The new fellowship in Rufunsa is taking shape. We had our first church meeting in the newly constructed prayer hall on 27th November, 2021. We had to raise the building quickly for the urgent need of shelter where meetings, prayers and lodgings can be taking place.

Bro Jesse Nzima with Bro Tenyson Chitoshi 

During the church service on   Saturday (27th Nov. 2021), as I was ministering, one man who was the last to be baptised during the October crusade was so excited with what he was hearing that he at one point clapped hard with his hands and he did that alone. I thought to myself, “I would have ignored that if he clapped along with the group but his attentive and joyous facial expression tells me something is happening in his heart”. After the preaching, two men who also got baptised during the October crusade reminded us of the request they made the last time we had visited: “We need Chewa Bibles!”. “You will have them next Saturday”, I assured them. As I was about to leave one young man approached me saying, “Pastor, may I see you for a moment”. “Sure”, I told him. “I need revelation, a good understanding of the Truth I believe. I have the urge in me to share to others, but each time I begin explaining the Word to someone I run out of words. At the Well there, a woman who came to draw water asked me about baptism but I could not explain it well”. I was thankful in my heart to hear such a concern. We have started working on tracts on various topics and they are written in a very simplified way.

Eating Masuku (wild loquat) fruits, they are so plenty in this village.

When the farming season is over we wish to invite the three men to stay with us in Lusaka and be engaged in prayer, fasting and deep study of the Word. What these young men need is the baptism of the Holy Spirit! That is my earnest prayer to God. We earnestly covet your prayers on this. If these three men catch the fire, they will be like the three hundred foxes that were tied and torched by Samson, and most certainy Rufunsa will be set on fire for God  – “And Samson went and caught three hundred foxes, and took firebrands, and turned tail to tail, and put a firebrand in the midst between two tails. And when he had set the brands on fire, he let them go into the standing corn of the Philistines, and burnt up both the shocks, and also the standing corn, with the vineyards and olives” (Judges 15:4-5).

Healing Testimony of Bro. Jesse Nzima during last Rufunsa Visit

During this last mission visit to Rufunsa Bro Nzima experienced a healing testimony (listen to audio record below):

The healing testimony of Bro Nzima is a reminder to all of us that when we make ourselves available for God’s work, He will take care of our needs.

Current needs of the Rufunsa Church

The mission work in Rufunsa has different needs  – water borehole, solar-electricity, roofing and floor works. However, we are responding to each need one at a time. Currently the most important need is roof and floor installations. Until those two things are done our missionaries do not have a place to stay when they visit the village.

Inspecting the wall structures with Bro Tenyson Chitoshi

May I once again thank all friends and ministry partners who were keen to see to it that the new church building is raised quickly. May the Lord bless and keep you.

Yours with Love and in the Field

Andrew C. Phiri