Pastor's Conference

In late March, 2014,leaders from churches in the Mberengwa Insiza Baptist Association came together at the Neta Orphan Caring Center for a time of discipleship and teaching. The conference was set to begin Monday morning, and we arrived promptly at around 10am, only to find that we were the first ones there. Not unusual for Africa. However, we discovered only after arriving that the participants would only be coming late in the afternoon, since they had to take care of homes, fields, and livestock before they could come. The participants finally began arriving late afternoon (Africa time, for sure!), and we were finally able to begin the first session just before dinnertime in a nearby school classroom. Ten men and nine women from these churches gathered, and sat for two days under the teaching of Rev. Steve Skinner, pastor of Carroll Baptist Church in Southlake, TX.

Pastor Steve and Rev. Ricky Davis led the participants through an in depth study of the book of Ephesians, focusing on their responsibilities as lay leaders of their respective churches. Missionary Ramona Beam and another member of the Carroll Baptist team, Traci Cooper, led sessions for the women based on Proverbs 31 and Titus 2.

In these sessions the women were encouraged to be mentors to the younger women in their churches, teaching them to be women of God as they minister to their families and churches. Pastor Steve took us through Chapter One of Ephesians before breaking for a delicious meal of sadza (a paste made of mealie meal—corn meal for those who have never been to Zimbabwe), chicken, and greens.

After the dinner break we gathered again for more teaching, finally stopping to sleep at about 9pm. Everyone was up early the next morning, eager to hear more. After a breakfast of bread with margarine and jam and potato soup, the teaching resumed, this time in the open air under a tree since the children were in school and the classroom was not available.

The participants were reminded of these wonderful truths from Scripture: that salvation is by grace alone through faith in Jesus Christ; that our strength comes through Christ; and that we must walk in a manner worthy of our calling. As leaders of their churches, these lay pastors were called to live godly lives as examples to those over whom they have leadership.