news from zimbabwe
CHEGUTU
All is well over here and the house of God is in order and look forward to the return of our Master. Our ecclesia has a big Sunday Bible Day and it has started on a big note. We do hope that we will continue meeting and upbuilding one another until the return of our Master. The support you are giving us in this time of need is greatly valued. May God bless the CAT. Let us all work for the Lord and he will be pleased with us.
Bro. Farai Phiri
Chegutu Ecclesia
The Youth Group with Bro. Itai Tembo
Sisters preparing the meal
The Sunday School.
CHIPINGE
Thank you very much for the Present Day Events as well as the Carelinks newsletter. These days I am without news as my radio is not working. I used to tune in to ‘Voice of America’ Africa service, where I used to hear news around the world, including Israel. Anyway, God is in control because I am now utilising that time by reading the magazines by Christadelphians as well as books written by brothers. So far I have finished reading ‘The Real Christ’ and I have re-read ‘Beyond Bible Basics’ by Bro. Duncan, ‘My Days and My Ways’ by Bro Robert Roberts, with an appendix by Bro. C.C. Walker and I am now busy reading ‘Christendom Astray’ by Bro. R.Roberts; he was such a clever brother and I am looking forward to meeting him and speaking to him face to face in the coming Kingdom. Duncan helped me a lot before I was baptized. While I was in South Africa he wrote to me and introduced me to Bro. Paul and Sis. Leonie Verster, who later arranged for my baptism. As if it was not enough he travelled from Latvia and helped us to establish Rimbi Ecclesia, in the company of Bro. Paul and Sis. Leonie.
We have started rotating meetings for breaking of bread here in Chipinge north, with Bre. Farai and Simeon, Sis. Evelyn and myself, either at our farm or at Ratelshoek, where Farai and Simeon work. Though things are difficult for us all, I hoped and felt that somehow the means would be provided by God Himself. We are busy harvesting and this season we are going to realize 80% loss because of climate change.
I have received the bound volumes of the Christadelphian magazines. most of them are over 100 years ago and the latest is 90 years. I have also received ‘Bible Basics’ and Bible commentary plus another box with books written by Christadelphian authors. While at home I caught the flu and was given Co-trimoxazole. Another big problem was created as my legs swelled and I was in great pain. I went to see a doctor and he prescribed me another drug. Even though I am in pain I am doing my daily readings and am exhorted to attend to my business in the fear of God, seeking first the Kingdom and righteousness and having food and raiment therewith to be content.
As troubles thickens in this time of the end, men’s hearts are failing them for fear, looking for the things coming upon the earth. Apart from the Hope of Israel how appalling is the prospect!! Having the light of God’s Word upon the situation, we can discern the working out of His revealed purpose and proof in the current troubles that Christ is at the door. May he soon gather together his waiting servants.
On the 16th July 2010 we met at Rimbi; myself, Brethren. Nyasha, Patrick, Rhobson of Bulawayo. We held two interviews and one was successful.
The 18th was a real blessed day as brothers of the Chipinge district ecclesia walked to the banks of Tanganda River. It’s still winter here, but that day the sun shone in the beautiful blue sky – a real blessing for the baptism of Maxwell Mashapa. The baptism was witnessed by Brethren Tumai, Nyasha, Shadreck,Patrick, who did the baptism, and myself.
Before the baptism, we read Romans chapter 6. The reading was done by Bro. Shadreck and the baptism talk was given by Bro. Moses, concluding the talk by reading Colossians 3:1-4.
Before giving the newly baptised Brother the right hand of fellowship, we normally sing Anthems 37 and 38, but because everyone had come with our Shona yellow hymnbook, we all read Numbers 6:24-26 together with firm, loud voices.
Bro. Moses Dhlakama
KWEKWE
Through the blood shed for our redemption there are triumphs to be achieved that will bring glory to God and the Lamb. Christ will not be satisfied till victory is complete and “He shall see of the travail of his soul and be satisfied”, Isa.53:11. All the nations of the earth shall hear the gospel of his grace, but not all will receive it but “a seed shall serve him, it shall be accounted to the Lord for a generation”, Ps.22:30. “The greatness of the Kingdom under the whole heaven shall be given to the people of the saints of the Most High”, and “the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord” Dan.7:27, Isa.11:9.
The greatest gift of God had been given to the world.
Joy to the poor; for Christ had come to make them heirs of his Kingdom.
Joy to the rich; for he would teach them how to secure eternal riches.
Joy to the ignorant; he would make them wise unto salvation.
Joy to the learned; he would open to them deeper mysteries than they had ever fathomed; truths that had been hidden from the foundation of the world would be opened to men by the Saviour’s mission.
“Verily, verily, I say unto you, that ye shall weep and lament, but the world shall rejoice: and ye shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy.” John 16:19,20.
Bro. Melusi Ndlovu
MAGUNJE
We are fit and strong in the Word of God. My preaching is very fruitful and many people are responding to our gospel proclamation. Your letter and some leaflets of the news of Israel and its neighbours reached my letter box thank you so much. My preaching and campaign giving Glad Tidings books and leaflets in different subjects is so encouraging to students and I need more. We have met Bro. Steve and Sis. Ruth Moore recently and had a good meeting with them. We are encouraged as our redemption is near and we pray that Christ will come soon. Zimbabwe is still a mess and we need your prayers. My Australian magazine stopped coming last year and I do not know why. I am looking for spiritual food from the saints and hope to hear more from you and my brothers in Christ.
I am going to use my talent, my shield of faith; I have put the helmet of salvation on my head to keep it. My mind is protected through the Bible. I am renewed in transformation of my mind. I thank God and His Son every day of my life. Hope to hear from you very soon.
Bro. Stanford Kuuzha
MHANGURA
There is a protection behind the breastplate of righteousness. If we do what is right we will be safe. If we are careful, committed and ethical in all that we do, say and think, we will enjoy protection and victory. Let us then be pure, clean and right before the Lord and before others in all of our attitudes and actions. Our motives – the deep purposes of our heart – must ever be to glorify Him and do His Will. Let us be worthy unto Him so that our names remain in the Book of Life (Rev. 3:4-6).
Justification is just the beginning of our great salvation. “But as many as received him, to them gave he power (authority, the right or privilege) to become the sons of God…” John 1:12. The word “power” is important in this verse, it should be translated “authority” since it is the Greek word exousia. This is a word of privilege, right or permission. Let us take it in this way; when the traffic signal turns green you have the exousia (right, permission or privilege) to proceed forward. If your car runs out of gas at that instant, you do not have the power to go even though you have the authority to go. So when we receive Christ we are given the permission, the right or authority to become sons of God. Similarly, the Israelites had the authority to enter Canaan and possess it, but they perished in the wilderness in unbelief. So as Christians let us receive him, follow him and believe in him for us to become sons and daughters of God.
Bro. Joseph Zishechi
MPATA
I am a brother living in isolation at Chinhoyi rural and I enclose my postal address. I shall be very happy if you will send me another book, “The Death of the Cross”.
Bro. Benjamin Makuti
MUTARE
Thank you for sending me a pamphlet on how to hold a funeral for a Christadelphian. Recently we had a good time with Bro. Steve and Ruth Moore from U.K. We did Bible studies with them and two students were interviewed and baptized at the Wise Owl Motel in Mutare. We are still fighting hard to make sure that most people in Mutare know about the Christadelphians. Most people are no longer using ‘snail mail’, but e-mails and mobile phones for communication and the Post Office’s business is being affected. I will continue writing to you.
Bro. Gilbert Tevere
RATELSHOEK
It was a very Good Friday to witness and to welcome Bro. Simeon Mudhimbayo into fellowship at Ratelshoek. He went into the water in Chibudzana River and was baptized by Bro. Moses Dhlakama. We waited a long time for Bre. Admire and Patrick who failed to come for different reasons and at long last we started the work of God. All went well in peace and harmony, witnessed by four other Bible students who attended the scene. Bro. Moses gave a talk about baptism. The Bible tells us that no one will enter into the Kingdom without being baptised into Christ, a symbol of dying once with Christ under water and rising again with Christ out of the water to a newness of life. Romans 6 and Colossians 2. We enjoyed a nice meal prepared by Monica Mudhimbayo, the wife of Bro. Simeon. She is doing Shona lessons with five other students.
I would like to thank brothers and sisters of Chipinge Ecclesia and those of the worldwide community who gave donations to the Memorial Service for Sis Vheina.
Bro. Simeon was given the right hand of fellowship at Rimbi Ecclesia by Bro. Rhobson Sithole of Bulawayo. To all Chistadelphians in the worldwide community, pray for us here to grow in Christ, and please keep sending us books and pamphlets to let the Word of God grow here at Ratelshoek.
Bro. Farai Makandeni.
Bro. Farai on his horse, Talent.
HARARE (Ruwa)
I appreciate your encouraging letter. As we get older we experience different pains in our bodies and we put our hope of a new healthy and pain free life in the resurrection when our Lord Jesus comes again on the earth to establish his Kingdom. I trust very much in God’s plans and promises to his people, some of which have been fulfilled, such as the seed from, Abraham and David who is our Saviour, Jesus Christ. Also in Isaiah, when God said to Israel that he would scatter them into a foreign land and carry them back to their own land by eagles’ wings. For a long time, since I started reading the Bible at twelve years old, I wondered how eagles could carry people with its wings, but when I came to understand the good doctrine, through the Christadelphians, that is where I found the Truth.
When studying the Bible I find it difficult to explain some passages to those who have no Bible and when you give them a question to answer they need a Bible. I have supplied some copies of Bible Basics to some people who are seeking the Truth. I have a few problems with my two Bibles, which are a King James version and an English Standard version, copyright and edited 2001 in Korea. Both Bibles sound to me as if they have shortened some of the references and some passages are quite different from my old Bible, New International version, which I really loved but which was destroyed by fire in 2005.
I found some of the pages missing or shortened, for example, in 2 Kings when on one occasion some young boys blasphemed, mocked and laughed at Elisha the prophet for his bald head and after Elisha left them they were all eaten by a lion. In my latest Bible versions this passage is just not there. Also in the New Testament gospel record, while Peter and others were fishing, Peter was half naked when Jesus arrived and he quickly wrapped a cloth around himself and Jesus told him that the time would come when he would not be able to dress himself and someone would do it for him. Again, in Revelation a plague of locusts were mentioned which would harm people on earth, a sign of the time of Christ’s return to the earth. The missing of some of these references have confused me as it is written that no word should be added or taken away from God’s Word. Although I am now short sighted and I have searched very hard, I cannot find any of these references in my two Bibles. I have been into a big book shop in town, where I found a copy of the New International Version like my old one, but I was not able to afford it due to the price, so I had to leave the shop and prayed that one day I will be able to afford it.
I am very glad to learn that the good news of the Gospel is spreading all over the world and such news is reaching Haiti and many other places where the gospel is being preached. We pray that God may bless and take care of those preaching for his Word’s sake, and bring them back safely to their homes. I sometimes meet with some hard questions but through the help of our Lord Jesus I try to do my best. Some ask me why we were created black, from which nation, how did it happen and will we be accepted in the coming Kingdom? I tell them that the colour of our skin does not matter only our belief of Jesus’ teachings, repentance and faith and trust in him and his Heavenly Father. God loves all creatures He has created, whether they are lame, blind, deaf or dumb but if we do not worship and obey him we will not be accepted by Him.
Bro. Maxwell Mlakah
TRIANGLE
I was very pleased to see my article published in the January Gospel News. I am still aiming to send you more articles to be published. I have arranged three meetings a week, Monday, Wednesday and Friday, so the scarcity of Bibles has disturbed the studies.
Bro. Tavaremba Mugova
ZAKA
Thank you for the books you sent us, ‘Parables of the Messiah’, ‘He Healeth all thy Diseases’, ‘Dr. Thomas, His Life and Work’ and ‘The Ten Commandments in the Twentieth Century’. Would you please carry on supplying us with more information to guide us spiritually until the return of our Lord Jesus Christ. I greet all the brothers and sisters in Christ, worldwide.
Bro. Svuure Faustino
