17th June – 8th July 2011
We would like to thank you for your prayers for us during our recent visit to Zimbabwe – once again the Lord answered prayer in so many wonderful ways. We were kept safe in all our travels on the roads in Zimbabwe as well as in our flights and all the practical arrangements for the visit worked out well. We both kept well during our time in Zimbabwe and at no time did we feel that our security was in danger. We thank God for the many opportunities to teach and preach His Word in a variety of situations and for the receptiveness of those we ministered to.
In many ways we saw little change in the country from our visit last year – there are still great needs with very high unemployment levels (around 80 %) meaning that day to day existence is a struggle for the vast majority of people. Apart from the need to supply their daily food, there is the burden of paying school fees for the children and having to meet crippling medical fees when treatment is necessary. Despite this daily struggle, the Lord’s people testify to the faithfulness of God in meeting their needs.
On the surface Zimbabwe appears as a country very much influenced by the Christian faith – there are numerous churches and chapels in the cities, townships and villages and it is a common sight on a Sunday morning to see many people making their way through the streets to church services. However, much Christianity is very shallow, many churches hold out false hopes by preaching a prosperity Gospel with empty promises of health and wealth while other churches contain a mixture of Christian truth and traditional African religion. The need to see preachers being raised up who will be faithful to the truth of the Gospel is great and we are thankful to the Lord for the freedom we have to teach and train pastors and church leaders.
Training of Trainers Workshops
We had six pastors who joined us at YWCA for the four days of these workshops – these were a group of more able men that we were working with seeking to train them up so that they, in turn, could be involved in running training sessions for other pastors during the course of the year. Derek and Roger led the teaching for the first two days – Derek was teaching on the Doctrine of Scripture and Roger dealt with the Doctrines of Grace. We were joined for the last two days by Maciek who taught an introduction to some of Paul’s Epistles. The teaching was well received by these men, particularly as they worked through issues that challenged some of their thinking. Please pray these men will be able to lead workshops to train other Zimbabwean Pastors in the months ahead.
Preachers’ Workshops
Preachers’ workshops were held in Hwange and Harare – Roger was not involved in those held at Hwange when a group of 30 pastors gathered for 3 days of teaching led by Derek and Maciek, supplemented by the involvement of two Zimbabwean Pastors – William Danyere and Lovemore Tomboriyo. This was the second year these workshops had been held in Hwange and it was good to see these men beginning to grasp the principles involved in expounding the scriptures. The workshops in Harare were held on a different basis this year – day workshops rather than residential – it was good to see around 30 men attending on each of the two days and especially to see the way some of the men had grown in their understanding of the scriptures. Roger was teaching an introduction to Acts and the principles of preaching from the book. There were issues addressed that challenged much of the prosperity Gospel and teaching on the Holy Spirit that is prevalent in Zimbabwe and this led to some lively discussions. It was good, however, to be addressing issues that are vitally relevant to the situation being faced among the churches in Zimbabwe.
Day Conferences
On the Saturday we were in Bulawayo there was a conference of pastors from the Evangelical Fellowship of Zimbabwe at the City Presbyterian church that Derek, Maciek and Roger all spoke at. The overall theme was being shepherds of God’s people and the 30 or so pastors who attended seemed to value the teaching given.
The afternoon was a very different – we were taken to one of the African townships on the outskirts of Bulawayo where we met with leaders and members of two new churches being planted there. We were asked to give some basic teaching on church leadership and organisation, although we were not clear on exactly what was expected until we arrived. Roger was able to adapt some material used in the morning on eldership, Maciek had 35 minutes to prepare before speaking on the role and responsibilities of deacons and Derek spoke on church discipline. Again the teaching was well received.
The following Saturday, back in Harare, Roger spoke at a day conference for elders from the Brethren Assemblies, many of whom had been present when he spoke last year. Roger had been asked to address the theme of Preparing to Preach, covering the whole issue of how we approach preaching in context etc. Both sessions provoked a lot of questions and discussion and it was obvious these men were keen to learn more about how to apply these principles. Please pray for Deryck Jones as he seeks to encourage these men to develop their preaching ministries. There were, again, some prison chaplains present at this conference and they shared how God had been using the Emmaus Course material provided through the Brethren in their work in the prisons and that in the past year around 500 prisoners had been baptised confessing faith in Jesus.
Theological College of Zimbabwe
Our visit to TCZ in Bulawayo was really encouraging – since last year a new principle – Ray Motsi – has been appointed and he has a real vision for the development of the work of the college. The financial situation of the college has improved but they are still dependant on outside support to enable them to meet their day to day commitments and there is a backlog of utility payments still outstanding amounting to many thousands of dollars. The college are currently registering with the Education Department to get their courses/degrees officially recognised and they see this as an opportunity to develop the range of courses they are able to offer. Please pray the registration process will go smoothly.
Ladies conferences
Gill was privileged to speak at two ladies conferences during our time in Zimbabwe. The first at YWCA involved many of the ladies who were present at the conference last year – Gill was asked to speak on the Role of the Pastors Wife, but as only a third of the 38 ladies present were fulfilling this role she adapted her material to cover the responsibilities of a Christian woman – covering responsibilities to God, to her husband, to her family, in the church and community. The day closed with a devotional session on the life of Joseph. Again the ladies present greatly valued the teaching given and opportunity to share fellowship together.
The second conference was for ladies from the Brethren Assemblies in Harare and around 30 ladies were present – this was the first time there had been anything of this nature and clearly the ladies valued this time together. Gill spoke on Mary and Martha, drawing lessons from their lives for the ladies, as well as sharing some of the material on the responsibilities of a Christian woman.
Visits to Orphanages
While in Bulawayo we visited the Sandra Jones children’s village set in a rural location away from the city – around 85 children and teenagers are being cared for there, the majority of whom are victims of abuse. There are also classrooms on site where the children are educated – we were able to take gifts for the children as well as pass on funds to support the ongoing work. Please pray for the Lord to guide as there is a need to relocate this work in the future.
We also visited two houses in Bulawayo where orphans are being cared for in small groups of 8-10 children with housemothers to care for them – they were thrilled to show us their homes and we would ask you to pray for their ongoing care.
Gifts
We are thankful to all who donated medical supplies and gifts of money for us to take with us to Zimbabwe. Both the basic medical supplies and donations were very much appreciated by all who received them and the gifts of money which amounted to nearly £2500 were used in the following ways:
Buying gifts for children
Gifts to 30 pastors to help with support of their families
Personal gifts of toiletries to ladies attending the conferences
Personal gifts of toiletries for staff at YWCA
Purchase of Shona Bibles fur use in the churches
Money to support feeding programme for widows and orphans
Donation to work of Theological College of Zimbabwe, Bulawayo
Donation to support work of Sandra Jones Children’s Home
Meeting costs of Ladies conference
All those who received gifts asked us to express their sincere thanks to all who had contributed in any way.
Zimbabwean Partnership Trust
We are both involved as trustees in a new charity being set up in this country to support the needs of the churches and people of God in Zimbabwe. If you would like to know more about how you could give towards meeting the needs of the Lord’s work and His people in Zimbabwe, please get in touch with us.
Prayer points
- Give thanks for answers to prayer in keeping us safe and well on our trip and for the opportunities to teach and train the Lord’s people.
- Pray that a programme of workshops can be arranged that will be lead by men we were able to teach in the Training of Trainers workshops.
- Pray that the men who attended the preacher’s workshops and day conferences will apply the principles they have been taught in their preaching and pastoral ministries.
- Pray for the strengthening of true Biblical ministry in Zimbabwe.
- Pray for the ongoing ministry and development of the work of TCZ.
- Pray for the ladies who attended the conferences that they will be encouraged in their own faith and walk with the Lord and be strengthened in the witness and service in their homes and families and in the work of the churches.
- Pray that the children in the Sandra Jones village and the orphanages will know the Lord’s love and care bringing healing into their broken lives and that they will come to trust in the Lord Jesus as their Saviour.
- Give thanks for the Lord’s faithfulness in upholding His people day by day and Pray for His continued comfort and provision for his people in the midst of the difficult economic circumstances of the country.
Thank you for your love, prayers and practical support.
Roger & Gill |
