Report by
Jesse M. Nzima
(in the picture with wife, Moudy)
We had been praying for the mission for quite some time. We thanked the LORD that he finally provided the way for us to travel to the Eastern Province of Zambia, which is about 570km east of Lusaka, to a remote village called Mnukwa.
We set off from Lusaka at 5am on Friday 25th May. The team that travelled comprised of four brothers and their spouses. After about nine hours on the road, we finally touched Chipata. This city is the provincial headquarters of the Eastern Province.
We had the opportunity of meeting Chief Mnukwa at his residence in town. He welcomed us. He made us feel at home. He was delighted to finally meet the Nyali Mission team in person.
(Earlier brother Phiri and his wife had been travelling to Chipata to request for land where a church and a school can be established. We have called this project Nyali Mission. Nyali means Light and it is our desire to see the light of God shine in this region. Chief Mnukwa explained that he was looking forward to the establishment of the church and its various activities that will help transform people’s lives spiritually and physically. It is important to note that this is a rural place: schools are scarce and the few that are there are below required standards. Medical facilities are very few, and people have to walk long distances to access them. People are extremely poor and families depend on farming activities. It is for this reason that when Brother Phiri first visited the arean he saw the need to both preach the gospel and teach people literacy skills. He drew inspiration from what the early European missionaries, like Dr David Livingstone, did when they came to Africa. So great were the sacrifices of these missionaries, that one wonders what courage they had to leave the comfort of Europe and come to settle in a strange land which was a bush populated by people whose languages they did not know!).
Upon arrival in Chipata we first visited sister Phiri’s aunt who had been involved in an accident which left her very sick. Her x-ray showed a crack in the spine. She was in pain and lay down in the centre of the living room as we sat on the sofas. She had not slept previous nights because of intense pain. She explained how costly the required medical treatment would be. She spoke in tears out of the physical and emotional pain. Some spiritualist religious people visited her and gave her ‘anointed’ water and honey to eat for her healing. They spoke about prophecies of her impending death, to occur on a specified date in June. They said that this would be caused by some people who used evil spells on her. But brother Andrew Phiri read from the book of Jonah chapter Jonah 2:8 – “They that observe lying vanities forsake their own mercy” and encouraged her to believe on the Lord Jesus. He testified about how his mother got supernaturally healed and became a devout believer. At the end of the sharing we held hands in faith praying a prayer of faith. A day after this prayer, the following day, we were surprised to see her walking, looking bright, with a strong voice, and she was able to sleep soundly that night! She happily testified and after two days we passed through the house and she still looked better and stronger than the earlier time. We can only pray that her heart stays steadfast on the promises of God.
On Friday, after praying for the patient we proceeded to Chatama, another village under Chief Mnukwa, where the mother of sister Phiri lives. She farms and rears animals. We arrived at night and were warmly welcomed.
Before going to sleep the family gathered to listen to a preaching. At the end of the sharing we presented various prayer requests which had been given. At the end of the meeting brother Phiri distributed bro Branham’s book – “Discerning the Body of the Lord”, to all people who were present.
Saturday was the day that we were scheduled to see the land allocated for our ministry.
That morning there was a request which came from a woman at a nearby home, asking for prayers over her family. She desired healing in her legs which are experiencing pain and prayer over her children. When we arrived there, some more women and children gathered. Brother Phiri preached about the Lord Jesus and how He came to set the captives free. The people were attentive and expectant. After the sharing we had prayer for the sick. We also prayed for the children.
We finally said good bye to the people and I looked at the brothers and told them that we had offered prayer and they had received us and heard us but they still needed financial and educational assistance. The people have heard the preaching but they can’t read!
We finally proceeded to the area where the piece of land was. It was beyond our expectations. It is so beautiful, so large, very near to the road, and has a stream flowing through it. The local headman showed us the whole area. The land is approximately 400 metres by 160 metres. After finalizing the tour of the place we drove back to town and spent a night at a lodge.
In the morning, at the lodge, before going for church service, brother Phiri took us to sit around under a tree-shade. He took the opportunity to remind us on various important aspects of leadership that we should always be mindful of as leaders in our local assembly. He admonished the brothers to watch the ways of their homes in ensuring that their wives were also versed in the Truth of God’s Word.
He stressed that leadership was not merely a position but a life to be lived. He admonished us to be ahead in prayer, to be ahead in studying the Bible. He admonished us to live a life worthy of a leader, full of integrity and devoutness. After a word of prayer we got into our cars and proceeded to Chipata Christian Tabernacle.
Brother Phiri preached an inspired sermon titled The Way of Life (watch video below).Our spirits rejoiced being in anointed atmosphere. When the sermon ended the pastor of the assembly was enthused at how the message preached reflected what had been mentioned at church the previous week. He desired for us to return there as often as we can to help strengthen the church of Christ. (watch the sermon on the link provided below).
From the church service we started off to Lusaka and arrived in Lusaka around 10:30PM. To God be all the glory.
“Way of Life“
Preached at Chipata Christian Tabernacle
Amen
The believers here are so welcome. The family of sister Sarah has been so caring, making me feel at home. All around me are white-skinned people. I guess am adding a little colour to their environment. Well, what I see around me are not Filipinos but brothers and sisters united by that precious blood of our Lord and saviour Jesus Christ. No wonder there is love, peace and joy. They shall come from the East and West and sit down at the feet of the Lord, one song says. And the good old book says, “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!“ (Psalm 133:1).
If there is God – why did He create us? Why did He set the fundamental laws of the Universe in such precise order? Was it for us just to wake up, eat, work, grow old and die? Surely not. He had a purpose! And science tells us that our galaxies are in motion. The Earth is also in motion around the Sun. Yes, We are on a great big ‘Bus’ called Earth which is moving through the road of Time. The question is: What are you doing on this bus? What is your destination? Until a man wakes up to the revelation of Purpose, he or she hasn’t yet started living. One must be Born Again and see (perceive, understand, comprehend) God’s work!
Day 2 of Butuan Convention – April 14, 2017
Have Endtime Message believers given heed to this warning or have they idolized the Messenger? What is the Message that the prophet emphasised we need to look at instead of looking at the messenger? It is important to note that brother Branham preached so many sermons – over 1,100! – however, he only preached ONE MESSAGE, and that message was “BACK TO THE WORD!”
Many tried to identify with the ministry of John but with lives that were not manifesting the fruit of receiving the Word, and the same has happened today. Many have only got new exciting knowledge about the Original Sin, about Church Ages, about the Seven Seals but yet live lives which are void of Christ. Lives which bring reproach upon the cause of Christ. Lives which do not bear the fruits of repentance. It is said that one should not jump higher than he lives. Many take pride in identifying themselves with the prophet but yet cannot exhibit the simple life of humility and consecration that he lived. John declared to the Abrahamites: “O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance, and begin not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham” (Luke 3:7-8).
I arrived in Uganda on 22nd November 2011. It was a long flight from Lusaka through Kenya to Addis Ababa (Ethiopia). From Addis to Kigali (Rwanda) then finally to Entebbe airport in Uganda. The entire journey took 12 hours. It was so tiring but worthwhile.
From Kampala I proceeded to Karamoja – a 12 hours’ drive on a terrible road. It was so strenuous a journey; the roads are so rugged and bumpy. At one point the road was so slippery that the bus slid and almost turned over as it skidded. As the driver struggled to keep it in control it eventually got stuck in deep mad. It took us 1 hour 30 minutes to remove the vehicle out of the mad and get moving. All in all, God made it possible for us to reach the destination. It was wonderful to see Brother John Mark and the saints in Karamoja. I must say that I learned valuable lessons of ministry as I communed with this aging and gallant servant of God. I was especially refreshed with the answer he gave me when I asked him the question, “how is your prayer life?” In answering Brother John Mark said the following;
These words of Bro John Mark about prayer are very important. If believers could be so prayerful and humble much of the problems, schisms, divisions and politics in the Body of Christ would not exist.