In July 2005 Sailas would have been laughed at as the village drunk. In July 2007 he was found translating for those who had helped him come to know Christ. They had returned for the beginning of a new congregation in Mukumbura Zimbabwe. Sailas, who became a believer as the Heritage Hills team carried out door to door evangelism in 2005, is now a key lay leader in the Nykatondo Baptist Church Nationals in the border town of Mukumbura had requested that someone come to their town and preach the gospel after Heritage Hills volunteers had been summoned to the police station to report their ID particulars in 2005. While complying with regulations to identify themselves at the local police station, the volunteers distributed tracts and testified to the power of Jesus This year, volunteers from the Sunningdale Baptist Church and the young Nyakatondo Baptist Church served as volunteer translators for the Heritage Hills volunteers. During their two weeks in Zimbabwe the volunteers spent the first week camped at the Mukumbura Primary School. Mornings were passed engaging in door to door personal evangelism using the “Creation 2 Christ” presentation as a witnessing tool. (This presentation uses brief snippets of Bible stories to give an overview of God’s redemptive plan from creation to the resurrection.) In the evenings evangelistic services in which singing, testifying, and the Jesus film featured, were carried out. Before week’s end over 300 spiritual decisions of some During the second week the volunteers painted the “Hands of Hope” orphanage and presented scarce personal items to the staff and residence of the facility. The latest reports reveal that on the first Sunday of the new Mukumbura congregation, there were over 40 in attendance. God has begun a wonderful work in that under reached area of Zimbabwe! Some thoughts from the volunteers concerning the Mukumbura experience are as follows … It is rewarding and humbling to walk with people through their everyday lives…to hear their stories, to experience the life of another culture. My belief that God uses His people to bring other people to himself has been strengthened. Jonathan Cipola I know that it’s not in our own power that we accomplish any of the work of God’s kingdom, but that really hit me when I saw how little I did and how much God did. In my mind, I was not particularly convincing or eloquent with my story telling, and yet we saw great fruit from our labor. Rebecca Cipola. Every time I’ve been on an international mission trip, I always have doubts that there are those who feel it is so unnecessary; that we should stay home and do evangelistic work in our own back yard; …. No one should ever go unless they are called by God to go. Being right where you know God wants you to be is an awesome experience. Jeff Ross We are all just average people who wanted to be used by God to make an impact for Him. It was a challenge for each of us in one way or another, but we did what we felt God wanted us to do. He was faithful to provide all of our needs. God stretched us to do things we didn’t know we could do….Jan Ross So many important events happened to us in Zimbabwe, but the reception and the desire for Christ that occurred at the primary and secondary schools were most impressive to me. …. the fact that the headmaster and assistant headmaster at the high school accepted Christ is very powerful! … They will be a great influence on the growth of the new church in Mukumbura. Tim Woodward My thought process since being back is just asking myself the question – what now? I have become very convicted that I do more than “just take a mission trip” to be involved in missions. I need to find my own mission field right where I live. I have asked myself if I have taken Acts 1:8 in reverse - going to the uttermost parts of the world first. Now I need to be as serious about my Jerusalem and Judea. Marilyn Perkins | ||
which, was started with the assistance of Heritage hills Volunteers that 2005 July. Volunteers coming through the mission’s efforts of Heritage Hills Baptist Church have now sent teams three straight years to Zimbabwe to partner with IMB missionaries and the local Baptist Church.
Christ, to the authorities present and by passers. Interest was so strong that plans were made to return as soon as possible.
kind were registered.