news from zimbabwe
BANKET
Thank you for sending me the Gospel News, they arrived well and I am now happy because I know all the news worldwide.. Here in Zimbabwe rains are now in action making it more suitable for farmers to grow whatever they wish, no thought of drought; of course drought might still come, but to a lesser extent than the last two years. I have enclosed another article and a photo of my friend Pindurai Banda. We were baptised two years ago at Rest Haven in Harare at the Conference after receiving Bro. Tim Genders from South Africa, Bro. Mark and Sis. Paula Buckler and Bro. David and Sis. Eddie Swain, also with Bro. Steve. This was an interesting and enjoyable conference.
Bro. Guard Momba
The change of heart by which we become children of God is spoken of in the Bible as a new birth, it is compared to the germination of the good seed by the husbandman. In like manner those who are just converted to Christ are as newborn babies and have to grow up (1 Peter 2:2 ; Eph. 4:15) to the stature of the man and woman in Christ Jesus, or like the good seed sown in the field, they are to grow up and bring forth fruit. Isaiah says that they shall be called “trees of righteousness, the plants of the Lord, that he might be glorified” (Isaiah 61:3). So from natural life, illustrations are drawn to help us understand the mysterious truths of spiritual life. Not all the wisdom and skill of man can produce life in the smallest object in nature. It is only through the life that God Himself has imparted that either plant or animal can live. So it is only through the life from God that spiritual life is begotten in the heart. Unless a man is born from above (John 3:3) he cannot become a partaker of the life which Christ came to give. Do you ask, How am I to abide in Christ in the same way as I received him at first? As we have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him. Do you ask yourself, Why do I believe in Jesus? To me he is the Divine Saviour. And why do I believe in the Bible? I found it to be the voice of God to my soul. We have the witness in ourselves that the Bible is true, that Christ is the Son of God.
Bro. Fibion Ngozi
Photo: left Bro. Guard Momba with Bro. Pindurai Banda
I would like to thank you for your letters and the handbook ‘How to Grow a Blanced Diet’. I started my gardening project in 2003, am blessed because where I live is a perennial river called Doondo which flows across the farmland. My garden is situated along the riverbank (about 200m from my house), and is 100m x 50m squared. There are a few trees of guavas, banana, paw paw and sugar cane. I grow cabbages, rape, tomatoes, onions, butternut and a few beds of potatoes. I don’t have any engine or water pump, I use cans to water the garden. This is from where I get my living, as well as helping Brethren and Sisters in our ecclesia.
We are living in very disturbing times. In every part of the world there are wars or disturbances. With such a threat hanging over the human race it is not surprising that fear is spreading like a malignancy in every strata of society. If we have a positive faith in the living God we will not allow fear to control us. In spite of the facts that are obvious to every one, behind the apparent unrest that is seen in this troubled world, there are spiritual forces at work for the salvation of the human race.
Elisha’s servant looked out over battlements of Dothan and could only see the army of Syria arrayed against Israel and was terribly afraid. After Elisha had prayed for him, he saw the army of God waiting to protect His children. Only the awareness of God’s living presence, with the resultant spiritual perception, will enable us to stand firm amid the fear that is abroad in the world today. I would be most grateful if I could have Shona Bible Basics to use in the rural areas where vernacular is mainly used.
Bro. David Yelulani
BULAWAYO
I am writing this letter to my young brothers and sisters. Do you know that you are the foundations of the fellowship? Look to Daniel, he was merely 18 years when he first witnessed the truth of God. Joshua and Jeremiah they were fully hooked with the truth-at-youth. My young brothers in Africa, shall we be punished by God like those of the world? How many are being killed by AIDS? Look at Numbers ch.14, God said that the youth would enter the promised land, so we are promised to enter God’s Kingdom if we do His will. I want to warn my brothers about marriage. The Bible says, marry from your own people meaning those with the same faith as you.
I am using an NIV version. This version is easy to understand but gives problems with some of the basics of the Bible of our faith. My heart is longing to see young people in Africa have faith like those in Europe. In Britain for example, they have youth gatherings. The thing that is pulling young brothers and sisters down is that when they marry outside the faith things start to change. In the Bible we read of Samson, he sinned because of the wife which he married. Things can only adjust if the young get time to meet and have youth activities. When we read Faith Alive we get news from Britain or America. Let us have goodness and truth in our young brothers and sisters in Africa.
Bro. Dzingai Sumburera
CHEGUTU
As we proclaimed that we want to be God’s people we should prove it by bearing fruits. “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control” (Gal. 5:22-23). The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective. We should be faith-filled and believe in God’s ability to answer prayers. Remember that the Lord is far from the wicked but hears the prayer of the righteous. If we pray for something we must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by wind. We should not think we will receive anything from the Lord since we will be double-minded, unstable in all that we do, (James 1:5-8). Once we truly believe, we will wait patiently for the promised Kingdom to come as we seek to bear the Spirit’s fruits. Even if we encounter hardships we will stick to the Almighty.
Bro. Tofara Gibson
I have enjoyed the article “Signs of the Times” and it helped me when I gave a lecture about the signs at one of our Bible studies and a lot of people enjoyed it, our current situation is a very good example. Crops have died as there is no rain and we are in yet another drought. As I write we have started to queue for maize meal, it is really hard out here.
Bro Richard Phiri
CHINHOYI
John 1:14-18 “The word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” How do you see God’s glory in Christ? God’s glory can be seen in many ways. One of the best ways to see it is to spend time with Him. Praising God should be a significant part of your personal time with Him. As you think of ways to tell God how wonderful you think He is, you see His glory. That is exciting! Look for God’s glory all the time you spend alone with Him.
I was very excited when I received a big envelope and found six study tapes. I would like to tell you that the studies are helping me to grow spiritually
Bro. Emmanuel Akwaa Kondowe
CHISHUMBA
It is my undoubted hope that this letter finds you in the best of health. I am all right down here with the exception of the long-foretold earthly turmoils which are only a herald of the Lord’s coming. I’m thrilled just watching how things are happening. It makes me believe all the more in the inspired Word of God because I am really witnessing some of the prophecies coming to pass. Take heart, my dear Brother, we are almost there. Thank you so very much for sending me the book ‘Where there is no Doctor’. It is sure lovely of you to think of me the way you do. May the Lord bless you all the more. If it’s not too much asking, I would also be grateful if you could send me, “How To Grow A Balanced Diet.” Times are tough my dear Brother, especially in this small southern African piece of land, but I like it because it really makes me bold and glorify God.
Bro. Thompson Changata
Photo: from left to right: Bro. Zao Isah, Bro. Emmanuel Kondowe, Bro. Anthony Manswa, Bro. Shadreck, Bro. Julius Pondo, Bro. Chakumanda Kondwe and Bro. Innocent, taken after their baptism, on 1st August 1998.
CHISAPE
“The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?” (Psalm 27:1). There can be moments in life that are barren and full of uncertainty, your thoughts become confused, with the result that your life loses its sense of direction and your confidence in yourself starts to dwindle until it becomes almost non-existent. It is inevitable that when this happens you become unsure of God, your faith weakens and life starts to lose its purpose and meaning. A sure way to build up a confidence in life, that will enable you to live free from fear of inadequacy and inferiority, is to be vividly aware that God is your all-sufficiency.
Because God’s presence is real to you, you can face the future with joy, peace and confidence. Nahum 1:7. “The Lord is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him.” As a master farmer I am always interested in farming, so I found the book, ‘How To Grow A Balanced Diet’ very useful to me, especially to know about nutritious foods. Thank you very much indeed. God bless you.
Sis. Joyce Seremwe
Photo – Sis. Joyce Seremwe
I leapt with joy when I received eight Bible Basics books and one “Where There Is no Doctor” book. This is wonderful love, thank you. Acknowledging that the process of getting these books to us is very expensive, we are going to distribute them wisely. First they will be registered by the ecclesial secretary in the library book, then we will give to those whom we see to have an appetite for the word of God and always asking questions about it, but not to someone who requests the book and locks it in a box.
Bro. Stanford Kuuzha
CHISHUMBA
What had happened to Saul on the road to Damascus? Had the long journey or the heat of the midday sun perhaps debilitated him? Determined to find natural explanations, modern sceptics offer scenarios that include delirium, hallucination, a drastic psychological crisis provoked by the qualms of Saul’s tormented conscience, a nervous breakdown and an assumed predisposition to epilepsy. The fact was that Jesus Christ appeared to Saul in that blinding light, convincing him that he was the Son of God. Some pictures depicting this episode show Saul falling from a horse. Though it is possible, the Bible simply says that he “fell to the ground” (Acts 22:6-11). Whatever physical fall Saul experienced was not nearly so great as the fall from the pride of his position. He now had to recognize that what Jesus’ followers were preaching was true. The only course open to Saul was to join them. From a militant foe of Jesus’ message, Saul became one of its staunchest proponents. After regaining his sight and being baptised Saul kept on acquiring power and was confounding the Jews that dwelt in Damascus as he proved logically that this is the Christ (Acts 9:22).
Bro. Davison Mupariwa
God is loving, He is peaceful and merciful, He is the Creator of everything our eyes can see. However, He destroys people when they are full of deception, greed, idolatry, selfishness etc.
The Israelites received much loving care from God, yet they turned from Him to worship idols and so were punished, but whenever they repented and turned back to God He forgave them, and so it is with us; if we wholeheartedly turn to God He will save us.
Bro Steven Tedza
KADOMA
Thanks very much for ‘How To Grow A Balanced Diet’. This will help me to grow. The Faith Alive, Glad Tidings, and Gospel News, help me to confess my sins, because I know I am a sinner. I want God to change my life, I want to give my life to Jesus. The Bible is the most important book. Talking about the situation in the earth, we know not the day or the hour when Jesus will come again to the world. Jesus told us to be ready all the time. It is true the world is full of troubles but the Bible has good news. The best way is to flee from the bad things in the world. The return of Jesus Christ is near.
Sis. Alice Mlambo
KARIBA
To me, I am the very least of all the saints, His grace was given to me to preach the unsearchable riches of Christ and to help all to see what is the plan of God who created all things. It is the good news about God’s Son, Jesus the Christ, our Lord, who came as a human baby, was born of king David’s royal family line and, because of his righteous life, although crucified, was raised from the dead and given the Divine nature of God Himself. “Have this mind among yourselves, which you have in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied, humbled himself taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men” (Phil. 2:5-7).
Bro. Joshua Pakali
Photo – Bro. Joshua Pakali
With sadness, but in the hope of the resurrection, we record the falling asleep of Bro Revi Chamboko on 20th July at his rural home in Karoi, following a distressing illness. He was a member of Kariba ecclesia since its infant stages and has been very active in the ecclesial work.Our thoughts and prayers are with his family at this sad time.
On June 19 on the weekend of our AGM we were pleased to witness the baptism of Sister Sekai Mawodzeka, wife of Bro Fanuel Mawodzeka who live in isolation in Guruve.We are encouraged that in these last days the Lord is still calling out a people for Himself and we pray that God's word may guide our new Sister in the right path.
Many thanks go to Bro David Swain and Bro John Butler from UK who were with us on the weekend of the AGM for their efforts and work in helping Brethren and Sisters in Zimbabwe.
Bro Godfrey Mungazi
LUPANE
Paul said, fear not what is happening, it is God’s will, you must go forward preaching the gospel of God to your fellow brothers and sisters and pray day and night so that God will give you power. Thank you for sending me Bible Basics. I thank you for your love and faith, for giving us light in our area, Lupane.
Bro. Balewa Nywenga
The gift of ‘Where There Is No Doctor’ shows us that we are not alone in this dreadful world. Please help us with the book entitled ‘How To Grow A Balanced diet’. I read your letter about the signs of the times. Let us pray day and night and spread the gospel of God to our fellowship Brothers and Sisters so that they change their lives and follow our God’s laws, because the time is near for the Son of God to come and set up his Father’s future Kingdom. In our country, Zimbabwe, there are many kinds of diseases, people are dying day and night, hunger and robbery. It is true the time has come, there is nothing we can do because it was spoken of.
Bro. David Ngwenya
MASVINGO RURAL
I would really like to thank the Almighty Lord as He has led my life through history. Many people are dying because of hunger, crimes, violence, committing suicide, but by his grace I am alive to preach the gospel to all nations as our Lord said before his departure. Finally Brethren, pray for me to be of sound doctrine, as I am far from other Brethren and find it difficult to break bread with them as I am at college. Brethren and Sisters world-wide, preach the gospel without ceasing, till he come. (Luke 19:10; Heb. 2:11; 2 Pet. 3:15).
Bro Simon Mudavose
MUTARE
Bro. Moses Dhlakama visited me and we did our Bible reading from Deut. 16, Ecc. 8 and Acts 7. Deut. 16:1-20 tells us about how the Children of Israel were to keep the Passover feast to remind them of the time they were delivered out of Egypt. God gave them laws to follow during their way from Egypt to Canaan.
Ecc. 8:1-17 says we must keep God’s commands and fear Him by doing what we know is good. God always knows our ways but we don’t know His ways.
Acts 7; Stephen’s speech. He told people about God’s power to believers in the Old Testament; from Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph and Moses who led them out of slavery to Canaan, a place which flowed with milk and honey. But they ignored this history and stoned Stephen to death. Stephen prayed to God before his death and said, “God forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.”
Bro. Stanford Masika
RIMBI
I would like to thank you in the Name of God for I have received the book “Where There Is No doctor”. I live in a remote area where transport is very scarce and the place is still poor in terms of development, so if I have these books they will upgrade my standard. I would also be very happy to have the book “How To Grow A Balanced Diet”. These books will help my family as well as the community.
Bro. Isaac Guzete
ZAKA
Greetings in the name of the Lord Jesus. How is life over there? Here in Zaka I am very happy. I thank you for the book you sent me “Where There Is No Doctor”, it is very useful and easy to understand. I am getting more knowledge of identifying various illnesses.
Bro. Faustino Svuure
ZUMBA
I am always worried about the number of people who attend the bar for beer drinking and worldly joy, compared to the number of people who attend the church for salvation; surely a few people will be saved and many will see decay. What worries me most is when a believer turns to the wide road for worldly joy and decay. This worries me because it is very hard, especially in this village of mine, to convert a person to truth, but I am seeing it is easier for a person to be converted to the world, especially beer drinking. Here we are OK and we try to follow the steps of Jesus and, as we know, the first step is baptism. We are walking with hands together so as to pick up those who may stumble on the way. Let me take this opportunity of thanking Bro. Obert Wiki for all his help towards our plans for making our isolated ecclesia a light in this area. Also, thanks to Brothers and Sisters for their prayers and, above all, I thank God that I have found His way and that He is keeping me strong; at just 21 years I have a lot to do for Him.
Bro. Moses Ajiweka
Photo Bro. Moses Ajiweka
ZVISHAVANE
Many thanks for the wonderful work being done to preach the word of God tirelessly through ‘Gospel News’.
Bro. Sibangawi Maka
