A Visit to Zimbabwe and South Africa

A friend once remarked,“Every time you step on a plane to go and serve God in another nation you should regard it as a privilege.” Flying to Zimbabwe to serve the saints there was undoubtedly so.

The hundreds of believers who gathered in Harare for their Easter Conference entitled ‘Megavision’ are a phenomenal delight.  Against a background of economic and political vulnerability they display incredible joy and sheer triumph. To be present in their worship is to find yourself surrounded with praise and confidence in God that is inspiring to experience.

Scott Marques, who leads the growing group of churches there within the Newfrontiers family, asked me to speak on:- The Son of God, The Grace of God and The Spirit of God, which I was pleased to do.  Following the final talk on the Holy Spirit, scores poured forward for prayer and many were receiving the Spirit with evident joy and freedom.

From Harare we flew to Cape Town where, to our surprise, the weather was similar to the British weather we thought we had left behind at London Heathrow.  Thankfully it gradually improved.  The sun burst through and the magnificent views of Cape Town surrounded us.

It was a great joy of course to stay with our daughter Anna, her husband Steve and their three children; our first visit for two years.

After a few days’ break I spoke at a number of meetings, first for the burgeoning Church-on-Main led by Andrew Thompson, then a full programme for Jubilee Church with meetings for leaders, a Holy Spirit Conference where again many received the Spirit with great joy and then a full Sunday in the packed Jubilee Church, now gathering around 1,200.

Jubilee is about to plant a new site in the heart of the city of Cape Town in a church originally planted by a man sent by C H Spurgeon.  What a joy to honour such glorious foundations and believe to see God gather a vibrant congregation in the city centre.

We returned home grateful to God for the honour of serving him there, the joy of seeing people filled with the Spirit, churches prospering in God’s purposes and the special pleasure of renewed fellowship with our family.  We never cease to thank God for his huge kindness and infinite mercy to us. “Privilege” hardly covers it.