Harare for Christ

We are still on an adrenaline high over how God worked through us and others who attended the Urban Conference in Harare 6-8 October at Central Baptist Church.

 Gregg Fort spoke first sharing that if we keep doing things the same old way, we will never be able to start enough churches or preach the gospel to all the lost in Harare.

YET, Father God sent us to win the lost and disciple the saved.  This is the job of EVERY believer, not just a few.  It is not God's desire that ANY should perish, so if we don't do our job, we will be accountable to Him one day.

Then Kurt Holiday, our Urban Specialist for Southern Africa, shared about the many different ways we can be at work to bring "shalom" to Harare.

 He also taught us the importance of getting out and discovering more about who lives and works where, identifying where churches are and then establishing where new churches need to be started to reach those who are not being reached.

Overall we had about 65 participants (on different days and in different sessions) from 10 different churches in the Harare area.

Bryan Bullington, pastor of New Song Baptist Church, (and Cluster Leader for the Ocean to Ocean Cluster in Southern Africa) shared how his church had put these principles into practice and the difference it had made to their church and the initiation of new groups in his town among very different people groups.

Donna Fort led the participants in a time of prayer for the people of Harare.

 Then after learning a witnessing presentation, the participants went out onto the city streets of downtown in groups of 2-3 and shared the gospel.   In less than 2 hours 17 people prayed to receive Christ and others expressed an interest to know more.  Information was taken down and followup assigned to local churches depending on where people lived.

A time of celebration was held after that as people shared story after story of how someone they witnessed to prayed to receive Christ.   It was a good reminder we need to always be looking out for people with whom the Holy Spirit is wooing.   People he has prepared spiritually, but need someone to help lead them into His Kingdom.

Pray that those who were trained at this conference will continue to put into practice what they have learned and that they will reach many for the kingdom of God.  Pray also that they will be willing to disciple the new believers and teach others how to be more engaged in the work of the kingdom.