Lord Runcie, the former Archbishop of Canterbury, and the present Archbishop, Dr Carey, have one thing in common at least, that is, that they hate fundamentalism. Referring to the text in 2 Timothy, “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God,” Lord Runcie said that out of this text comes the absurd fundamentalist belief that the words of the Bible cannot be faulty or in error. He was giving his presidential address to the Classical Association. He said that the Church owed a debt of gratitude to the classics, because with the help of the classics the Church had repeatedly rescued itself from fundamentalism. It is obvious from this that poor, spiritually-blind, Dr Runcie, has never been delivered from the mythical world of the classics. Had he studied the Bible as well as he has studied the classics, it may well be that his eyes would have been opened to see the glory of those truths concerning the Person and work of the Divine Redeemer which the fundamentalists hold dear. He may also have learned that, in holding fast to the Word of God in the entirety, he had a sure anchor to which he could hold fast in passing through the valley of the shadow of death.
Mission News
We are pleased to hear that Mr and Mrs Murray have secured a small house in Famona, a pleasant suburb of Bulawayo. There is quite a large garden of $\frac{3}{4}$ of an acre with fruit trees growing in it, and a place for a borehole, which is reassuring as water is very scarce in Bulawayo. Both water and electricity are rationed. ‘We pray that the Lord will bless us in all our concerns for the good of His cause,’ Neil writes. Apart from work in Binga there is much to be done in and around Bulawayo. There are at least four places where services are held regularly, Umguza, Llewelling Barracks, Lobengula Church and Thembisio Children’s Home. Mr Ndebele mentions in a report that when taking a Prayer-Meeting in the hall attached to Thembisio it is not unusual to have 700 adults and children. On Sabbath the children and some of the workers attend the services in Lobengula.
Neil says in a recent letter that he had paid another visit to Binga with fifty bags of maize, twenty-five bags for Lubu and twenty-five for Samende. In Samende he spoke on Isaiah 55 verse 3, and in Lubu he spoke on John 3 verse 16. The people were very attentive. One poor man said he had not eaten for four days. Some are looking for wild berries, others are eating grass.
It was good to hear that at Ingwenya supplies of mealie-meal and sugar had been secured for the new term D.V. On the other hand it was alarming to hear that the Kyle Dam which gives the appearance of being a huge lake is completely dry. The Triangle cane sugar estates were irrigated from the dam.
We hear that the Rev. Z. Mazvabo has been in South Africa seeing an eye specialist. It would indeed be welcome news to hear that, if it is the Lord’s will, something can be done to prevent the deterioration of his eyesight. Mr Mazvabo has two elders, Mr Fanuel Sibanda and Mr Naison Siziba, but there are eight places of worship. What a large field there is for the Church in Zimbabwe, in Malawi and in Kenya. The Saviour commanded “Pray ye therefore, the Lord of the Harvest that he send forth labourers into the harvest.” Mr Dick Vermeulen is spending three weeks in Malawi and three weeks in Kenya before reporting home to the Synod.
I omitted to say earlier that Mr Murray was highly appreciative of gifts received from Mr Rambottom’s congregation, and gifts from two other English friends. J.N.