Till We Meet Again

Several weeks ago Pastor Titus Sibanda was traveling in the back of an open truck and there was an accident and he was thrown out. He never really regained his health after that. Titus (pictured below) leaves behind his precious wife and ten children, some of whom are grown and married. He was an overseer of at least 5 churches in Tongaland and the many people from those churches who came to bid farewell were testimony to His love for God and His people.

I would like to share some of the images from the funeral and share briefly some of our experiences. Leaving Gweru, we took three pastors with us. As we began to descend the escarpment into Tongaland the road grew noticeably worse.

The shoulders had not been maintained to the degree that thorn trees were encroaching on both sides and at times it was like a one-lane road instead of two.

As we approached his village we saw smoke rising from the where the women were cooking and people huddled in groups.

We were invited under the tarp where the other pastors were sitting who had also come.

I believe there were about 12 pastors altogether who managed to come. Soon after we arrived we were served sadza and meat and we ate while the pastors organized who would do what for the funeral.

As the service began about 12:00 noon the sun was bright and hot. But the people joined in singing and dancing as they participated.

Many of the pastors there were given an opportunity to speak. Others helped carry the coffin to the nearby burial site.

I had never been to a Tonga funeral before and was disarmed by the amount of wailing. It was very hard emotionally to hear the desperation in their cries. Several of the pastors, including the final speaker at the graveside sought to encourage the family and church members by reminding them that this is a graduation which all Christians will experience one day and that God will be with us until we all meet again on the other side.

Training Lay Leaders to help carry out the Great Commission

Our Baptist Convention Evangelist knows the necessity of empowering lay-people in order for the gospel to spread more rapidly. He has been training a young man and that young man has been training other lay-leaders in Mberengwa. Five churches in the Mberengwa area recently came together for a fellowship weekend. Over 300 people participated as they met outside under trees for teaching and worship. That weekend 115 new believers were baptized by their church’s lay-leaders.

It is exciting to see how the believers in this area are sharing the gospel and continually introducing more people to Jesus. Pray that God will raise up more lay-leaders to help shepherd the new Christians. Pray also for those who are willing to train the new leaders and release them to work in God’s Kingdom. "And what you have heard from me (Paul) in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also." 2 Timothy 2:2

Youth Retreat at Sasame

Baptist young adults in Zimbabwe have been blessed for the past few years to have college students from the U.S. come and lead them in a spiritual retreat between Christmas and New Year’s Day. This year the volunteers from the U.S. were not able to come, but that did not stop the retreat! National youth leader Willie Green is taking seriously what he has been taught, “God expects you to teach others what you have been taught.” Willie, along with Pastor Chiombera, the Convention Youth Leader and about 20 other godly young men and women planned and taught at the retreat this year. They came early and met together, prayed together, and worked together to help renovate the Sasame Baptist Clinic (related to the Sanyati Baptist Hospital) in the Gokwe Area.

Willie Green reported that at the Sasame Clinic their team managed to paint 3 rooms. “First we had to scrape the old peeling paint off, then apply some ‘crack filler’.

After that our painting teams got to work repainting the rooms.

The team also managed to repair some of the floor boards and put up two wooden frames to create “notice boards” and painted them.”

The young people also discovered that the fire extinguisher at the clinic was no longer working, so they pooled their money and bought a new one. “One of the issues we could not resolve,” said Willie, “was the plumbing issue. None of the toilets are working at the clinic and so everyone is using the long drops in the back of the clinic.” Then they held a retreat for the young people of Gokwe.

About 70 young people came and participated in a time of Bible study and leadership training. One of the themes the youth leaders tried to get across to those they were training was the importance of realizing that God’s young people can make a big difference in today’s world. When asked if the retreat met his expectations, Willie gave a big smile saying, “Yes, and it even went beyond my expectations.”

Three other young people who participated in a leadership role have shared their experiences as well: Dzinaishe’s Testimony: It was unbelievable on our way back home to think that we had spent so many days away on a mission trip. We went there with a mind and heart willing to serve and to fellowship with other Baptist Christians in the Gokwe area. The greatest thing was feeling we had been successful in what we set out to do. I personally experienced much serving at the clinic and my heart grew towards serving God as we worked there together. I also enjoyed meeting new people with a commitment to God and learned much as we studied God’s Word together. One of the lessons taught, helped me with the knowledge of how to have a relationship with God and to make Him my lifetime friend. I also benefited much from a lesson that talked about being a youth with a difference, I realised that being a youth with a difference is not just being a unique person, but is to see you as a special person who has a role to play in the kingdom of God.

Beverly’s Testimony: Working at the Sasame Clinic was an eye opening experience. It taught me to step out of my comfort zone and be the hands and feet of Christ. Painting the clinic helped me to feel I am a part of helping others in need. Assisting in treating of some patients was also a learning experience. The mission trip was a life changing experience for me. I had not been to remote places before and I realised there is a different life outside the city walls. I believe it was completing the mission of, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations.” Now I feel the zeal of doing more to reach out to others who need my help. It also taught me the effectiveness of teamwork and that unity helps us to reach greater heights. In addition, we are one big family in Christ and fellowship helps us to stay close.

Fildar’s Testimony: My mission trip to Gokwe was a mind awakening moment of who God really is. I felt that even my presence made a difference. I was up lifted spiritually by the commitment that was presented by the fellow youths of Gokwe. Their love and passion for Christ is amazing. They worshiped God with all their hearts wide open. They helped me to know that they are so many ways to worship God and while doing it, you should feel good and free. I enjoyed myself so much that I don’t ever want to miss such an opportunity. Not to mention the good experience we had at Sasame Clinic. It felt so good to help people. I learned that to make a difference one does not always require money. You can help others by the works of your hands.

Salvation Stories

When volunteer minister, Jared Thompson, approached the four rough looking men in a body shop to witness to them he wasn't sure what to expect. He timidly asked if he could talk to them about Jesus. They laughed and said, we don't plan to listen, but you can talk all you want. Then they resumed working on a vehicle. He began to share the gospel story and one by one the men quit working and began to give him their full attention. After he finished speaking, all four men prayed to receive Christ and then asked Jared questions about living the Christian life. Jared will never forget this moment when he participated in ushering four men into the kingdom of God! Jared Thompson, along with three other ministers from Georgia, Eddy Rushing, David Brown and Marshall Kellett came to Zimbabwe to participate in Simultaneous Revivals. Even though they preached in 4 different Baptist Churches in Bulawayo, each afternoon the four of them went together to one of the churches where they participated in evangelism in the neighborhood around the church with church members from that church. (The church members from each church went out every afternoon even when the pastors were not with them. Pictured here are the U.S. pastors and witnessing members from Bethel Baptist Church.)

David said, "It was good that we partnered with local Christians because sometimes we encountered people who were dealing with issues we didn't have much knowledge of so they were able to handle those situations." David had an opportunity to witness to a teenage girl who seemed to have a lot of Bible knowledge and had many questions about the Bible, but she did not pray to receive Christ. Please pray for this young lady that the seeds which are planted within her will bear fruit. While Marshal was witnessing to three young ladies, he realized pretty quick that two of the ladies were not very interested, but the third young lady paid close attention to him. Soon she began to weep and prayed to receive Christ. "It was amazing to see the Holy Spirit at work in the lives of the people with whom we witnessed," said Marshall. Pastor Eddy came across a fifty year old man and shared the gospel and the plan of salvation with the man. He was so excited and immediately prayed to receive Christ. He told Eddy he had been searching for God's Truth for many years. He had attended many different kinds of churches, but no one had ever shared the gospel with him.

Even their driver, a Zimbabwe Baptist pastor's son, got in on the action! M. found seven boys playing soccer with a tennis ball in the street. At first the boys were reluctant to listen to him - they wanted to play ball. Eventually they began to listen to him as he shared his own personal testimony. All seven of the boys prayed to receive Christ. (Pictured are David, M., the driver, and Jared)

At times they came across people who weren't sure if they were saved or not, but after sharing the steps for salvation a person might say, "Yes, I have done that." So the team was able to assure them of their salvation and pray for them to continue to grow in their relationship with God. Other Christians were facing difficult situations and the team was able to pray for them. Passing out lollipops is not your usual modus operandi for evangelism, but giving a lollipop to one little boy led to an invitation by his Grandmother to come for a visit in her home. When this orphaned boy got home to his sick Grandmother she asked him where he got the lollipop. He told her that some Americans had given it to him. She told him to go get those Americans and invite them to their house. When Marshall and his witnessing team arrived at the house they found a very sick old woman. They shared the gospel with her and wanted to pray for her, but she refused. She was wearing some traditional beads and told them she could not turn her back on her ancestors. That very night the Grandmother became so ill she was taken by ambulance to a nearby hospital and a church member took the little boy into their home for the meantime. Pray that this Grandmother will not die in a lost condition. Pray that God will provide for the needs of the orphaned boy, especially if his Grandmother passes away soon. A total of 149 decisions for Christ were recorded during the week of the Simultaneous Revivals. One team member said the hardest thing about the experience was after someone prayed to receive Christ not being able to really spend time discipling them. The realizing that there was so much they needed to know. One boy in particular who had received Christ late in the afternoon as the team was about to head for their respective churches came running to them shouting, "Wait! I have some questions." Pray that there would be good follow-up from each church and discipleship as well for these new believers. Pastor Eddy wanted his team to also get some insight into rural Zimbabwe so on the last day they decided to take a drive about 15 miles outside of Bulawayo to see a more remote village."We passed by several huts until we decided to stop at one for no particular reason. We pulled up and the woman was digging a 10 foot deep toilet and was in her late 50’s early 60’s! She had 4 grandchildren with her there alone. She took us into her hut and we shared with her. It was a miracle because she spoke Shona in an Ndebele speaking area. M. and L., our translators, only spoke Shona! What a blessing from God. She accepted Christ and said that she had prayed for God to send her someone to tell her how to go to heaven because she didn’t know. She also said that she would sleep better from now on. The whole encounter was truly God-orchestrated."

Eddy and his volunteer team had such a great experience, they are already praying about coming a gain next year to do Simultaneous Revivals again in another city in Zimbabwe.

Dedication of Newly Completed Pastor's Home

Under a blazing African sun umbrellas shaded participants in the dedication of the newly built pastor’s home at Mkoba Baptist Church.

It has taken a number of years for the house to be completed. The people of the church have sacrificed and given little by little as they were able to buy building supplies and pay the local builder to complete it.

Taking part in the dedication were the Executive Director of the Baptist Convention of Zimbabwe, Missionary Gregg Fort, and the deacons of the church.

The women ululated as the ribbon was cut and the house unlocked.

After everyone walked through the house the women and youth gathered around the pastor’s wife (light brown suit at back left of picture) and danced and sang in celebration.

Pastor Jeffrey Ncube and his wife are pictured here outside their new home with one of their granddaughters.

Sanyati Baptist Hospital Staff Retreat

Creating Community was the theme of the first ever Sanyati Baptist Hospital Retreat. Skeptical yet excited, these early risers climbed on the bBig bus headed to a camp called “Lasting Impressions”. Singing and laughing made the long, bumpy trip pass, well, not quite so slowly. Finally reaching our destination, tucked away in the outskirts of Kadoma is the green, yet rocky, serene camp. The uniquely thatched A frames for sleeping, with a beautiful dining area and welcoming cups of tea and coffee, just increased the level of intrigue and excitement. Then everyone was told to head to the field and “play games”. Little did they know, there was a purpose behind everything they did.

Some lessons were taught with words but then each teaching was reinforced in an experiential way through group initiatives. (A VERY different form of learning for Zimbabweans). Blindfolds, hoola hoops, and silly handshakes started the teams’ training in problem solving, communication and trust building. LOTS of laughter and smiles filled the camp as the hospital employees began to learn about creating community in the work place and beyond. The training was sponsored by Winshape, an affiliation of Chick-fil-a, and led by Clarence Taylor (CT) owner of the Overland Park, Kansas restaurant. CT and his team shared the principals of a High Performance Team and working together to accomplish the best work possible.

The 2 ½ day retreat was highlighted with a most honest and challenging message on INTEGRITY by the pastor of the Kadoma Baptist Church. “The biggest crisis in Zimbabwe is a lack of integrity,” he boldly declared. The staff listened intently as he shared about the importance of character and doing the “right thing” even when no one else was. Then everything was pulled together as Dr. Mhinga (former doctor at Sanyati Baptist Hospital) reminded the staff how God’s hand has been on Sanyati from the beginning. He challenged the staff with the same threefold ministry of Christ; to teach, preach and heal, which has been the purpose of the hospital since its inception.

Nearly every staff member attended the retreat (100 in all), divided into two groups so as to keep the hospital running, and the only difficulty was getting them back on the bus to leave when it was over. Everyone returned with a renewed sense of purpose and community, making the work environment a much more pleasant place. One employee committed his life to Christ and several made verbal commitments of change and asked to be held accountable to characteristics of Integrity. We give God the glory!! Please continue to be in prayer as the staff faces so many daily challenges in this very limited resource setting. We pray that the things we have learned and received and heard and seen at the camp would be practiced out in our everyday lives (Eph. 4:9). Thanks to CT, Chick-fil-a and Winshape for sponsoring the Camp and making it all possible. Submitted by Angie Byler

TENNESSEE VOLUNTEERS COME TO SANYATI

Tennessee Volunteers were all over Sanyati in the month of May. We had a great month with lots of activity throughout the hospital and community. It started with a group of ten from Pleasant Heights Baptist Church, many back for the third time and a few newbies.

Serving in the Medical venue were a few doctors a nurse and a pharmacy tech.

Also on the team were some hearty young men (and Wilbur) worked deconstruction and ceiling installation in the maternity wing. The termite eaten bed dividers and rotting ceiling panels were swiftly removed by the boys in the maternity wing, while babies were being delivered and tended to on the other side of the hospital.

The nurses were coming daily to teachings provided by the volunteers and pharmacy was lent extra hands sorting the meds by others on the team. All this took place during the work day and the evenings were filled with playing in the yard with all the kids and singing and dancing with the ladies staying in the Matumbas.

Saturday was a special time of ministry for the women. Dr. Karen did a teaching on when Jesus washed his disciples’ feet and how we needed to serve one another likewise. As an application of the Scripture, we girded ourselves with African wraps, called ‘Zambias’, and proceeded to wash the ladies feet, about 45 pairs in all. Then the young girls on the team painted the toenails of anyone who wanted it done.

The Matumba Ladies definitely felt pampered and loved on. Some were embarrassed at first, saying their feet were too dirty and ‘cracked’ but we encouraged them that it didn’t matter and in the end they all felt loved. This first team paved the way for the next Tennessee volunteer team which arrived a few days later and came from Central Baptist Church in Crossville TN. Again, this church was sending a team for the third year in a row; however everyone on the team was new to Sanyati. Five Youth and 3 adult leaders bounded off the transport van with smiles, energy and enthusiasm.

Fun and hard work characterized their team. Early the first morning (on a Saturday) they were busy beginning to paint the new ceiling boards the last team installed, and working on getting walls prepped to be painted.

It was easy to tell what their job was and what color the hospital walls were just by looking at the youth. Three full days plus, were spent painting the walls in the Maternity wing, and three days were spent going out to the local elementary and secondary schools and sharing songs and testimonies.

Every student spoke in assemblies, sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and each team member had a chance to share at the morning hospital devotions. The team also did a wonderful job leading the Children’s Bible Club in my backyard, attracting over 100 kids, along with sharing songs and devotions with the Matumba Ladies also the other afternoons. A highlight of all the teams is getting to share a Traditional Meal with a family in their Village. The Host families cook up big pots of Sadza, greens and chicken for the teams and throw in a special treat of Mopani worms. Under star-filled skies we share traditions, songs, testimonies and prayers. Both teams enjoyed these evenings immensely and most volunteers even ate a Mopani worm. For our volunteers, these trips are an opportunity to serve an underserved people, share Christ’s love both in Word and in Deed, and get away from their own comfort zones filled with distractions and focus on the LORD and someone else. For us, the teams bring energy and encouragement, yes extra work, but it is an opportunity to work alongside fellow Americans serving the people of Sanyati. For the Nationals, it is nice to know that they are “not forgotten”, and having a hospital refurbished for them to continue to come and be treated at medically is a BLESSING beyond measure. The Zimbabweans continue to “HEAR” and “SEE” the Gospel as it is demonstrated to them in Word and Deed. Thank you to all the volunteers who have come and to the many preparing for their trip. submitted by Angie Byler