Summary History of Lifeline in Southern Africa

David Newington (former missionary to Central Africa) began a ministry of literature distribution called Emmanuel Tract Fellowship (ETF), in Southern Africa after WW2. Emmanuel Press became the home of this ministry, which still functions in White River RSA. Lifeline was born within this ministry as people who felt the call to serve God in Africa relocated, found work, and tithed their income to support the literature production.

Ron and Dorothy Davies responded to the Lifeline call and moved from the UK to Zimbabwe (then called Southern Rhodesia) in 1973 working with ETF. He began to pastor an AoG church in Harare (then known as Salisbury) in 1975. Other Lifeliners began to arrive in Zimbabwe.

Because of financial restrictions (these were the days of UDI and international sanctions), David and Loreen Newington visited Harare and advised Ron to establish a Lifeline base in Zimbabwe. So in 1976 Ron Davies established a base in Zimbabwe, calling it Global Lifeline Literature, while serving as a pastor with the AoG in Hatfield. His AOG contacts – such leaders as Peter MacKenzie Sibanda, Simon Mukolo, and others - began to distribute GLL material, which was essentially evangelistic. The written response was enormous and numerous follow-up Bible correspondence courses followed, including the Wonderful Lord Jesus discipling course for the respondents.

The whole ministry purposed from the outset to work with and through existing churches and encourage the planting of new ones. The expansion of the ministry resulted in Ron resigning his pastorate and assuming the fulltime non-salaried rôle of GLL Director. He was then able to travel more extensively, ministering, holding seminars, and promoting the ministry of Lifeline.

Ron visited Mozambique in 1982 while the devastating civil war was raging, and seeing the numbers of starving and naked people, added relief ministry to Lifeline’s operations. Many containers of food and clothing were sent from Britain for distribution.

In the background, Ron continued the church-planting ministry, usually establishing cell churches around a core of people who had completed the courses. Ron also held seminars in many places. So, the equipping aspect of the ministry continued alongside the relief aspect.

From 1989, Loxley Ford assisted Ron in the relief and equipping ministry. In the early 1990’s, as a bad drought took hold, Ron also established a relief ministry in Zimbabwe. Well drilling, Blair toilets, clothing, seeds and hoes agriculture programs, etc, were done. But the ministry had no official status. When the Fords arrived in 1993 to take responsibility for the work, Ron had been unable to register Lifeline. In 1994 Loxley managed to get GLL registered as a welfare organisation and also as members of the EFZ - the Evangelical Fellowship of Zimbabwe. But there had to be a separation of any evangelistic and discipling function from welfare.

Global Literature Lifeline, as a relief welfare ministry has a constitution registered in Zimbabwe. Loxley and Mavis have their work permits as administrators of this welfare ministry. Supporters of the ministry were called Lifeliners. Over the years, much clothing, educational equipment, etc, has been gathered by Lifeliners, shipped into Southern Africa, and distributed at points of real need.

A family of Greek Orthodox people owned the Harare base. They owned a printing company, and Ron went to them for printing. In the early days of the ministry, they did all the printing for free to assist the ministry of GLL. The family developed a close friendship with the Davies. After independence, the family moved to RSA. The printing ceased, but they continued to pay the rent on GLL’s office in Harare. John Theo met with Ron and offered him Duthie Ave rent-free but on the condition they maintain it in good condition. The Davies moved in around 1990.

Some years later, the family notified Loxley and Mavis they would deed it over to Lifeline under the leadership of Loxley and Mavis as Ron and Dorothy’s successors! It went into the name of Lifeline Ministries, with trustees Loxley and Mavis, George Moyo, Peter Zulu, Harry Baker, and Alan Graham. The property was then renovated and rewired. Loxley and Mavis paid for the erection and furnishing of the Cottage, currently used to accommodate guests and host small-group leadership gatherings.

So, the property is freehold. LM is also a tax-exempt organisation. Through GLL it was possible to import vehicles duty-free. The original Landrover was hijacked first trip to Lusaka, and Land Rover UK donated another vehicle by a miraculous chain of events! The insurance was at replacement value and covered the purchase of a HiLux (still used) plus some surplus funds for the ministry.

GLL has a managing committee elected by members. The members are Ron Davies (Chairman emeritus),. Peter Irish (Treasurer, Kingdom Bank executive), Harry Baker (Sec, Faith Ministries pastor), Jackie Fleming (administrator, senior manager at Meikles Hotel), Loxley Ford (Chairman) and Mavis Ford (administrator). The accounts are audited by KPMG and a report is sent to Govt every year (complete with photos).

In the mid 1990's, the emphasis expanded to include equipping and training within an apostolic network. This was through the influence particularly of John Singleton and the London Community Church, where Loxley had been a member of the leadership team before moving to Africa. Loxley had discussions with EFZ (Evangelical Fellowship of Zimbabwe), with a view to register a Christian ministry with them. The Govt uses EFZ to recognise churches and networks. In 1998, Lifeline Ministries was registered with EFZ as an equipping entity. It could receive funds too. This was before the Harare property was offered to the ministry.

Lifeline Ministries has its own constitution, modelled on a British one. The UK Evangelical Alliance Statement of Faith was adopted. The articles of association set out how the ministry operates. Loxley and Mavis, and George Moyo were founding trustees. Harry Baker came on, as a Zimbabwean resident. Peter Zulu and Alan Graham were also later added. In 1999, the base was handed over to Lifeline Ministries, and its ownership is registered under the trustees.

Loxley entered into an agreement with Compassion Ministries to carry out an agricultural project in Gokwe district using Minimum Tillage techniques, this has expanded to cater for 200 farmers in the coming season. LM continued to develop the Ministry Training Program (MTP), greatly assisted by John Singleton and the London Community Church connections. Teams began to come out around 1995.

Loxley continued to work in partnership with LCC and particularly their leader, John Singleton, until issues arose over the UK church's move from a collegiate model of leadership to a vertical apostolic structure. LMSA subsequently reasserted its role as a servant ministry that works through relationship with like-minded churches and leaders regardless of denominational allegiances. It also reaffirmed its God-given mandate was to work with the Body of Christ across Southern Africa.

Ron Davies has continued to coordinate support for GLL in the UK (especially with clothing collections). Now in his 80’s, Ron maintains an active interest in the affairs of Lifeline in Southern Africa.

While the civil war was still raging (over 1m people died), God led Ron Davies into Mozambique to establish a literature ministry - to tell people about Jesus and to make disciples for Him. Miracle provision established that ministry and there was a massive demonstration of God’s love through many relief programs. Lifeline’s prayer partners heard the prophetic word, shared in the vision, prayed through the problems, then gave money and materials for the Beira base to be established and give samples of God’s love by meeting people at their point of need. Many came out to Africa to help in the physical restoration as well as ministry. In the war years there was great material need — many people were physically starving and naked. The Base was a wrecked building, stripped of all wood, used as a public toilet, undermined by the sea. (see the webpage).

Some still suffer due to floods and cyclones, and in 2000 Lifeline's Ezra project repaired and rebuilt homes. But people in every economic situation need to know the Father through Jesus and to be His disciples. Then to be joined in communities of His people to serve His purposes. So we send out “paper preachers” to tell people about Jesus, and to disciple them, in places to which we can’t go and in languages which we can’t speak. Lifeline provided Bibles and Christian books. We provided a base from which many other ministries also served the body of Christ in Beira and Sofala province. The Base acted for many years as a guest house for visiting Christian ministries because of the shortage of accommodation in Beira. Ministry Training Program’s continue to function on an occasional basis.

In Mozambique, the Govt has always owned the property, including the Beira Base, and because LMSA was not Mozambican in its origins, the rent was higher. The tenancy has now been passed on to Pastor Anacleto Luis Ferrão, as a Mozambican citizen and significant leader in the Beira Christian community. Anacleto has overseen the continued improvement of the Base (see the webpage), and now has responsibility for GLL in Mozambique, which was miraculously registered as an NGO. Under Anacleto, Lifeline is able to do things we couldn’t previously do and is seeking to buy the Lifeline base from the government housing agency.

In 2002, in line with the reaffirmation of a collegiate model of leadership, the concept of an Advisory Board was put forward as a responsible body - consisting of network leaders committed in philosophy and action to Lifeline's mandate. The Advisory Board consists of network leaders both from within the African churches and supporting ministry from overseas. In late 2003, several leaders met to prayerfully discuss future directions. The following basic structure was set in place. All involved affirmed that Lifeline, in all its expressions of ministry, has a mandate from God to continue in the original vision given to Ron Davies - that it is a trans-movement servant ministry, committed to work with people and groups of likeminded vision for the extension of the Kingdom of God – in practical relief work, literature dissemination, ministry training development, and relationship-building areas of activity. And that it is a ministry, while incorporating the relevant legal structures, continues to be built on relationship.

Advisory Board: It was agreed that the relational model continue, rather than looking to elections and written regulations, with the Board consisting of committed network leaders serving in current relationship with Lifeline.

Jim Bowler - AoG Manchester UK; Ron Davies (Founder) Margate UK; Andrew Evans - Chesterfield UK; George Moyo - Breakthrough Ministries Bulawayo Zimbabwe; Anacleto Luis Ferrão - AoG Beira Mozambique; Brian Rensford - (Chairman) New Life Sydney Australia ; Oskar Rottcher (representing Emmanuel Press) White River South Africa. Peter Banda, Chinhoyi Zimbabwe, came onto the Board after the death of Peter Zulu in early 2004.

Ministry Director – Loxley Ford; Assistant Ministry Director – Cosmos Sibanda (Bulawayo)

Regional Leaders (updated to 12/06) – Cosmos Sibanda (Bulawayo), Peter Banda (Chinhoyi - replacing Peter Zulu, after his death in Feb 2004), Addmore Ncube (Gweru), and John Moyo (Gondola, Mozambique), Anacleto Ferrão functions at present as both a Board member and Regional Leader for the Beira district. These men represent the ministry of Lifeline in its various capacities in their district, and ensure the Ministry Training Programs function well.

Friends of Lifeline Ministries (updated to 12/06) – Albert Chatindo (Bulawayo), Kenneth Magwenzi (Hwange), Artwell Chiyangwa (Mkoba, Gweru), Domingos Caetano (Nhamatanda, Moz), Peter MacKenzie Sibanda (Bulawayo), Simon Mukolo (Matabeleland). These are leaders who have supported the ministry through various ways – sending students, providing facilities, providing ministry, etc. They are valued leaders who while not committed to full involvement in the work, work alongside Lifeline.

concrete block making at the Base for cyclone- damaged houses.

The base in 2001 (before the extensive repainting - the sea air corrodes everything very quickly

This is how the base looked before the restoration began
- reclaimed from the sea, and rebuilt for the glory of God!

The results of Anacleto Ferrao's renovation are self-evident! >>>