Newfrontiers Magazine
[April - June 2009 - Volume 3 Issue 11]
Zimbabwe Update
In December last year, an appeal was made to all Newfrontiers churches to give towards relieving the crisis in Zimbabwe.
As churches in Zimbabwe we felt that it was important to intervene and bring relief to the current crisis while continuing with our focus on bringing long-term heart change through the continued work of raising elders, planting churches, and equipping individuals to apply God's Word practically in the areas of farming, education, health and family. It was therefore the intention that, while most of the funds raised would go towards the current crisis, a substantial portion would go towards longer term intervention of developing and distributing materials for Education, Health, Education and Family God's Way. We thought we were exceeding expectations when we worked on a budget of £50,000. Imagine our surprise, joy and overwhelming gratitude at God's goodness when we saw the offering climbing to £200,000 then £300,000 and now edging towards £450,000!
Life Changing
We are able to feed families in all our rural churches as well as members of the surrounding communities, in the critical period before harvest. Food distribution to rural sites is currently underway, with members of urban churches forming part of the distribution teams. Seed was able to be distributed at the end of last year, in time for families to plant and yield a crop this season. Two water points are being built in the areas around Harare to provide clean water and thus prevent the spread of cholera.
On the more sustainable front, three development streams have been launched at the Farming God's Way Champions Conference this March. These streams represent the launch of projects in Health, Family and Education that will be field tested and hopefully ready to be communicated on a wider scale in September. In addition to this, we see the developing and appointing of elders as one of our top priorities in achieving our faith goal of 50 churches by the end of 2010. It is only through the church that real lasting life-change can happen. We need to see leaders raised up who are passionate not just about theology in general but also about our core values and 'way' of building church. Various initiatives being developed and rolled out by Newfrontiers are intended to achieve this end.
On behalf of all the Newfrontiers churches in Zimbabwe, I would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to our brothers and sisters across Newfrontiers who gave so generously. What an amazing privilege to experience what it means to be part of a family of churches together on a mission. Please continue to pray that God's Kingdom would be extended forcefully in Zimbabwe and the region!
To read further Newfrontiers Magazines & Publications click here
Newfrontiers is a worldwide family of churches together on a mission
Foundations for Farming is an apostolic initiative for preaching the gospel, strengthening & planting churches and extending the kingdom of God with an emphasis on sustainable agriculture as a model for life-transformation of individuals, communities and nations.