Collapse of Maxwell Empire
The sudden collapse of the Maxwell Empire, with all its attendant consequences, has created shakings in the financial world. It is a reminder to us of the instability of the wealth of this world which can disappear in a night. To rely on the wealth of this world, which in reality is so unsubstantial, is altogether vain. How sad for men at the end of their days if they have nothing better to rest upon than the riches of the world which perish in the using. What need there is to have the true riches and righteousness which is to be found in Christ alone.
Abortions in Scotland
Sir David Steel, the architect of the 1967 Abortion Act, has said that there is nothing wrong with the way the Act is working. A report, called Legal Abortion Examined, shows that over 10,000 abortions were carried out in Scotland in 1989. It claims that more than a quarter of abortions in Scotland were carried out on teenagers. In England the number of abortions for the same year was more than 180,000. The total for the country since the passing of the infamous Abortion Act is over three and a half million. This is an indication of the low moral state of the land. Such a slaughter of unborn infants would have been inconceivable in a past generation. How long the Lord will permit this to go on we cannot tell, but when He arises to judgment we may expect His judgments to fall with fearful severity on such a nation as ours.
Drugs
A recent analysis of drug taking has found that the use of drugs by teenagers is growing rapidly. The effect of this on the rising generation must cause grave concern to all who have the good of the young at heart. How many evil devices Satan has in his hand in this generation to destroy the lives of the young, as well as the old. What need there is that the rising generation would be warned of the dangers facing them, so that they might be preserved from falling an easy prey to the devil and his machinations. The Satanic cults which are abroad in our day are geared to capture the minds and hearts of the young and enslave them in Satan’s service. The rock music cult which is so popular in our day is devil-inspired and leads its dupes into the bestial slavery of Satan worship. What need there is then for the young to heed the warning of Scripture. “Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth.”
Vatican’s Recognition of Croatia and Slovenia
It was the Vatican that was first in Europe to recognise the states of Croatia and Slovenia, which recently declared their independence from Yugoslavia. These states are both overwhelmingly Roman Catholic. Next to recognise these states was Germany which set up in the Second World War the Roman Catholic State of Croatia. Croatia proved at that time an instrument in the hand of the Vatican to murder or forcibly convert to Roman Catholicism hundreds of thousands of Serbs. The other Common Market nations including Britain bowed to the will of the Pope and Germany in recognising these states as independent nations. It is good to know that the day is coming when the power of the Papacy will be broken though we cannot tell how much more evil it will be permitted to do before that time comes.
Muslim Parliament
Dr Siddiqui who runs the pro-Iranian Muslim Institute, has set up a Muslim Parliament of Great Britain. As he is a radical he may prove a leader of the radical element among the many Muslims in the country. It is to be hoped, however, that the majority of them will not give him their support. So far they appear in general to have continued a law-abiding community. If it was to be otherwise the situation could be very different. The building of so many mosques in the country does not augur well for a nation that was once Christian in its outlook and beliefs. How good it would be if the eyes of the Muslims were opened to see the true Prophet of the Church in the Lord Jesus Christ, and to recognise Mahomet as a false prophet. It is sad to reflect that the majority in the land to which they have come know little, or nothing at all, of the true Prophet of the Church.
Mission News
It was good news to hear that the Immigration Department in Harare had given permission to Mr Neil Murray to engage in full time missionary work for the Free Presbyterian Church. We hope he will enjoy much blessing in his new sphere.
We were also glad to hear that the new church in Nkulumane, Bulawayo was ready for use. Quite a number of our young people live in its vicinity and we trust the Lord will bless the work there.
Mention has been made on many occasions of New Canaan where the Rev. Z. Mazvabo has been working among his own Shona people for the past ten or eleven years. It was interesting to hear how New Canaan got
its name. The people who were resettled there many years ago, had previously lived in Four Mile, an arid, unproductive district where they had been short of food, short of water, and short of arable land. When they were resettled near the great Lundi river, wide and flowing, and found that they were in the midst of a beautiful forest they were overjoyed, and called their new home “New Canaan”.
Alas! Over the years the trees were cut down and now only the roots and stumps and the wooden fences round the farms bear witness to the fact that the countryside was once thickly forested. The recurring drought, year after year, has reduced the Lundi river to pools in the dry season.
The Rev. Z. Mazvabo has recorded a short account of his first introduction to New Canaan:-
“I came to New Canaan in 1981. My wife was teaching at Mapedza School in the Northeast of the country. I went to stay with her there. The Rev. A. B. Ndebele and Elder Mazwi came to survey the area. I thought it remote and isolated. There was a young man, Mike Moyo, teaching in the same school as my wife. He knew I was looking for a place to settle. He came to speak to me and told me that he came from New Canaan, that there was no place of worship there, and that he was sure the people would be pleased if I went there.
We arranged a date when I should go to meet the people. I was very thankful to the Most High for this opening. On the day appointed I went with Mike and he introduced me to the Councillor of the area. He also took me to see his Mother, a kind lady who received me very warmly. I had the feeling that the Lord had guided me to the right place where He wanted me to labour, perhaps like Eliezer when he came to the well in Mesopotamia. New Canaan is about 15 kilometres from a small asbestos-mining town which used to be known as Shabani, but is now called Zvishavane. The road leading to New Canaan is rough and bumpy, a rather neglected road, very tiresome at times. If there is any change over the years it is for the worse, but often when I drive along this road my mind is occupied with the message I have to deliver, or I am thinking about the sick I am visiting, and I hardly notice the condition of the road. The villages of New Canaan are rather crowded. The people are simple, and poor, and when you get to know them they are quite a lovely people, happy and content with their lot.
We talked to a few people on that first day, especially to Mike’s Mother. We agreed that I should go on the following Sabbath to preach the Gospel. Mike’s Mother was to spread the news that a missionary was to come the following Sabbath to hold a service.
On the Sabbath we came, my wife and family and myself. There were four women waiting for us, and a few children. We formed a small congregation and we met under a tree where the Gospel was read and preached.”
If all is well, next month we shall add a little more about Mr Mazvabo’s first Sabbath in New Canaan. J. N.