Regional Snapshot

From James and Shirley Henderson

African churches
preach the gospel

By James Henderson

Our church in Africa is determined to continue the mission and ministry of Jesus Christ.

Archbishop Desmond Tutu of South Africa once said that the "Son of God had to reflect his father’s concern for the weak and the poor by tabernacling with them, by being homeless and a refugee."

Jesus was born an outcast, and went on to proclaim spiritual liberty and healing for the sick and dying. The WCG brings this gospel of hope to Africa’s people.

ANGOLA—Congregation in Sambizanga.
[Photos by James Henderson]

ANGOLA—Women’s choir in Sambizanga.

ANGOLA—Two faces of Angola

ANGOLA—School run by elder Oliveira Kitambala.

I made a trip to Angola in late June. Since the church there was planted in 1994 with around 25 members, it has grown to two congregations and two cell churches with around 150 in attendance, despite the ravages of seemingly endless wars.

A ceasefire of sorts is in place, but life remains difficult for the average Angolan, and the memories of pain and loss are never far away.

One of our church youth leaders remarked, "Many are discouraged by the sufferings and are in mourning, for they think Christ will not come back to the earth."

In the midst of all the hopelessness, our churches proclaim the joy of salvation in Christ. A few of our members have begun outreach projects to help alleviate the appalling poverty and lack of education.

For example, elder Oliveira Kitambala and his wife have begun a school for 100 children who would otherwise have no chance of schooling.

A few years ago a group of Angolan sabbatarian churches, estimated to be 46 congregations, sought to join the WCG, but the process came to a halt when we moved by the grace of God to a deeper understanding of the new covenant. The leaders of these groups, although confessing Christ, were strongly attached to old covenant paradigms.

I had a chance to speak in their central Luanda congregation (850 people turned up, including more than 400 children), and to give a thorough explanation of the need for the new covenant during an all- day seminar for 40 leaders.

They were interested in what I had to say, and we also had a lively question and answer session. It is not clear where this is going. For these groups to change is not only a spiritual issue, but also a cultural one.

Some of the areas they live in are steeped in Christian legalistic traditions, and to move away to a greater freedom in Christ may be seen as threatening to the status quo. Please pray about this situation. Angola needs Jesus Christ, and the more churches and people that can join the WCG, the more opportunities and cause for rejoicing we will have.

ZIMBABWE—Raymond
and Elizabeth Munengwa.

Some have asked about our members in Zimbabwe. Raymond Munengwa, chairman of the Zimbabwe WCG ecclesiastical council, sent this message in early June: "I want to take this opportunity to ask you to request of our brethren in Africa and elsewhere to pray for us and our country as we face the hardships that have befallen us. We recently had a 70 percent fuel price increase, worsening an already difficult situation.

"Please pray for all Christians in Zimbabwe, that a) these hardships draw us closer to our God and not away from him, and, b) as God’s people, we rise above the politics of this world and be about the business of his kingdom.

"I also ask for special prayers for our president and all those in positions of authority in his government in order that we may continue to live in peace and have the freedom to perform God’s will in this our beautiful country of Zimbabwe."

Wenceslas Kamwenubusa, our contact in Bujumbura, Burundi, got this e-mail message to us. He writes: "Thank you for your e-mail messages and the African Worldwide News. Despite the war in Burundi the door is open wide for God’s work: many people are with us and they need our church’s teachings."

I mention this to draw your attention to the fact that Wenceslas has e-mail access—this has made a big difference in communications, and thank you to all of you for your prayers in this regard.

Our nonsalaried African ministers also need our prayers, as do ministers everywhere. Hundreds of our groups and churches are pastored with much care by a volunteer ministry.

One example out of many is bivocational elder Ephraim Ncube and his wife, Patricia, and their pastoral team of the Sonos and the Ghondwes in Botswana. They provide quality weekly services for a church of 40 or so in spite of extremely busy occupational schedules.

Morgen Kriedemann, ministerial director for South Africa, visited them and commented: "Their effectiveness as pastors is clearly evident. How can we possibly thank these faithful couples enough for the work they do in their ‘spare time’?"

About 7,000 people attend the WCG in Africa. Many meet in small groups in remote locations, such as in Homa Bay near Lake Victoria, in Kenya, and urban congregations in capitals and major cities such as Cape Town, South Africa.

SOUTH AFRICA—Some of the Cape Town
members during worship.

Most of our churches are pursuing ideas of contextual evangelism. Our members are active in personal evangelism. For example, Alfred Maluleka, a member of the Pretoria, South Africa, church, performs a successful train ministry every morning on the way to work. He uses the time traveling to work to proclaim the gospel in a lively interactive way. I believe that Alfred’s particular train car—he is not the only train preacher—has standing room only!

An interesting aspect of ministry is how our members and pastors are being used by God to help outside our fellowship. Alfred, our train preacher, has been asked to mediate in some interdenominational matters in his hometown.

Also in South Africa, elder Caleb Makhela has been appointed secretary of a board comprising representatives of local fellowships to administer certain ecclesiastical matters on behalf of the area chief. This is indicative of the high esteem in which the WCG is held among our fellow Christian communities.

As I write, Caleb and his team are planning a second church planting campaign in the rural village of Driekop. A Friday evening, Saturday morning and afternoon service and a Sunday morning meeting have been arranged. The budget has been raised locally for these events.

In Cameroon, WCG national leader Jean-Jacques Ndoudoumou has conducted a church awareness campaign, and he and elder Francois Omgba are preparing for a community youth camp in August. All over the continent our members and churches are seeking ways to promote the gospel.

Never lose the vision of our being used by God. Always focus on being part of a worldwide work we are doing for him. Our Father has blessed our fellowship with a little strength, probably less than we think we need. I look at the example of our African brethren—they have so little, but God is using them. Let’s all follow their example as we use the opportunities that come our way to make disciples for Jesus.

Copyright © Worldwide Church of God, 2001