Eight men packed their bags, left their families for two nights in order to minister to the Nsenga of Mozambique. They were not sure how many people would be there but they prepared their hearts for weeks in advance for all that God was going to do in and through them at Chinsawa Village. They arrived at dusk on Friday, August 29th. Seven Zambians and Kendall prepared their tents and set up camp in time to enjoy a warm meal and a short time of worship with those in attendance.
During the weekend, there were approximately 120-150 people in attendance, from 9 churches in northern Mozambique and the Zambue District. Three of the churches are brand new and this was the first time for them to all be gathered together for worship and fellowship! Kendall was so encouraged by the love and excitement that each person had for God’s Word and for the simple fact that seven Zambian men and a white man took the time to come and share with them and fellowship with them. Kendall was so excited to see that the headman of Chimbowe Village, and his friend came to the meeting. (Chimbowe Village is the newest place that Kendall has been sharing Christ, this village had never heard about Jesus Christ until Kendall went to them. The headman was one of the first people to pray to receive Christ!) Both of the men are in their early to mid 20s and came to the meeting, what an awesome blessing from the Father that these two men are serious about their relationship with Jesus Christ and desiring to learn and know more about the Christian faith!
Kendall had the awesome opportunity of teaching six different times during the meeting. As the meeting drew closer, Kendall really was seeking the Lord’s guidance as what God wanted to teach them through Kendall. I will not forget the morning that Kendall came into the kitchen from his office and said, “I know what I am going to teach in Mozambique! Who are you worshipping? That is the focus of my teaching.” He had been reading from 1 Kings 18 and the story of Elijah. As Kendall studied, he realized that one of the traditions that the Nsenga practice is putting charms with herbs and human blood in their fields to bring “good luck” or good crops. They will sing and dance and plant this charm in their fields. Basically worshipping this charm in order to have good crops. When Kendall began researching the prophets of Baal and what Baal stood for he was astonished! The people worshipped Baal because he was the god of the crops, what the Nsenga people are doing is identical to what the prophets of Baal were doing by worshipping this god of the crops. Amazing how God’s Word is still alive and true today!
He also taught from Mark 10:17-31, the Rich Young Ruler. The focus of this teaching was that good works will not bring eternal life and that we must be willing to give up everything in order to fulfill the calling that God has placed on our lives. When we are truly following the Lord, we are blessed by our obedience to the Father.
During a time of teaching, he educated the churches on the role of a deacon and a pastor in the church. There are many young churches in Mozambique and they have not been taught the jobs and roles of these leadership positions from Scripture so it was a good time of teaching. Another teaching segment, Kendall attacked the issue of adultery, fornication, and pure marriages among the Nsenga. Recently, we have learned that the majority of couples that are engaged to be married sleep together before they are married. After several children and years of living together, they then ask the pastor to pray for their “marriage” and bless them. Needless to say, there is a great deal of explaining and clarification that needed to take place in order to teach what God’s Word says about marriage and sexual sin.
On Saturday night, before the Jesus Film, Kendall shared the Creation story. He shared the story of Adam and Eve and how sin entered the earth. He emphasized that sin has been on earth since then and because of our sinfulness we NEED a Savior. Then he invited them to see the Savior in the Jesus Film.
Sunday morning, Kendall really felt like the Lord was leading him to share about Faith, Hope, and Love. Three parts of the foundation of Christianity, Kendall said that the Spirit was truly moving among the people that were in attendance at this meeting. Many of them had tears in their eyes and were moved by the presence of the Holy Spirit upon hearing these precious words from God’s pure and Holy Word. Faith- John 1:1, 1:14, 3:16, Kendall taught the principle of Romans 5:8, that He (Jesus) died and rose again! Our love, where does it come from? 1 Corinthians 13:13, 1 John 4:7-11. Our love is that God sent His ONLY son for us and that sacrifice showed us how to love. What is our Hope? 1 Timothy 1:1, our hope is Christ!, Acts 24:15, Revelation 22:12-17, our hope as Christians and followers of Jesus Christ is that WE will rise again as He arose again! When the crowd heard these words, they were overcome with awe and joy at the love of their King and Creator!
After worship on Sunday, before his departure, Kendall encouraged and challenged the churches with Psalm 121
I will lift up my eyes to the mountains;
From where shall my help come?
My help comes from the LORD,
Who made heaven and earth.
He will not allow your foot to slip;
He who keeps you will not slumber.
Behold, He who keeps Israel
Will neither slumber nor sleep.
The LORD is your keeper;
The LORD is your shade on your right hand.
The sun will not smite you by day,
Nor the moon by night.
The LORD will protect you from all evil;
He will keep your soul.
The LORD will guard your going out and your coming in
From this time forth and forever.
Approximately 35 people came to Christ during the weekend of meetings and many people were encouraged through the reading of God’s Word! This meeting was tiring for Kendall but his heart was full because of the relationships that have been built in Mozambique! Praise the Lord for HIS GOODNESS!!! Pray for the discipleship of these new believers and the awesome leaders that God has placed in Mozambique! Pray protection from the evil one, over the believers of the Zambue area of Mozambique.
Just another amazing blessing from our Father...I (Joy) FINALLY got to meet Kendall's dear friend, Leonard Banda! Leonard was the first man in Mozambique to receive Christ and has become an amazing missionary among his neighbors and the Nsenga of Mozambique! Won't Heaven be amazing when ALL of us will worship our Father together?! I love how God blesses us with His children!
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