by Rev. D. A. Ross
Dear Friends, Here are a number of news items which I am sure will interest you but above all we hope provoke you to prayer.
As you already know, all our Mission schools are closed in the Zenka and Mbuma areas; but, generally speaking, the nucleus of the Mission, the Church, remains fairly active. For this we are thankful to the Most High. However, we have to report that a number of our small outstation churches have closed down, and the few people who once gathered for worship no longer do. The main reason for this seems to be fear caused by threats from terrorists. Some of these congregations are Somakatana, Magasi, Katasa and Donsa Dam. Two places of worship not far from Mbuma, Lutsha and Bhubu were both burnt down. The place of worship at Lutsha was a thatched classroom built in Rev. J. Fraser’s time. Altogether four class-rooms were burnt at Lutsha. The following Sabbath our people worshipped under a tree, but not many weeks after, the seasonal rains began, and they asked permission from the local school council to use the two remaining school rooms, and our Lutsha congregation now worship in one of the remaining classrooms. At Bhubu, all class rooms were burnt down as were also the teacher’s cottages. Eventually, however, one of the professing women in the congregation opened her home to be used for the services on Sabbath. It appears that the best policy would be to have places of worship built specifically for that purpose, rather than to use class-rooms in school locations, as schools are often burnt down by terrorists in their animosity against anything governmental. Had we had buildings for the sole purpose of worship, at this stage, they would probably not have been burnt down. However, the future may have a different tale to tell.
One bright factor amidst all our troubles was the ordination and induction of the Rev. B. B. Dube, who is now settled at Zenka. For this we are deeply thankful to the Most High. Of this happy occasion I will say no more, since Rev. Ndebele has written to our magazine regarding the matter.
With the destruction of schools, hospitals, industries, stores, the sad effect of the local population is not hard to imagine. One obvious effect is that many are robbed of their normal means of livelihood. Then following hard on the heels of such acts is Martial Law. The whole of the Nkai Tribal Trust Land where part of our Mission is established, is under Martial Law. The pity is that many of the local people little understand the aggressive nature of war and are perplexed at the measure of Martial Law. Many people have no means of hearing or reading the daily news, and some of the older people who have little education are, at times, exceedingly perplexed as to what is taking place. The Lord’s people are, however, greatly comforted from the Word of God. With all our troubles in this part of the world, and some of these are terrible indeed, especially for families who lose their loved ones in the war, and more awful, those slain by the most brutal barbarities imaginable, yet when one reads about the awful purges by Stalin, and the scale of national suffering under communist dictatorships, the sufferings of Rhodesia seem small by comparison; and we pray to God it will not accelerate, and that the time is not far off in His purposes to remove all such suffering.
At Ingwenya Mission we have been advised by Chief Ndiweni to build a security fence, and after discussion at our Field Committee we decided to proceed with the project, which should be completed in a few days time. In Bulawayo, although it is one of the areas of terrorist activity, and many poor people the victims of their activity, yet for all this, law and order prevails, and there is no Martial Law, which is cause for thankfulness. Our services proceed as usual. In fact, in the kind Providence of the Lord, we have been enabled to open a new preaching station at Methuen, which lies about twenty kilometres from Bulawayo. The attendance is poor. We began with about sixteen adults, and now approximately eight come each Sabbath. Our hope is that this will be a permanent station and that many souls will be brought to join the armies of the Living God.
One last matter I wish to mention is the kindness of the Dutch people who constantly forward parcels of clothing to our Mission. Especially in times when the present political situation brings many forms of poverty, clothing is a most welcome aid for those in straits. Also, we have opportunity to give clothing to various organisations, for example to an African Home for the Physically Handicapped, where at the same time we distributed suitable Scripture literature. We look to God for the increase in our sowing the good seed of the Kingdom of Heaven.
Our particular wish to all our friends is as in Ephesians 6:18: “Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints,” and what need in our case when in one congregation, almost everybody stopped coming to Church for fear of their lives. However, the congregation is back to normal numbers due, no doubt, to prayers being answered for the Church in Africa. Other congregations, as I have said, have ceased to function. Some belonging to our congregations disappeared. Others have turned back to the world. Indeed, what need for your prayers day and night, making mention of us always at a Throne of Grace. Paul said to those at Rome: “that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers.” “Brethren pray for us,” because “the effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.” (James 5:16).
The cross of Christ is the sweetest burden that ever I bear; it is such a burden as wings are to a bird, or sails to a ship, to carry me forward to my harbour.
Samuel Rutherford