Dear Friends,
At the time of writing (12 April 1978) twenty of our schools are closed due to terrorist activity. Gwampa, the last of our out-schools, is still open, for how long we cannot tell. Ingwenya Primary and Secondary Schools still function and have as yet been saved from the close proximity of terrorism. On the medical side we are able to engage in clinical work. The clinic is situated in the grounds of the former hospital at Mbuma, and deals with minor ailments, while any serious cases are taken by Mission transport to either Nkai Hospital or Mpilo, depending on the nature of the illness.
Terrorists have done considerable damage to some of our schools, burning these to ashes as also school books and Bibles, but for most our schools simply close down, and this not without threats to teachers of one kind or another.
In the purge by terrorists, some of our church people have been beaten. However, other poor Africans outwith our Church and in our area of activity have had a sad and terrible end: burnt alive, beaten to death, others slowly mutilated to die a terrible death. To the terrorist, life is cheap, but little wonder when communistic philosophy is that man is nothing more than an animal, hence with the greatest of ease, sinful man can promote his “bloody revolution.” One sad aspect of the present situation is that civilians become entangled between terrorists and security forces. We read too in the Press, of poor Africans killed in the cross-fire of Security Forces and terrorists or killed while running with and assisting terrorists. For many Africans it is death in one form or other. How tragic, but sad, that of those who escape, so few turn to God in their trouble, and some are ready to forsake the little religion they have.
One alarming aspect of terrorist activity in Rhodesia is the report that terrorists are advocating that the Church is for old people and that the young should not be asked or encouraged to go to Church, but lead the life they wish, a sign surely of communistic indoctrination. Another sign of communistic activity in Rhodesia is the attempted total destruction of civilisation in every form, no doubt with the intention to raise from the ashes their own corrupt form of government.
However, although we are beset on every side with evils of various kinds, and the gospel hindered in a variety of ways, it is cause for thankfulness that the gospel is still preached. Of the gospel preached perhaps a synopsis from the Bulawayo Communion services would be of interest to our readers.
At our communion in December 1977, Rev. A. Ndebele preached on Thursday from Jer. 14:7-8. “O Lord, though our iniquities testify against us yet thou, O Lord, art in the midst of us and we are called by thy name, leave us not.” Sin brings the wrath of God, manifested in the sufferings of mankind; but, worse still, God has to a great degree forsaken His Church. So few born again, so few who are truly converted. Yes, we are known as a faithful Church, preaching the Word according to the Scriptures. Yet why are so few turned to God? Because of our sin. In the midst of this our trouble, believers continue to cry to God: “Leave us not.”
Rev. P. Mzamo preached on Friday from Luke 10:42. “But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part which shall not be taken away from her.” The necessity to be at the feet of Jesus. There was a degree of worldliness in Martha’s heart, and therefore she was over careful about lawful engagements. This spirit kept her from the feet of Jesus. Mary at the feet of Christ signifies how she was fully satisfied with Christ. All who are at the feet of Christ manifest their desire for holiness. By being at the feet of Jesus, we will there grow in grace and obtain strength to stand faithful to Christ.
The Fellowship meeting was from Romans 8:5. “For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.” Some of the remarks on this portion were as follows.
The person born again hungers after the things of heaven. Such are called by the Word of God and by the Spirit of God. They feel so sinful that they think themselves no better than dogs. They crave the blessing of God on all they do, even when they go to their fields. Those of the flesh when they are afraid, some of them like Saul will go to the diviners, others like Judas will hang themselves, others like Adam will hide themselves, but those born of the Spirit when they are afraid they will like David and Peter turn to the Lord. Hypocrites mind the things of the flesh, although it may appear they do not, but basically they seek all things for themselves — the flesh. They will not say so, but this is their nature. When hypocrites are caught in open sin, they will make a big noise, call for witnesses, deviate, cheat. But what of the child of God? He will be as the Publican, no noise, simply “God be merciful to me a sinner.”
On Saturday, Rev. A. Ndebele spoke from Matt. 25:6. The parable of the five wise and five foolish virgins. The five foolish virgins are the false professors of religion and like the falling star on the horizon will never be seen again. Many Missions come to Africa in the name of Christ, but only to take Africans from one dismal darkness (ancestor worship) into another dismal darkness (a false profession of religion). The five wise virgins were born of the Holy Spirit. The solemn accusations of the Word of God, they pin these to themselves; “Thou art the man.” But they find safety in Christ Jesus.
On Sabbath morning Rev. P. Mzamo preached from John 17:4. “I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do.” From the womb to the tomb Christ gave glory to His Father. Christ has come into the world to restore that which He has not taken away. He suffered and died for His people, He paid their debts, He saved them. He restored to them a lost glory.
After the action service there was a “fence” set round the Lord’s Table which Rev. Mzamo said was the Word of God, debarring the unconverted, and encouraging the converted to sit at the Lord’s Table. He spoke particularly of the murmurings of the Pharisees and their fault finding. Would we find fault with the Word of God, the Gospel, the Law of God, with Christ as the Son of God and as the Son of Man, His miraculous birth, His finished work? — then stay away from the Lord’s Table. Those who maintain that the African way to worship is by the Spirits of the Ancestors, and the European way to worship God is by Christ Jesus are debarred from the Lord’s Table. Those who find the Free Presbyterian Church too strict and are not happy with the way the Church keeps the Lord’s Day, allowing no Sabbath travelling, no visiting, no work, yet you admire other Churches that allow all these: you are debarred from the Lord’s Table. On the other hand those who have no fault to find with the Gospel, rather they find fault with themselves and mourn over sin in themselves, and complain over their carnality. They never find fault with Christ. They wish to worship God through Christ. Such may come to the Lord’s Table.
Rev. A. Ndebele on Sabbath evening preached from Psalm 102:13, “Thou shalt arise and have mercy on Zion: for the time to favour her yea, the set time, is come.” Zion, the Church, is despised by the world. It often happens that the world sees sin in the Church. There are those who start out well, and yet go back to the world. There are ministers who leave the Church and seek greatness in the world. These are false professors, and because of this, Zion has become despicable in the eyes of the world and is despised. But when the Lord will arise to have mercy on His Church, by His Holy Spirit He will raise up truly converted sinners, and send converted ministers to the Church. The Word of God says that Jesus is mighty to save. He will yet arise and have mercy on His Zion: will you not come with us. Oh, come to Christ. The door is open to the worst of sinners. Come as you are; not trying to improve yourself; come even smelling of sin.
On Monday, Rev. P. Mzamo preached from Rev. 2:10, “Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.” The fears of the Church; the fear caused by irregularities in one’s own life, and the fear caused by persecution. The call is for us to be faithful in every situation. Nothing disgraces the Church more than when professing people fall into sin, or when elders and ministers backslide. “Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.”
Yours sincerely,
DONALD A. ROSS.