Wildfire churches in Mberengwa

We have just recently returned from a trip to the Mberengwa resettlement area where the gospel is spreading like wildfire!

The first church, you may recall was planted in March when a group of volunteers came from Bryan, TX. to work with us and Pastor I. Shortly after that 97 were baptized in a Shona speaking village area. Among those baptized that day was Mr. M who had heard the gospel was being preached and walked many miles from his Ndebele speaking village area to hear the gospel.

He then returned to his own village and began preaching the gospel! A few weeks later he phoned our convention evangelist (Pastor I. ) to say, “When can you come to my village to preach and baptize. We have more new believers here than the other group does!” So Pastor I. took some Ndebele speaking lay-leaders with him and they preached and baptized about 100 new believers.



Since then, both the Shona speaking church and Ndebele speaking church have begun new churches! There were 6 groups that we knew of, but when we traveled to Mberengwa recently discovered there are now 7!

Pastor I. realized the need for on the ground lay-leaders so he is training two men – Mr. M. who will continue to work with his Ndebele people and Mr. R. who is the man behind so many of the church starts among the Shona people. (Mr. R. is the man in the khaki colored clothes holding the list of people being baptized. You may not be able to tell from the picture, but he was dancing with joy as a friend was being baptized.)



Before the baptism, Pastor I. called the baptismal candidates together to speak to them about what baptism means and that in order to follow Christ, they would be required to leave their old traditional practices behind.



Pastor I. then sent any men who had been directly involved with the ancestor spirits to Gregg for counseling and prayer to break their ties with the spirits. The women were sent to his wife E. and Donna.

On this day, there were 34 new members from several of the congregations who had previously not been baptized. Pastor I. asked Mr. M. (in tie/dye shirt) to assist in the baptism that day so he could learn how to do it properly.



It was a joyful time of celebration as God’s children boldly proclaimed they no longer belonged to the prince of darkness, but the God of Light.

Lesotho

Khotso, Pula, Nala! The traditional greeting of the Basotho people. It means Peace, Rain, and Sufficiency!

In September Gregg and Donna Fort, along with the other Team Leaders and their Wives of the Kingdom to Kingdom Cluster of Southern Africa met together in Lesotho, a small independent kingdom within the country of South Africa. Cindy and Tom Melvin are the Team Leaders for the Basotho people group team who live and work in Lesotho.



It is a very small little country which sits 2,000 feet above sea level at its lowest point. It is made up of rugged rocky mountains on which small villages are nestled.



Lesotho tends to be much cooler than most other African countries. It is the only country in Africa that boasts enough snow to have its own ski resort! The snow melt provides the water supply for the country and they also sell water to South Africa. When you think of Lesotho, some of the things which come to mind are the typical Lesotho hats and blankets worn by many of the folks.



You will also see the “shepherds” or herd boys everywhere watching over their cows, sheep, or goats wearing the “traditional” gum boots and blankets. The Basotho “pony” is a common sight, as it is the main source of transportation in Lesotho. Donkeys are also a means of transport and carrying supplies through the mountains.



Our strategy and inspirational meetings went well. We also had time for games and fellowship. One of the highlights of the trip was going on a “horseback prayer ride” around the villages near the Ramabanta Lodge where we were staying. As we rode the rocky and steep paths and crossed the rivers (when we weren’t praying for God to keep our horses’ feet steady) we prayed for the people and Christian workers of Lesotho.



Please join with us and the Basotho Team in praying for:
· the Basotho to have a true knowledge and understanding of salvation and a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
· the Basotho to apply God’s Word to their daily lives.
· unity among the established Baptist Churches.
· God to raise up leaders to be trained as pastors.
· the two Journeymen who live in a remote mountain village – for the new Christians they are discipling, and for God’s leadership in expanding their ministry out into other nearby villages.
· the Melvins and Floras as they initiate new work among the Basotho and seek to live their lives as a testimony to the people of Lesotho.

New Team Member: Ramona Beam

The newest team member of the Zimbabwe Evangelism Team, Ramona Beam was privileged to see God at work in the villages of the re-settlement area of Mberengwa in Southern Zimbabwe. She joined the volunteer team from First Baptist Church, Bryan Texas in going village to village sharing the Good News of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, leading discipleship classes for new believers, and helping to start a new church in this dry, mountainous region. Ramona has this to say about her time in Mberengwa:

"For five days, the team, along with missionaries from the Zimbabwe Evangelism Team walked from village to village, stopping in homes and sharing testimonies and the Creation to Christ story. In spite of rugged conditions, sleeping in school classrooms and with no electricity or running water, we were so blessed to be able to work in this area to start a new church.



I am reminded of one widow lady in particular, who had been left with four children to raise, and who had a somewhat bitter outlook on her life. Being a widow myself, I was privileged to share encouragement with her and let her know that Jesus Christ could be her sustainer during the hard and lonely times. I must admit to being somewhat disappointed when she responded that she had heard what I said and appreciated the encouragement, but was not ready to decide at this time.



Imagine my excitement when, that very afternoon, this same lady came to the new believers’ class, and joyfully exclaimed, “I have decided!” Praise God for His working in the hearts of those who hear the Good News!



Friday was our last day in Mberengwa. We were scheduled to leave right after breakfast to return to the city, but Isaac, the national pastor who was heading up the work, asked that we make one more visit to Village 10-C. This village was down a dirt track, in a remote area far away from the school and the other surrounding villages.



I’m so thankful we went! When we arrived, we found not one but two small villages, one on either side of a mountain. So, our team split up, and the group I was with went to one side. There we found Mrs. M. We knew from the first moment that this lady was special. Her enthusiasm was so contagious, and her joy was evident to all. It didn’t take long to discover that she was already a believer, and so much in love with her Lord.



When one of our team asked her if she had shared Jesus Christ with her friends and family, we were met with a blank look, and she replied, “No, I never thought of doing that. Can I do that?” Of course we told her yes, that she could and she should.

She said, “You must come with me!” She then took us to a neighbor’s home, where a young man prayed to receive Jesus Christ into his heart when he heard the story. Praise God for this lady, who now will be an evangelist in her village.

Praise God for the new church that met the following Sunday at the school, with 67 people in attendance!"

Sharing the Good News: Creation to Christ

For the 2nd time this year, First Baptist Church of Bryan Texas has sent a volunteer group to work in the Mberengwa area in Southern Zimbabwe. They worked along side national pastors and lay-leaders sharing the Good News.



Mr. S. has experienced God's mighty and miraculous hand at work in the lives of his son-in-law (bringing him back to life) and his son (ridding him of a strange type of paralysis in his body). Mr. S. received Christ when the team came to his village in March of this year. (His picture is the 4th on April 27 blog - Baptism in Mberengwa.) When he heard that the volunteers were coming back to start a church in a neighboring area about 8 kilometers from his own, he walked over and spent the week with them sharing his own testimonies of God's power and grace!



The volunteers came equipped to use the Creation to Christ witnessing presentation and the people in the villages were deeply touched. In some areas people who had heard the story went with the volunteers to the next village so they could hear the story again! One lady who was a Christian testified that she had never witnessed to anyone else and she was thankful that these volunteers showed her that she should also be out telling people the Good News. She joined the group and went with them to witness to her neighbors.

One team met a young lady who was trying to sell tomatoes to a neighbor. The neighbor lady was out trying to find her cows so the tomato seller was waiting for her to come home. In the meantime the team shared Creation to Christ with the tomato seller and she came to know the LORD! Praise God for working it all out in his perfect timing!



During 4 short days many people came to know Christ and discipleship classes were offered to new Christians in the afternoon. There was a class for men, another for women, and a third for young people. Youth pastor Randy Biddlecombe shared with the young people how to follow Christ and included a lesson on sexual purity as well.



There are others however, who continue to cling to the old ways and beliefs. Pray that God’s power and light will become very real to them and they also will come to a personal relationship with God, through Jesus Christ.

Compelled to Serve

Growing up in Botswana and Zimbabwe as a missionary kid was an amazing growing and learning experience that has helped broaden my view of the world.
This summer I was given the awesome opportunity to return to Zimbabwe after having left six years ago to move to Richmond, VA.



Even after being gone all these years and all the changes that have occurred (like toll booths and getting a mixture of rand and US dollars for change in the stores) it felt so familiar and natural for me to be there. Oh how I have missed worshipping with my Zimbabwean brothers and sisters in Christ while being in the USA.

It is truly a blessing! I had my fill of sadza, boerewors, and coke in a glass bottle.



I even tried a Mopani worm again and yes it still tasted disgusting!



Being in medical school (now in my second year) I was so excited to learn more about health care in Zimbabwe and gain some experience in that area.



I was prepared for the poor conditions but it didn’t lessen the shock of seeing the overwhelming need. I was able to work with the Beaty’s the last two weeks I was in Zimbabwe doing eye clinics in and around Bulawayo. I saw my first eye surgery, gave my first eye block (injection under the eye to block all sensation to the eye) and so much more! But by far an experience that stands out to me occurred at Mater Dei hospital in Bulawayo. Uncle Steve (Dr. Beaty) was conducting cataract surgery that day and I was helping out by doing the “very difficult task” of dilating people’s eyes before they go in to see him. This may be too complicated for you to understand if you’re not in the medical world but you have to tell the person to look up and put 2 drops of atropine in their eye! Phew, now that’s hard! Well, I was doing my very important, difficult task when I started talking to the patient (the fourth that day) whose eyes I had just dilated. He was nervous about the procedure and needed a little assurance. In the middle of our conversation he looked up at me and asked quite genuinely “I wonder why Dr. Beaty pays all this money to come over here and do these surgeries for free” (do I hear opportunity knocking or what?!). I told him simply that it was because of grace; Uncle Steve had been shown so much grace and love by Christ Jesus that he can’t help but want to do the same for others. How can he not when he’s been forgiven and loved so much! The man was contemplative and we talked a while longer before he was called for his exam.



That is what it’s all about isn’t it? We are not good saviors coming to help poor heathens. We are wretched sinners, forgiven and loved thanks to the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. Christ’s love compels us to share His love and grace with others!

Submitted by Sarah Fort

Sanyati Baptist Hospital Makeover Team Part Two

(If you haven't read Part One, scroll down and read that first. I'm still learning about blogs. . . I could only put five pictures in one blog so I had to divide this blog in half to get all the pictures in.)

As the Sanyati Hospital Makeover Team examined each hallway and room, it was obvious how much repair work was needed at the hospital which had probably not seen any serious repairs done since 1980.



The chapel is one of the rooms that every patient as well as his relatives see. It is the place where the day begins as all those in the hospital come for daily devotions and prayer. The team felt it only right to put God and His work first by making the renovation of the chapel their first priority.



After an inspection of the hospital, the volunteers met with Mark Hatfield of Baptist Global Response (pictured below) as well as Zimbabwe missionaries Dr. Mark Byler, Gregg Fort, and Barry Robinson to discuss long range planning.




Determining that this would be a five year project (2011-2015) helped the team begin to break down the job into smaller projects.

In February 2011 the newly purchased solar electrical system will be installed by volunteers who are already making plans to come.

In May 2011 the project will begin in earnest as the first team coming hopes to get a good start on the renovation of the chapel. Other 2011 teams will complete the work.

It is hoped that 6 teams of 12-15 workers will be able to come in 2011 and during each of the four consecutive years to complete the renovation of the entire hospital.



Peter Sierson, project manager, says when he agreed to the job he never dreamed what a mammoth task it would be. He says he feels like David going up against Goliath, and he doesn’t even have any stones! He is excited and fearful all at the same time. As we prayed together Peter prayed, “God has given us a dream and a vision. We must believe that God will provide the spiritual, physical, financial, and human resources needed to complete the task.”

One man prayed that as nationals and volunteers worked side by side that a oneness and spiritual renewal would occur at Sanyati that would spread throughout all the Baptist Churches, the Baptist Convention, and the country of Zimbabwe as a whole.



Another prayed, “Bless this project from the first nail driven to the last floor swept.”

The closing prayer, “Lord, grant that the greatest days of the Sanyati Baptist Hospital are still ahead. May they continue to reach out in a mighty way to meet the spiritual and physical needs of those who come for treatment.”

If you or anyone you know of is skilled in renovation and might want to participate in this project please contact Peter Sierson at this e-mail address: psierson@charter.net

If you would like to see how you can help through Baptist Global Response, check out their website: www.baptistglobalresponse.com

Sanyati Baptist Hospital Makeover Team Part One

Six Volunteers from Tennessee (left to right Jordan Fray, John Carlisle, Doug Kelley, Cory Miller, Peter Sierson, and Bud Fray) came to Sanyati Hospital the last week of August to inspect the hospital and get an idea of what all was needed to complete the renovation.



Sanyati Baptist Hospital opened in 1953 as two huts in which patients could receive medical attention from Drs. Giles and Wana Ann Fort. The first incubator at the hospital was an apple crate with blankets and a hot water bottle. By 1956 the first wing of the hospital was built and other wings were added later on. Today the hospital is a large complex.



Even though the hospital was “nationalized” in 1980, Baptists continue to support the work there and currently Dr. Mark Byler is a physician there.



Every nook and cranny of the hospital was inspected and the volunteers had a number of “light” and humorous moments as they made their rounds.



It didn’t take long to notice how outdated the equipment was throughout the hospital.



Continued in Sanyati Baptist Hospital Makeover Team Part Two

Letters from GA Camp

A couple of weeks ago we were surprised to receive some mail from the U.S. It was a large bundle of letters from children and I didn’t have time to sit down and read them so I laid them on my desk to read them later. This week I was not feeling well, and since I didn’t feel like doing much more than reading I decided to read the letters.

At first I just enjoyed laughing at the comments like:

I hope you are “filling well”. (Actually I’m filling a little too well these days!)

I’m glad you are planning churches. (I think she meant planting churches)

I hope you will be safe and enjoy your mission trip. (We do too!)

Where is Zembobwira anyway? (We aren’t exactly sure, but we’ll let you know when we find out.)

My favorite was from a 7th grader who is the eldest in her family. She wrote this advice to us: “About the church planting; I would suggest you at least start churches a little bit closer to the homes, maybe even right next to the schools. Do your best to convert ALL the people in Zimbabwe.” Good advice Martha, we’ll try to do that! (She almost sounds like the apostle Paul! I hope the IMB grabs her quick!)

Reading the letters was a truly humbling experience. Not only were there lots of letters from the girls at the GA camp, but surprisingly a number of letters from camp staff and counselors as well. Some of the staff and counselors mentioned their own calling to missions and a desire to serve God wherever He placed them. The letters expressed prayers for our health and safety. They were filled with words of encouragement, words of thanks and words of affirmation. It has been a long time since we received letters like this and God used it to fill my cup to overflowing!

Those precious letters led me to take 2 actions. First of all I want to make a point of sending more handwritten notes of thanks, encouragement and affirmation to others. It seems like that is nearly a lost art, but one I think should be revived!

Second, instead of throwing the letters away as I usually do, I burned them in my fireplace one by one. As I did I prayed over the staff, counselors, and girls that God would encourage them, affirm them, lead and guide them in the way He has for each of them. I hope their written prayers for Gregg and I and my verbal prayers for them will ascend together as a sweet fragrance that is pleasing to the LORD.

Donna Fort

Special Occasions

When Gregg and Donna Fort were newlyweds, Donna asked her mother-in-law how it happened that she raised 5 sons on the mission field and they all turned out so fine! All were walking with the LORD and serving Him in the vocations to which God called them.

Wana Ann Fort’s reply was – “We prayed for them everyday that God would teach them and call them to Himself.”

This is good advice for any parents and it is never too late to start! It is of course, no guarantee, but giving God the freedom to work in their lives certainly won’t do them any harm.

May was a big month for SPECIAL OCCASIONS for some members of the Zimbabwe Evangelism Team. Graduations and weddings can be challenging for missionaries considering how far away we are from our grown children, but Martha and Quinn Morgan were blessed to be able to attend the graduation of two of their sons, Paul and James, from Southeastern Seminary.



Martha writes, “We celebrated with many family and friends and were blessed with special family times during those few days. Both received a Master of Arts in Intercultural Studies and will soon begin their ministries...Paul and Laurel with SIL/Wycliffe in the northeast of the Democratic Republic of Congo and James and Sarah with the IMB in South Asia. Pray for them as they make their final preparations and put into practice these things they have been able to learn under very committed teachers and mentors.”

Gregg and Donna Fort also returned to the U.S. for a few weeks to attend son Stephen’s graduation from Texas A&M University along with his fiancé Sushila Mathai.



A week later they were married in College Station.



Then they went on a lovely honeymoon to Jamaica (the same week as the manhunt for the drug lord – don’t you know all the parents were charmed!) They are currently in West Texas where Stephen has begun his studies in physical therapy. Sushila has been offered a teaching position and will be teaching ESL to elementary school children. We are so thankful for God’s protection and provision in their lives.


Stephen and Sushila write: "Our photographer sent us this link a few days ago of the slideshow he put together from our wedding, and we thought you all would enjoy watching it!
Remember to turn up the volume! http://www.agungfauzi.com/sushila_stephen_wed/

While in the U.S., the Forts met their eldest son, Nathan’s fiancé, Ashley Cashwell. They will be married in November 2010 so the Forts will be returning for another wedding this year!





Ashley has a precious 3 year old named Landon, whom Nathan hopes to adopt once they are married. Nathan is studying Biblical Counselling at Seminary. Pray for them as they prepare not only for their wedding, but for their marriage as well.



Thank you for rejoicing with the Morgans and Forts over these children who have been and continue to be the subject of much prayer. We are thankful they are walking with God and discovering how they can join Him in the work of His Kingdom.

Baptism in Mberengwa Resettlement Area

Excited shouts and laughter could be heard as people from 4 villages in South Central Zimbabwe walked swiftly toward the baptismal site.


The drizzling rain and temperatures in the upper 60's could not dampen the enthusiasm of the 97 new Christians awaiting baptism in a ditch filled with runoff rain water.


Two pastors entered the water then led the new believers in a hymn, a scripture reading, and prayer. As the names of the new believers were called, they lined up and waited for their turn as they watched the baptism of others before them.


Among those who were baptized were young children, teenagers, as well as young, middle-aged and seemingly ancient adults.


One elderly gentleman could barely walk from shaking so badly with Parkinsons, but he was determined to publicly demonstrate his new life in Christ.



The head men of two of the 4 villages were baptized as well as the headmaster of the local school.


The joy on the faces of the new believers was evident as they came up out of the water.





In African culture, baptism is very significant. It publicly demonstrates a person's willingness to break with his traditional religious beliefs and practices.


"Therefore, if any man is in Christ, he is a new creature, the old things passed away, behold new things have come." (II Corinthians 5:17 NAS) Pray that these new creatures would truly leave their old ways and ancestral spirits behind and learn to walk in the Spirit of the Living God!

Tongaland

Before school let out for the April holidays, Gregg Fort and our pastor from Mkoba asked the headmasters (principals) of the schools in town to identify the 100 most needy school children to receive exercise books. After praying with the students, the books were distributed to the students.



These exercise books are simply books of bound notebook paper for which the Baptist Publishing House has been printing covers. The notebook paper and blank covers were supplied by Baptist Global Response. The covers have different messages, but they all speak of moral purity and tell the students how to have a relationship with God through Jesus Christ. We used cultural stories to teach biblical truths.After praying and thanking God for His provision for these students, each child was given his/her books.



Even though school is out right now, we are still busy delivering the exercise books. The books in this picture were delivered to a pastor in Tongaland who will see that they are distributed to the students in the 5 schools near his church when school resumes in May.



While Gregg was in Tongaland distributing the books he was excited to see that the pastor had an excellent harvest of maize from the seeds we distributed last year which were also supplied by Baptist Global Response. (In this picture you see a raised hut full of maize.)

We are so grateful for people all over the U.S. who contribute to Baptist Global Response to help meet the very real needs of people in Zimbabwe. Ministering to people’s human needs helps them understand that you care for them and gives you the credibility to discuss their spiritual needs with them as well.



Pray with us that the harvest of souls among the Tonga people will be as fruitful as this year’s maize crop has been in Tongaland. We are also anticipating an outreach into an area known as ‘Denmark’ sometime in the next several months in this area of Tongaland.