Link to LifeLine  JANUARY  2004  NEWSLETTER

From the fullness of His grace we have all received one blessing after another - John 1:16.  We invite you to give thanks with us for God’s preserving grace that has kept us through another year of challenges, shortages, pressures and encouragements.  We sing a beautiful song here that expresses this very well.

Though the trials come, and the mountains rise, we will trust in God, put our hope in Him.  

We will stand on His word, wait upon the Lord, we will give thanks and proclaim…..

The words of the chorus in Shona say;  We praise You  Lord, we worship You Jesus, we lift You up Lord, Jesus You are good.

The circumstances facing people in Zimbabwe today lead us to be God-conscious and God-dependent; the alternatives seems to be fear, despair and attempts at DIY solutions that lead to more problems.  In the natural affairs of the nation there is turmoil as some take advantage of the situation to profit, many people suffer and the authorities seek to restore order in the financial markets, shops and business. The general rate of inflation reached 620% and is now just below 600%. The minimum rates of interest have been over 500% but nothing is certain, predictable or general.  So for God’s people continual prayer has become a vital part of everyday life.  2 Cor 8:9      For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich.

RELIEF 

Through the kindness of donors in UK and Australia and with the help of Air Zimbabwe we have still been able to receive and distribute clothing to people in need.  With 4000 people a week dying from AIDS there are an increasing number of widows and orphans and child headed homes. On a recent visit to Mutare Loxley was able to give clothing, blankets and shoes to several groups caring for some of these needy people.

1] shoes for children at a ZAOGA-FIF orphanage in Mutare; 
 2] a blanket for a baby in Mutare at a Batsirai Varombo distribution  >>>  

TRAINING 

You show that you are a letter from Christ, the result of our ministry, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts. 2 Cor 3:3 

We only had 25 graduates in Zimbabwe in 2003 from our 10-week Ministry Training Program and 25 people in Mozambique who completed a shorter course. While considering this I was sent an e-mail note on Apostolic ministry and two letters from graduates – from South Africa and Mozambique. 

When we are asked about the “result of our ministry” we should be able to point to living epistles – human

letters – disciples who we have made, whose lives can be read by all who come in contact with them.

The brother now living in RSA - in a ‘gangster’s paradise’, with guns, drugs, robbery, murder and rape, tells of sharing the MTP teaching and thanks God that the people there respect and help him.

The pastor in Mozambique travelled 450kms each way to the sessions of the program there. She and her fellow pastor and husband are urging me to take the training to their area in 2004 because of the impact it made on her last year. Many others are making a difference in difficult situations here. 

LITERATURE

In 2003 the number of responses to our “paper preachers” in Zimbabwe dropped by 30%.  That was quite good news when the standard postage rate increased from $20 to $500 in that time.  But the best news is that the number of people completing one of the correspondence courses increased by 20% in 2003!!  We continue to get testimonies of lives changed as people respond to God’s word.

<<< Nixon Nguni in the Zambian literature office in Lusaka had another good year with an increase in both responses and courses completed.  One student, Peter, wrote, ”I thank God for the wonderful work he has done in me through your course so that I do not just believe in God, but I now know my God.”

Please pray for Nixon in Lusaka, and Joshua and James in Harare >>>, as they send God’s word all over Zimbabwe and Zambia, mark the courses and answer the student’s questions.

AGRICULTURE                                                                                  

The planned expansion of the Minimum Tillage agriculture program this year from 10 to 100 farmers has been hindered by problems of getting finance at affordable rates with inflation at 600%.  The resulting delays have now made it almost too late for planting. Some have sourced their own seed and we have been able to help a few.  Please pray for God’s provision of rain and a harvest for them.

We value your continued prayers and we send you our love in Jesus,       Loxley & Mavis.