The importance of prayer by Steve Hunter

Steve Hunter

Steve spoke about the Importance of prayer using the illustration from The Sermon on the Mount. He started out by sharing a prophetic picture for the church before going into the importance of prayer – not as a corporate body but in one’s daily walk. Steve looked at two groups of people that Jesus was addressing:
1. The religious leaders of the day who were well known for their public spectacle of prayer life and
2. The pagans/gentiles who prayed nonsense using impressive speech.
When we pray, we are praying to the father in heaven. It’s about what we do in the secret place. Our father in heaven will see and reward us. When we pray at home, God sees. Set time aside to pray.

Steve Hunter preaching at Crossroads

What does it mean to know our father in heaven?
We need to understand our relationship with God who is our father. He is close to us. Once we were lost, now we are found.
Hallowed be thy name: We see the relationship between the character of God and names of God. God is above all things. When we pray for specifics, God is able to answer us.
Your kingdom come: Line up with God’s purposes rather than our own

The first three parts are about God and the last three parts is how to pray for ourselves:
1. Provide us with our daily bread – very real prayer in our context.
2. Forgive us our sins – know what it means to be forgiven, to be totally free. Come in boldness and confidence to him.
3. Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from all evil – God lead us into righteousness. Help me live this life and demonstrate righteousness.

Steve gave a personal challenge for folk to spend time with God, to be honest with him and to thank him. He also encouraged folk to pray on a daily basis.

Steve Hunter at Crossroads

Summarised by Molly Manhanga

Community Field day at Crossroads

Community Field day

Hot! Hot! Hot! It was a real hot day but the community came out to Crossroads to share the day together. What was great was not only having folk from around the Mablauwuni community but also having the international flavour of Sam and Marlene Poe, Steve Hunter, Mick Richardson, Brett Mills & Adam Landreth-Smith. Phil & Claire Biggs from the U.K, now based in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe also came and visited us as well as a team from New Creation Church.

Foundations for Farming demonstration

Brilliant Khoza did an amazing job of sharing the heart of Foundations for Farming. Sam Poe was excellent as he shared a story from God’s word. Stephen Manhanga shared the vision and mission statement of Crossroads. Fun and games began as the adults played volleyball while the children sang songs and walked down a road near Crossroads. Lunch was great and the catering team outdid themselves yet again.

Stephen Manhanga sharing at the community day

Sam Poe telling a story

The afternoon soccer match between New Creation and Kezi was a highlight. We were real hopeful in Kezi as we had 4 “foreign based” players from the U.K with us at the time. Unfortunately, I arrived late with Steve Hunter and Mick Richardson – 10 minutes before the end of the match, only to discover that New Creation won the match 1 – 0. Well done New Creation.
If only, if only! Next time.

It was a real pleasant day despite the heat.

By Molly Manhanga

Thought for the day....

Psalm 95:1 - 3 & 6 - 7

"Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord;
let us shout aloud to the Rock of our
Salvation.
Let us come before him with thanksgiving
and extol him with music and song.
For the Lord is a great God,
the great King above all gods...
................................
Come, let us bow down in worship,
let us kneel before the Lord our Maker;
for he is our God
and we are the people of his pasture,
the flock under his care."

Ladies Meeting at Crossroads

Ladies dancing and enjoying themselves

We had an excellent time at our Ladies meeting held at Crossroads this morning. The ladies really enjoyed themselves singing and dancing. It’s great seeing the older ladies “getting down” and worshipping God.
Our topic was on “The attacks/lies of the enemy”. We looked at it from a physical point of view and a spiritual point of view……

I showed the ladies 5 defence techniques that they could use if someone attacked them physically. They all paired up and did the demonstrations. That was really hilarious. They all had a good laugh.

We then moved on to “How to care for your hands” – hands can be used in a positive or negative way. The demonstrations worked really well. The ladies also washed their hands.

Demonstration on how to wash hands

The 3 things that came up that bring ladies down and where the enemy attacks the most is:
a) Feeling like you are not good enough, especially if you sin. Romans 8:1 “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.”
b) Worrying about many things Philippians 4:6 – 7 “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” & Matthew 6:27 – 34 which speaks about worrying. A key verse is vs 33 “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.”
c) Comparison – feeling like you don’t have enough. 1 Timothy 6:6 “Now Godliness with contentment is great gain.”

Discussion Groups

The ladies got into 3 groups for discussions before we had an open question and answer time. That was really interesting as the ladies shared about things affecting them. We prayed together before parting ways. The ladies enjoyed themselves very much. It’s just wonderful seeing them laugh and being so open about different issues.

By Molly Manhanga

Purify My Heart

Some may say it’s the golden oldies but I just love this worship song:

“Purify my heart
Let me be as gold and precious silver;
Purify my heart
Let me be as gold, pure gold.
Refiner’s fire, my heart’s one desire
Is to be holy, set apart for you Lord;
I choose to be holy, set apart for you,
My master
Ready to do your will.”

As the apostle John says in 1 John 3:3 “Everyone who has this hope purifies himself, just as He is pure.” Amazing when we contemplate the grace and love our Father has for us. An all time favourite scripture is “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.” This is my hearts desire.

By Molly Manhanga

Update on the Kidz Block

Building going up steadily

We are so pleased with the progress being made on the Kidz Block. The builders are working steadily and have now begun to build the pillars. We are hoping to be at roof level within the next week or so and our target is still to complete the building before the rains begin. I'm sure we can do it!

Work being done on the pillars

By Molly Manhanga

Celebrations at Crossroads

Stephen Manhanga

We had an excellent service at Crossroads. A service with much laughter, dancing and such a happy atmosphere. Stephen did a brilliant job telling the story of Paul’s journey to Rome. Stephen has an amazing way of making stories come to life. The church responded so well to him. We are also blessed to have Brett Mills come from London U.K to serve us for 3 months.

Stephen, Sam and Marlene sharing a meal at Ebenezer

Apart from that, we celebrated Stephen’s birthday today. Spoiling him was great and a surprise later in the week is in store for him as well. Friends came out to Kezi to spend the weekend with us - Rodney, Daphne, Mervyn and Wessely Saunders. It was awsome having Brett Mills from the U.K and Sam and Marlene Poe as well. Sam did an excellent job of getting the church to pray for Stephen and prophesying over him. Really inspirational. What a great day!

Friends sharing a meal with Stephen

By Molly Manhanga

Foundations for Family Champions Conference

Couples Time. Nice!

Nicholas and Nosimilo Ncube from Crossroads attended the Family conference on “Enjoying your marriage” which was held at Resthaven, Harare. The aims and objectives of the conference were:
1. To spend time together with the Lord
2. To encourage cooperation by involving both Family Champion and church leader couples
3. To provide an opportunity for couples to have time together learning about marriage and applying it to their relationship in a peaceful environment
4. To equip the Family Champions with marriage counselling skills
5. To empower the couples present to lead marriage groups in the churches

Couples having some fun.

What they enjoyed most was:
• Mostly we enjoyed being together just the two of us, learning, playing and talking together.
• Seminars were very interactive, the group times & discussions where we went to discuss outside made things fresh.
• We enjoyed learning about how to communicate with our spouses and the importance of having time with each other as couples so that we can share our feelings so that you can come to know each other better.
• We enjoyed the topics communication and romance and sex.
• We were enlightened on how to deal with problems in our marriages.
• We enjoyed all the lessons.
• We enjoyed the lesson on HIV & how to talk to my partner.
• Good food
• Teaching on counseling

The Family values need to be integrated more into church life. How wonderful it would be to see couples enjoying their marriages and to see happy & healthy families.

Comments from Nicholas and Nosimilo
1. The conference was good
2. We learnt a lot which we will apply in our marriage
3. We learnt how to sort out problems in our marriages
4. Communication is important

Thought for the day....

2 Corinthians 4: 4 - 9

For God who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," has shone in our hearts to bring to light the knowledge of the glory of God on the face of (Jesus) Christ. But we hold this treasure in earthen vessels, that the surpassing power may be of God and not from us. We are afflicted in every way, but not constrained; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our body. For we who live are constantly being given up to death for the sake of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may be manifested in our mortal flesh. So death is at work in us, but life in you.

Trumpet Call: News from Kezi

Gathering in Kezi

We had an excellent time in Kezi at the Presbyterian Church where 120 people from 7 different churches gathered together to pray. The praise and worship was exhilarating as the rural folk sang and danced to God(The kind that gives you goose-bumps) The unity was so evident among the church folk and the atmosphere was peaceful and yet expectant that God was going to do something in Zimbabwe. Heartfelt prayer went out as people prayed for unity in our nation and that we’ll be able to feed ourselves. Stephen Manhanga did brilliantly as he shared the heart, science and technology of Foundations for Farming. Everyone was challenged and felt encouraged to plant before November 25. The older people commented that they had never seen the churches come together in unity before and hoped that this would be the start of the church leading the way.

It was an excellent day and prayer sure changes a Nation.

By Molly Manhanga