news from zimbabwe
BANKET
I would like to thank you most sincerely for your lovely informative letter and I am delighted to learn that you had a nice time on the island of Malta, where a baptism was conducted. There will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who think they do not need to repent. We are ambassadors for Christ and our major task is to go into all the world and preach the good news to all creatures. Whoever believes and is baptised will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. May the Lord bless and keep you and we all look forward to the time when we will rejoice together in the Kingdom in the mercy of the Lord.
I would like to thank you most sincerely for your invaluable help. Every item I got from you is put into our ecclesial library for brethren and sisters to read and we are benefiting greatly. If there are tracts that we could translate into our local language and use them for preaching we would be glad to receive them. Thank you for the papers, which update the events in the Middle East.
Today, buildings are erected on foundations made of concrete. Before cement came along, the ancient builders used to lay huge stones for foundations. The builders had to pick and choose which ones would fit into the design for the house. Some were discarded because they were unsuitable. Others, when used, became an integral part of the building. Once in place, they served a valuable function and could be said to have come alive.
In the Bible, the people of Israel considered themselves to have been rejected by the world but chosen by God. So was Jesus. He was the foundation stone of a new building, the Ecclesia. As the rock on which the Christian community was built he was a living stone.
The world still rejects him. It thinks his values are too idealistic, his way of love too weak, his power confined to a few trivial areas of life and his significance limited to being only one of a range of religious options. But he is still the stone God uses on which to build his community. From him comes the grace that grows and strengthens the Church that bears his name. He is the source of the Spirit that empowers his disciples. At the end they will see that the kingdoms of this world have become the Kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he will reign for ever and ever. (Rev.11:15).
Bro. David Banda Yelulani
BINDURA
Thank you for the Gospel News, Glad Tidings and Bible Basics, which reached me OK, I have also received a new Bible from Bro. John Butler via Bulawayo. I have not been able to attend my ecclesia in Harare for a long time because of transport costs as it is 90 km away. As I am unemployed lack of money makes life complicated and both my parents have recently passed away and these bereavements have given me a lot of problems. We read in the Bible of these signs of the times, such as famine, untreated diseases, uprising of nations etc. and look forward to the coming of Christ.
Joseph Mucheri
CHEGUTU
Thank you for the materials that you sent, which are a great help as I have a big task of teaching students in our local language, so I need to do extra study and research in the Word and I need Bible Basics and other literature for the students. Recently we had four successful interviews for baptism and four more sheep were added to our number. Still there is a great work needing to be done. Pray for us. As Servants of Christ. “The Challenge to Serve”. 1 Cor. ch. 4
v.2. “Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful.” Yes, it is our duty to act likewise as we have been given light to lead the world out of darkness, let us be on the hunt and overcome evil.
v.3. “I care very little if I am judged by you or by any human court, indeed, I do not even judge myself.”
v.4. “My conscience is clear, but that does not make me innocent. It is the Lord that judges me.”
v.5. “Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time, wait till the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men’s hearts. At that time each will receive his praise from God.” Paul’s words to the Corinthians encourage us that our duty is to serve the Church with the Word. Let us be hard workers in the Lord and the Master is waiting when our duty ends. If we read the Word and meditate we will not go astray.
v.7. “For who makes you different from anyone else? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not?” After reading this verse I looked at myself, looked at everything around my room and saw everything I had received. Basically I have no need to boast about myself, only our duty is to be disciples of Christ. We received the Word and need to pass it on. We should not have any bad thoughts about our dear brethren. The world belongs to God. I have brought nothing into the world and I will carry none of life’s trappings out of it. However, we pray like Nehemiah that in the day of our resurrection we will be remembered for good.
CHEGUTU
In May we held a Preaching Weekend at Chegutu and the theme was Love, Hope and Faith. On the Friday brothers and sisters from Chegutu and other ecclesias, students and the Sunday School started to arrive for the big event at around 3 p.m. What a wonderful start it was and the Word was shared from speaker to speaker and everyone was greatly moved by the Spirit Word. Time for supper arrived and our sisters prepared the local dish and it was very much enjoyed. The evening programme started after supper and talent was shown from individual groups and all participated in musical items, drama and quiz. The Lord was with us as we went for sleep late, after 10.p.m.
The next day, Saturday was a big day, as after the morning service we went out for the Outreach and distributed C.B.M. material and preached at local shopping areas and other locations. All was done and the Lord was with us and about 12 contacts were interested in doing the lessons and joining us. After the Outreach, back at the school it was time for the five students to be interviewed and four were successful. The Lord added to our number as we had one mind and heart, It showed how we at Chegutu are doing concerning the Word of God. So far this year we have had about 8 baptisms and God wiling, many will be added to the House of God. Great events were done and happiness was shown among those present.
Then Sunday arrived and all was done in remembrance of Our Dear Lord, who died for us on the cross. After the main service there were other activities until we had to break off for the night. Monday was the day of saying goodbye as we had to leave for our different places after discussing the positives and the negatives from the weekend. Everyone concluded that we had achieved our goal and must have another such gathering. We have seen how it strengthens our ecclesia over here. This is the first time in Zimbabwe that we have had such an event arranged by local brethren, so we have seen that we have matured spiritually and can do great wonders if time permits. It was wonderful and enjoyable to be there. Photos were taken to show how it was done and about sixty people attended the weekend.
Bro. Farai Phiri
Chegutu Preaching Weekend
Supper time at Chegutu
CHINHOYI
I write this letter to inform you that I am now a Christadelphian brother. I have been baptised by Bro. Lungu. I had been thinking about baptism for a long time and am very glad that I have made the right decision. I write to inform you that as Sis. Mary Woodgate’s student I wish to continue studying the Bible Lessons. I have also heard about the Gospel News publication and am very interested to make a contribution. I have a poem and a lesson about the Saviour who was cursed on our behalf and I would be happy if my writing could be included in Gospel News.
Bro. Tinashe Mberengwa
I will glorify His Name
I lift my hands to you
higher, higher, like an eagle
in distant clouds
praising your name aloud –
I will glorify your name.
I will go over the mountain top
spreading your message time and again,
for in you I’ve seen something
far beyond my eye can see –
I will glorify His name.
Jesus Christ, a man of wonders,
love is what we’ve learnt from Him:
Glory be unto you my Lord
and for that
I’ll glorify your name forever!
Poem sent in by Bro. Tinashe Mberengwa
Jesus never tried to please people. (Luke 4:28-29)
He never told people what they wanted to hear but what they should have heard. Because his words penetrated their spiritual stubbornness and pride they affected them in different ways. Many accepted the challenge of his words to righteous living and, at sacrificial cost, gave their all to follow him. Others bitterly resented what they heard, for he revealed their sins and weaknesses and they were afraid when they realised that he knew them so well.
Today the words of Jesus have the same penetrative power and basically produce the same reaction. There are people who respond with cheerful readiness to obey his every command because they have caught a vision of what life can become if it is lived in harmony with him. Their love for him is expressed in willing obedience. Few people deliberately reject the challenge conveyed in the words of Jesus, but they are adept at side stepping his invitation to a new and righteous life. The time is inopportune, the inconvenience discipleship could cause among workmates and friends, and numerous other excuses are all evasions to the call of Christ to “Follow me”.
When Christ presents a challenge he speaks to the heart and not only to the mind. His words possess a healing quality that, when applied to life, bring the peace that passes all understanding, into the experience of daily living.
I’m no longer staying at Banket. I’m now in Chinhoyi. I am attending the services together with brothers and sisters of Chinhoyi.
Bro Calvin Chitano
Thank you for everything you have done for us in Africa, especially in Zimbabwe. On behalf of my fellow brethren I would like to say, “May the Lord grant you many more years to come”. Your teachings are so good and easy to share with others. We all appreciate your effort.
Bro. Gift Lungu
CHIPINGE
Thank you for Gospel News. It is nice to hear how other brothers and sisters are coping in this tense situation; the likes of Sisters Nina and Ludmila and others, reading of their age and how willing they are to preach and also those like Alexei and Vera and others I have not mentioned but we read about them in Gospel News.
There are now goods in the shops here, fuel is available, schools and hospitals are also open again. Right now we are busy harvesting. We have already finished harvesting beans, soya beans and ground nuts and we are almost half way harvesting maize and sunflower we haven’t yet started. Very soon we will be introducing what we call Village Bible Education – we want to reduce time spent going out preaching since this new initiative will attract local people to our farm and teach them the Truth while we are here. Please pray with us that this will be successful.
We have decided to change the method of preaching and decided to do everything on the farm. So far we have one lady who has completed Bible Basics and her husband has also requested to join the studies. Also a pastor from a local church wanted to join the studies and there are also ten boys who are doing the Introduction to Bible Basics. We are also doing the book ‘Speaking about Jesus’ with the boys every Saturday. I am doing all these activities under the programme “Village Bible Education Centre”, but to follow our Lord Jesus’ command, “Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptised will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.” Mark 16:16.
Bro. Moses Dhlakama
CHIREDZI
I would like to thank you for the book, ‘The Death of the Cross’ that you sent to me. It has helped me and every other Christian who has borrowed it to read. It is very enjoyable with lots of reminders of the days to come. Is it possible for me to obtain the pamphlets, ‘Campaign of the Kingdom’ and ‘A Brief History of God’s World’?.
Currently I am employed as an office orderly at the Triangle Sugar Company, Tongaat Hulletts, Zimbabwe. I was born on 27/04/1971 in Zvishavane Town, have five children, am married to Stella and we have been together for the past 18 years. My children are doing Sunday School lessons with Bro. Stephens of the C.B.M. My father was laid to rest in August 2008 and my 80- year old mother is still living. Please pray for my family.
Our mission is to preach the Word of God in every corner of the world like the Apostle Paul. We have a big job to do and God will judge us if the message is not sent to those, after knowing the goodness of God.
Bro. Mobie Siziba
CHIREDZI
Brothers, I am so pleased to tell you that the books and materials you sent to me I have received safely. I got the reading glasses and a book ‘The Real Devil,’ which I am enjoying a lot because now I am ready to answer most of the questions asked by a lot of people around my work place and the community. As I stay where people believe in different doctrines, I am trying my best to teach them the Truth revealed in the Bible, written by different authors under inspiration. The Bible teaches us God’s purpose for his people and those who believe in Him and his Son with all their heart and strength.
I tell those brothers and sisters who stay in isolation that if we feel lonely in our struggle to keep faith with God, always remember that Jesus Christ is close beside us even though we cannot see him. 1 John 2:1 says, ‘My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin, but if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. Jesus brings us comfort. John is saying that in our struggle against sin we have the comfort of Jesus to help us because he is beside us. If we feel weak in our faith, if we struggle against opposition to our preaching, or have personal problems in our lives, if we reach out to Jesus he will be with us.
Bro. Abel Dumbu
CHISAPE
Lovely greetings in the name of our Saviour as our mediator. My father, who had been ill for two years, since November 2007, has now fallen asleep. When he was seriously ill he was admitted to the General Hospital several times and discharged without any change. Instead of getting well he was getting seriously ill and since I was the only man among his daughter,s the task was on me to look after him and I became bankrupted. We can only pray that our Lord will return and restore us from all these calamities. I just remember Job when he fell on temptations and all his sons and belongings perished. He said, “Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return thither: the Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.”
Bro. Weston Kamota
CHISHUMBA
‘Judgement to Come’ arrived safely, thank you very much for a book well written. Can you please send me any book you may have by the same author. I am taking this opportunity to let you know that we of Chishumba Ecclesia had six baptisms on 28th December 2008. The newly baptised are Brethren Frank Chigariza and Wilbert Munyaradzi and Sisters Lorraine Chigazira (nee Kamutikaoma), Heather Chadra, Letwin Chikwata and Eunice Tigere. May the Lord of peace guide them in their walk to the very soon coming Kingdom. May the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in every way. The Lord be with you all.
Bro. Norman and Sis Grace Kamutikaoma
Alas, alas Bro Norman Kamutikaoma of Chishumba (Magunje) died in hospital after a short illness on 26 June. He was 66. We do not yet know what he died of, but his death came not long after the death of his wife, Sis Grace, and his 7 year old grandson in Harare. He will be sadly missed by the ecclesia and the community in Chishumba.
Per Bro John Butler
HARARE
Right now I am working on my own as a motor mechanic. The problem is that I don’t have a toolbox. I am therefore renting a toolbox, and the money I am paying to rent the tools is half the price of the job I am doing.
The situation in our country is now stable. We thank God for hearing our prayers. People in this area are asking for more books, especially the one on Bible teaching about homosexuality. Please send some if you can. Thank you very much.
May God bless you for the job you are doing.
Bro. Noah Thom
HARARE
I am well here, trying to do the will of God and attending the meetings of remembrance of our Master when I can. I always remember you in my prayers. The situation in our country is better but still the economy is shaking, not stable. At the moment I am looking for better employment, as I would like to prepare for inputs for the next rainy season, buy food and other items for the family. Please pray for us, everything is possible with God. I am working hard in the vineyard, the ground seems to be fruitful and more literature would be good for gospel proclamation at this end.
Bro. Stanford Kuuzha
KADOMA
I have received the book ‘Life in New Testament Times’, which is very useful, even though non-Christadelphian.
I thank you for all you have done for me and continue to do. Present Day Events and write-ups are good to read, enjoyable and stimulating.
Bro. Itai P. Tembo
KWEKWE
In his mortal life Christ was establishing a Kingdom on different principles to most kings. He called men, not to authority, but to service, the strong to bear the infirmities of the weak. Those who possessed positions of power or had talent or education had a greater obligation to serve their fellows. To even the lowliest of Christ’s disciples it is said, “all things are for your sakes”. “The Son of Man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.” Among his disciples Christ was in every sense a caretaker, a burden bearer. He shared their poverty, he practised self-denial on their account, he went before them to smooth the difficult places and soon he would consummate his work on earth by laying down his life. The plan and ground of salvation is lore. In the Kingdom of God those are greatest who follow the examples he has given and act as shepherds of his flock. “This is the message that you have heard from the beginning that we should love one another.” Christ laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our life for the brethren. “To him that overcometh,” Christ said, “will I grant to sit with me on my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne. Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and I will write upon him the name of my God, I will write upon him my new name.” Rev. 3:21,
2 Tim.4:6-8, 1 Cor.9:19 & 10:33, 1 John 3:11-16.
Submitted by Bro. Raphael Mutoma
MUTARE
I want to thank you for the books, which you sent to me. I am interested in the Word of God and the coming of our Lord Jesus to the Kingdom in Jerusalem for the resurrection and judgement of all the dead who have died in Christ. Here you never know what is happening, but Jesus, the Lord, knows everything everywhere. The problems that are happening in our and other nations are very difficult. It is like waiting for the second coming of our Lord Jesus, no one knows the day it will be, as we are breaking bread and drinking wine with the brethren and sisters to remember his body and blood, we hope he is coming soon to rule the world.
Thank you very much for the notes on the daily readings. I think it was a nice visit to Malta for a baptism and also Bro. Duncan had a good visit to Egypt and Burma.
Bro. Henry Kushata
Thank you so much for continuing to send me literature, which is very important to me. The inclusive Government has helped us to have enough food but rents, electricity and water costs are still high.
Bro. Gilbert Tevere
RATELSHOEK
There are more students at Ratelshoek, developing an interest in learning the truth and hopefully they will ask for baptism (God willing). We had a nice meeting with the two brothers from Triangle, Elifasi Mlambo and Taurai Mudodo, who were baptised at Rimbi on 19 April. My sister, Sis Barbara Makendeni is a member of Triangle ecclesia and she is very willing to receive Gospel News and was asking me for a Bible Basics. Her two sons Phillip Collins Chimuse, 13 years and Leonard Amos Chimuse, 10 years will be joining the Sunday School at Chiredzi.
Bro. Farai Makendeni
Bro. Farai Makendeni soon after his baptism in the Tanganda River in 2007.
SHURUGWI
We had a good time with Bro. John Butler and his son-in-law Bro. Jeremy Hulme, for the A.G.M. so we met more brethren and a few sisters. The members of my ecclesia are quite old with only three sisters and five brethren and we meet at my house once a week and then every month we meet at the large ecclesia in Bulawayo.
I am a farmer with 35 hectares of land but I do not have much experience with farming. If you could please help me to get a book about farming I would be grateful. I would like to plant tomatoes and to keep chickens, pigs and cattle for milk. I want to sink a borehole for the garden. So far I do have a small dam.
Bro. Lulu Kazomponda
ZVISHAVANE
I have written this letter to request if you can send me 10 copies of Bible Basics in English and 3 copies in Zulu to give to contacts who are on the Bible Correspondence Course. Bible Basics has become a strong tool to those seeking the Truth in the Word of God. Keep up the good work in preaching the gospel worldwide.
Bro. Sibangani Maka
