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Reaping In Difficult Times
African Harvest Cry offerings have begun to flow into the International Office as churches all around respond to the call to give graciously in support of one of the greatest revivals Africa has ever known. As we give we are supporting Harvest Outreach, Leadership Development for our pastors, and Building Churches that are needed so desperately. Many are aware of violence and civil war that erupts in African nations at times. Amazingly in the midst of violence the Gospel thrives through indigenous believers that are able to speak a witness even while bullets fly and terror threatens. Let me share from three of our National Leaders in Africa.
In Liberia, Overseer Ferdinand Weah was literally held at gun point in his house with his wife and family during one civil war. The soldiers took all of his money, his car, and all the furniture they could carry away, and the Weah’s rejoiced that no one was harmed. During that period of time the national church could not hold convention for five years as war paralyzed the land. Nevertheless Brother Weah led our pastors to have courage and proclaim the gospel even as the war was raging. Today Liberia’s ministry is solid and growing through the nation as peace has come once more.
In Rwanda some may remember the deadly war over a decade ago between the Hutu and Tutsi tribes. Overseer Radius Nkundabera has written recently explaining how this trauma still weighs heavy on his people. He states, “I am also requesting for prayers especially for the Nation of Rwanda where we have begun a one week mourning period for the 1 million lives who perished during the Genocide which took place here in 1994.”
Brother Nkundabera goes on to say, “I am also requesting you to pray for the Rwanda Government and the church in general here in Rwanda.The politicians have made a law and ordered the churches to work to solve the problems of the widows of the genocide by building for them houses and so on. In this case they want to see the role of the church as soon as possible in solving this problem.” Our ministries in Rwanda have aided orphans and estranged family members all these years after the strife. And our work continues to grow there today.
In Kenya Overseer Cyril Odendo reports peace is being restored after riots and violence brought the nation to a stand still last year. He said, “Just for information the Church of God of Prophecy Kenya has more than eighteen (18) out of about forty two tribes (42) in Kenya. You can imagine the fighting among the tribes and so the hatred could have easily gotten into the church, but we thank God all is well.”
Brother Odendo testified, “On 28th February 2008 the two Protagonists agreed to sign a Peace accord and within one week parliament was recalled… Our country has started a healing process with several challenges but I trust your continual prayers will help us overcome them. Things had been so bad it was impossible to plan anything because of the suspense and hence we had to cancel our National Convention.”
From each of these three nations it is easy to see that circumstances can be extremely difficult for ministry in Africa. Yet through it all the progress in outreach and church planting has never stopped. Your African Harvest Cry gifts are supporting dedicated and faithful messengers of the gospel who are reaching the lost in spite of great trauma at times. Harvest Partner churches can send this offering as a Harvest Partner Level Two offering. Individual donors and churches that are not Harvest Partners can send this offering as a Helping Hands offering. Both avenues should be clearly designated as “African Harvest Cry” offerings. Let’s help our African Leaders reap all they can even though there are difficulties.
African Harvest Cry offerings have begun to flow into the International Office as churches all around respond to the call to give graciously in support of one of the greatest revivals Africa has ever known. As we give we are supporting Harvest Outreach, Leadership Development for our pastors, and Building Churches that are needed so desperately. Many are aware of violence and civil war that erupts in African nations at times. Amazingly in the midst of violence the Gospel thrives through indigenous believers that are able to speak a witness even while bullets fly and terror threatens. Let me share from three of our National Leaders in Africa.In Liberia, Overseer Ferdinand Weah was literally held at gun point in his house with his wife and family during one civil war. The soldiers took all of his money, his car, and all the furniture they could carry away, and the Weah’s rejoiced that no one was harmed. During that period of time the national church could not hold convention for five years as war paralyzed the land. Nevertheless Brother Weah led our pastors to have courage and proclaim the gospel even as the war was raging. Today Liberia’s ministry is solid and growing through the nation as peace has come once more.In Rwanda some may remember the deadly war over a decade ago between the Hutu and Tutsi tribes. Overseer Radius Nkundabera has written recently explaining how this trauma still weighs heavy on his people. He states, “I am also requesting for prayers especially for the Nation of Rwanda where we have begun a one week mourning period for the 1 million lives who perished during the Genocide which took place here in 1994.”Brother Nkundabera goes on to say, “I am also requesting you to pray for the Rwanda Government and the church in general here in Rwanda.The politicians have made a law and ordered the churches to work to solve the problems of the widows of the genocide by building for them houses and so on. In this case they want to see the role of the church as soon as possible in solving this problem.” Our ministries in Rwanda have aided orphans and estranged family members all these years after the strife. And our work continues to grow there today.
In Kenya Overseer Cyril Odendo reports peace is being restored after riots and violence brought the nation to a stand still last year. He said, “Just for information the Church of God of Prophecy Kenya has more than eighteen (18) out of about forty two tribes (42) in Kenya. You can imagine the fighting among the tribes and so the hatred could have easily gotten into the church, but we thank God all is well.”
Brother Odendo testified, “On 28th February 2008 the two Protagonists agreed to sign a Peace accord and within one week parliament was recalled… Our country has started a healing process with several challenges but I trust your continual prayers will help us overcome them. Things had been so bad it was impossible to plan anything because of the suspense and hence we had to cancel our National Convention.”
From each of these three nations it is easy to see that circumstances can be extremely difficult for ministry in Africa. Yet through it all the progress in outreach and church planting has never stopped. Your African Harvest Cry gifts are supporting dedicated and faithful messengers of the gospel who are reaching the lost in spite of great trauma at times. Harvest Partner churches can send this offering as a Harvest Partner Level Two offering. Individual donors and churches that are not Harvest Partners can send this offering as a Helping Hands offering. Both avenues should be clearly designated as “African Harvest Cry” offerings. Let’s help our African Leaders reap all they can even though there are difficulties.