By DAMSON SAMSON, Africa coordinator
Thursday, May 28
Damson with a hitchhiker who exchanged his beer for Jesus.
As I started from home I had the grace to share the Word with another person whom I just picked up on the road. He was going to work and he had a bottle of beer. Asking him why, he told me he has been drinking for so long. I shared with him about the hope we have in Christ Jesus. He was really touched because what I was explaining to him was exactly what he was going through. I asked him to pray and I led him in a confession prayer.
The team prays before starting a fruitful climb.
Coming to the lodge the team was ready and we divided into groups of two people on each group. The team worked hard after we had started from down the mountain, climbing from Likhubula to Chambe Hut on the first of three days of outreach on Mulanje Massif.
They came to report in the evening and it was amazing to see how they have worked: 80 people reached with the Gospel and 42 accepted Jesus Christ!
They shared with me how they saw God working on their behalf. One group reported that they were sharing with a woman at her home and she accepted Jesus. After a few minutes a customer came asking for beer and she refused him saying, “We are here talking about Jesus. It is not time for the beer.” And the customer went away.
Another team reached a lady with mental health issues. She confessed Jesus and this brought her joy, and after that she was completely feeling better and answering things well.
On the way up our groups with David Chithyoka (one of our chapter leaders) come across eight people. Chithyoka started sharing with them and they all accepted Jesus. He said the most amazing thing which had happened was that as he was speaking to them they confessed that whatever he was talking about was exactly what they were going through and they needed to be delivered. He prayed for them with tears and crying and they were filled with the Holy Spirit and one of them started speaking in tongues.
Another lady he prayed for was completely healed from her arm problems and she confessed right away that she believes in Jesus.
A woman, above, raises her healed arm to thank God. Below, team members share the truth about Jesus.
It was another gracious time; some came asking for prayers for their sick so heaven can touch them. What I love about this team is whatever we preached the people hearing were willing to change.
Wednesday, May 27
“Communicating the Bible” class.
As we had planned, we had the training with the second class of Mulanje Massif Chapter members, which they come in their big number. We started the day late due to transportation problems, but we thank God to have it all done to His glory.
Despite a late start, we managed to cover encouragement on the duty we are bound to: to share Christ Jesus with the nations and every creation. From there we worshiped God together and started chapter two of the “Communicating the Bible” text, which was all about the basic question of communicating God’s Word.
We asked, “Why do we have to communicate the Bible?” This went along with the message Climbing For Christ president Gary Fallesen sent to us on proclaiming the kingdom. We asked, how and when should we communicate, and where should we communicate the Word of God? We continued with the role of the Holy Spirit.
For a short period, we heard from those who went on the outreach the day before. They really appreciated what God has done, touching the community and lives in it. Those who despised the very beginning of these groups, now they are joining in to proclaim the kingdom together.
Hands up for those going to the mountain for outreach training.
We closed the day with chapter coordinator and head guide Samson Khalani preparing the team so they can be set for the mountain tomorrow.
Tuesday, May 26
Rescue Chapola, one of our original chapter members and a porter-turned-pastor, teaching evangelism at the Fort Lister center.
Mulanje Massif Chapter members met in all four centers – Fort Lister, Thuchila, Likhubula, and Mnesa – for training in evangelism. At Fort Lister, in the morning, they shared the Word and worshiped God together. Then they started training, which is part of our orientation for those who will climb with us on Thursday.
They were able to understand the brochures used during outreach about the Romans Road to salvation. Then they were divided into seven groups and sent into the field to visit homes. They managed to reach 60 people and 30 surrendered their lives to Jesus.
A house visit.
By His grace, some Muslims have been reached with the Word, and they were able to appreciate the time during which the Truth was shared.
Some reported opportunities to pray for the sick in the villages.
They came back with joy, and many are restored to join their small groups. They have asked about visits of this kind as it gives them hope.
Porter-turned-pastor David Chithyoka teaching in Likhubula.
In Likhubula, they shared Matthew 25:1-13 (The Parable of the Ten Bridesmaids) and emphasized readiness as the Lord will come unexpectedly. Then they worshiped and after training they were sent out with the Good News. Out of 50 reached, 44 gave their lives to Jesus Christ.
Outreach in Likhubula.
In Mnesa, chapter leaders John Mollen and Paul Mpaha worked hard only to have the motorbike they were using for transportation break down. I advised them to leave it and use public transportation. By His grace, they made it home at 9 tonight.
There were 40 members at the Mnesa training. They prayed and worshiped and then did our study on evangelism using the brochures. They were sent out two by two, but because the group was so big some went out in groups of five or six. They came home with joy as the Lord honored Himself through their work on the ground. People were reached and many accepted Jesus.
Members at the Mnesa Center after returning from outreach.
Fany Simon’s group reached 31 people, and seven of the 31 accepted Jesus to be their Lord and Savior. Vincente Weston’s group reached 58 people in 15 homes and 10 people accepted Jesus. Picknosi Namalindi’s group visited seven homes in another village, reaching 27 people, and eight of them accepted Jesus. Gift Mtaja’s group reach 20 people in different places, some in their homes and some on the road. It was a great time despite none of the 20 accepting Jesus. One other group also reached 20 people with five accepting Jesus as the other 15 were already brothers in Christ.
In Thuchila, 40 members also met with Mulanje chapter coordinator Samson Khalani. That means 160 total were in class and went out. That’s why I was projecting a great harvest.
Monday, May 25
Today as planned we had time for fasting at Thuchila. After opening with a word of prayer we took time to pray for the following:
- Good health and heavenly cover for our ministry president and the founder’s family.
- Climbing For Christ workers around the globe as well as all members of C4C.
- The orientation meetings on evangelism tomorrow at the chapter’s four centers: Fort Lister, Thuchila, Likhubula, and Mnesa.
- “Communicating the Bible” training on Wednesday. May the Lord give us a good and successful time.
We also prayed for the fruitfulness of our trekking time later in the week. The Lord should grant us the grace to bring more to Him.
Lino Aron sharing from God’s Word.
After this, we worshiped together. Then Lino Aron from Mnesa shared from 2 Kings 1:1-17 about King Ahaziah and the prophet Elijah. The reason for this chapter was we need to be God-fearing people. We need to be humble before Him.
Following this, David Chithyoka helped share about the brochures and how we can use the brochures to evangelize. It was so welcoming learning that the team was responding with more expectation about outreach Thursday-Saturday.
Then I came with encouragement to have this fasting time be productive. I told them we have been trusted to carry out the good work, and we are only doing it for Him and nobody else. We need to perfect our minds and prepare ourselves to do as unto the Lord not man .
Samson Khalani then discussed more about the mountain and how we are going to prepare ourselves before we GO.
I closed with a word of prayer. 