The Harare congregation in Zimbabwe purchased two bicycles to help the Mondoro congregation do its work of preaching the gospel in a rural community.

Left: Pastor Taderera (left) presenting bicycles to Mondoro congregational leaders. Right: Youths in Mondoro with the bicycles. They were involved in planting the Mondoro congregation.

In Malawi, Deacon Charles Chakana and Pastor Sylvester Nkosi often take bicycle taxis to visit members who are in remote areas where motorized transport is rare.

Above: Worship service at the church plant in the Zaleka Refugee Camp, Dowa District, near Lilongwe, Malawi. Below, attendees in front of the Unicef tent used as a meeting hall.

A new congregation has been established in Zaleka Refugee camp in Dowa District, New Lilongwe, Malawi. Most attendees here are internationally displaced people from the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo. Although they are in a foreign country, they are sure that they are not strangers in the church.

Pastor John Amadala of Western Kenya covers an extensive area. He is not hampered by lack of transport in order for him to go and minister to members and have a chance to reach out to make new converts. He walks long distances.

Our congregational prayer house in Lubumbashi, Congo.  It is in need of upgrading.

In the last two years, Gustav Elongi has been very helpful in finding new areas for church plants in Lubumbashi, in southeastern Congo. Lubumbashi has potentially three congregations who are meeting under the name of our denomination. We are working together in fine-tuning our work relationships. There are new mission doors in Congo, Chad, Tanzania, Rwanda, Liberia, Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, Liberia, Algeria, and Ivory Coast.

Many of our countries have reported an increase in baptisms. The most encouraging and amazing one occurred in Domboshwavwa, near Harare, Zimbabwe, where 60 people were baptized in a day! Domboshwavwa is a relatively new church plant. Adult attendance here has risen from ten in 2005 to 80 in recent months.

Several congregations in the USA, Europe, and Canada have assisted their brethren in Africa. A number of members in Zimbabwe have received food assistance. This has been a blessing to the members because food shortages are still a major concern for people in Zimbabwe.

Malawian members received Bibles in their local language, Cicewa. Malawian senior citizens also received blankets.

The refugee congregations in Kenya received assistance in foodstuffs, soap, and clothing.

The congregation in Blantyre, Malawi, has been involved in running the Yamikani Orphanage in Limbe for several years (see photos below). The pastor of Blantyre congregation, Fadreck Nihaka, sits on the Yamikani board of directors as treasurer. He is also agricultural advisor.

Two building projects are underway in Zimbabwe, one in Bulawayo and the other in Chitungwiza.

The project in Chitungwiza, an emerging and growing town 35 km south of Harare, was begun in 2005 with a generous donation from a well-wisher. Concrete pillars were sunk for the foundation, but despite an effort at fundraising by the members, progress has been slow due to the runaway inflation in the country. Cost of materials has gone up 1000% from what it was when the project was begun. When completed, the building will have a meeting hall that could be rented out to raise more funds for the congregation.

The Bulawayo local authority granted the Bulawayo congregation a permit to erect a church on an existing church building site in 2007. The members have raised, through various efforts, a fund, which unfortunately is eroded daily by the soaring cost of services and materials. When completed, the project will have a meeting hall, a pastor's house and a guest lodge. A miracle was associated with the granting of the permit. At the time application was made, there was strong opposition from neighbors. The membership went on their knees. Some months later, all objections mysteriously fizzled away and the church was granted the permit. Needless to say, the members went on their knees again in thanks to God, who had fought the battle on their behalf.

Congregations in Ghana, Angola, and Malawi are running schools. The Angolan school is a community school administered by our church leader in Angola, Mr. Kitambala.

Ghana has two community schools. The first school started at the church farm, which is also used for youth camp and other retreats.

Another school is Kutunse School (right), which is under construction. When Cleophus and Catharine Sturdivant of Kalamazoo, MI, visited Ghana, they wrote the following:

In 2004, my husband and I planned a trip to Ghana. Before our trip, we asked Emmanuel Okai, our area coordinator in Ghana, if there was anything we could bring. He told us they were building schools, and they need financial help, since they build only as money and supplies allow.

Our church in Kalamazoo made a donation, and we solicited money from other sources. We sent these funds for the schools. However, the travel agent we were working with absconded with our travel funds, and we were not able to take the trip.

Thankfully, the next year, God did bless us to go to Ghana. We had solicited funds again and purchased school supplies to take with us. It was a wonderful opportunity to share in this labor of love. They have a church building there, several camp huts, rental units, and now the schools.

The property was donated to the church many years ago. Since that time, many members have come to live in homes nearby and have gardens on the church property.

The vision for the school was initiated by a deaconess. For 25 years she requested the building of a school for children in that area. The long distance the children had to travel and the monsoons made it difficult to send the children away for an education. Finally, others caught the vision, and the work began.

We were impressed with the vision and resourcefulness of the people there. They are hoping to improve on the huts, which they use for the church camp in December and rent to other groups. This will make them self-sustaining, and may see a profit as they move along with this project.

Last year, we were able to go back and bring more donations and school supplies. If God is willing, we will go back again this year. We have already begun to collect money and haven’t started the campaign yet. There was a lot of prayer and efforts put into this project, and God has blessed it tremendously. Education is the key to economical mobility. We feel a sense of joy to been blessed to be a part of this wonderful project.

We were surprised at where God brought the money from in some cases. My cardiologist donated, and told me to let him know when we made another trip, as he wanted to donate again. My dentist also made a contribution and was pleased to see the work already done there.

If you want or need more information on the schools, Emmanuel Okai (komadel@ghana.com) can help.

One sobering experience will forever stick in my mind. We were able to visit the slaves’ castles in Elmina, Ghana. Having lived in the aftermath of slavery in the USA, learning about the middle passage was nothing compared to the emotions of being in that place. It was almost like the souls of those people still resonated from the horrible things that went on there. It seemed so real, you could still seem to hear the cries and smell the bodies. We knew it would be bad, but didn’t expect those feelings and emotions to be aroused in that manner. To add insult to injury, there was at that time a church one story up in one of the castles.

We are thankful God intervened when he did to end those horrible times. On the outside of the castle is the beauty and awesomeness of the ocean, on which those who were left alive were transported to the shores of the various countries accepting/buying slaves at that time. What a contrast! It is good that we understand that our battles are not physical, and we are not fighting flesh and blood.

Our church in Malawi operates a school at the church’s headquarters in Blantyre (see photos below). The school now has an enrollment of 450 and caters for pre and primary schools. Extra income from school fees is used for mission work. So far, two meetings halls have been built, at Mpanda and Naminjale.

The South African service centre supports congregations in South Africa, Lesotho and Swaziland, and has recently been asked to assist in Botswana, Namibia and Mauritius. Twenty-eight congregations meet across South Africa, as well as one each in Lesotho, Botswana and Mauritius.

All our congregations are served by bi-vocational pastors, who work full time outside the church, but sacrifice their free time to pastor their congregations. This dedicated group of men and women (we recently ordained two women as elders) serve their congregations selflessly while leading them into a closer and more intimate relationship with God.

We produce a 24-page African Edition Worldwide News every second month. We are trying to give it an "African" flavour and are encouraging content from readers/ members throughout Africa, with articles current and relevant to local circumstances. It is produced in South Africa and distributed to over 15 countries across Africa. It is a valuable tool not only in providing the members with news and spiritual nourishment, but ties them to the greater body of the fellowship and gives a sense of family and unity.

As a fellowship where congregations have not been traditionally focused on mission, we are discovering the amazing joy of reaching out into our communities and changing lives while preaching the gospel of salvation. Every congregation has some form of community project, ranging from working with blind children, supporting and serving underprivileged groups, assisting single mothers, collecting and distributing toys for abused children, to revival ministries. These allow us not only to share the good news of our Saviour Jesus Christ, but to live out his love as an example to others.

Caleb and Francina Makhela

Morrison Belebana (front left) with Newcastle congregation

Over the years, members have travelled long distances to attend our services, sometimes hundreds of kilometres. Because of the distances, we have started several new churches, which are flourishing so well that most have outgrown their mother churches. In May, Maelula congregation, which was planted by Caleb Makhela, is celebrating its fifth anniversary. This church, in a rural village in the Limpopo province of South Africa, meets in the local school hall. This has grown into one of our larger congregations, where up to 80 people may meet on any Sunday morning. The worship is always moving and vibrant in the traditional African style.

Care groups are strongly encouraged, and many members are learning to facilitate these in their own homes, providing a safe environment where they are able to minister to friends, family and acquaintances. Some of these, such as in Newcastle, Kwa-Zulu Natal, have grown into home churches that now meet every Sunday morning, with up to 30 attending each week. Morrison Belebana found himself isolated in Newcastle, with his family the only other denominational members within 100 kilometers. Instead of simply joining another fellowship, he decided he was being led to start a church there, which he did. His passionate and caring nature for the community has ensured the growth of the congregation.

The needs in South Africa are vast and varied. Crime rates are high, along with unemployment. Many people struggle to provide even the basics such as food, clothing and shelter for their families. Diseases such as tuberculosis and HIV are widespread and affect all spectrums of our society, but especially the lower-income groups. Faced with poverty and disease, many are searching desperately for meaning and hope in an otherwise futile life.

HIV/AIDS is a reality that millions in Southern Africa live with every day. Hundreds of thousands more have to come to terms with it each year. It affects individuals, families and communities. It reaches and concerns even those who feel isolated from this epidemic, as it affects the economy. What can we as a church do, when organisations such as the United Nations and World Health Organisation flounder in the face of the onslaught of this tiny virus? We need to be careful that we keep focused on our calling, yet maintain our Christ-heart for the people.

As in all areas of life, we need to maintain a balance, and pray for wisdom, as AIDS becomes a reality within the doors of our church. We cannot condemn or ostracise, for we are all sinners and fall short of his glory, but neither can we condone the sexual promiscuity that is allowing AIDS to spread so rampantly. Fortunately, we have Christ’s perfect example left for us. He walked and mingled with lepers, tax collectors and prostitutes. He cared deeply for humanity and its pain. He wept. He did what he could to help and ease the suffering he came across, yet he never lost focus of his calling. Satan would love us to become so involved in trying to solve the human problems that we forget or lose focus on our primary calling, which is to spread the gospel and make disciples.

But what can we do? We are warned in James 2:16, "and if one of you says to them, Go in peace, be warmed and filled but you do not give them those things which are needful to the body, what good is it?" We have an obligation to assist where we can, and we do. But as a fellowship, money is tight, and the needs are always increasing. It can be disheartening to see such physical need all around and not be able to help. However, we have something much more valuable to offer... HOPE!

Pastor Millar preaching at Sizwe Hospital

When the Sizwe Hospital in Johannesburg, which treats tuberculosis and HIV patients, was approached by our Johannesburg congregation, the CEO of the hospital, Dr. Louw, was delighted at our proposal to offer church services at the hospital. She commented that at a recent board meeting they had discussed how medicine was often ineffective, and what the patients needed more than anything else was hope. Many patients are hospitalised for up to a year, and get depressed and even aggressive at the hopelessness of their situation. After ministering to and serving this group (usually 20-30 each week) for just over six months, it has been mentioned to the leaders of the Sizwe church that many of the patients are changed people, more cheerful and with a much more positive outlook on their situation. Romans 8:24-25 tells us that our hope is not for things seen in this lifetime, but in the future, made possible by the sacrifice of Christ! This is what we as a fellowship have to offer to all who have little hope in their current situation: eternal hope in Christ. It is this hope that the patients at Sizwe are offered and seem to be thriving on.