The Trust Factor

I was reading about “The Trust Factor” by David Fernandes who is from Mumbai, India from the Newfrontiers magazine with the theme Christians in the workplace. I really liked what he said…
Trust does not fall from the sky. It is not something that can be defined on a piece of paper. It belongs to the realm of character and the spirit, and has as much to do with who we are as with what we do. It is painstakingly built over time. It is tested by circumstances. How therefore can trust be built and, if broken, rebuilt?

TRUST, is HUGE for me. I find I work better in an environment where there is trust. I relate better where there is trust. We are living in a fallen world where “trust” has faded away rapidly and we have an atmosphere of competitiveness, suspicion, undermining our workmates and so on all in a bid to “get ahead.”

It’s so interesting chatting to people about trust and seeing their reactions when I say that trusting people and believing the best in and of them is important to me. I’ve been told “NEVER trust anyone”, “You’ll only get hurt”, “The day and age we are living in has no room for trust”, “You are too trusting”, “It’s a cut-throat world. Dog eat dog” and so on. I find it quite fascinating. Yes, I’ve been let down and hurt badly because of trust but ultimately trusting God helps me trust people who are made in his image and likeness – imago deo!

How can trust be built?
1. Always be truthful: not just once but over and over again
2. Speak the truth with grace: be gentle but firm
3. Set things right when you are wrong: Be quick to apologize when you are wrong
4. Be quick to forgive: Talk through things sensitively and thoroughly
5. Keep your promises: It can make or break your credibility
6. Act consistently: Match your words with actions and vice versa
7. Know that it’s okay to say “I don’t know…” It creates an atmosphere of security and breeds trust.
8. Entrust and encourage: Encourage in public and correct in private


I have worked with teams where trust is the order of the day and I’ve just LOVED it. I have flourished and I’ve seen my workmates flourish. It’s wonderful. The workplace becomes a place of enjoyment. I was told recently by Brian Oldreive – Founder and pioneer of Foundations for Farming, that he “trusts me with his writing”. I’ve been told by Julian Adams that he trusts me to publish correct information about him and many others. That is so precious.


On the other hand I’ve worked with teams where trust doesn’t exist. “Divide and rule” is the order of the day and I’ve seen suspicion created, workmates being misquoted, division in the team etc. That is just a difficult environment to be in and it weighs heavily on people.


As Christians, there are unlimited opportunities to be trustworthy and to create an atmosphere of trust. Trust really does belong to the realm of character and the spirit. Are you a builder of trust?

Molly Manhanga

One on one with Xolani Ndlovu

Catching up on the Faithful Stewards Programme with Xolani Ndlovu

It was great seeing Xolani Ndlovu at Crossroads yesterday when he came to train the Faithful Stewards Farmers. Xolani, better known as X attends New Creation Church. The main thrust of his training held at Crossroads was to discuss the preparedness of the farmers for the coming season, seed, land preparation, fireguards, farming calendar and so on. This is what he said….

M.M: How do you feel the Faithful Stewards Programme will benefit the churches – Thembalezizwe led by Tapiwa Chizana and Crossroads Community Church led by Stephen Manhanga?
X.N: I feel FSP will teach our churches how to be faithful stewards. People will come to realise that they actually are stewarding a lot and that realisation will spill into people’s hearts. Husbands will start to love their wives, children will hear Godly things, wives will start to submit to their husbands and so on and this will be all through the farming initiative. God is at work.

M.M: What are the pro’s of coming into the community?
X.N: Well it’s always good to see a people eager to learn, a people who relate with each other based not on the latest fashion trends or some other superficial connection but based on real fellowship. This is a people with land to use. There is always a hope that people can feed themselves and I love to perpetuate that hope. We need to relearn how to feed ourselves for the future of our children.

M.M: Great. Any con’s you’d like to share?
X.N: Whenever someone comes from town, people are still expecting to be given something. They start to share about the things they don’t have like seed, food etc. Although these are genuine concerns, it all too often leads people to gorget what they actually DO have.

M.M: What are your hopes for the 2010 – 2011 season?
X.N: It is my hope that we will experience bumper harvests this season. I dream of the day when donor organisations come into communities and the church say “Thank you very much but we are okay.” I hope to ground the farmers on the 4 principles of on time, to standard, without wastage and with joy then hopefully these same farmers will train others in the coming season.

M.M: Thanks so much X. I hope you have a great time with the farmers.

By Molly Manhanga

"Your Prayers are Needed"...from Brian Oldreive

ZIMBABWE IS AT A CROSSROADS OF HISTORY

A new era is dawning, and either our hurting nation will be rebuilt on the world’s money and the world’s system of human tradition, or on God’s way through a strong and united church, obeying and applying the Word of God to all of life.

In an unprecedented way, all groupings of the wider Body of Christ are gathering in many centres throughout Zimbabwe on
SUNDAY 26TH SEPTEMBER

WE ARE UNITING AROUND THE LORD’S BLUEPRINT PLAN FOR REBUILDING A NATION IN ISAIAH 58:1-12

This plan begins with a loud trumpet call to turn back to God, and away from the selfishness in the heart that has been the root cause of all problems on earth. This plan is magnificently expressed by God’s people together removing the yoke of poverty and oppression of the poor. The rebuilding of the nation begins with this heart and by faithfully using the land that God has given us.

This cannot happen with one obedient church, or one denomination, (although this may well be the beginning point) but by the incredible critical mass of effectiveness of all of God’s people building together in unity, as happened in the story of Nehemiah.

WE ARE APPEALING TO ALL ZIMBABWEANS AND THOSE IN THE DIASPORA
AS WELL AS THOSE WITH A HEART FOR THE POOR AND FOR THE GLORY OF GOD
IN ALL THE NATIONS OF THE WORLD

TO JOIN US IN PRAYER THAT THE LORD WILL HAVE MERCY AND LIFT HIS CHASTENING HAND FROM US AND ALLOW THE REBUILDING TO HAPPEN HIS WAY

Please pray that the rebuilding will be done through the humility and unselfishness of Christ Jesus, expressed in His people, so that when the Lord allows us to prosper once again, we will not fall into the pride, selfishness, and materialism of the ways of the world.

GOD’S PEOPLE CAN DISCIPLE A WHOLE NATION!

NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE FOR OUR HOLY GOD

“FOR NO-ONE CAN LAY ANY FOUNDATION OTHER THAN THE ONE ALREADY LAID, WHICH IS JESUS CHRIST”
(1 CORINTHIANS 3:11)

Back under the marquee

Dancing at Crossroads

It’s just wonderful being back in the heart of the community and meeting under our marquee. Everyone has done so well these last 3 months by walking extra distances for some, especially the elderly. The joy and excitement of being back in the community was felt as folk danced, whistled and celebrated.

The down side of being under a marquee at this time of the year is that the heat comes through it. Summer is upon us and it can get pretty HOT but, we are still so thankful that we have a place to meet in the community.

Steve sharing a story from God’s word at Crossroads

By Molly Manhanga

Quotable quotes...

1. "Life is 10% of what happens to me and 90% of how I react to it." John Maxwell

2. "What you see depends on what you're looking for."

3. "Without hard work, nothing grows but weeds." Gordon B. Hinckley

4. "Children will not remember you for the material things you provided but for the feeling that you cherished them." Richard L. Evans

5. "You may only be someone in the world, but to someone else, you may be the world."

Kidz Block going up.....

The Kidz Block is going up nicely. The builders are doing an awsome job with the beautiful matopos granite rock. We are so looking forward to the pillars going up and eventually the thatching for the roof. Watch this space for regular updates on the building.....

By Molly Manhanga

Medical Outreach at Crossroads

The team at work at Crossroads

We’ve had an excellent and very successful community outreach at Crossroads. The medical team led by Stephen Dewing, came from Perth, Australia and comprised of 1 doctor, 2 nurses and 1 physiotherapist. An electrician also travelled with the team and was able to serve at Ebenezer. It’s amazing how God uses anyone who avails themselves and has a servant heart.

The Community Outreach started at about 8:30am and finished at 4:30pm. Cues of people waited to see the doctor, nurses or the physiotherapist from the really elderly folk to mums with babies. There was a triage station where the seriousness of the patient was determined as well as whom the patient would see i.e. doctor, nurses or the physiotherapist. The flow of people was continuous throughout the day and at 4:15pm; an announcement was made that the team wouldn’t be able to see anyone else due to time constraints.

Triage team

A fun moment came when Stephen Dewing, leader of the team did some “tricks” for the ‘outpatients’ with string, rings, fabric and cards. He certainly had an attentive and amused audience. The great part with the cards was that Steve did a card trick, held up a picture of ‘Jesus face’ and used that as an opportunity to share about Christ. That was really good. He got a round of applause for his efforts. For a moment, everyone forgot about their ailments, laughed and heard the word of God. As the Bible says: “Laughter is medicine for the soul.”

The medical team served us so well and were such a blessing to the community. We are contemplating having medical outreaches on a more regular basis.

The physiotherapist getting people to exercise their backs

By Molly Manhanga

Thought for the day....

Haggai 3:17

"The Lord your God in your midst,
The Mighty One, will save;
He will rejoice over you with
gladness,
He will quiet you with His love,
He will rejoice over you with singing."

Healthy Teeth at Kidz Alive

Kidz Alive learn about healthy teeth

Allie at Kidz Alive

It was awesome having Allie Kleckner come and show the children how to brush their teeth and the importance of keeping them clean. The children were very interested and found the large “model” teeth and toothbrush rather interesting.

Allie asked the kidz to demonstrate how to use a tooth brush and floss. Brushing teeth was simple enough but using floss was something new. Each child was given a toothbrush, toothpaste and floss.

The smaller children thought pulling the floss was a little more interesting and fun rather than using it on their teeth!!!!

Mollett (Centre) from Kidz Alive demonstrating how to brush teeth.

Great size teeth – all 32 of them……

By Molly Manhanga

Work....and more at Crossroads

Grinding mill at Crossroads serving the community

There is a buzz at Crossroads as the recently working grinding mill serves the community and the builders are busy working on the Kidz block.

There is such purpose and determination as the builders work on the pillars of the Kidz block. Two of the builders actually sleep in the outside kitchen at the church as they want to maximize on the time in the mornings and evenings. The grinding mill is a blessing to the community. The folks here had to walk distances of between 12 – 15km to reach the nearest grinding mill and now there is one at their door-step – so to speak. There has been such positive comments from the community leaders and the surrounding folk. Praise God. It's great being relevant in a community in this way and it's also an opportunity to share the gospel!

Builders at work on the Kidz Block

By Molly Manhanga

Kidz Alive "Sleep Over"

Tents pitched at Crossroads

Crossroads is surrounded by beautiful mountains and hills and it is situated in the heart of the community – at a crossroads. How wonderful seeing children arriving at the church from different directions for the “sleep over”. This was the very first Kidz Alive sleep over at Crossroads. It was fun and really great seeing how excited the children were to be sleeping in tents at the church and to have a “night out”. We had 51 children from our “Y” Zone – Youth Zone (10 – 13 year olds) join us and 10 facilitators.

Early morning story told by Nosimilo Ncube

There was lots of prayer, praise and worship, story telling, drama, early morning prayer walk, soccer, chair-ball and so on. The vuvuzela’s could be heard well into the evening as the children enjoyed themselves around a huge bon fire.

Stephen did brilliantly when he shared the story of Naaman from 11 Kings 5. The Kidz were captivated from beginning to end and were able to answer questions. It’s just wonderful listening to a story from God’s word and being able to discuss it.

Kidz praising God on their morning prayer walk

What an excellent time of building relationship and having some fun!

By Molly Manhanga

Memorising & Reciting Scripture

We have been having an excellent time at Crossroads reciting scripture. One of the older ladies -in her late 50's, recited Exodus 20:1 - 20. This was so inspiring that Stephen has been encouraging the church to come forward and recite scripture. So far, 3 people have recited various scriptures and the challenge has gone out to Kidz Alive and the youth.

This has now become one of the highlights during the service. It's just brilliant to 'hide God's word in our hearts' and to spur each other on......

We'll see what happens this Sunday......