Nuggets from "God Meant It For Good" pt 1

Joseph's technicolour dream coat

A closer look at the life of Joseph:

• God began to deal with Joseph when he was 17 years old.
• The key to understanding Joseph is provided by Stephen in Acts 7:9: "....God was with him."
• God gave Joseph dreams. God has given to you something that nobody else can do because God made you different. (There may be gifts that you admire in someone else but you need to be the best YOU that you can be. Don't try to be someone else.)
• It is possible to abuse the gifts God has given us.
• Flaunting a gift springs from a desire to be admired. But the result is always the opposite: it makes people positively dislike us.
• What Joseph needed was preparation and polishing. He was God's diamond in the rough. He needed alot of polishing before his time would come.
• That is the way God sees each of us - diamonds that no one around us recognises. It is what God sees that matters. He sees us with that robe of righteousness.

Spiritual Well - Being by Angus Buchan pt (vii)

The God of New Beginnings

In the Bible, there is a very powerful scripture which says: "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new." 2 Cor 5:17

We recently preached at an event where every colour, creed and gender gathered together to ask God to bring hope to the region which has been devastated by death, destruction, violence and greed. All we have to do is ask. Jeremiah 33:3 says: "Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know."

God is the God of new beginnings.

I don't know what you're going through in your family, farming or business at the moment, but I do know who can give you a new beginning - Jesus Christ. "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths." Proverbs 3:5 - 6

As soon as we do things God's way, then we'll have a brand new start. It's when we persist in doing things our own way and then ask God to put his stamp of approval on it, that we'll find it doesn't work.
God won't be manipulated or dictated to by any of His creation. We need to do what he has told us to.

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Give each other an opportunity to start again and the God of new beginnings will definitely be on your side.

May God bless you as you continue living one day at a time knowing that there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. Romans 8:1.

ECD at Crossroads in 2013

What is ECD? ECD stands for Early Childhood Development and focuses on children aged 4 and 5 years old giving them basic education, social skills, fine and gross- motor skills etc. We would like the children to receive nutrition and stimulation and have an excellent start to their education as this is a very crucial stage in the child's education.

The exciting news is that Crossroads will be used as an Early Childhood Development Centre from January 2013. The Centre will cater for children in Mablauwuni community and surrounding areas so that the little kids don't have to walk long distances to get to Nduna Primary School or cross a flooded Maleme river to get to the school. Crossroads is quite a central venue.

We will be working in conjunction with Nduna Primary School and will assist when needed.

This has come as GREAT news for the parents/guardians of little children in Mablauwuni and a relief to Mr Mpofu, Headmaster of Nduna Primary School as he was concerned about the little kids.



It's so good that the church building can be used to serve the community in such a practical and relevant way. Praise God!

By Molly Manhanga

Graduation at Nduna Primary School

Children at Nduna Primary School

ECD doing their 'thing'

Yesterday, Nduna Primary School - a local school in Magobeni, had their graduation ceremony for the Early Childhood Development age group. The Headmaster  - Mr Mpofu, gave a speech and so did the Chairman of the School Development Committee (SDC). The little children entertained everyone with dance, a short skit and reciting letters. There were about 15 ECD children that garduated. Renee Cunningham was the guest of honour this year.

Main table at the ECD Graduation Ceremony

ECD Children with shakers


By Molly Manhanga
 

Update on Brilliant and Sithabiso's wedding....

Brilliant Khoza and Sithabiso Thsuma

6 days and counting.......that is the count down to the wedding. On Wednesday 5th December 2012 is the big day for Brilliant and Sithabiso. They will be getting married at Shalom Camp Site and they are expecting quite a large crowd to attend. The bridal party are busy practising their dance steps and all the other 'nitty gritties' are almost sorted.
What happened about the 6 cows that were part of the lobola negotiations? Brilliant and Sithabiso have negotiated with her family on how and when the cows are to be paid.

Pastor Patson Netha from New Life for All Church is the marriage officer while Stephen Manhanga from Crossroads Community Church, will be sharing the word.

Brilliant and Sithabiso have been a shining example to young people in the community. They 'fell in love' while they were still apprentices at Ebenezer Training Centre and have received much support, counsel and discipleship over the years. They have had 'trying' times especially when they moved to Maphisa for a couple of months but, they have come out stronger and are eager to say their "I Do's". 

What a testimony for young people in the community. Here's to Brilliant and Sithabiso.......for the 5th of December.......


By Molly Manhanga

Spiritual Well-Being by Angus Buchan pt (vi)

Perfect love casts out fear

In John 15:13, we read "Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends." The Lord Jesus Christ is the perfect example of this. He died so that we can live. I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that if this world had more love in it, there would be fewer problems. It needs to start with you and me.
The most well-known chapter in the Bible must be 1 Corinthians 13, which talks all about love. Love is practical. When you tell your loved one that you love them, that's a wonderful thing, and we need to do that too, but it always needs to be followed up with action.

Love is patient. It's kind. It's not puffed up or arrogant, says the Bible. So we need to be quick to forgive. We need to be patient and we need to give people a second chance.
The love of Christ has given me a new perspective in life. As a younger man, while still farming, if my workers didn't get it right the first time then there would be trouble. That's not the right attitude at all. some of us learn quicker than others. Others are slow learners and need lots of understanding and encouragement.
Knowing this, we need to start at home with our spouse, with our children and then with our co-workers. We need to ensure that the people working with us, for us, and even those who employ us, know that we love them. People are battling all around us. We need to give them lots of grace - undeserved loving kindness. Everytime I hear the word 'grace', I remember the man who wrote 'Amazing Grace.'

John Newton was the captain of a slave ship, and I don't think there was a more horrific occupation. the slaves would be abused and beaten, and it's believed that only one third loaded onto the sailing ships in Africa would actually reach their destination. Most died en route. When Newton was saved by Jesus Christ he realised what a wretched soul he was, and that's when he wrote: 'Amazing grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me. I once was lost, but now I'm found, was blind but now I see." It's that grace that we need to extend to others.

If you find someone whose battled in life, they're often excellent teachers. Why? Because they understand what it's like to struggle, and that's where the love comes in. Through hardship you learn to be patient, and patience shows itself through love.
It's perfect love that will change our nation. It's not tolerance that will make a difference, it's when we really love each other that the Lord will step in and make the difference.
Jesus says that we must love one another and that love must be unconditional. We don't have to accept their actions, but we still need to love the person.

The magnetism of Christ pt 3

When Mary reached the place where Jesus was and saw him,she fell at his feet and said, 'Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.' When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled. "Where have you laid him?" he asked. 'Come and see, Lord,' they replied. Jesus wept. Then the Jews said, 'See how he loved him!' But some of them said, 'Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man have kept this man from dying?'


Jesus, once more deeply moved, came to the tomb. It was a cave with a stone laid across the entrance. "Take away the stone," he said. 'But Lord,' said Martha, the sister of the dead man, 'by this time there is a bad odour, for he has been there four days.' Then Jesus said, "Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?" So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, "Father, I thank you that you have heard me. I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me." When he had said this, jesus called in a loud voice, "Lazarus, come out!" The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face.
Jesus said to them, "Take off the grave clothes and let him go."

Therefore many of the Jews who had come to visit Mary, and had seen what Jesus did, believed in him.

The Five Family Values pt 3

Sexual Purity

Last Sunday, we looked at the fourth Family Value - Sexual Purity. The scriptures we focused on were Hebrews 13:4, Proverbs 5:15 - 23, Matthew 5:27 - 30, Genesis 2:24, 1 Corinthians 6:13 - 20 and Job 31:1.

Some pointers from the message:

1. God made it very clear from His word about sexual purity.
2. Stephen encouraged the church not to lose their moral compass.
3. Older ladies talk to - train the younger ladies and older men, train the young men.
4. Folk in the community seem to battle with the issue of self-respect.
5. Sex was created by God and intended to be a joy and delight within marriage.
6. We live in a sex-saturated era and we are bombarded with sexual images everywhere etc.
7. Temptations will be there but it's how we handle it that matters.
8. Stephen encouraged the folk to stand and having done that, to stand again.
9. Our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit.
10. We would like to build strong marriages, strong families and strong communities.
11. Steve then shared the story of David and Bathsheba. David was in the wrong place at the wrong time looking at the wrong person and he ended up doing the wrong thing! 
12. Sow a thought, reap and action; sow an action, reap a habit; sow a habit, reap a character; sow a character, reap a destiny.
13. Although there are consequences to sin; God can and does forgive sexual sin.

This Sunday we will focus on the last of the Five Family Values which is Christ Centredness.

By Molly Manhanga

Lending a helping hand.....pt 2

By Molly Manhanga

Lending a helping hand....pt 1

Holes dug for the toilets

 New Life for All Church in Magobeni - right next to Mablauwuni - have a piece of land and have decided to build 6 toilets. They have moulded 2000 bricks so far and have dug the 6 x 3m holes for the toilets. That is alot of work and sometimes, it goes slower than anticipated resulting in the church folk feeling tired and getting discouraged.

3 metres deep

The leaders of Crossroads decided to spur New Life for All church members on by volunteering to build up one of the toilets. Last Saturday, Stephen, Mbusiso and a group from Crossroads went to work on the toilets. It was a good catch up time for everyone on things happening in the community and in the church and how the church can be more relevant in the community. The men did well in building the toilet.

Mr Nyamayaro from New Life for All bringing water

It was a good time and the work/fellowship ended with a meal. The feedback Crossroads received was that New Life for All were so encouraged that they pledged to buy bags of cement and complete the other 5 toilets. It's great when we can encourage each other to love and good works.

Men at work!


By Molly Manhanga
 

Buildings and more.......

More pig houses being built

Store room complete

Piglets being weaned



By Molly Manhanga

Pornography in Mablauwuni Community

A few years ago, one would never have dreampt that pornography would be spoken about in rural Kezi, let alone be watched. Times are changing fast and the rural areas are picking things up from the city........the good, the bad and the ugly!

It has been interesting chatting to men and women of different ages in Mablauwuni community on pornography, including a community leader. It seems that pornography has escalated in the community 2 years ago when mobile phones were accessible to anyone and network coverage reached the rural areas.

Sexual activity is already high in the community and porn seems to have exacerbated the problem. The young adults said that people look at pornography in order to get sexually aroused and then put into practise what they have seen. Some young men said the trend is to see if the ‘feelings’ from looking at porn match up to the actual sexual act and visa versa.

Girls as young as 12 years and 13 years are already sexually active and some are getting pregnant at 12 years old. There has been a rise in women prostituting themselves for money and for popularity and this has also given rise to HIV/AIDS.

Who looks at/watches porn in Mablauwuni community? Is it only the young men? Both men and women are affected. Young people in primary schools are engrossed in watching pornography either on mobile phones, looking at magazines, DVD’s and/or, it is spoken about openly at the local beerhalls or ‘bottlestores’. Porn seems to be coming from the City of Kings – Bulawayo and brought back into the community where it spreads around quickly. The majority of the time, porn is looked at in ‘secret’.

What are the community leaders doing about it? Unfortunately, the community leaders are ‘far’ behind due to the generational gap. The community leaders are ‘older’ people who may not have access to mobile phones and if they do, they need to be taught how to use them. Some are actually ‘clueless’ when it comes to pornography and the effects on individuals or families. One community leader suggested that they have a meeting to get taught about the effects of pornography. They also suggested that the church speak about it in order to be relevant in the community. They felt that the Church too was left behind in this area.

Much work is to be done in the community and reaching people where they are at. 

Compiled By Molly Manhanga

Spiritual Well-Being by Angus Buchan pt (v)

The importance of respect

Respect is a 'feeling of admiration for somebody or something because of their good qualities or achievements.' Proverbs 13:5 tells us: "A person with good sense is respected."
Respect can never be demanded. It has to be earned. Someone doesn't necessarily deserve respect because of their position. You may have to obey their instructions, but that doesn't mean you have to automatically respect them.
Respect comes from leading by example...................................................................................................

The problem today is that people demand respect because of the office they hold. They don't realise that people may say they respect you, but in their hearts despise you.
The people employed on your farm may be doing what you tell them to, but are you sure they respect you? Often, once you've earned their respect, those who used to only do the bare minimum of work, will now go the extra mile for you. But it takes time. You can't earn the respect of somebody in a day, a month or even a year - it takes a lifetime.

Respect is also not about making huge amounts of money. It's about lifestyle.

My dear friends, we need to imitate our Lord Jesus Christ..................................................................
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In Matthew 16:24, we're told: "Unless we deny ourselves, take up our cross and follow Him daily we cannot be His disciples."

The bottom line is, if we want people to respect us, we need to put other people first in our lives and look after their well-being. Then they'll respect and honour us.

Book Review: 'God Meant It For Good' by R.T. Kendall

I'm going through the book 'God Meant It For Good' by R.T. Kendall and it's all about Joseph. Many of us have read the life of Joseph time and time again. Joseph is one of my heroes in the Bible and I'm sure many of us have identified with Joseph at some stage in our lives.

If you are going through trials, have been falsely accused or had your dreams shattered and faced disappointment, then this book is one that will certainly do you good - a 'must read'. It helps bring clarity and understanding to what may be going on in your life. Once you start reading it, you won't want to stop. It is riveting!

Nuggets from the book will follow........

Snapshot of 'Foundations for Nations'

Four Foundations are on the go and it was good to hear in short, what was happening with each Foundation:

Brian Oldreive

1. Foundations for Farming - Brian Oldreive: Brian said they went through a testing time and the team have come through. They are teaching the love of farming and it is going well amongst the poor. Foundations for farming is in 28 countries and different continents. People are seeing a hope for the poor as seen in Isaiah 58. The poor will get poorer and Jesus heart is to preach good news to the poor. Are you making a plan for the poor. the great news is that Foundations for Farming has been accepted by the Ministry of Education in Zimbabwe and will be taught in 8,500 schools and approximately 3 million children.

Lynne Knight

2. Foundations for Family - Lynne knight: Foundations for family is in 40 churches and they have Family champions. it has been translated into 3 languages so far - English, French and Portuguese. there are 5 family values, these being: Everyone in family, Committed Couples, Valued Children, Sexual Purity and Christ Centredness. Pornography is a growing fast in both rural and urban areas and Foundations for family would like to bring strength to family units.

Tapiwa Chizana

3. Foundations for Finance - Tapiwa Chizana: From Matthew 6, you will see that we cannot serve both God and money. people are worshipping money and not God. They spend much time worrying. Foundations for Finance is a work in progress at the moment.

Margie Holland

4. Foundations for Health - Margie Holland: When laying foundations, the bigger the building, the deeper the foundations. The Health strategy is community health evangelism, discipleship and church planting with community health and development. It is a holistic ministry of body, soul and spirit.

Summarised by Molly Manhanga



'Keep your spiritual fervor' by P.J Smyth

P.J Smyth

P.J Smyth, leader of God First Church, shared a nugget with the leaders before he expounded on Colossians 1. His nugget was encouraging the leaders to 'Keep your spiritual fervor'. From Romans 12:11 "Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord." God is charging each one of us to keep our spiritual fervor. South Africa has challenges but in Zimbabwe, the challenges are great. We will be comforted, encouraged and 'buoyed' up. Keep your spiritual fervor. It's important how we approach the hours. v 9 "Love must be sincere; hate what is evil; cling to what is good...." If we need to stop doing certain things, lets stop. Hang out with people, gather as servants v 10 "be devoted to one another in love. honour one another above yourself." Let us be firelighters. We want to be set ablaze for God.

summarised by molly manhanga

'Journey through the wilderness' by Ashleigh Smyth

Ashleigh Smyth

The ladies had a wonderful time with Ash Smyth at the Leaders morning before the Mega Vision Conference. Ashleigh encouraged the ladies to live Christ Centred lives. God speaks to us through difficulties. Crux - an abundant life is not an easy life. We sometimes confuse it. Abundant life is a life rooted in Jesus and centred on Him.

Ashleigh then read from Exodus 13:17 - 18 "When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them on the road through the Philistine country, though that was shorter. For God said, if they face war, they might change their minds and return to Egypt. So God led the people around the desert road toward the Red Sea. "The Israelites went up out of Egypt ready for battle."
God didn't take them the near way. We plan our journey the quick route but God doesn't do that.

Matthew 7:13 - 14 "Enter through the narrow gate. for wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it."
The way to Him is difficult. Why does God lead us deliberately through tricky trials? God is interested in winning us. We need to see God work, His activity.......

1. Protection: When we find ourselves in vulnerable positions, we are afraid and daunted. God says do not be afraid. He is right with us. e.g. the parting of the Red Sea - it happened because they were in an impossible situation  - between a rock and a hard place and they saw this miracle. It was a faith building show. Things don't always go as planned. It may look like God is not on the job but we are in the place where He wants us.
2. Provision of manna and quails: God provided just what they needed. Ask God for what you need daily. Mara was a place where they got to see water but the water was bitter. We see God stepping in with a miracle. God is acting on our behalf. Look for Gods activity. In Exodus, although we see many miracles, there is lots of grumbling. It can rob us of the joy and of what God is doing in our lives here and now. Our eyes are blind to his activity. The right attitude is unconditional acceptance and obedience. Keep being obedient to Him.
3. Perspective: It was one thing getting the Israelites out of Egypt but another to get the Egyptian out of the Israelites. They were slaves and had a very difficult time in Egypt. Now that they were in the wilderness, they conveniently forgot what God brought them out of. They began to murmur and complain. Numbers 11: 4 - 6 "The rabble with them began to crave other food, and again the Israelites started wailing and said, 'If only we had meat to eat! We remember the fish we ate in Egypt at no cost - also the cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions and garlic. But now we have lost our appetite; we never see anything but this manna!'" There is one thing worse than slavery and that's addictive perks. We need to move away from addictive perks and follow God's lead. Live within new perimeter's. The fear of change and challenges deters our growth in God. Keep our lives centred on God. Press forward in God with courage. Joshua and Caleb had a good report. They knew that God was with them and they could overcome the giants. The 10 had a bad report. They thought the circumstances were too big. The Israelites disobeyed and therefore didn't enter the promised land. Sometimes we are our own worst enemies. Don't live in paradise in disobedience. The milk and honey is a life centred on Jesus. Note: The rabble - these were people who were half hearted. They influenced God's people to grumble. Who is having the biggest influence on you? Are your friends arousing you in the pursuit of God.
4. Presence of God: Throughout their highs and lows, Gods presence was with them. at Mount Sinai, Moses encountered God. It was the furthest place from where they were going and yet it was the place he met God. Psalm 23 - God prepares a table for us in the midst of our enemies. Don't get into 'shortcuts' as you may miss the Mount Sinai experience. Exodus 33:15 - 16 "Then Moses said to him, 'If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here. How will anyone know that you are pleased with me and with your people unless you go with us.'" They wanted Gods presence to go with them. We need to have an attractive life.

An abundant life is centred on God. Lets surrender our own plan and yield on the journey and process He has for us.



Summarised by Molly Manhanga

'Shortcuts' by Arno De Bruyn

Arno De Bruyn

Arno De Bruyn and his lovely wife were part of the team that P.J Smyth came with from South Africa. Arno spoke about leaders taking shortcuts and it's one of those messages that will be remembered for a long time to come.........

Some pointers from his message:

1. How the gospel frees us as leaders from taking shortcuts
2. Second to Suffering is Waiting......  
3. Leaders want to achieve success.
4. Leaders, do people follow you because you are worth following? Do you have integrity?
5. In Africa, it seems like we like to take shortcuts. If we can cut across something to get to a destination quicker, then we'll do it BUT, shortcuts is actually the longest distance between point A and point B.
6. As leaders, we get tempted to take shortcuts to achieve success e.g. Abram and Sarai in Genesis 16: 1 - 5 etc "Now Sarai, Abram's wife had borne him no children. But she had an Egyptian slave named Hagar; so she said to Abram. 'The Lord has kept me from having children. Go, sleep with my slave; perhaps I can build a family through her.' Abram agreed to what Sarai said.................................................................................. he slept with Hagar and she conceived. When she knew she was pregnant, she began to despise her mistress. Then sarai said to Abram, 'You are responsible for the wrong I am suffering..........'" It was Sarai's suggestion for Abram to sleep with her Egyptian slave and yet she blames Abram when the slave is pregnant.
7. Emerging leaders, shortcuts will be radically offered to us as a quick way to reach success. Even Jesus was tempted by the enemy. After Jesus had fasted 40 days and 40 nights, he was hungry. The enemy led jesus to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. "All this I will give you," he said, "if you will bow down and worship me."
8. Success can be like a drug, once you have tasted it, you want to maintain it and the enemy offers shortcuts. 
9. Emerging leaders - it's difficult to be a leader without integrity. You can be gifted and yet have no integrity. People want to follow leaders with integrity.
10. As leaders, you don't have to keep quiet in order to keep people. Your integrity will cause some people to leave but others will come. 
11. When you've tasted success, it was sweet and good. The enemy will tempt you with a shortcut. Be careful of chasing the 'dragon'.

How do I be a leader that people will follow?
Hebrews 2:7 - 8 "You made them a little lower than the angels; you crowned them with glory and honour and put everything under their feet."

Jesus knows what it's like to be offered the shortcut.

1 Peter 5:6- 7 "Humble yourselves therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you."

• If you are chasing the 'dragon', people will watch you and see where you are going. Jesus never confused Who He was with What He was.
• Be content in your calling, with who you are married to, who we lead etc. Don't compare yourself with others.
• Jesus temptation came when He was at his most spiritual.
• You know what your 'poison or your dragon' is. Be content with who you are.
• What does being successful mean to you? What does it look like when you achieve that success? We need to look at ourselves soberly. 

Summarised by Molly Manhanga

Leading for the long run by Dr Goodwill Shana

Dr Goodwill Shana

Leading leaders is not easy as they have a mind of their own. There is lots of energy that wants to go on it's own. Leading for the long run seems to be the problem. Some principles to help...

We cannot lead for the long run without a clear purpose. The longevity is in the purpose of God. God has very few  short term purposes.

1. In Ephesians 1, we see that God has blessed us before the foundations of the world. We need to find the long term plan. Let us run the race and finish the course. God is the alpha and omega. We need to have a long run vision for our life.
2. Lead with a purpose. Latch  on to Gods eternal purpose. The purpose of God remains constant.
3. Vision is the reason why something exists. We need to see the end game otherwise we will lose the ability to continue. Be hooked on to the end vision e.g. Joseph. Joseph had prophetic insight and that was the thing that kept him going despite the circumstances. He held onto the purposes of God.
4. Habakuk 2 and Hebrews 12:1
5. Know what God wants you to do. The purpose of God is greater and bigger than anything. Have clarity and significance and it will unleash passion. It will help me to endure.
6. If you lose your passion for Jesus and his people, it will be hard to endure. Don't lose your passion. have a clear perception and passion will kick in.
7. It's imperative that the church becomes the voice of influence in the nation.
8. If you don't understand the purpose of a thing, you'll neglect it or abuse it. As Leaders, there is a need to be and not simply to do. The purposes of God are generational.
9. Leadership is about legacy. A righteous man leaves an inheritance of the kingdom and of a  purpose in which to live for and to die for
10. John 10:10. Everything of Gods is important. What we are doing is not temporary but for the long run. God is setting up the church as a place of reference. e.g. Joseph. He was elevated to be a voice of influence. God has a magnificant purpose for why he is taking us through this. God has a purpose for me!
11. God does not make leaders to be quiet but to be a voice in the wilderness. Be yourself and speak the truth. Don't compromise. Be comfortable in your skin and accept who you are. The way you are 'wired' is for your purpose. It will take you to where you are.
12. As leaders, you need to understand the immensity of your responsibility. What you are doing is important for the survival of the future.
13. Understand how God sees things and be passionate about people. It matters to somebody because it matters to God. be that connection for someone.
14. Dr Shana encouraged the leaders to run the race as God is the author and finisher of our faith. 

Summarised by Molly Manhanga



A few moments with Brian Oldreive

Brian Oldreive with Samara Ellis at River of Life Church

It was excellent catching up briefly with Brian Oldreive between sessions at Mega Vision. In the last 6 weeks, Brian has travelled to Zambia, Israel, Nigeria and twice to South Africa. This has been a response to calls as people want to hear more about Foundations for Farming. Brian has a very important prophetic word for the wider body which will be followed up in another article...........


By Molly Manhanga

Mega Vision 2012 pt 1

Mbusiso & Pretty (Left) Mxwayisi & Nobuthle (right) 

We had an interesting trip up to Harare this morning with the emerging leaders from Crossroads - Mbusiso & Pretty Ndlovu and Mxwayisi & Nobuthle Dube. We will be attending Mega Vision 2012 which will be held at River of Life Eastlea in Harare. We are really looking forward to speakers like PJ Smyth, Craig Botha, Dr Goodwill Shana, Dr Mbonisi Malaba and Scott Marques.

I asked the emerging leaders what their expectations are for Mega Vision 2012 and this is what they said:

Mx and Nobuthle Dube

1. Mxwayisi Dube - I want to hear what God is saying at the end of 2012 into 2013.
2. Nobuthle Dube - I'm hoping for God to speak to me and I would like to understand more about Him.
3. Mbusiso Ndlovu - I came to hear GOOD NEWS!
4. Pretty Ndlovu - I would like to receive the Holy Spirit and I would like to see how other ladies participate in church life. I really want to learn.

Well, it should be a good conference and I hope their expectations are met. It will be good to catch up with them after the conference and hear what they have to say........

Mbusisio & Pretty Ndlovu



By Molly Manhanga

The Five Family Values pt 2(ii)

Valued Children

The main scriptures read on Sunday were Psalm 28:3 - 4, Matthew 19:14, Psalm 127:3 - 5, Proverbs 6:20, Proverbs 22:6, Genesis 18:19, Ephesians 6:1 - 4, Hebrews 12:7 - 11, Luke 1:6 - 7 & Matthew 18:2 - 6.

Stephen then asked the question on how do we treat children? Are they meant to be seen and not heard? In other words, are children not important? Jesus valued children. We need to see children in a new way. We all were once children before we grew up.

Psalm 128:3b "your sons will be like olive shoots round your table."  Children will be a blessing to you.
Stephen encouraged the adults to set a good example for the children. Jesus said, Let the children come to me! What a blessing. "For such is the Kingdom of heaven. Unless you become like one of these, you cannot enter the Kingdom of heaven." Children are a gift and a blessing. Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them.

It's sad seeing children suffer or children being abused. Fathers are not to exasperate their children or to provoke them to anger. Let us love the children and treat them right. 

By Molly Manhanga

  

Waiting for more rain......

Baboons having a feast on the Maleme

Last month we had a few showers of rain which was great. We are still in need of so much more......

The Maleme river which feeds water to the Ebenezer Dam is still looking really dry. Donkeys, cattle, baboons etc can be seen picking food from areas that were once covered with water.


Please do pray that God will bless us with an abundance of rain this season.......We really do need it....

By Molly Manhanga



Maleme river looking really dry......

The Five Family Values pt 2(i)

'Blow and burst' competition is on!

On Sunday, Stephen continued with the Five Family Values and the focus was on Valued Children. We had some fun with the Kidz and let them have a 'blow and burst' the balloon competition. That was real fun to watch. The adults were spurring the children on and as some of the balloons burst, there was a round of applause.

After the fun time, the Kidz went out and Simangaliso Ndlovu continued with Chronological Bible Storying.

Stephen spurring the Kidz on to 'blow, blow and blow' those balloons!

Kidz Alive heading out for CBS

More detail on Valued Children to follow next........


By Molly Manhanga

Spiritual Well-Being with Angus Buchan pt (iv)

 

Get your priorities straight

 

Christian writer Sias Roodt says the first thing you should do every morning is listen to that other voice, take that other point of view, let that “other, larger, stronger, quieter life come flowing in.” Put another way, if we’re going to succeed in this life we need to allow the Lord to show us what’s important each day in our lives.

 

We can’t be half-hearted about anything in life anymore. Profit margins are minimal, and we can’t afford to make mistakes. And when it comes to morals we need to be on our toes…………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

We need to be aware of what our families are up to. What does it profit a farmer if he works his heart out and his children run riot? That farm will be destroyed in no time at all when they eventually come back to take it over.

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The very hardships we face temper us and our children, and we learn to put first things first……………………………………………………………………………………………………………

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We need to operate very carefully with priorities. Each morning before we start work we need to ask God what the important things are we need to focus on that day. A successful farmer isn’t someone who’s lucky. They’ve put their priorities in order. That is, first God, then family, then work.