Out of Africa

Beloved Partners & Friends

There was one outstanding characteristic of the tribe of Issachar in the Old Testament and that was they were men who were able to "DISCERN THE TIMES."  It is so refreshing when one meets believers who have a ready Word of the Lord for the season.  By this I mean that they have clearly heard from the throne concerning the season and times in which we are living and are able to give an account of the purposes and plans of the Lord for THE NATIONS.  God is vitally concerned with NATIONS.  He called the gentile Abram from the nation of Ur and made of him a peculiar nation of people with whom he was in covenant. In this present dispensation of the Church or New Testament age, the Lord is calling a nation, not by genealogy or natural descent but by calling out of every nation, kindred tribe and tongue to be his peculiar people who will declare His wonders to a dark and confused world.  The SPIRITUAL order must rule over the natural which it deeply impacts.  The church, YOU beloved, must begin to see this governmental order of the Lord and operate accordingly.  The Lord's choice of a peculiar nation of people out of all nations is not by intelligence or wisdom or riches or power or the might of this world but by belief and obedience to His Word.   It is for this reason that, “God hath chosen [A NATION, YOU] the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; and base things of the world and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea and things which are not, to bring to naught things that are; that NO FLESH should glory in his presence.”

The nation that God has called from the nations is a nation of PRIESTS and then KINGS.  Our primary obligation is to be a nation of worshippers and then a nation of rulers not by dictatorial decree as in the world but by living reality of the power of the Lord.  When the Church, YOU, begins to realize that they have been given power and authority in CHRIST they will start to live and walk and declare the spiritual order of life that will rule over the natural order.  In practical terms it means seizing the natural order of the nations through the SUPERNATURAL spiritual order of God's governmental rule.

For instance, to get a permit to enter Iraq if you are in the media or construction, transport or oil business is a simple matter.  To get a permit to enter as a man of God is nigh impossible.  What Iraq needs right now is not more military or weapons but men and women of God who will do exactly what Abraham did – walk and pray and take the nation through a spiritual order of which the world has no concept.  If a 747 charter jet traveled WEEKLY to Iraq full of powerful believers who would simply march the land in true intercession then the natural order of confusion and chaos would begin to change.  Terrorists would be exposed, hidden secrets manifest and peace and order return.  If the Christian media moguls in USA would stop worrying about their ratings and finances and address REAL issues, the natural order will be TRANSFORMED.  If every church in USA would seriously pray for Iraq REGULARLY and the Christian media would mobilize the nation – not USA - but the Christian nation within USA to pray and fast and march and take authority in the spiritual realm then the natural realm must submit and a natural nation come into order out of serious chaos.

The Church as a nation has amazing power.  Please do not be saying that you are only one person and what can you do?  Realize that Abram was actually one gentile Iraqi who walked and prayed and talked and fellowshipped with the Lord and BELIEVED and OBEYED and the nation of his descendants by both faith and flesh cannot now be numbered.  ASK for nations and the Lord will give them to you.  Become nation minded and a discerner of the times and what the Lord is saying concerning nations and see the spiritual order of priesthood flourish into the spiritual order of kingship that will usurp the natural orders of this world.  Beloved, YOU are able to make a very significant difference in the natural nations by being a powerful vessel of God's order.

 US ELECTIONS

I am a US soldier stationed in Afghanistan.  I arrived here in August.   Before I departed the states in June I attended a church service in Blythewood, SC in which Michael Howard was ministering.  After the service I told him that I was being sent to Afghanistan; he prayed with me and it was tremendous. The elections were held here in October and we were praying that the enemy would not prevail; and he didnt!  I believe that the Father is laying a foundation for a mighty move of His Spirit in this country.  There are a number of praying soldiers here and ministry is occurring in a discreet fashion among the populace.  Please, add me, my fellow soldiers and the precious souls of the Afghani people to your prayer list.  I appreciate your ministry and the ministry of Michael very much.  I have his book "To Save A Nation" and it is really eye-opening.  I look forward to hearing from you soon.  I thank you in advance for your prayers and support.

(Ed note)  We have received letters from a number of soldiers especially from Iraq.  They said that they really believe in what they are doing and many felt more than a little betrayed by family members who had told them that they were going to vote for Kerry because they believed that Kerry would get them home quicker.  Most say that that they realized that this was a “long term” project but there was no other way to do it.

The Church did not put President Bush back in the White House for another four years—God did.  The Church, through prayer and intercession had better discover ALL of the reasons and purposes that God has in this situation so that we can continue to pray throughout the next four years.  The battle has only just begun for us and instead of being critical about the government and its leadership or resting on our laurels thinking what a good job we've done, it is time to get on our knees and seek God for His plans and purposes.

SUDAN

Many people have been asking about the situation in Darfur, Western Sudan.  God gave us a plan and a mandate for Southern Sudan and not for Western Sudan.  Sudan is the largest country in Africa with an area of 967,500 square miles.  At it's widest it is 1150 miles and at its longest it is 1275 miles.  Until the peace treaty which was signed this year, there was an on going war between the Arab Moslems of Northern Sudan and the Black Animists/Nominal Christians of the South.  Northern Sudan, otherwise referred to as Khartoum, is fundamentalist Moslem meaning that they rule by the Koran and they want the whole nation to adopt Islam as a way of life.  The South refused and God called us there to set up a Bible School to train up men of God AND to pray for peace and freedom for the SOUTH.  This is what we have been doing for the past nine years and a peace treaty was signed between Khartoum and the South this year, officially ending the war.

In the past year to eighteen months Khartoum has adopted a similar policy of genocide for Western Sudan.  The difference between the West and the South is that the West is Moslem but “Black” Moslem and not Arab Moslem.  According to the belief of Arab Moslems, “Black” Moslems are definitely second rate citizens and they do not believe that “Black” Moslems will even be able to enter paradise.  Because of this latest policy we believe that the Khartoum government has a mandate to not only wipe out the “Black” nominal Christian/Animists of the South but also to wipe out the “Black” Moslems of the West.  In other words their policy is to get rid of as many “Black” people in their country as they can.  We have had no call to move into Western Sudan.

 

 
Another quarter gone -  but what an exciting one for us with the wonderful windfalls we have had!  The Golf Day and Auction on 10th September.  (Remember those Art lessons at an Old Age Home – the budding artists had their paintings auctioned and they realized  Z$3 million - yes, $3 million !!).  The U.K. Cricket Tour; The "Rock Down Harare" Concert; "Lotto"; A Golf Day at Royal Harare; Ladies Golf Day at Henry Chapman; Sale of water sachets by Nashua at the Tiger  Fishing Tournament - not forgetting our ever faithful regular donors.  Pension Policies and Annuities have been ceded to us by Zimbabweans who are no longer living here.

Local subscriptions to date total Z$9l4 million with Z$707 million having been distributed.  Thank you and bless you all!

Our monthly contributions to Old Age Homes have increased from Z$65 million in July to Z$90million in August and Z$106million in September.  Requests from the Homes have included water storage tanks (with the erratic water supplies from the Harare Municipality  these were a must); a workshop was re-equipped so that maintenance and repairs could be done on the spot;  a washing machine - imagine still having to hand wash!;  monies for essential medicines; replacement of a derelict geyser; an alarm system with panic buttons in each room (we foresee more requests for this facility); seventy widows of  an old established organization with depleted funds were given Z$100 000,00 each.

A guarantee of $10 million has been furnished to a Clinic in Harare to admit emergency cases for residents in Old Age Homes.  An up-front fee of millions in cash  is normally required which neither the Homes nor the patient could afford Our pharmacy facility for prescribed medicines is proving a boon for those pensioners who simply could not afford them, thus putting their lives at risk.

From donations the Fund has received in South Africa, we have made available monies to purchase foodstuffs, medicines, toiletries, etc. which well wishers pack into parcels, transport and deliver to Homes in Matabeleland, the Midlands and Manicaland.   We are more than grateful for this wonderful service.

In our last Newsletter, we mentioned the U.K. Charity "Zane", which has a representative on our Committee.  They have been doing wonderful work, interviewing individuals who need help, relocating them in Homes or referring them to SOAP (also under our umbrella) who ensure food parcels are delivered where necessary.  Zane have also been acting on behalf of the British Legion and are successfully negotiating grants and pensions  to WW 2 Veterans or their widows.

SOAP (Save our elderly people) have received  Z$50 million from us this quarter.  They continue their fantastic work, delivering food parcels each and every week.  They come across some really desperate cases

“a mother living in a room 3  x 3 meters with daughter and her 8 month old baby, cooking on an outside wood fire;  an old lady living in a cow shed - no running water; a man with a lowly paid gardening job with two retarded brothers; a blind old man with his blind dog (animal lovers fed the dog but forgot the old man); a woman living in a goat shed with an earth floor  and aerated brick walls.  Her entire wardrobe is worn on her and for winter she has the extra luxury of length of Hessian  for a wrap-around!

Another U.K. registered Charity "Homes in Zimbabwe" is coming to the aid of a very neglected hostel in Harare for less fortunate men and women. They intend building a kitchen so that meals can be cooked and to renovate the antiquated water system.  In the meantime, SOAP deliver cooked food three times a week for the residents.

So many tragic cases -  but with the help being received from so many quarters,  there is a light at the end of the tunnel.  CHRISTMAS is around the corner  - thanks to you all, we are going to make sure every Home knows that the Pensioners Fund does care.

(ED NOTE)

Our grateful thanks to those who have been a support to individual elderly or an elderly couple.  Despite the wonderful testimony of this letter there are still so many that “fall through the cracks.”   914 million Zimbabwe dollars sounds a lot of money but it really amounts to about US 112,000 at the present black market rate.

Your support has really eased the plight of a number of elderly to where they can pay rent and medical bills.

 DESKS AND CHAIRS : MALAWI SCHOOL

Please do not forget to support our desk and chair project for the Malawi School.  The wood for the desks and chairs is being cut by Kalibu Ministries in Mozambique and the items are being made by a manufacturing company in Malawi.  We are getting the wood from Mozambique because it is hard wood and will last the rigors and hardships that students seem to put their desks through.  The only wood available in Malawi is pine which is soft and more easily  able to be scratched, engraved and whatever else students do to their desks these days.

We are still trying to get our stacking chairs for the school hall direct from China.  Most stacking chairs are manufactured in China and it would be far easier if we could purchase them direct and have them shipped direct to Malawi from there instead of having them come via the United States.  If anyone knows of any contacts in China who may be able to assist us with this project please contact our office in Kansas City as soon as possible so that we can make contact and place an order.

The total cost of a desk and chair for the classroom and a stacking chair for the school hall is $100.  If you would like to support this project please send your check to our office in Kansas City.

THANKSGIVING