Rev D A Ross
After the absence of such meetings for three years due to the Covid pandemic, the return to normality was a great pleasure for the Mbuma Zending Committee as well as for the nearly 3000 people who came to Gorinchem, on 27 April 2022, for the Mbuma Mission Day. It was also a great pleasure for myself as I mingled with the people and addressed the large gathering.
The Chairman, Ds Van Voorden, pastor of the Gereformeerde Gemeente in Nederland in Leerdam, said in his introduction that he had feared that the absence of a Mission Day for three years may well have impacted on the number of those attending as well as the donations. He was overjoyed to see that this was not the case. Despite the long absence of the mission meetings, the enthusiasm of the people was unabated and seemed a token of the Lord’s approval for such work as promotes the welfare of those in need, especially when it contributes to the spiritual good of sinners.
The collection that day was €51 000 which did not include money from those who specifically sold off their merchandise for the Mbuma Mission. This was similar, I suppose, to those who sold their lands in the early days of the New Testament Church and laid the sum at the Apostles’ feet for the furtherance of mission work (Acts 4:34,35).
It is a remarkable providence, indeed one of many, in the life of our Church work in Africa, that financial and other forms of support from Holland have continued. The first Mbuma Zending Meeting was in 1964, and there was hearty support from friends in Holland before then. In view of this we have reason to keep reminding ourselves that, without this long history of support, we would not be in the position as a Church to maintain our mission in Africa. Moreover, there is a greater giving besides donations of money and other material benefits – people giving their working lives to serve in our Mission, including those parts which serve as handmaids to the gospel.
In reminding ourselves of the vast amount of work our Dutch friends engage in, we in no way forget the ongoing contributions of our own people in the homeland and from other parts of the world to support the Mission. Nor do we forget the greater value of their pleading at a throne of grace for the success of the gospel. It is ultimately the gospel that the Lord, by His Holy Spirit, makes effectual in saving lost sinners.
During my visit, one matter of many which greatly impressed me was the large number of children at the Mission meeting. It was a pleasing sight to see parents with their young children, some little ones in their arms and others in pushchairs. We could not but think of the blessing, “Lo, children are an heritage of the Lord; and the fruit of the womb is His reward” (Ps 127:3). The glorious end we desire is that many of these little ones will yet be among those that Psalm 22:30 speaks of: “A seed shall serve Him; it shall be accounted to the Lord for a generation.” How awful to live in an age when abortionists promote the killing of little babies in the womb. On the other hand, how pleasant to see so many little ones affectionately cared for and brought to a place where the name of Christ is proclaimed! It reminded me of the little children on our Mission in Zimbabwe who are brought up under the good news of the gospel; many of them, we have reason to hope, will be followers of Christ Jesus.
Six speakers in turn addressed the large gathering from a passage of Scripture with the prime intention to promote the spread of the gospel and the other activities associated with the Mission. Five of the speakers were ministers of the gospel, and the other a schoolteacher, who spoke especially for the children.
I wish to emphasise the kindly reception I received from the Mbuma Zending Committee and many of the people, whom I have come to know over the years. The excellent interpreters not only translated my address but also translated from Dutch to English to enable me to follow the Bible-centred addresses of the other speakers.
The time came to disperse after my three days in Holland, during which I was shown much kindness by Mr J Voortman and his family in Rijssen, and our chauffeur, Mr B Koopman, did not spare himself over many miles of travel. Eventually arriving safely at Inverness airport, I was met by Rev N M Ross, who saw me away three days previously, and some hours later, I arrived home safely in Laide. Looking beyond all these caring friends, we have to look higher to the good Lord, from whom every good and perfect gift comes. Above all, we look to the Lord to use these endeavours, at the time of the Mbuma Zending meeting, for the furtherance of His Kingdom. May He graciously hear the petition, “Thy Kingdom come” (Mt 6:10).