians should learn to be united, that good fellowship only exists if believers walk in light, without sinning. We should learn to love one another in giving and sharing and also to have faith in Jesus Christ as the one who was sacrificed to die on the cross for our sins. In this we remember Jesus when we break bread and drink wine as a symbol of continuing living in his name.
Bro Farai Makandeni
CHISAPE |
We have been thrilled to celebrate the baptism of a new Sister to our Ecclesia Sis Hister Magoronga, she was interviewed by Bro Danmore Kaosha and baptized by Bro Ngoni Chikwata, pictured here:
Left, Bro Lamiel Mazvaramhaka (Secretary), our new Sis Hister, Sis Rlina Chikwata (Chishumba) and at the end Hister’s sister with a child. Hister’s sister took the forty lesson course some years ago and is now revising her studies with the intention of being baptized
We have seven Elders, pictured from left to right: Bre Zvenyika Magoronga Nga, Christopher Mugwagwa, Oswell Makaya, Marison Tafirenyika (Chairman) Moses Muzayazi (Treasurer) Lamiel Mazvaramhaka (Secretary)
MUSHUMBI POOLS | Bro David Luxon Yotamu
I would like to thank CAT for distributing Gospel News literature worldwide, with the purpose of preaching to all nations. I thank God who, by His mercy, made me to be part of His family of Christadelphians. May we continue to motivate and encourage each other for the great prize, for Christ, who paved the way for us to follow. May God guide and strengthen your work which you are doing worldwide.
In the Bible we are told that we should always overcome temptation; Revelation 2:1-7. The word ‘repentance’ means penitence or sorrow for wrong-doing. The only way to enter the wonderful Kingdom of God is to accept and obey God’s laws. His desire is for all men to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth.
“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God,” as we are told in Romans 8:28. May the Lord bless you in doing your work.
Bre David Luxon Yotamu and Shizo Mhako
