Church Planting, Discipleship, and Community Care in Zimbabwe, Africa
1 Chronicles 17:16: "King David went in and sat before the Lord, and said; “Who am I, O Lord God, and what is my Family, that you have brought me this far?”
“Antioch” The sending Church
Acts 13:1-3: “In the Church there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen (Who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch) and Saul. While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” So after they have fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off.
We have given away most of our responsibilities to focus on one thing
The Lord provided the funds to buy the land now it is paid in full. Currently on the property we have pitched a large tent that can accommodate up to 370 people. This is where we have Sunday church services. We are trusting God and following His leading to build a Church that will accommodate 1200 people seated, Church offices and bible classrooms and bible school office, Orphan care offices, Clinic administration offices and Planter’s office.
We will also build four (4) condominiums (double stories), this will give us 8 houses income generating to support most of the work that we do. It has been in our prayers that will be able to get some income for the ministry within the Country of Zimbabwe. Today we strongly believe this will be the beginning of that what we prayed for. The back born of our ministry for the past 30 years has been to hear what God says and obey, walk in faith following his leading, we can stand here in boldness and testify that our God is faithful, where he leads he will supply, he has supplied all our needs. (Philippians 4:19) “And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.” This will continue to be, as long as he gives us grace to save him more and more.
This Church plant started in our home, on one Saturday after we prayed and sought the Lord for wisdom how to start a Church in an area like this, where gates are always shut, guard dogs in every house, people not friendly, minding their own businesses. We were new in the area just arriving from the main church were we lived for 25 years, and were people are friendly, doors are always open to welcome who ever comes. Street evangelism was great, you stand at any street corner, sing a song and people will come to listen. It was quite a change for us.
The Lord graciously led us to a plan of how we would reach this neighborhood. We put an offer to give parents with kids time away, while we play with their kids for 8 hours on a Saturday. We invited our former youth group and Sunday school teachers to come and help us. 12 Families brought their kids to our house, and we spent the day like nursing parents.
Oasis of Grace - Musana
Although we live in the city and minister to a city church, our hearts are bound to the villages. The village of Musana is one hour east of Harare. Four years ago a soccer clinic led by a Brazilian believer and sponsored by Oasis of Grace Ministries led to the beginning of worship services there. Begun as a home church, today it is serving the community in many practical ways. They have a building that houses an orphan feeding program and doubles as a meeting room. A pastor’s house, orphan’s house and church building are under construction. A much-needed medical clinic is in the planning stages. When complete, it will be the only one in this particular area. None of this would have been possible without a local governor donating the necessary land to Oasis of Grace Ministries. By His grace, God provided!
