Rev Neil M Ross
Israel. The Westminster Confession of Faith in Hebrew is almost ready for printing, Rev John Goldby reported after returning in June from a visit to Israel. It would have gone to press sooner but for a shortage of suitable editors to help with adding the Scripture proof texts. There is great need of getting the Confession into the hands of the Jewish people, says Mr Goldby, because its Reformed doctrine is precisely what has been blessed in the past to many Jews, and is, “we believe, the same doctrine that will be used in the saving of ‘all Israel'”.
The revision of the Delitzsch Hebrew New Testament continues steadily and it is expected that the Epistle to the Romans, which is almost complete, will soon be sent to the Trinitarian Bible Society (TBS). The members of the translation team are to be commended, says the report, for their determination to express the meaning faithfully and accurately. There is much need for the sound translation principles which secure faithful translations of the Scriptures to be more widely known among the Jews, says Mr Goldby. It is hoped that the new “TBS Israel” website under development (to be named tbshebrewbible.org), will help to meet this need.
Zimbabwe. The new system of governance for the Mission institutions is now well established and appears to be operating smoothly, albeit new situations put it to the test and show that the learning process will need to go on. Of course, the hospital, high school, primary schools and orphanage are no longer overseen by the Field Committee (which is now dissolved), but each of these entities is managed by a Board of Governors. The main objective of each board, within its own sphere and according to its constitution, is “to promote the knowledge of the gospel of Jesus Christ by all legal and practicable means”. Adherence to this guiding principle will, with the divine blessing, make each institution an effective handmaid to the gospel.
Our four ministers in Zimbabwe, Rev S Khumalo in Bulawayo, Rev M Mloyi in Zenka, Rev A B MacLean in Ingwenya and Rev N Sibanda in Mbuma, continue to bear heavy burdens of work in preaching the gospel. Each minister has outstations and a wide area to supervise. Mr Khumalo also has the oversight of our New Canaan Mission. They are indebted to many elders and five catechists for their faithful assistance in maintaining the regular round of services. It is heartening that the attendances are good at our new church in Zvishavane. Rev A B MacLean has visited the remnant congregation in our former Mission in Sengera, Kenya, and ministered there several times on behalf of the Zimbabwe Presbytery.
The opening of the new Rural Health Clinic at Lutsha on June 23 went well, in the kind providence of the Most High. It was an important day for our Mbuma Mission Hospital, which will manage the clinic (about 11 miles away). It was also an important day for the local community, which has a significant stake in it. The opening ceremony, to which hundreds of people gathered, began with worship conducted by Rev John MacLeod, Convener of the Jewish and Foreign Mission Committee, and the ribbon was cut by the Zimbabwean Minister for Health, Mr David Perirenayatwa. The master of ceremonies for the day was Mr Melusi Mpofu, the Mission Administrator.
Our translation team, based at the Zvishavane Manse, has now completed half of the Old Testament in its new translation of the Shona Bible. Its new translation of the Shona New Testament has, of course, been already widely distributed. The TBS reports that it has received several encouraging reports about its reception.
In Thembisio Children’s Home, a sad blank has been made by the death of Mrs E Ndlovu, House Mother in House No 1. At the time of writing, Miss Norma MacLean is due to return to Ingwenya to her Deputy Head duties at John Tallach High School after a well-earned furlough.
May the Lord bless the work of those who “labour in the word and doctrine” – and others who care for the sick, teach our pupils, translate the Scriptures, and administer Mission business. “Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ” (Gal 6:2).