Brothers and Sisters in Christ
I hope you are all doing well both in spirit and flesh. I have attached my October Report. I have failed to attached photos due to network problem. Hopefully I shall attach them next time.
Alec
October Report, 2015
Co-workers in Christ
We had our last Leadership Seminar in October 5-9, 2015. In some of Leadership Seminars I only have pastors and their wives. We talk a lot about leadership development and ministries. The October Leadership Seminar embraces all Church leadership, that is, pastors, elders, deacons and their wives. We also have the leaders for Youth Ministries, Women’s Ministries and Children Ministries. Usually our first day is for praying and fasting for our Mission. We pray for quite a number of things such as unity, boldness, vision, provision and the like. For the following two days I offer leadership lessons and counseling. The lessons were so helpful and very applicable in our African setting. We had group discussions almost every lesson and I was so inspired with their rich feedbacks. I learned a lot from their views, knowledge and insight.
Also I had One-on-One pastoral counseling with some of the pastors. I often say that counseling is one of the hardest ministries because it involves the gift of listening and wisdom from the above. Some of the counselors (including me) sometimes are too quick to answer a counselee before seeking spiritual guidance and discernment. I always advise my pastors and their wives to seek God’s guidance and discernment in our counseling sessions.
On the last day we normally have general evaluation and discussions about God’s work in our Mission. We looked at where we were most successful and failure, and what must be done. We came up with some logistic and strategic plans to further improve some of the ministries. I reminded the leaders that whatever plans we may have we need to present them to God because He is the One who determines the course. We can then have confidence in the Lord like the apostle Paul in Philippians 4:13 who said, “I can do everything through him who gives me strength.”
During our lunch hour, a blind couple came to me and my wife and presented their problem which needed immediate solution. They were worried about their huts’ roofs for a Kitchen and bedroom for the kids which were destroyed by the termites. They needed to be repaired and rethatched before the rain falls. They did not have money to hire someone to do the job. After praying together, I said I would present the problem to the rest of the leaders. It was unbelievable! We contributed enough money to purchase thatching grass and a few brothers from neighboring Churches volunteered to reconstruct and rethatch the roofs. In addition to that, we came up with an idea of building a permanent structure for them. Each and every leader pledged building materials. We promised to build a two roomed house next year. I pray that we will be faithful to our pledges.
.For all those who are interested in supporting Zimbabwe ministry, please make your donations to:
Jill Hartzell
Good Neighbor Network
2445 Sw Crestdale Dr
Portland, OR 97225.
email:hartzz1@comcast.net
In His Service
Alec
