Update 01-07
Dear fellow-workers with Christ in Africa,
I thank God that He continues to work through you for the furtherance of the Gospel of Christ. We have a wonderful opportunity to be used by Him both individually, congregationally and nationally. In Acts 1:8 Luke reminds us that we will spread the word about Christ wherever we go, and I know that throughout Africa we have men and women devoted to witnessing to our Lord. Thank you so much for your faithfulness in the Gospel.
It is not long now before we remember the Sacrifice and Resurrection of our Lord. Let’s approach this season with deep inner joy, knowing that Jesus our Saviour lives. Once again this should not be a time of division among us. It is not a question of choosing the right form and the right dates. In regard to the Lord’s Supper celebration let’s remember the safety of our people. In order to avoid hazardous travel at night, some of our congregations have adopted the practice of incorporating a Lord’s Supper service into the Resurrection celebration, and that is acceptable within the freedom we have in Christ.
Early on the Sunday morning of the resurrection women went to the tomb of Jesus with prepared spices. In Luke 24:5 two men sent by God ask them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead?” This same question can be asked of us metaphorically. Sometimes we seek the living Christ in the dead traditions of this world. All philosophies and religions that ignore Christ are dead, spiritually speaking. It is only in Christ that life is found. If some of you are looking for a sermon idea about the resurrection, this thought is a point that could be developed.
Kalengule Kaoma, Regional Pastor for Malawi, Zambia and Zimbabwe, made a recent trip to Zimbabwe. Below are excerpts from his report:
“All the congregations are doing well. There is a potential congregation plant in Mbare, a high density area in Harare. Pastor Kashumba is working with the group. This may be too early to make sense of it; but please remember the Mbare potential congregation plant in your prayers. There is a general increase in attendance in our congregations countrywide. While we have lost some members who have gone to join other denominations, we have more people coming to join us.
Zimbabwe’s economy has continued to decline. Inflation rate last week was close to 1300%. Sometimes prices of commodities change at least once a day. People are coping by God’s grace. The country’s economy has also adversely affected our brethren. Please remember them in your prayers”.
Attached is the Study 6 in the Back to Bible Study series. Please once again feel free to use these studies as you see fit. In some areas they have been printed off and distributed in the churches, and that is fine. Some use them as discussion points for small groups. Some ministers are structuring sermons around the various questions and sub-points.
Warmest regards from my wife and me,
Yours, in Christ’s service,
James R Henderson,
Superintendent of African Mission.
Biblestudy 6
Update 19-06
Dear fellow leaders,
Thank you for the support and selfless service you have given to our congregations throughout 2006. “We always thank God for all of you and pray for you constantly. As we talk to our God and Father about you, we think of your faithful work, your loving deeds, and your continual anticipation of the return of our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Thessalonians 1:2, New Living Translation).
Some months ago I mentioned that our church in the Cameroun was in the process of considering an affiliation request from a group called The Worldwide Church of Jesus Christ. This group was assigned to study the statement of beliefs of our denomination. After extensive discussions this church has now been incorporated into our fellowship. In October Mr. Jean-Jacques Ndoudoumou, the President of the Worldwide Church of God in the Cameroun, agreed that the affiliation should begin. This means that we have a new congregation (about 200 in attendance) in the Cameroun, and the congregation’s name is Yaoundé-Ngoa Ekelle. This means that we now have two congregations in the capital city of Yaoundé. Please join me in congratulating our Camerounian church! This is another example of an independent group seeking the accountability of sound doctrine and denominational structure. At the moment affiliation discussions have begun with other independent groups around Africa, for example in Rwanda, Liberia, the DRC and elsewhere.
Attached is the latest Bible Study in the Back to Bible Study series. This study discusses the Holy Spirit and the subject of the Trinity. Please take the time to review the material carefully.
Warmest regards from my wife and me to each of you and to the congregations,
Yours in Christ’s service,
James R Henderson,
Superintendent of African Mission
Biblestudy 5
Update 18-06
Hello. I bring you greetings from our churches in Kenya.
On the weekend of the 2nd December the Kenyan WCG leaders met to review the current situation of our church there, and to discuss possibilities for the future. We reviewed the church in terms of statistics over the past 10 years. In 1996 we had two congregations with about three hundred in attendance. Of that three hundred about 60 left due to doctrinal issues and also of course since 1996 some people have left for various other reasons, and some, sadly, have died. Now there are 25 churches with a maximum attendance of just over 1100. Much of the growth has been slow and steady. The leaders regard themselves as being in a consolidation stage before launching fresh mission initiatives. During the meeting plans were laid out for continued congregational care and for the development of indigenous financial structures.
On Sunday morning I had another chance to visit our lively Mountain View congregation in the Kangemi area of Nairobi. This is a very warm and friendly congregation of about 150, full of fun and laughter and it is always a pleasure to visit them. During the service there were three ordinations. Area Pastor Kimani Ndungu, Kericho pastor Paul Langat, and I ordained Anthony Minar Gachanja as a local elder. He and his wife, Jane, will serve the 40-strong Naivasha congregation in the Great Rift Valley. Anthony and Jane have nurtured our members and contacts in Naivasha through some difficult times. Also ordained as elders of the congregation were Isaac Mose and Peter Chege. Isaac and his wife, Prisca, and Peter and his wife, Faith, serve the Mountain View Church.
Daniel Yovo of the Lomé church in Togo (West Africa) and his team of helpers conducted a youth event on the 9th December. There were just over 125 in attendance. Various topics were discussed, and one of the highlights was a testimony from a female Muslim convert.
SEP in South Africa has begun and also our camp in Ghana is due to begin shortly. Please remember to pray for these events.
Thank you once again for promoting the Gospel of Jesus in the areas where you live, and please continue to do so with a lively enthusiasm and boldness of faith.
Yours, in Christ’s service,
James R Henderson,
Superintendent of African Mission.
Update 17-06
Dear brothers and sisters in the work of Jesus of Christ,
Thank you as always for your faithfulness to our Lord, and for your ministry within our precious fellowship.
Attached is Bible Study 4. Please feel free to use and distribute as you so wish. My thanks go to all those who help with this study, in particular to Drs Joseph Tkach and Mike Feazell for reviewing the doctrinal content, and to John Halford, John Stettaford, Ann Nadim and my wife, Shirley, for proof-reading and editing. For your information this study can also be downloaded by accessing www.wcg.org.uk
It is almost at the end of another year! Where does the time go? Please review the year and let me have as soon as possible a report on all the mission activities that have taken place in 2006. Please attach photos if you have them.
This weekend I am in Nairobi and will take your greetings with me.
Kind personal regards,
James Henderson.
Biblestudy 4
Update 16-06
Dear brothers and sisters in the Lord,
Thank you as always for your faithfulness to our Lord Jesus Christ and for your loyalty to our denomination of the Worldwide Church of God.
This is the time of year when many of us are planning for 2007. Please keep the concept of “good pastoring leads to mission” at the top of your thinking in this regard. We need to make sure that our congregations are nurtured so that they can respond to mission opportunities with excitement and enthusiasm.
Attached is Bible Study 3, which discusses who Jesus is. Please use these studies for you personal study time and make them available to any who would like to receive them. They can be received by e-mail directly if I am informed of the e-mail address. Some are using them as small group material, which is fine.
Warmest regards from my wife and me,
Yours, in Christ’s service,
James Henderson,
Superintendent of African Mission.
Bible Study 3
