Jan 2004
CONSEQUENCES
Beloved Partners & Friends
There are consequences to every choice that we make in life. Such consequences are both short and long term. Most people never even stop to consider the consequences of their decisions. The Hebrew boys replied to the King, "We are not careful how we answer thee o king..." They had made their decision and cast their entire lot with the Lord. They did not mind the consequences. It is not always that the Lord brings such a mighty deliverance. Many a martyr has gone to the stake to be burned alive for standing as boldly as the Hebrew boys had done. God did not deliver those martyrs just as He did not deliver Stephen. Yet, they are no lesser heroes than the Hebrew boys of Daniel. God loves them as much and His recognition of them and their testimony is just as powerful for they are recorded in Revelation and their cries have been captured by the Lord.
In teaching and running this Bible College, I marvel and often agonize at the choices some of the students make concerning the Lord and therefore, their entire lives. God is offering the students of Kalibu Academy the opportunity to be real men of destiny and impact at least their entire nation for Him. As peace nears in Sudan, these men are already being assailed by multitudes of worldly opportunities that are presented them. Praise God that most of these mighty vessels are not choosing to compromise for the sake of worldly comforts, position or recognition. Men in national leadership of New Sudan are also making choices that are significant. Many are compromising and selling out for personal gain. Remember, the consequences of the choices that you make will mightily affect others. May this be a year when all of our most important choices are not selfishly motivated but Godly directed and positioned. The consequences of decisions that are directed towards God and His person and glory will therefore lie entirely in the hand of Almighty God as did the lives of the Hebrew boys. Remember too, it is God's purpose and will to bless us abundantly. Think of consequences before making your choices. Try to make choices based on your eternal destiny and not simply your temporal prosperity and comfort.
We never regret for one moment being called to New Sudan by the blessed Holy Spirit. Doors to other nations have opened as a result of this call and the Lord has enlarged the Ministry. Far above all we are seeing the vision firmly established for ultimate peace and freedom and a mighty revival in the land. What victorious consequences to the choices we made to go all the way for the Lord in simple obedience to His call. That is all the Lord requires of us: simple obedience. He will do the rest. In obeying the Lord, we can never fail. It behooves us to remember that our choices and the accompanying consequences all carry eternal ramifications for our personal lives. Once again, your choice to invest in the fields of Africa, white to harvest, are reaping you eternal rewards. We are so thankful and blessed to enjoy your partnership. The victories are enormous and many.
VISIT FROM CHIEF OF STAFF, ADMINISTRATION
It was an honour to welcome Commander Peter Wol who is CHIEF OF STAFF OF ADMINISTRATION for the entire SPLA to open the final term for the graduating class of 2004. The commander was full of praise for the Academy and the work that has been achieved. In particular, he declared, "We of the leadership of the SPLA know this Academy well and are in total approval of what happens here. How do we know it so well? We know it through the high caliber and standard of our graduates who are now in operation on the field. Nobody can say anything critical against Kalibu. We have seen the fruit of this Academy and are delighted..."
What an endorsement of the work and the support that you, our partners and friends have given. You are all part of these wonderful accolades but we give the full glory to the Lord. Praise Him from whom all blessings flow!
CHURCH RAISES MONEY FOR MUGABE
The following are excerpts from an article published in the Zimbabwe Independent newspaper of January 9, 2004:
“Hear the Word Ministries (Formerly Rhema, Zimbabwe) last month gave President Mugabe a $30 million gift. (Zimbabwe $).
Pastor Tom Deuschle (formerly from CFNI and an “import” from Colorado) said the gift was in accordance with the scriptures and should not be interpreted in any way as an endorsement of everything Mugabe is doing. ‘The scriptures say that we should honour out leaders ,' said Deuschle. Deuschle further went on to say, ‘There has been some criticism of giving a gift to this man because some people are saying that he has caused all sorts of havoc in the country. But we are honouring the office of the president and he is the incumbent. It doesn't mean that we entirely agree with what he has done.'
Deuschle said that whilst there was a lot of controversy regarding Mugabe's leadership, the Bible also teaches Christ's followers to bring grace unto others.
‘The Bible says bless those who despise you. Even if we believe the president is despising us, we as Christians have to bless him.'”
Needless to say this article was followed up on January 16th with some letters:
“The antics of Pastor Deuschle has given me the answer to why the crisis (in Zimbabwe) will persist for a long time yet. The church is clearly in confusion and is divided. There is no scripture in the Bible that says we should honour our leadership let alone by way of money. The Bible only encourages us to “pray for our leaders and all those in authority.” Honour is bestowed upon those deserving it and not just anybody.
Were there no worthy causes to collect an offering for?
What about children that have to go to bed on empty stomachs because their parents find it next to impossible to eke out a living in this hyperinflationary economic environment? How about the thousands of victims of Zanu PF (Mugabe's political party) brutality for supporting opposition parties?”
“I am astonished as a Christian and a citizen of Zimbabwe that Hear the Word can be so insensitive. I have been active in the MDC (opposition party) for four years—my family and I have had death threats, been to jail, been accused of all sort of things, been in court dozens of times on all sorts of charges brought by the State. I have had friends murdered, raped and their homes burned. I worked for Mugabe in the 80's. I know personally that he ordered the campaign in Matabeleland where at least 20,000 people died. We have two million internally displaced refugees inside Zimbabwe, at least three million external economic refugees in other countries, six million people subsisting on 12 ounces of food a day right now and 3,000 people a week dying of AIDS related diseases –most of this caused because of the chaos caused by Mugabe. And you give him a ‘gift' for Christmas?”
(Ed note) The church in Zimbabwe is truly divided. They blame the president and government for the critical situation in the country. The Bible says: “If MY people, which are called by MY name will humble themselves…….” Perhaps it is time for the church to bow their knee and start to intercede as they have not done since the ‘70's that God would have His way in the nation.
TRUCK APPEAL
Once again our thanks to all those who have been sending additional funds to cover the cost of this vehicle.
We have been given six months to pay it off completely. We now have three months left. Meanwhile it is being used for the work on the school. I have just returned from Malawi and the truck is truly a gift from God. It is bigger and more powerful than our previous truck and with the shortage of trucks for sale in the country it was a miracle that we were able to get it at all.
Our thanks to Finland for the new engine for the old truck. That is being installed and because the chassis on the old vehicle was so well taken care of we have been told we will get a wonderful price for it when we sell. This money will go towards the support of Malawi and the building of the school.
Please remember that we plan to open the school as of January 2005 and we are looking for teachers who are prepared to go for three years at a time. For those retired teachers who want to do something for the Kingdom—this is the opportunity of a lifetime .
MUSLIM FAITHFUL HEAR WRATHFUL PRAYER
AP/Tampa Bay Tribune ^ | 12-31-04 | RAWYA RAGEH
MINA, Saudi Arabia - The cleric who delivered the sermon Friday at the annual hajj pilgrimage had a simple request: God grant victory to Muslims fighting around the world .
The prayer by Sheik Saleh al-Taleb to 500,000 people in Mecca's Grand Mosque and nearby streets came as the hajj neared its climax.
``Oh God, give victory to the mujahedeen [holy warriors] everywhere,'' al-Taleb said. ``Give them victory in Palestine. Oh God, make the Muslims triumphant and destroy their enemies, and make this country and other Muslim countries safe.
``Oh God, inflict your wrath on the criminal Zionists.''
After the sermon, pilgrims headed to the tent city of Mina, the last stop before they go to Mount Arafat for a day of prayers and soul-searching that is the main ritual of the annual gathering.
Rajab al-Arabi, a Belgian pilgrim of Tunisian origin, said that hearing a Grand Mosque sermon is ``something one wishes all one's life. It's a dream come true.''
But he added that he had expected a stronger message.
``In Belgium, we have Egyptian and Moroccan clerics who freely criticize the hardships of Muslims, which includes the injustice that has befallen Iraq and the occupation it is under,'' he said.
After the sermon, nearly 2 million pilgrims walked and took buses to Mina for a night of rest before heading to Arafat.
Time spent at Arafat, a gentle hill 12 miles southwest of Mecca, is believed to represent the Day of Judgment, when Islam says every person will stand before God and answer for his deeds.
Male pilgrims wore seamless white robes. Women were covered from head to foot except for their hands and faces.
Nigerian Abdul Rashid Gbenga said he couldn't wait to leave for Arafat because ``it is the closest place to God on Earth. ... This is the closest thing to Judgment Day.''
Fatima Farouk, another Nigerian who was performing the hajj for the first time, said that despite the demanding journey, she was thrilled ``because after Mount Arafat, you're almost promised heaven.''
Muhammad, Islam's prophet, delivered his last sermon at Mount Arafat in March 632, three months before he died.
Police were on high alert after six Saudi security agents and a civilian were killed in a shootout with suspected terrorists in the Saudi capital of Riyadh on Thursday.
The battle did not mean much to the pilgrims, 500 miles to the west.
They said that they were too overwhelmed by the hajj experience to worry about terrorism.
``These holy lands fill your heart with such genuine emotions,'' said an Egyptian computer scientist, Professor Do'oa Labib. ``I feel that with every step I take, my heart is gradually purified from any blemishes and becomes totally dedicated to God.''
MECCA DURING THE HADJ. NEARLY TWO MILLION MUSLIMS ATTEND EVERY YEAR. IN THE CENTER IS THE KA'ABA STONE.
UPDATES
Please note that we are already working on Michael's itinerary for 2004. Please contact Alice VanLandingham on (703)864-8202 or email her at:
Thanks to James Rizutti we now have 15 minute DVD's available for pastors who are interested in the work we are doing in Southern Sudan. There is also a short three minute clip on the same DVD for those churches who intend to have Michael come and speak this year. They can show this clip to their congregations just prior to Michael visiting.
Should you wish to obtain one of these videos please contact the Shekinah office in Kansas City at
(816) 734-0493.
By the time Michael arrives in the US his next book, “To Save a Nation” about the work of God in Southern Sudan will be published and available.