IRM and Ministries share and plan

There was a good growth between the supporters, in the understanding of the challenges of the Lords work in Mozambique.In looking for a strategy to answer this it became clear that the church is striving to grow in its own giving and need a lot of encouragement, joint celebration of achievements, confirmation of importance and worth in Gods Kingdom, equipment and joint learning in practice how to create a strategy for the specific circumstance of the synod. There is a need for a good joint intention and pressure to grow towards that intention. We discovered that in this process there still a big need for financial support as well as missionaries. In itself this support can be detrimental to the growth of the church, but if it is done with the intention in mind and good accountability from one another, it became a very effective way to support the growth of the church. Looking at missionaries, it it therefore very important that any missionary will go in a position of service. Missionaries should not do the work, but work behind the scenes behind Mozambicans who will grow and do the work. Further the missionary need to listen and learn more that teaching and talking. In short there should be a process of discipleship that work both ways. In a sacrificial process, everything that does not look like Christ should be removed so we can build that, that looks like Him. 
It is better to have full time missionaries, but short term missionaries can also help a lot.One missionary can be involved in more than one need according to the persons gifts.
Together we started to identify some of the areas where missionaries with this attitude can fill essential gaps:
Literacy
As John Roux gave his farewell speech, there is a need to accompany the Literacy office for a while and in South Africa to accompany Mozambicans to all the congregations involved in this work to keep them well informed and build these relationships. Further to support the process of giving reports, find ways of effective developing and printing material,
Youth work
This work is very important for the Church and the Kingdom of God. There are a few initiatives, but a missionary is needed to work behind the youth leaders in Mozambique. It looks as if Kobus Eskteen will may be able to help here.
English
Mozambique is isolated from the rest of the world by a language barrier. The exposure to the rest of the world is very important for a church to grow. Material and communication with partners is also essential. Some pastors is learning English on their own and it already helps. We analyzed together that it is still a high priority to look for someone that can help in this regard.
Computer training
The Church is more and more using computers in administration, creation of material and communication. Viruses are destroying a lot of work and there is a need for someone to train people in maintaining computers and also in training how to use them more effectively.
Stewardship
This ministry is doing some work in creating material and helping the synod with bookkeeping. The need for a missionary is to help the church in equipping and discipling the church members in living as Stewards in giving and daily lives. How to manage God's resources. There are some initiatives but the missionary can help to bring the partners together. It is very important that the church can grow to be less dependent from outside so that it can grow into a giving church with their own outreach initiatives.
Mission of the Mozambican Church

The Tumbine synod has a committee who are responsible for different mission areas in the 4 North Eastern Provinces. There are roughly about 3 000 000 unreached people in especially the Northern part. In some of the areas where the church are involved there are a need for a missionary to stand behind the leaders and members of the church to assist in this calling. This calling is a joint calling between us as supporters and the Synod themselves as well as some other partners. Especially in Chiconono the need is urgent, because of a radio station that covers a big part of the Niassa province. Like in other areas, the local elders and evangelist expressed their need for further training and equipment as they themselves are mostly also young Christians in  areas where Christianity is in many aspects in contrast with very deep rooted traditions. It is not easy.
Antroponeurship
For a community to became self sufficient it is necessary for businesses and other initiatives. These must be build on values and these values we find in a Biblical bases. For this the church is necessary. Closely with Stewardship this principles of business is identified as a need where a missionary can help. A lady is planning to give a course with the agricultural ministry, but there is a need for a missionary that will continue supporting this process.
Medical
Here is a need for medical personnel, doctor and nurses. There is also the Anamed program where the use of medical plants has a big potential to help the community on a sustainable way.

Other needs are transport and financial needs. Although personal contact is higher on the priority list, the church is struggling, because the income from congregations are minimal and the synod are more than 90% dependent on funds from outside. The Western Cape Synod is helping, but the funds are decreasing rapidly. This year they managed to help with R70 000, but next year it is only R50 000. Many programs were cancelled because the need. The mission committee could not visit all the mission areas and the synod could not visit all the presbyteries. There are a help for each pastor of R500 a month. Only one pastor is without help and in December another 3 will join the ranks. We try to help them also with a R500 a month for survival in difficult times while the church grow towards looking after the needs of their own pastors.

Be free to contact me for further more detail information on any of the needs. murraydg1@gmail.com

Ministries and IRM share joint intention (Vision)

After a good Bible study on the passage in the Joint intention 1 Cor 3: 5-6 and 12-18 the table was well prepared for the rethinking of this intention. We took some of the words in the intention and discussed their meaning. The following was said:

Based on the Bible

Our lives must be in line with the Kingdom of God not with individuals.

The Bible should be the base of everything we do.

We need to treat one another based on Biblical truth. We also have to do this in our discussions together.

We are part of God’s story and we need to reconcile relationships that were destroyed by sin.

We need to be the image of God and that means to be servants. The way we want to treat one another also in these discussions

Growing Church

This growth is Spiritual and also in numbers

Change is part of this growing process.

This change should be visible as you move from one point to another.

Sacrifice and dying in yourself is part of this process. The old person must die.

This is a continuing process and does not happen automatically.

A plant need food and water to grow.

How

We need to be ready to learn.

Understand that our position is not where we wants to be.

Need to be ready to die.

We need to celebrate each movement in growth.

This is all done in dependency on God.

We must plan to grow and we need to sow the seed.

Growth brings happiness.  

Discipling

First we discussed the duplication of ourselves as Christians. In this process we have many weaknesses, so we need to duplicate Christ in us.

We disciple others while we ourselves are in a process of being discipled.

The objective is to be like Christ.

Discipleship is intentional

It is walking with one another.

It is sharing Christ with one another.

The discipling process starts with one person that is duplicated and the three are then again being duplicated. Multiply this way through communities.

To give away yourself (Sacrifice) is part of the discipling process.

Biblestudy - Ministries talk to the IRM

I still think it is cheating to arrive in Milange the same day than leaving in Cape Town. It was good to chat about the different ministries and which issues the supporters want to add to the agenda.

We arrived in Milange in the evening and greeted the church leaders. Thursday morning we started by introducing one another and then we did a Biblestudy on 1 Cor 3:5-6 and 12-18. Kobus Eksteen guided us through this passage and it became a very productive time as we could link it to our joint intention between the ministries in South-Africa and the IRM. All through our meetings, the principles of this study were repeated.  I try to jot down some of the ideas:

We saw that in Christ we have a new covenant and that covenant is bringing us in a process of change. We have brokenness before Christ and before one another in this process. The seed need to die to produce a new plant and multiply the seed. We do this through grace and we have nothing to be proud in ourselves. We need to be humble before God and one another.

Only through His Spirit can we understand the new vision and he made us capable to participate in this process. We all have veils over our eyes and it is only in Christ that this veil can be removed. We need to turn to the Lord daily.

The veils are taking away our freedom and we do not always recognize it.

Many times we feel uncomfortable in our discussions and we do not have this freedom. The devil is each time bringing the veil or blanket between us. Sometimes we feel inferior and that we are criticized by the other party. We feel accused. Christ take this veil away and takes away the spirit of accusation. In its place he creates love and then we can demonstrate the glory of the Lord. This open relationship is the Glory of the Lord.

The prayer is that God will take away this veil, in all our discussions, where it exists, these few days.

Gepreserveerde Christen (Stephan Joubert)

As sommige mense bid “Bewaar my, o God,” bedoel hulle eintlik “preserveer my.” Om kos te preserveer is om dit vars te hou tot die vervaldatum op die verpakking. Sommige wil hê die Here moet dieselfde met hulle doen. Hy moet hulle ongebruik en ongetoets deur die lewe laat gaan. Hulle moet ongeskonde by Hom aankom wanneer hul aardse rakleeftyd verstryk.

Die eerste Christene was nooit in die geestelike preserveringsbedryf nie. Vat vir Paulus. Toe ‘n profeet genaamd Agabus in Handelinge 21 aankondig dat hy in Jerusalem gevange geneem gaan word, het Paulus se helpers besluit hy moenie soontoe gaan nie. Paulus het dadelik geantwoord dat hulle hom nie met hul trane sag moet maak nie. Hy was nie net bereid om gevange geneem te word ter wille van die evangelie wat hy verkondig nie, maar om ook hiervoor te sterf. Paulus het verstaan en verkies (!) dat die Here hom kan “opgebruik”. Dit het nooit gegaan oor sy eie preservering of selfbehoud nie. Hy wou nie sy lewe deurbring as ‘n lewende dreigement wat heeltyd net dreig hy gaan nog eendag groot dinge vir die Here doen nie. Hy het dit sommer elke dag gedoen. Hy wou ook nie gedurig hoor hy het potensiaal in die Here se diens nie. Elke aand teen slaaptyd het hy sy daaglikse porsie potensiaal tot eer van die Here opgebruik.

Derduisende mense plaas Sondae in die kerk “alles” op die altaar vir die Here. Hulle teken in al wat ‘n aanbiddingslied is die beheer oor hul lewe aan God af, net om dit haastig terug te vat as hulle in die “normale” lewe aanland. Ten beste soek vele eintlik net ‘n God wat uitblink in die preservering van sy aardse bewonderaars.

George L. Fox het begryp wat dit beteken dat die Here hom kan opgebruik. Hy was ‘n kapelaan aan boord van die USAT Dorchester toe ‘n torpedo van ‘n Duitse U-boot dit op 3 Februarie 1943 getref het. Matrose het in die see gespring en met reddingsbootjies probeer wegkom. Toe kom vertel een van die soldate vir Fox hy het nie ‘n reddingsbaadjie nie. Net daar gee Fox toe syne vir die soldaat. Die drie ander kapelane het Fox se voorbeeld gevolg. Terwyl matrose van die skip weggeswem het, het Grady Clark, een van die oorlewendes, gehoor hoe die vier kapelane sing en hardop bid vir die veiligheid van die soldate in die see. Self het hulle geen kans gehad sonder hul reddingsbaadjies nie. Jesus se woorde dat daar geen groter liefde is as wanneer mense hul lewe aflê vir ander nie, kry in sulke tye nuwe betekenis.

Navolging van Christus gaan oor die selflose weggee van jouself aan Hom en ander, nie oor selfpreservering nie. Of oor die instandhouding van godsdienstige instellings waar ‘n skadelose, goed-voel-evangelie heers nie, en boonop teen ‘n winskoopprys wat mense se geestelike sakke pas. Jy noem so iets geestelike narkose!

Christus se helde is steeds mense soos die Samaritaan van Lukas 10 wat sy besige program onderbreek het om sy hande vuil te maak met die bloed van ‘n onbekende man langs die pad wat onder rowers deurgeloop het. En wat sy beursie oopmaak om vir hierdie man se sorg te betaal. Of Stefanus wat in Handelinge 7 bid dat die Here sy vyande asseblief tog sal vergewe terwyl hulle hom met klippe doodgooi. Die uitdaging is nie om ongeskonde die ander kant te haal nie.

Dit is om só te leef dat jy aan die einde van jou aardse reis die grootste woorde ooit hoor: “Mooi so, goeie en getroue dienskneg. Jy was getrou oor die bietjie wat Ek van jou verwag het. Kom sit aan by die fees van die Here. Ek het vir jou plek gehou!”

Reformed Church outreach to Mocuba 2012

The team existed of 5 members of the Annlin congregation in Pretoria, one member of Rustenburg and 2 members from Strand congregation. Strand started about 12 years ago to be involved in Mocuba and the other congregations started to be involved in 2011. In Mozambique they are partners with Magodane congregation of the Reformed Church of Mozambique. There are 12 prayerhouses in the Maganja da Costa area and 4 in and around the city of Mocuba and one near Lugela town.

The team camped in tents and used the local facilities, sometimes eat local food and when the kitchen gas finished, they made food on fires. 

We experienced something of each others lives

A young women, the child of the elder Joao Agusto, were pregnant and with and eleptic atack burned her one foot very badly. Fear and traditional ways of thinking made them to flee from the hospital and the foot infected really badly. When the team arrived the foot was dead and the leg was smelling badly. It was a  miracle that she were still alive after more than a week with severe pain. Three days after her foot was burned she gave birth to a daughter, the baby was passed from one lady to another to find some milk, but was screaming for hunger. The team talked to the family and they agreed to take her back to hospital and bought milk for the baby, and the child immediately stopped crying. The leg must be amputated and the family needs to buy people from the market to agree to give blood. The team helped to "buy" the blood and the operation were an success. The good form this tragedy is that white South-Africans and Mozambicans cried together because of the suffering and many borders were no more. Already the message is spreading: The trust in forefathers could not help, but prayers compassion and medicine helped." 

The other team saw a girl of 18 years old, but looked like a 13 year girl because of a tumour or something that is growing in her throat. It is blocking her airways and she is struggling to breath and must suffer tremendously. The hospital informed her that they could not help. It is powerless feeling to know that you can do nothing and could only pray and cry together.

The team came with the objective to serve and to listen to people and learn about there life. You can not help everywhere, and should not always help, but there is a message and hope of freedom and a GOOD GOD that have compassion. This compassion reach people through broken people.

Something about stewardship and servanthood

The basic gospel message of salvation is preached again, but complemented with a deeper application of stewardship. Children and adults are made ​​aware of our responsibility for nature and parents helped children, for example to pick up papers and clean the area. The leaders testified that they almost cried when they realized how they did not care for their world. Stewardship in relationships are also discussed and it is helped to see the lies, how the devil deceives us. In RSA, the white people believed the idea that whites are more valuable and better than blacks, and blacks again believed that they are worth less than white people. When we investigated with the participants if it is also the case with them, the answered that it is not a lie, it's the truth! On this honest practical way and a very good attitude, we talk and discover what it means to be the image of God. We have God's potential, love, creativity etc created in us.  We have the potential to create. The sin broke this image, but it is restored in Christ. We all are equal and we can now treat each other  more worthy than yourself. This way we discussed different lies and found the Biblical truth.

Afterwards, they were very grateful that we were not like many other teams, who only handled the wordless book, but on a much more meaningful way, went forward and discussed and shown the new life in Christ.

The influence of last years accident

After the accident in 2011 where two people died and two were seriously injured, the local congregation did not think that the team will visit them again. Pastor Jussa informed us that the local community accused the church that they used spiritual powers on the team and that resulted in the accident and therefore they will never come back. (Remember that your worthiness depends on how many visitors you receive). When pastor Jussa visited prayerhouses in preparation for the team, even they did not believe him. They did the preparations with doubt, thought that it was all in vain. When they arrive, everyone was surprised and the only explanation is God. People do not do that. This helped to create the open and honest attitude we encountered. We were overloaded with live chickens, sweet potato's rice etc. This was not the main gift we received, it was the attitude to learn and listen. The  team received many good experiences to take back to South-Africa.

Furthermore the team went through a time of therapy for the hurts of the accident. When they saw the wreck there was a lot of tears. We prayed together and through time it became easier. Dup, the driver later could stand alongside the wreck with a smile about the goodness of God and became his old self with a lot of jokes. On the way back we stopped near the accident site and could tell one another that we are now OK and we could give a prayer of thanks on the road. We learned a lot about a good God.

Other activities

For the first time the Jesus film was shown in the local Chuabo language. We also projected a follow-up film with good results. It is a film that show the results of the life of Jesus on the lives of people. It uses the setup of a chief who's bad life was changes by Jesus. 

We also talked about a partnership between Strand congregation and Mocuba in constructing the new church building. It was good to see the promises from Mocuba's side in participating and a willingness to pay for certain material. They took ownership of the building and planning.

They played with children, told bible stories and colored in pictures about those stories. We played soccer and explained the gospel through colors on the ball. The two ways posters were explained and used in house visitation. 

The house visitation again were very valuable, because it demonstrated service and a willingness to listen en experience.

Future

We see more possibilities in making the partnership a growing relationship that will have a positive influence to both sides. Errors made, were discussed and the relationship is growing.

Thank you

We thank every supporter and everyone that were praying. Thank you for congregations that sent people for the outreach. Thank you to God who always knows the best!

Gereformeerde uitreik na Mocuba 2012

Die span het bestaan uit 5 lede van Annlin gemeente in Pretoria, 1 lid van Rustenburg en 2 lede van Strand. Die Strand was al 12 jaar betrokke by Mocuba en die ander gemeentes het verlede jaar bygekom vir die uitreik. Die gemeente waarmee saamgewerk word in Mosambiek is Magodane gemeente van die Geref Kerk in Mosambiek. Daar is 12 kerkies in Maganja da Costa area, 4 rondom Mocuba en een in Lugela. 

Die span het in tente gekamp en plaaslike geriewe gebruik, soms plaaslike kos eet en toe die gas opraak ook op vure kos  maak!

Ons ervaar iets van mekaar

In Lugela het ‘n jong vrou, die dogter van ouderling Joao Agusto, wat agv ‘n eleptiese aanval met swangerskap, haar voet lelik verbrand. Vrees en tradisionele denke het veroorsaak dat hulle vlug uit die hospitaal en het die voet baie lelik ontsteek. Die span kom daar aan en die vrou is in so ‘n toestand dat dit ruik en baie sleg lyk. Sy is in die ongelooflikste pyn toe al vir meer as ‘n week en haar hele liggaam is verswak. Drie dae na die brand is die kind ook gebore en word van een vrou tot ‘n ander aangegee, maar kry nie melk in nie. Die spanlede onderhandel toe met die familie en gemeenskapsleiers en op die ou end vat hulle die vrou na die hospitaal en koop vir die kind ook melk. Die kind wat dag en nag gehuil het is skielik stil en tevrede. Die ma se been moet afgesit word en die familie moet bloedskenkers koop. Die span help daarmee en op die ou end is die operasie gedoen. Die mooi van die lelike situasie is dat daar saam gehuil word en alle grense word daardeur oorbrug. Daar word reeds verwys na die feit dat die tradisionele vertrouelinge nie kon regkry om haar te help nie, maar gebede en mediese hulp kon haar help.

Die ander span sien weer ‘n meisie van 18 jaar, maar wat lyk soos ‘n 13 jarige agv ‘n groeisel in haar keel wat haar in die vreeslikste situasie plaas waar sy sukkel om asem te haal en die hospitaal kan blykbaar niks vir haar doen nie. Die magteloosheid om die meisie amper voor jou oe te sien kwyn van swaarkry het ook saam trane gebring.

Die span het gekom om te kom dien en te luister na mense in hulle lewenssituasie en dan hulle te dien met Jesus se gesindheid. Mens kan nie orals help nie en moet ook nie, maar daar is ‘n boodskap van hoop en bevryding en van ‘n GOEIE GOD wat omgee. Dit word realiseer deur mense ten spyte van hulle gebreke.

Iets meer van diensgestalte en rentmeesterskap

Die basiese evangelieboodskap van redding word weer verkondig, maar aangevul met ‘n diepere toepassing op rentmeesterskap. Kinders en grootmense word bewus gemaak van ons verantwoordelikheid oor die natuur en ouers help kinders om onder andere, papiere op te tel en skoon te maak. Daar word na die tyd deur die leiers getuig dat hulle amper gehuil het toe hulle besef hoe hulle die wereld nie oppas soos hulle moes nie. Rentmeesterskap in verhoudings met ander mense word ook bespreek en daar word gewys op die leuens waarmee die duiwel ons mislei. In RSA word die wit mense groot met die gedagte dat wit mense bo swartes is en swartes word weer groot dat hulle minder werd is as wit mense. Toe ons uitvind of dit ook daar die geval is, was die antwoord dat dit nie ‘n leuen is nie, dit is die waarheid!! Op die manier word daar op eerlike praktiese manier, in ‘n baie mooi gesindheid, oor die sake gesels en ontdek wat dit beteken om in die beeld van God geskape te wees. Om God se potensiaal, liefde, skeppingskrag ens in ons geskape te he. Die sonde het dit gebreek, maar dit word in Christus weer herstel. Ons almal is gelyk en kan nou die ander hoër ag as jouself. Op die manier word ander leuens ook bespreek en Bybelse waarhede ontdek.

Na die tyd was die getuienis dat hulle baie dankbaar is dat ons nie net soos baie ander spanne, net met die woordlose boekie gekom het nie, maar op ‘n baie meer sinvolle manier verder gegaan het en oor die nuwe lewe in Christus gesels het.

Invloed van verlede jaar se ongeluk

Na die ongeluk waarin 2 mense ernstig beseer is en twee oorlede is, het die plaaslike kerk nie gedink dat die gereformeerde span weer sal kom nie. Ds Jussa vertel iets daarvan vir ons in sy afskeidswoorde die jaar. Hy vertel hoe die kerk deur die gemeeskap beskuldig was dat hulle die span getoor het met medisyne sodat hulle in die ongeluk gekom het en dat hulle nooit weer sal terugkom nie. Verder het ook die kerkies waar ds Jussa voor die uitreik voorbereidingswerk gaan doen het, hom nie geglo dat die span weer gaan terugkeer nie. Hulle het maar halfhartig die pad oopgekap en toilette en wasplekke gebou, maar gedink dit is onmoontlik. Toe die span kom, was hulle uit die veld geslaan en sien dit nou as net God wat so iets kan doen. Dit het gehelp in die ongelooflike oop en eerlike houding en hoe ons oorlaai is. Ons is wel oorlaai met hoenders, rys, patats ens, maar dit was die klein bydrae. Die groot bydrae was die gesindheid van mense en hulle openheid om te hoor en te leer. Die span het baie mooi ervaringe om terug te vat na RSA.

Die ander deel is die terapie wat die besoek vir die span self gehad het. Toe hulle by die blyplek in Mocuba opdaag, toe le die bussie se wrak daar by die hek. Daar is dadelik baie trane gestort en saam gebid. Met die tyd het dit makliker gegaan en later kon die bestuurder self langs die wrak staan met ‘n glimlag oor God se goedheid. Oom Dup het ons veral later baie vermaak met sy grappies en opgewektheid en was weer sy ou self. Die besoek was vir ‘n paar van ons baie goeie terapie vir die verwerking van die ongeluk. Ons God is goed en ons leer elke meer iets meer van Sy goedheid.

Ander bedrywighede

Die Jesus film is gewys vir die eerste keer in die Chuabo taal. Daar is ook ‘n opvolg film gewys wat baie goeie reaksie uitgelok het, omdat dit iets van die toepassing van die film gewys het in die lewe van ‘n hoofman en sy mense. Daaroor is ook baie goeie terugvoering gegee.

Daar is saam gedink oor die vennootskap in die bou van die kerkgebou in Mocuba. Daar is met kinders gespeel, bybelstories vasgele en selfs prentjies oor die bybelverhale ingekleur. Sokker is gespeel en die evangelie is met kleure op ‘n sokkerbal verduidelik. Die twee wee plakaat is weer deurgepraat en gebruik in huisbesoeke.

Veral hierdie huisbesoeke was baie waardevol, want die mense het gesien dat ons wil dien en wil luister na mense.

Toekoms

Ons sien al meer moontlikhede om van die vennootskap tussen RSA en Mosambiek ‘n groeiende verhouding te maak wat sal voort gaan om na beide kante toe positiewe invloed te he. Die foute wat gemaak word, word bespreek en so groei die verhouding elke keer verder.

Baie dankie

Vir elke ondersteuner en voorbidder. Dankie vir gemeentes wat mense gestuur het. Dankie vir ‘n God wat toe op die ou end tog beter geweet het!

Footprints in Ile, Mozambique: 12-14 June 2012

IRM Ile

Hein and Danie explaining the
community's current reality.

On Sunday June 10th Hein van Wyk traveled with Danie Murray, Johannes Aucamp and José Ganhale from Namurua to Ile to do follow-up on a Hope for Africa Vision Conference conducted at the IRM Congregation there in 2010. Hope for Africa’s vision is to see engaged, high-impact local churches affecting real transformation in their communities and in sufficient mass to disciple their nations. The vision is realized through a mission of helping the local church discover a vision for the Kingdom, to adopt a biblical worldview and to live it out in every aspect of community life.

During the previous Conference in 2010, which was hosted by Past Antonio Ualize, Hein van Wyk, assisted by Danie Murray from Handevat and Johannes Aucamp from TOPIA, helped to lay a biblical worldview foundation for the church's role as God's private voluntary organisation. They examined the biblical evidence for man's brokenness and God's intentions for responding to that brokenness in the future as well as in the present. It further examined God's intentions for the role of the Church as it serves as a "window" through which broken humanity can see God's intentions for healing. During the conference the delegates had the opportunity to deal with cultural lies like fatalism, tribalism and male superiority in practical small group discussions.

Hein, Danie and an elder during the
Conference in 2010.

The follow-up Conference this week was attended by delegates from various local churches in the area. These include the Igreja de Cristo, Evangelica de Cristo, Assemblies of God, Emmanuel Evangelical Church and IRM Ile.

Delegates at the Conference

As introduction to the Conference Hein shared the story of God’s covenant to Abraham from Romans 4: 17-24, “….Abraham, who is the father of us all, as it is written, "I have made you the father of many nations"—in the presence of the God in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist. In hope he believed against hope, that he should become the father of many nations, as he had been told, "So shall your offspring be." He did not weaken in faith when he considered his own body, which was as good as dead (since he was about a hundred years old), or when he considered the barrenness of Sarah's womb. No unbelief made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised. That is why his faith was "counted to him as righteousness." But the words "it was counted to him" were not written for his sake alone, but for ours also.” 

Hein explaining different
worldviews

God promised Abraham that all the nations of the earth would be blessed, including all the nations of Africa (Gen 12: 2-3). Abraham believed God, against all hope, and it was credited to him as righteousness.
It’s important to note that Abraham against all hope, faced the fact that he was old and that Sarah, his wife, was barren and past the age of child-bearing. Although at times Abraham searched for man-centered way to fulfill God’s Promise, he did not waver through unbelief; he became fully persuaded that God was able to do what He had promised. God will also credit righteousness to us (Africa) because of our faith. Let’s be greatly encouraged; transformation is coming as a result of the trustworthiness of His promise. Margaret Mead said, “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it’s the only thing that has ever happened.” 

The Conference continued to build upon the two realities Abraham faced; God’s reality and man’s reality. The community of Ile is faced with a reality which they described as poverty, sickness, lack of clothing, clean water, transport, healthcare, etc.; basically a community who forgot God. But, there is another reality and it is the reality God has for Ile. In Jeremiah 29:11 we read, “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.” It’s upon this God-reality that the Vision Conference is build. There is hope for Ile, even against all hope.

Transformational development is more about roots that it is about fruits. Unless the root is changed, the fruit will remain the same. God knows this and provided a new Root for Ile in the Person of His Son, Jesus Christ. In Revelation 22:16 it says, "I, Jesus, have sent my angel to testify to you about these things for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star."On this Root the community must be build, as Paul said in Colossians 2:6,7 ,”Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.” 

Delegates describing what the glasses
they wear tell them

The old roots, which are not of God, are responsible for the current reality Ile is facing. These roots, in the form of cultural lies, were identified and discussed. These included beliefs like tribalism, male superiority, ancestral worship, work is a curse, that there is no future, materialism, etc. This was discussed in inter-active small group meetings. The delegates then had the opportunity to think of practical ways, based on the Word of God, they expose these lies.

Some of the feedback received during the course of the Conference was as follows:

• “When we work and start to sweat we think we are cursed.” 
• “I believe I’m poor, because my father was poor. I believe I inherit poverty.” 
• “I planted 3 coconut trees sometime ago; the others didn’t. Now I enjoy eating coconuts while they do not have any.” 
• “Old people didn’t plant anything, because they think by harvest time they will be dead anyway.” 
• “Thank you for what you shared with us today. It’s good seed. We expect many more tomorrow. We will not forget today.” 
• “God promised Abraham a son. He was in doubt, because he and Sarah were old and couldn’t have children. Abraham tried to find his own solution by having a child with Hagar. God said that was not His plan.” 
• “I remember the tree; the tree depends on its roots. When the roots are good, the tree is good. My question is how can you cut the old roots?” 
• “I remember the tree; if you plant bananas you will have banana fruit. If you want to change bananas to mango you need to have mango roots. In the same way, if you want to change your behavior you need to change your thinking, for example, if you want to have a car, don’t just sit a wait for one, change your mind and do something.” 
• “Africans think, like fatalism, when my grandfather was poor, my father and I cannot be different; we will be the same; we cannot change. If you think like that, you have the wrong glasses. You need to change your glasses to what the Bible says.”

Past Ualize translating Worldview
concepts in Lomue, the local
language.

Someone prayed during the meeting, “Our town (Ile) cries for change. Our glasses are misleading us.”

During one of the debriefing times Pastor Ualize shared with us how things are changing in Ile.
In December 2011 the town’s Administrator called all the churches together. She said that the condition of the community is going to get worse, because the Provincial government didn’t accept her plans for development. She asked the church leaders for advice and they said that the matter must be given to God.
In January 2012 a prayer meeting was held and all the community leaders were invited. They prayed, read the Bible and worshipped God for the entire day.
In June 2012 the Town council called the pastor saying that things have changed dramatically. As a result of the prayers plans are now underway to change the water situation in the town, to tar the main road going through the town, a community radio station will be started and a bank will open office in town. Not one of these things was possible in the past.

Church leaders in small group
discussion

He also shared how his personal situation changed for the better. When the IRM started the congregation in Ile in 2007, many people had doubt about the sustainability of such an initiative. The previous pastor asked people to make bricks to build a building for the Church, but for many years the building didn’t become a reality. Only under the servant-leadership of Past Ualize did volunteers come and put up a steel structure which became the roof of the church building. More volunteers are now joining the process in making more bricks to complete the building.
Church members experienced positive change in both the community and in the congregation at Ile. They are now pulling more than their weight in sustainable development initiatives, like taking care of the up keep and transport needs of Pastor Ualize and his family. In 2006 Pastor Ualize had to travel by bicycle to visit the various prayer houses in the congregation; something that is tiring and very time consuming. In 2006 he was fortunate to receive a motorbike through a congregation in South Africa. It was a great help, but he still needed the finances to maintain it; something the local congregation was not prepared to help with. He had to find ways to fund his own transport by using whatever he had in his hands; including the continued use of the bicycle.

Past Ganhale facilitates small
group feedback

After four years of using a bicycle, the situation changed in December of 2010 when the elders started to give him money for transport. They gave him 2 liters of fuel for every prayer house he visited. Supporting the pastor financially was difficult for the small congregation, but they prevailed. Each month each prayer house committed itself to make a contribution; some even give extra. Now, when the pastor returns from visits to the prayer houses, his motorbike is loaded with many things people gave him. They came to understand that giving is more blessed than receiving.

Johannes facilitated the third and last day of the Conference with Danie interpreting for him. Johannes guided participants through the practical application of worldview principles, as were discussed during the previous two days. The practical application of Biblical Truth is done best through demonstrating God's love through acts of service. For this reason God call's the local expression of the Church to demonstrate His love in the community where it serves. Johannes explained to the participants the idea of Seed Actions or Seed Projects, which is a proven strategy or method for doing small, short-term development initiatives with local resources. The session helped participants to make use of resources found within the community and in the process be set free from dependency on outside resources.

Johannes facilitating Seed Projects

The team left Ile late that afternoon heading for Mocuba, where they spent the night. Friday morning Hein, Johannes, Jose Ganhale and Tanya, a Peace Core worker from Mocuba, left for Milange. Danie stayed behind to receive a visiting team from South Africa.. 

The next round of Hope for Africa Vision Conferences in Mozambique organized by the IRM Tumbine Synod will take place from 17th to 27th of October 2012. Hein, Danie and Johannes will again be responsible for the facilitation of these Conferences.

Hein and the Team on their way to Milange

Soli Deo Gloria!