29 July Not sure why the text never showed up when I posted this…here it is.
James 1:27-2:1
27 Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you.
Yesterday was just another one of those days that I was reminded how much fun it really is to serve Gods people through Celebration Church. Obviously I am a huge believer in the power of the local church in the community as we band together in the name of Jesus and reach out to the lost and hurting, empowering everyone to put God first and foremost in their lives. In addition to feeding and ministering to the children we also do our best to lift up and empower the widows in the community.
Yesterday afternoon was our monthly Widows Tea, when we gather all the ladies together for tea and cakes as well as some fellowship time, testimonies and sharing from the Word by one of the Pastors. We recruit all of our staff pastors to come and serve the ladies just as a small gesture to honor them. Yesterday brought 30 of these incredible ladies, many of whom are real heros in my eyes. Losing a husband is a devastating situation no matter where you live but in Africa the culture can make these situations nearly unbearable. Not only do many of these ladies have little or no skills, they may also very likely be infected with HIV/AIDS brought home to them by their late husbands. These women have little and no “rights” in this culture and many times the husband family will arrive to take all the possessions as well as the home, throwing the wife and children out into the streets.
Listening to the testimonies from a couple of the ladies yesterday made me realize just how thankful to God I need to be each and every day for all He has done. One of the ladies talked about how grateful she was to God for bringing new customers for her business. Now mind you, her business is selling worms, spending her days digging to obtain her “product” and she was genuinely happy that she was able to make her living for her and her children in this manner. Another of the ladies was simply thankful to have Celebration Church in the lives of her and her children and without that love and support she just could not have made it through. Lets remember today and every day to be thankful for all that the Lord has done for us. No matter how bad your situation may seem to be, there’s always someone else who is likely in worse shape than you. Reach out beyond yourself today. You will be amazed at how very small your problems will seem when you stretch out a hand to another. What an awesome God we serve.
So what in the world is a Mawabeni and an Esibomvu? These would be the 2 newest Celebration Church locations in Zimbabwe. Tell me those aren’t cool names for a church!! Esibomvu is my favorite, just kinda’ rolls off your tongue. Having 4 syllables you can say it all kinds of different ways. Read on when you get done having fun with this name!!!
We began these 2 locations at the beginning of February in an area of Zimbabwe designated as a “growth point”. I was able to make my first visit to these 2 locations last week to spend some time with the pastors and core leaders of these new churches. What an awesome group of people to help grow Jesus’s church in Zimbabwe. It’s a rural type environment here, guess I would define it as the next step from a village setting. There is a gas station along with a few small businesses on the main “street”, which is really a very bumpy dirt road. They are beginning to clear an area for a township to be built and there are also schools which we are now using for Sunday services. I asked how many people were living in the immediate surrounding area and was amazed to be told there are around 30,000 living in this area. What a great place to have church. What we have begun to offer in Celebration services seems to be catching on. Those I got to spend time with here say they have never been to church like this!!! Praise the Lord that we are able to show Jesus to His people in Mawebeni and Esibomvu.
Pictures above are of Pastors Albert Ncube and Andrew Sibanda as well as some of their family and leaders. Asyou can see they are all just fired up about serving Jesus in Zimbabwe. We nearly had a church service right in their front yard. The next step here is to make application for a parcel of property where we can erect another Celebration church home. Please pray for favor as well as resources to allow us to continue to expand the Kingdom.
OK I am one week away from leaving the good ol U.S.A. to go and live in Africa for ???? I really don’t know how long God is gonna keep me in Africa but I’m ready for whatever He has for me. All i know is God is good and He ALWAYS has my back.
Isa 41:9-10
9 I took you from the ends of the earth,
from its farthest corners I called you.
I said, ‘You are my servant’;
I have chosen you and have not rejected you.
10 So do not fear, for I am with you;
do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you;
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
NIV