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EXPERIENCES IN AFRICA
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“And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying,
All power is given unto Me in heaven and in earth.
“Go ye therefore, and teach all nations,
baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you:
and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.”
Matthew 28:18-20.
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“We are nearing the close of this earth’s history. We have before us a great work–the closing work of giving the last warning message to a sinful world. There are men who will be taken from the plow, from the vineyard, from various other branches of work, and sent forth by the Lord to give this message to the world.
“The world is out of joint. As we look at the picture, the outlook seems discouraging. But Christ greets with hopeful assurance the very men and women who cause us discouragement. In them He sees qualifications that will enable them to take a place in His vineyard. If they will constantly be learners, through His providence He will make them men and women fitted to do a work that is not beyond their capabilities; through the impartation of the Holy Spirit, He will give them power of utterance.
“Many of the barren, unworked fields must be entered by beginners. The brightness of the Saviour’s view of the world will inspire confidence in many workers, who, if they begin in humility and put their hearts into the work, will be found to be the right men for the time and place. Christ sees all the misery and despair of the world, the sight of which would bow down some of our workers of large capabilities with a weight of discouragement so great that they would not know how even to begin the work of leading men and women to the first round of the ladder. Their precise methods are of little value. They would stand above the lower rounds of the ladder, saying, ‘Come up where we are.’ But the poor souls do not know where to put their feet.…
“I feel constrained to say that the labors of many of our ministers lack power. God is waiting to bestow His grace upon them, but they pass on from day to day, possessing only a cold, nominal faith, presenting the theory of the truth, but presenting it without that vital force which comes from a connection with heaven, and which sends the spoken words home to the hearts of men. They are half asleep, while all around them are souls perishing in darkness and error.
“Ministers of God, with hearts aglow with love for Christ and your fellow-men, seek to arouse those who are dead in trespasses and sins. Let your earnest entreaties and warnings pierce their consciences. Let your fervent prayers melt their hearts, and lead them in penitence to the Saviour. You are ambassadors for Christ, to proclaim His message of salvation.” –Ellen G. White, Gospel Workers, pp. 36, 37, 35.
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Brother Antonino Di Franca, right, and Brother Siegmund Gutknecht waved
good-bye to the believers in Arusha after the conference in Tanzania. |
From the eastern countries of Africa (Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, and Uganda) the urgent request reached me in the Ministerial Department to hold a seminar for gospel workers. After counseling with Brother Antonino Di Franca, president of the General Conference, we set the date for a visit from November 16 to December 15, 1998. We left Germany on November 15. When we arrived in Kenya, our joy at the greeting was very great. After cordial greetings, we went to our mission station, where we were warmly welcomed by the believers who were present.
Since Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, and Uganda are currently suffering under economic and political difficulties, I figured that we would have 20 participants at the most; but I was astonished and happy to welcome 55 gospel workers to our seminar.
Since the children were on vacation, we were able to hold classes and sleep in the rooms of our school. For financial reasons, the accommodations were simple: Twice a day, we ate “Ugali”– corn mush. And at an altitude of 1,600 meters (almost 5,200 feet), the nights were cool; there was no reason to complain–only joy and gratitude.
The following subjects composed the study materials:
1.Pastoral doctrine
2.Personal evangelism
3.Church order and organization
4.Leadership roles
5.Public speaking
In general, the time was too short to complete these courses, so the textbooks were distributed for further study. If God wills, in a year or at the most two years, there will be a closing seminar lasting 6-8 weeks. The faithful, diligent students will then receive a diploma. In the African countries, a diploma is a great help in preaching the gospel and in dealing with government officials.
The second part of our stay in Kenya and Tanzania was the conferences. They were a great blessing and spiritual inspiration not just for the workers and the people but also for us. The preaching, the choirs with their beautiful songs, the dress, the believers’ demeanor, and their presentations were an example for the western world.
What especially fascinated me was the way they entered the sanctuary. The first ones who came into the room began to sing, and every visitor who came in afterward joined the singing, until it grew to a beautiful, harmonious choir. Nothing is spoken, but one song after another is sung until the leader opens the service.
What I don’t want to fail to mention is the children. From the age of 2 to about 12, the children sit closely together in the church on narrow planks, join happily in the singing, and listen to the message. If a small child starts to wiggle, a deacon gently steps in, thus avoiding every disturbance. The parents can listen attentively to the preaching.
You don’t see any toys or coloring books–as in the western world–for the toy and the coloring lead the children and adults away from the message that is being preached. What does the Lord say in His word? “But the Lord is in His holy temple: let all the earth keep silence before Him.” Habakkuk 2:20.
If the adults respectfully enter the room and quietly take their places after a silent prayer, the children will respectfully honor the holy atmosphere.
Kindergarten and vocational school in Kenya
Through the generosity of some believers in Germany, a house could be built in the area of the harbor city of Mombassa to serve as a chapel and kindergarten. This institution has not only helped the new congregation financially but at the same time serves as a light in an Islamic world. The kindergarten was also the stimulus for opening a school and kindergarten near the main city of Nairobi. Contributors and helpers were also found for this project, so that today we have a well-run school with six teachers. Two of them have been won for Christ through the school. More and more petitions are coming to expand the school to eight grades.
The school is supported by the contributions of the parents, who do not want to send their children to public school. They prefer a Christian school with a good reputation. We are thankful that the school also has a positive financial result.
To fulfill the requests of the parents, the school needs to be expanded from four to eight grades. That is being planned and worked for.
The experience in Kenya has also awakened the interest in Tanzania not to be satisfied with just a kindergarten but also to build and operate a school and a modest clinic. Our work in Tanzania is making good progress in winning souls, therefore this union needs help to help itself.
The Lord will move more hearts to give of their abundance for the hungry and suffering. Jesus, God’s Son, who emptied Himself and took the form of a servant, who suffered and died for us, said: “When thou makest a dinner or a supper, call not thy friends, nor thy brethren, neither thy kinsmen, nor thy rich neighbours; lest they also bid thee again, and a recompence be made thee. But when thou makest a feast, call the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind: And thou shalt be blessed; for they cannot recompense thee: for thou shalt be recompensed at the resurrection of the just.” Luke 14:12-14. And in Proverbs and the Psalms we read: “He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the Lord; and that which he hath given will He pay him again.” “The Lord also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble.” “For the needy shall not alway be forgotten: the expectation of the poor shall not perish for ever.” “For the oppression of the poor, for the sighing of the needy, now will I arise, saith the Lord; I will set him in safety from him that puffeth at him.” Proverbs 19:17; Psalms 9:9, 18; 12:6. All these texts admonish us to come to the help of the Lord and our brethren who are in need because of economic crisis.
May our rich, merciful God reward everyone who is merciful to our own brethren in the faith.
The Ministerial Department wishes all our dear co-workers and believers throughout the world God’s blessing. “Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the Lord thy God, He it is that doth go with thee; He will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.” Deuteronomy 31:6.
–Siegmund Gutknecht, Germany
