PRAYER AND PRAISE UPDATE

December 2009

MISSIONS TO MOZAMBIQUE AND MPUMALANGA

AND CHRISTOPHER’S KIDNEY TRANSPLANT

Mission to Mpumalanga

To reach the remote Bible College I had to drive through a spectacular electric thunderstorm and cross a swollen river in flood. The low level bridge could not even be seen. I have experience in crossing flooded rivers, particularly in Sudan, but that was in four wheel drive high clearance vehicles. On this occasion I was in a normal car and could not even see the bridge. The single lane bridge evidently did not even have side railings. It was truly a faith mission.

When I arrived in time for the scheduled Biblical Worldview Seminar the students and staff of the Back to the Bible Training College were surprised to see me as they did not expect me to be able to make it across the swollen river.

I was most impressed with Back to the Bible Training College. It is a dynamic ministry providing a three year degree programme to prepare ministers, evangelists and missionaries. Students come from fifteen different nations, including Angola, Botswana, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Swaziland, Rwanda, Zambia, Zimbabwe and the Congo.

I presented lectures on: God’s Law or Chaos; Body Piercing – A Return to Paganism; The Battle for the Mind in the News Media; A World War of Worldviews; The End of Islam; The Challenge of Islam; Comparing the Quran with the Bible; The Greatest Man Who Ever Lived and other BWS presentations. The question and answer times were intense, often with more time being spent in answering questions than in presenting lectures.

One student from Rwanda, who had lost his entire family in the genocide of 1994, said: “I never knew that any white person understood our history, or cared about what had happened to our people. You must continue to speak of these things to ensure that my family did not die in vain.”

The college campus is set in a remote area amidst the mountains. There were numerous snakes, including cape cobra and puff adder, a variety of scorpions and vervet monkeys, who regularly came onto the campus to see what was in the dustbins.

At the front of the chapel I saw the same challenge written as had been proclaimed the night I surrendered my life to Christ. 32 years ago Rev. Rex Matthee challenged us: “This is what I have done for You, what have you ever done for Me?” I realised that I needed to go forward and surrender my life to Christ. On that night I was not only converted but called to missions.

My first official cross-border mission was launched from Barberton, 28 years ago. After ministering at the local Barberton Baptist Church, I rode by off-road motorbike up a steep mountain trail into Swaziland via the Piggs Peak border post. After extensive ministry in Swaziland conducting film evangelism throughout the schools, I rode into Mozambique laden with New Testaments and Gospels in Portuguese and Shangaan, and four reels of the Jesus Film in 16mm.

Before graduation day, another tremendous electric thunderstorm lit up the night sky. The crashes of thunder and brilliant bolts of lightening were a spectacular display of the power of our Creator. It reminded me of that tremendous storm in 1986 when the Marxist dictator and persecutor of the church, Samora Machel was killed in the crash of his Soviet Tupalov aircraft, not far from where we were standing.

The next day dawned bright and clear, the hills lush and green. Many guests came from near and far to rejoice in the graduation of third year students who had completed their studies. There was much rejoicing as these brethren were sent back to their countries to win the lost for Christ and to plant Bible-believing churches.

Mission to Mozambique

The Field Director of Frontline Fellowship, John, and his son Joshua, have reported back on a much blessed outreach in the Shire River Valley. They hiked into a remote part of this witchcraft dominated area and have been able to report back with much joy that, by God’s grace, an entire village has been won to Christ!

Great Commission Course

Please pray that the Lord will thrust more labourers into His harvest field. We need at least twelve more dedicated missionary volunteers to respond to the many desperate needs and exciting opportunities in the field. Our next Great Commission Course selection and training programme will begin 1 – 20 January 2010 near Cape Town. This practical, intense, hands-on missionary training programme involves daily practices and outreaches for those who are serious about missions.

Christopher Hammond’s Kidney Operation

Yesterday, Christopher William Hammond was admitted to the Red Cross Childrens Hospital for his kidney transplant. Lenora is the donor. Her kidney is being “harvested” at the Groote Schuur Hospital, where Dr. Christian Barnard performed the world’s first heart transplant over 40 years ago. The operation is early this morning (Wednesday).

We are very grateful for all your prayers, encouragement and support.

May the Lord continue to be your joy and strength.

Yours for the fulfillment of the Great Commission

Dr. Peter Hammond

Director