Dear LTLA Friends,
Thank you for your prayers for our brothers and sisters in Christ in Zimbabwe as they weathered their second large spike in Covid-19 cases. The lockdown that started at the beginning of July is slowly being eased, with schools reopening next week.
We are also grateful for a diagnosis for Tatenda, an LTLA team member, who collapsed in late April and has had trouble walking since then. A neurologist has determined he has transverse myelitis, swelling of the spinal cord. Please pray that the prescribed medication will bring healing so he can walk without pain or aid from a crutch. I have asked Arthur Nhau, LTLA Director in Chinhoyi, to provide a report on the Training Ministry that he oversees. Below is his report on what God is doing in the midst of challenging circumstances.
From Arthur:
This pandemic has been teaching us how to be creative in doing ministry, as well as trusting more and being hopeful in the Lord. The Bible tells us that Jesus came to earth during the oppressive rule of Rome (Luke 3:1-2) and the Pharisees (Mark 3:6) when conditions were challenging for ministry. If those were ideal conditions for Jesus then this pandemic is a good time for ministry. Below is a group of students that in years past were part of our high school ministry and now are at polytechnics & universities. We are calling them our Fruit Ministry. With the pandemic lockdowns they have had to remain in Chinhoyi, which has given us more time with them. We are continuing to equip them to be followers of Christ who faithfully share the Gospel and can help those who believe to grow in their relationship with Christ. As they prepare to return to their campuses we are praying 2 Timothy 2:1-2 for them.
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| Fruit Ministry Group |
This year, by God’s grace, my wife, Mildred, and I felt called to focus more on the already established disciples and training them to be labourers. We are so humbled by the men and women the Lord has entrusted to us, as they challenge us to depend more on the one who called us. In this update I will share a little about three of the six that we are training and who are challenging us by their faith in the Lord.
Simba finished college in May as one of the top students in his class and was offered a job at a leading company in Zimbabwe. After giving this much thought, he came to me and said “I am not yet sure about my future but I want to commit myself to being trained in disciple making so I have turned down the job offer." Pray with us that, "he who started a good work in Simba will carry it to completion until the day of Christ Jesus." (Philippians 1:6)
Tatenda is the type of man who goes an extra mile in serving the Lord. He challenges me with honesty and vulnerability in sharing heart issues that many would keep to themselves. He loves recruiting others to Bible studies, and God has given him faithful men that he is encouraging in the Lord. Four months ago, he suddenly collapsed and just this month was diagnosed with inflammation in his spine. He has struggled to walk but is persevering with the Lord's help. We pray that God’s grace and power will continue to flow through Tatenda in his weakness. (2 Corinthians 12:8-9)
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| Training Ministry Men (L to R): Zviko, Simba & Tatenda |
Mildred is working with three ladies, Marvelous, Prestege and Stella. Marvelous and Prestege have been involved with LTLA since they were in high school, and both have graduated from university. Stella plays a motherly role in Mildred’s life and she is a humble woman who fears the Lord. Stella’s desire is to share the Gospel with widows, as she is a widow herself. Late last year, a widow whom she had discipled passed away and at her funeral Stella met this widow's neighbor. This neighbor gave a touching testimony of how the deceased widow was teaching her what she was learning from Stella. The neighbor is now being discipled by Stella. Pray with us that these ladies continue to be a light to many, sharing the good news of salvation through Jesus. (Acts 13:47)
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| Training Ministry Women (L to R): Marvelous, Mildred, Prestege & Stella |
Our family is doing well. With schools closed, our children are doing online lessons, which has created more family time. We ask for your prayers of protection and wisdom on how to be effective in these difficult times.
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