by Rev. Donald M. Campbell, Zenka
My Dear Friends,
On Thursday, 15th October, we had services at Zenka as appointed by the Synod. Members of our congregations from Katasa, Mabayi, Fudu and Gwampa attended. School time-tables had been adjusted the previous day. By teaching late into the afternoon teachers and some children were able to attend the services which began at 12 noon. We also arranged services at Nkai, Mano Mano and Donsa. May the Lord grant us an out-pouring of His Spirit.
Late that afternoon I set out for Makhasone, about 60 miles away, with Nathaniel Mpofu, student. We stopped for the night at his father’s home about 10 miles due west of Makhasane. Mr Mpofu has recently written his R.J.C. examinations and is awaiting his results. He began studying only a year ago and the normal time taken to do this course is two years. However we hope that he will at least obtain a group which he can keep. He sat six subjects — the number required to obtain his certificate — and he will not be required to re-sit all of the subjects provided he passes at least English and two other subjects.
That evening we arranged for a service to be held at 9.30 a.m. on the following Sabbath at the request of a few who had come for evening worship. These people left the London Missionary Society, or what is now called the United Congregational Church of South Africa, and are completely shepherdless. The reason for their leaving this church, which I wrote about in my 1968 Synod Report, was that they were opposed to the Union which was consumated before the people were aware of what was happening. This group did not wish to be united with the Independent Bantu Church and Congregationalist. While they are not as clear as we would like them to be about this matter, we encourage them to meet regularly at least once every Sabbath for Public Worship and Catechising. We had already sent them two dozen Sindebele Shorter Catechisms.
The following day found us at 8 a.m. at Makhasane School where we spent about 7 hours conducting examinations. While there, we received an invitation from an old man living in Nkobokwe Valley. He is a Fingo and although born in Cape Colony, spent his boy-hood at Bembesi, where he knew the Rev. J. Radasi. When he heard we were connected with the church at Bembesi Cameron School, he sent for us. We had worship at his home and arranged for a service at 2.30 p.m. on Sabbath.
On Saturday we went to Mounduza, 8 miles east of Makhesane, and arranged for a service to be held at 5 p.m. on Sabbath. On the way we had passed two “churches”. One was Seventh Day Adventist, the other the Church of Israel. We decided to go back to see the leaders of the Church of Israel. We had had a long “indaba” or discussion with the S.D.A. leaders in June. We discovered that the leaders of the Church of Israel had all gone, but while we waited at the Store for some purchases they turned up, word having been sent to them that we would like to meet them — bush telegraph! We spent several hours with them. They believe that they are the remnant of Israel — the literal remnant! They have a few ministers, many evangelists and deacons, who wear different kinds of colourful robes. Like Seventh Day Adventists they have an elaborate list of things to eat and not to eat. We heard that they summon their followers by the beating of drums and they also on occasion “gida” or dance. To put the matter mildly they lay emphasis on externals not on sin and salvation. The Person and Work of Christ, the personality and Work of the Holy Spirit do not come much into their reckoning.
On Sabbath we preached at Sengulube on 1 John 2 : 24. There were over 30 hearers. At 12.15 we had a service at Makasane. There were about 16 adults and over 100 children present. At Ngobokwe we preached from Rom. 5 : 15 to over 46 people — men, women and children, though mainly women. When the service was concluded we were invited to a meal of stamped maize and stewed meat in the kind home of the Fingo mentioned earlier. We did not return from Mesunduza until 7 p.m. and would have been really weary but for this meal, as we had eaten nothing since 7 a.m. We thought the food was delicious! At Masunduza we preached on Hebrews 2 : 3 to about 60 people, including 20 men, who seemed to be listening attentively. On this Sabbath 252 souls heard the Word of God. It is sad that they do not have anyone to preach to them regularly in this, as well as in other, places.
I am just preparing to set off again (4th November) to visit the school at Makhasane and spend a few days in the area before the rains make such a visit impossible. Next week, if possible, we hope to go to Donsa and visit a school a day, working back towards Zenka. We hope too, D.V., to hold communion service at Mano Mano from the 26th to the 30th of November, and we are planning to go there a few days earlier in order to visit the homes in the area to encourage people to attend the communion services. “The harvest truly is plenteous but the labourers are few; pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest that he would send forth labourers into his harvest.”
Yours sincerely,
(Rev.) Donald M. Campbell.