Ordination and Induction of Rev N Sibanda
The Zimbabwe Presbytery of the Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland met at Mbuma Church on 5 December 2013 for the ordination and induction of Mr Nopel Sibanda to be Pastor of the Mbuma Congregation.
On November 14 the Presbytery had met with the congregation, who filled the church. A total of 82 communicants and 112 adherents signed a call to Mr N Sibanda to become their pastor. As there were no dissents, the Presbytery was most willing to sustain the call, and Mr Sibanda indicated his readiness to accept it. Thus 5 December 2013 was set as the date for Mr Sibanda’s ordination and induction. Due notice was given to the congregation.
The Mbuma congregation had been without a pastor since the retirement of Rev P Mzamo in December 2006. He had served the congregation faithfully for over 40 years. There was an evident sense of eager anticipation when the Presbytery met with the congregation on December 5. People came from almost all parts of the country where our congregations are, including Zvishavane and Donsa. Quite a large crowd came to witness the proceedings.
The Officer of Court was instructed to go to the door of the church and make a proclamation three times. After having done as instructed, he reported that no one appeared to object.
The Moderator, Rev M Mloyi, then went to the pulpit and preached from 1 Peter 5:1-3. When public worship was ended, he gave a brief narrative of the steps leading to this point. He then directed to Mr Sibanda the questions appointed to be put to probationers before they are ordained and inducted. Having given satisfactory answers, Mr Sibanda signed the formula in the presence of the congregation. He then knelt down and the ministers of the Presbytery put their hands on his head and ordained him to the office of the gospel ministry by prayer. Following the ordination prayer, the Moderator, in the name of the Presbytery and by the authority of the Divine Head of the Church, formally inducted Mr Nopel Sibanda to the pastoral charge of the Mbuma Congregation. All members of the Presbytery welcomed the new minister to the Presbytery by giving him the right hand of fellowship.
Thereafter, Mr Sibanda was suitably addressed by Rev S Khumalo and Rev A B Maclean exhorted the congregation in appropriate terms. The name of Rev N Sibanda was added to the Presbytery roll. After the formal meeting was concluded with praise, everyone had the opportunity to greet Mr Sibanda at the church door.
Food was then served from the school and manse, by the congregation, to all who attended. The first heavy downpour of the season then followed,
falling on the dry ground. May the Lord Himself bless Rev N Sibanda and his family, and above all, his labours in the Lord’s vineyard. “He shall come down like rain upon the mown grass: as showers that water the earth” (Ps 72:6). So may the blessing be in Mbuma!
(Rev) S Khumalo
Free Presbyterian Publications
Brothers Ebenezer and Ralph Erskine were among the most eminent ministers in eighteenth-century Scotland. Ebenezer Erskine’s Works, in three volumes, each about 500 pages long, have already been reprinted by FPP. We expect that sets will again be available about the time this Magazine appears. Ralph Erskine’s Works are in six volumes, each has about 650 pages. A very few copies of volumes 2, 3, 4 and 6 are still available (at £16 each). However, the complete set is being reprinted and should be available, DV, at the end of March. Copies may be ordered from the F P Bookroom.
Singapore Congregation
The Australia and New Zealand Presbytery wish to alert the people of the Church to the aspiration of the Singapore congregation to have a place of worship of their own. The congregation has been renting various premises in the approximately 14 years since being accepted as a congregation of the Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland. Donations can be made via the General Treasurer.
(Rev) G B Macdonald, Clerk of Presbytery
Jewish and Foreign Missions Fund
By appointment of Synod, the first of the year’s two special collections for the Jewish and Foreign Missions Fund is due to be taken in congregations during March.
W Campbell, General Treasurer