WWWHD

The government did this. What would we have done?

In October, I attended a conference of the organisation my church belongs to. Several churches in South Africa form part of this circle, as well as churches from Zimbabwe, Zambia, Botswana and Malawi. When it was the pastor from Zimbabwe's turn to tell us about their church, his words were: "I am not going to say who is right and who is wrong…….It is no secret that certain structures were demolished. This affected some of our members". Furthermore, since September in the country, there are "assemblies" to seek the guidance of the forefathers" to "heal the land".

Last weekend our pastor went to Zimbabwe to visit the churches there. I'm posting some excerpts from his report.

After arriving Friday afternoon, I preached on 1 Peter 1:3-9 that evening. There were about 75 people from a few different churches in the area present. We were very well received and made to feel at home immediately.

Sunday morning we walked 1-2 kilometres to al church where I preached again. That afternoon I preached at…... They meet at 14h00 because they use a room at the Red Cross that is only available after 13h00

The Pastors
Pastor R: He … was sent out nearly 1 year ago to start a in Chimanimani (about 300 kilometers east of Harare). The church meets in a school hall with 20 adults and 15 children. R and his wife have no source of income as the church people themselves are unemployed or in extreme poverty. When I asked him how he eats, his answer was that he often has to beg for handfuls of mealy-meal (maize meal, corn meal, which is a basic food).

Pastor E and his wife T have 1 child who is 3 years old. He has been sent out about 300 kilometers to the NW of Harare to Rutenga where he has been labouring for a month to start a church. He currently has about 10 people who meet in his home for Bible Studies (no Sunday services yet). E and T are also without any income.

Pastor J and his wife, P have 7 children (3 married) and an orphaned nephew 16 they look after. J's home is very small with virtually no space for study. He built a little office out back, but the municipality came and tore it down. All but 2 of their married children live with them so 4 children sleep in broken down vehicles outside. 2 of the children are employed and sometimes must help out financially.

L and his wife, V have a daughter, S (3 yrs) and 4 orphaned relatives that stay with them. L did all the translating for me at all 7 sessions over the weekend. He ministers at a church in Harare in preaching, teaching and administration. Their vision is to do more training for pastors in a facility of their own one day.

W and his wife, L have 4 girls:. He also ministers in Harare in preaching and administration. L has a thyroid problem that often troubles her, but the medicine she needs is not available. The plans for W are to operate and teach at the pastors' training centre along with L.

The Vision
I must say, that none of these men asked for a thing. All the information about their finances came in answer to direct questions I posed to them. Their humility and joy in the midst of severe poverty was amazing. The financial situation is not good in Zimbabwe with bread going up to Z 60 000 (less than U$1-00) a loaf and no petrol to be found except on the black market for R100 (approx U$ 15) per litre. These oxen are muzzled tightly, yet they carry on and have vision.

What moved me? That people, in spite of utmost poverty, are willing to work for God. Some of the pastors left other churches where the gospel was not preached correctly, and took on these unpaid commissions.

A pastor begging for food - this is something I have never seen. Still they carry on. They also provide for others.

Then one hear how little they need, ZAR 2000 (approx U$300) a month, covering their cost living, as well as the expenses of their churches. Pastor J will need ZAR 4000 (U$600).

Our pastor shared that lunch at one family consisted of 3 slices of bread and a cup of tea. What do they eat when there are no guests?

Please pray that God will supply for these people. Thank God for the example of faith we have here. Pray that we may have the same sustaining faith, and dependence on God.