The African Continent has provided a great deal of news to other parts of the world during recent times on account of much activity on the political side of affairs. In July, as readers know, when the Congo received independence from the Belgians there was much disorder and trouble to begin with, as the Congolese Army refused to serve under European officers. Other disconcerting activities followed. Then at the end of July, we at home here were shocked to hear and read of serious rioting in Bulawayo, Southern Rhodesia, requiring the employment of troops to bring the Africans involved to order. As the town of Bulawayo is only about 30 miles from the Church’s Mission at Inwenya and is the centre from which our Mission staff at Inwenya, Zenka and Mbuma obtain their supplies of food, medicine and other necessities, the disorders caused us some disquiet. But we should be thankful to the Lord that conditions quietened down by the first of August.
We do not take any public or active part in politics as a Church or on the Mission or through this magazine. But we are permitted to state what is becoming more and more obvious—that the tide of African Nationalism is rising all over Africa and that Southern Rhodesia, where our Mission is, will be no exception to its growing and powerful influence in due course. And we cannot divorce from this striking phase of matters, the hand of God’s providence, as we believe from the Word of God that “The Lord reigneth.” At the same time, let not our people think or conclude at this juncture that our active Christian and Gospel Mission, which is part and parcel of the Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland, will be in anyway adversely affected. We have no warrant to fear this as things are at present. This is partly our reason for writing as we do now. The people of our Church, who are interested and are given to prayer, must wait on the Lord prayerfully in connection with that part of His cause in
Southern Rhodesia connected with us as a branch of Christ’s Church in difficult and momentous times. We trust that the God of Zion will be as a wall of fire round about and the glory in the midst of the Mission; embracing as it does Europeans and Africans endeavouring to serve the one Lord and Master, even Jesus Christ for the furtherance of His Kingdom.
Another matter we would emphasise is that the people of the Church at home and abroad should not in any way lessen their interest in the Mission as to their financial support, but indeed increase their givings. But the Convener of the Foreign Mission Committee deals with this in his customary annual appeal for funds.
Another matter of deep interest relative to all true Scriptural Mission activities such as in Africa, is the establishment and consolidation of an indigenous Free Presbyterian Church in Southern Rhodesia, comprised of African pastors, office-bearers, members and adherents. These having the Word of God, the preaching of the pure gospel of Jesus Christ, the sacraments, and the requisite government and discipline of the New Testament, would thus comprise our Church in Africa. When we make these observations, we do so as stating the ideal purpose of Christian Missions, and the view which has always been commonly held. On the other hand, we know personally godfearing Africans in our Mission who would be sorry indeed to see their European Christian brethren leave them at any time. But here let it be understood that we are not writing officially as from the Synod or Foreign Mission Committee of the Church, but giving our general views on the situation.
As we have stated elsewhere after a visit to our Mission, a great and fundamental service has been and is rendered to the Africans by the teaching staff of Europeans and Africans in the education of the children in our schools and in teacher training. And it cannot be too greatly emphasised that this work, which includes much religious instruction, is absolutely indispensable to fit the rising generation of Africans to shoulder and carry burdens of responsibility in their own land, hitherto almost altogether borne by Europeans. We hope and pray that the Most High will, in His over-ruling providence, preserve and continue the work of the gospel of the Saviour of lost men, and also education and medical aid to our fellow-sinners in Southern Rhodesia.
All the members of our staff out there are engaged in an onerous and worthy task related to the honour of King Jesus and the furtherance of His Kingdom. Albeit this is a Kingdom which
Satan would like to eliminate from the great and attractive African Continent, and elsewhere in the world. But the seed of the Word of the truth of the gospel of Christ has been sown in that land and will grow and prosper in the souls of sinners there, not where and when we think, but according to the Will of God. “They shall come, and shall declare His righteousness unto a people that shall be born, that He hath done this.” (Ps. xxii; 31).
African Situation.
by Rev. A. F. MacDonald, M.A.
Africa has become a centre of attraction among the nations of the world. You may wonder at the strange happenings out here and ask, “Is the spreading of God’s Word having no effect in Africa?”
The Africans are not pleased to see so many white people in their land and they are not now willing to submit to the rule of the white man. Here you may feel like sympathising with them, until you consider how poor Africa would be without the doctors, the nurses, the engineers, the educationalists, and, above all, the true sent messenger of the Word. It is true that in all these departments Africa is progressing, and there are some among her own people who have been truly converted, yet she needs help still and that particularly in the establishing of the Church of God.
At our Mission here there have been no signs of discontent among the pupils and they still give attention to the Word preached and explained. In the towns things are different. Only yesterday I went to Bulawayo to find the streets almost deserted by the Africans; their places of work vacant; and in general a strange sense that plots were being made.
Does all this unrest mean that the Kingdom of God in Africa has lost? No! The trouble is only part of the general “overturning” spoken of in God’s Word, “I will overturn, overturn, overturn, it: and it shall be no more, until he come whose right it is; and I will give it him.” (Ezekiel 21/27). These words were first spoken to Ezekiel to tell him of the great tumults which were to precede the birth of Jesus Christ. And although there had been wars and rumours of war ever since sin entered into the world, there never was such widespread trouble as in the few hundred years before Christ was born in Bethlehem. A similar thing is at work now. God is overturning the nations “until he come,”—not as a little Babe in Bethlehem—not as a
King to reign personally on this earth—but, in the power of the Holy Ghost converting sinners in all nations to Himself. The time is drawing near.
Satan, aware that “his time is short,” is stirring up all enemies of the gospel, but they must be overturned. Romanism—the pope of Rome, the Anti-Christ and all that evil system—must fall: heathenism must fall. Then the world shall enjoy a state of peace the like of which she has never known when all the promises spoken of in the Word of God pertaining to the universal spread of Christ’s power and reign will be fulfilled. This is the time known as the “Millennium”—a thousand years of peace. See Rev. xx; 2. Then the prayer you know so well and have so often repeated, “Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven,” will be fulfilled.
Your secret hope may be that you will be converted then, and therefore you can go on in sin now. You may not see these days, and, even if you do you will know that ALL will not be converted and you may find yourself one of the unconverted. “Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” “Strive to enter in at the strait gate; for many, I say unto you will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.”
Rev. Mr MacDonald sent the following covering note; dated 27th July, 1960.
My dear Mr Sinclair, I thought I would forward this article to you which I am sending for insertion in the Young People’s Magazine. You may find from it any details of the situation here for your comments. Although trouble is getting stronger in Bulawayo itself we are all well here and in quiet teaching as if nothing was happening. The people show no ill will to listening to a white man preaching, but eventually the feeling of discontent is bound to spread. I do hope before that time arrives that we will have been able to do as you determined should be done, consolidate our position as a distinctive witness for the defence of Bible truths. Only last week (Sabbath) at one place (Gobola) I met there a pleasant African woman who had been in contact with some branch called the Apostolics. When I arrived at the Kraal quite unexpectedly, I found her there reading and studying the Word all alone. She told me that since she was forgiven she had no sin and was now perfect! She quoted and showed me the text in Ezekiel, “A new heart will I give you . . .” I tried to speak with her and found her tenacious to the views she had learned.
Excuse this note. It is not meant to be a letter but only a bulletin of affairs here. Old Mpofu is wonderful. Mrs Nicolson was taken to hospital late last night and had an immediate operation for appendicitis, and her daughter saw her and spoke to her within an hour of the operation. We hope she will be spared to us for the need is great of a praying person in our midst.
My regards to all our friends. Yours sincerely,
A. F. MacDonald