South Africa—2011 Report
South Africa—2011 Report
Paul wrote to Timothy to “stir up the gift” (2 Timothy 1:6) that God had placed within him. Since 1996, we have traveled to nations in southern Africa to provide a ministry of encouragement and instruction to pastors and church members to do the same in their spiritual lives and ministries. It is easy for the gift to become dormant, for ground to get hard, and to drift along instead of being a force that makes a difference.
Time and time, we have returned home to report MISSION ACCOMPLISHED, through the grace and help of God. For most of these years (beginning in the early nineties), we received written feedback from each participant and, thus, have ample documentation thrilling to read providing strong confirmation that the Holy Spirit was indeed the Teacher, bringing the Word alive. As we return to areas where we have been, a specific theme of the prayer preparation is to pray, DO IT AGAIN, LORD!
There is abundant evidence that the South Africa 2011 mission was used by the Lord to stir up the saints toward the Word of God, Spirit-filled living, prayer, witnessing (Psalm 126:5-6), and stewardship. It is not easy to teach in South Africa’s black townships (where God has called us to work with indigenous churches where the need for basic instruction is so very great, even with pastors and leaders) for several reasons.
First, there are many diverse churches in the townships. Often a group is lead by a person who is reluctant to encourage his people to attend anything outside their own church for fear that someone will steal his sheep. Consequently, it is highly unusual for participants to be from other churches (as is true in most countries in which we work). Second, although most have a working knowledge of English, the dialect is deeply British, not American, English. The inflections and pronunciations are quite different making it hard for me to understand and for them to understand—even when common words are used and the words are clearly spoken. This is true of an interpreter, as well. The primary language is Soetho. In South Africa, I must speak deliberately, clearly, and concisely to enable the interpreter to bridge the communication gap. Since Leslie Motsalane, who has served as JGHM—Southern Africa Branch’s director for the past thirteen years, is used to my voice, he seldom needs clarification. He has taught many prayer seminars and plans to do more this year.
Points of interest
There were ten prayer seminars in the Free State. The seminars began in northeastern Free State in the mountains in a region called QwaQwa, home to three million people. The first two seminars were there. The first venue was Emmanuel Bible Church, where I preached on Sunday (five people came to Christ) and taught one prayer seminar using two evenings. The second seminar was during the day on Monday. Little did we know that a severe, late winter-storm would come in during the night on Sunday with heavy snow and very cold temperatures—no electricity or heat (of any kind). Many said that this was the worst such storm in their memory. N-3, the major highway into Durban was closed. In spite of this powerful obstacle, the people came, many walking three or four miles. Using candles for light, the people sat (wrapped in blankets) taking notes and joyfully responding heartily. The “teaching-learning flow,” which I try to establish in each seminar was present from the beginning. Pastors, especially, reflected full understanding and expressed gratitude for the prayer seminar workbook vowing to use it personally and to teach their people the purpose and power of prayer expressing over and over their deep appreciation for the Prayer Seminar Workbook.
The third and fourth seminars were in Harrismith, the leading city in a region that thrives on agriculture. Again, pastors appeared to benefit. I left a digital copy of the workbook for their use in printing more workbooks. A teacher at the Bible college in New Castle said that this was the best organized and thorough teaching material on the Christian life that he had ever seen and plans to use this approach with his students. I preached at the New Life Christian Assembly on Sunday morning and five came to Christ; a large number rededicated themselves to prayer and the Word of God.
A schedule adjustment was made when it was reported that two day seminars would have fewer than ten attending IF we started at 4 p.m. Of course, we could not revise our schedule since the evenings were already set to begin at 6 p.m. Actually, not having a day seminar and one-half a seminar in the evenings (three in two days), reduced the physical demand dramatically. Once again, I acceded to God’s wisdom. Since we have placed the prayer seminar ministry in His hands, we have no cause to fret over cancelled seminars or abbreviated seminars (less than the six hours).
The fifth prayer seminar was in Ficksburg, a small town nestled along the border of Lesotho, the beautiful mountain kingdom to the east. The attendance was large; participants were well-educated and well-versed in the Word of God. It was a pleasure to teach this group sensing that their understanding was far above average. Their pastor was one of the most impressive men that I have encountered in Africa. One could sense renewal and revival in his heart as he realized, and acknowledged, that revival had come to him and to his people. Several times, he declared that God had sent me at the right time with the right message. One well-dressed affable man came to Christ and, at the close, hugged me and thanked me for coming.
We shifted from eastern Free State and moved westward to Bloemfontein, the capital of the Free State and the home of South Africa’s Judicial Branch. The federal government’s three branches are in different cities—Executive Branch is in Pretoria and the Legislative Branch is in Cape Town. Bloemfontein, “the rose city,” is beautiful and home to two million people. The sixth seminar was forty miles east of the city and was in a relatively young church in Thaba-Nchwa (Black Mountain). Other than the pastor and our team members, only women attended. However, they were excellent learners, very articulate and sharp—easy to teach and capable of being teaches themselves. Anticipating a large number of participants (having sent out many letters of invitation), the church rented a tent. During the morning, a heavy wind came and brought down one side of the tent so we ended up in the small meeting quarters, anyway.
The seventh seminar was in Botschabelo, a region of about a million people, fifty miles west of Bloemfontein. There is a group of evangelical churches in the southern Africa nations known as the Apostolic Free Mission. Not only do they have churches in the black townships, there are churches in the white suburbs as well. The group is well established. One of their churches in Wassel Namibia, on the Pacific Ocean, hosted us in 2001, so it was a joy to reestablish fellowship. The eighth seminar was in another AFM church in Bloemfontein.
After we finished out work Thursday night, we proceeded to drive one hundred and twenty miles to Welkom, the headquarters of JGHM-SOUTHERN AFRICA BRANCH. It is the home of Leslie and Tabitha Motsalane, leaders of the ministry, and the home of Leslie’s church. When we started working with Leslie, there were no members and a tent was erected in a black township each Saturday and dismantled on Sunday night (for security reasons). Mostly children attended. Leslie taught the children how to pray for their parents. Sue and I taught a prayer seminar in the early days, mostly to children. Now there is a very nice brick building and the church has around 600 members. God has blessed a ministry built on prayer and the Word of God.
When I first saw the two lots that the black township had provided the church, there were no other buildings in site and there were no roads. It was a wise choice, however, because two roads would intersect at the church location, one leading to a cemetery. Year after year, we waited for the roads to be constructed and they have been completed. At the same time, Leslie and Tabitha lived in two rooms during those early days. They felt that if their ministry was to be in the black township that they should live there. Now, they have a lovely brick home. I no longer need to stay in a guest house, but there is a bedroom for Sue and me when we are there.
The ninth seminar was in Wesselsbron, thirty-five miles northwest of Welkom, and the home of Simon, one of our team members who was invaluable as we traveled. When we arrived, we found the church was meeting in a corrugated building, very modest indeed. The environs, however, did not detract from the powerful moving of the Holy Spirit. For the first time on this circuit, I did not have to establish a flow getting people to read and respond in “unison.” It was already there. During the first two hours, people kept coming. During a break, I observed several young people in the back furiously copying notes that they had missed and receiving explanation from those who had attended—students teaching each other is a pleasant sight for any teacher! The Holy Spirit was at work in Wesselsbron.
The tenth seminar was in Welkom. The church that hosted the seminar meets in Welkom Lodge and uses a very large hall that is not used for any other purpose. Since the gold mines are playing out, it appears that the lodge does not have the business that it once had, thus, there is space available for the church. It was a beautiful setting, indeed. I had wondered why Leslie did not have the seminar in his own church, but I was pleasantly surprised that the pastor of this thriving congregation (mostly young people) was a man who had served on an earlier team. He said that since he traveled with us, he thinks about what he learned about the Christian life (the Word of God, Spirit-filled living, prayer witnessing, and stewardship) every day of his life. He decided to build the church on these emphases, as did the early church in Jerusalem. He testified that this approach works. Everything about the last prayer seminar was outstanding. I taught in English, which allowed Leslie to listen and take notes.
As we traveled, I sensed something happening in Leslie, but said nothing. As we drove back to his home, he said that the Holy Spirit had been working in his heart and mind since the prayer seminar in Ficksburg, where the pastor said at the end of that seminar that he had personally been renewed and his people revived. Leslie recommitted to the prayer seminar ministry that he had carried on so faithfully and enthusiastically for many years. His plan is to one day see his church in a strong position so that he can retire and give himself to the prayer ministry throughout southern Africa. Even now, he is comfortable in leaving his church to minister elsewhere because he has a leadership group that can function quite well.
I ended the mission speaking in Leslie’s church on Sunday morning. One blessing was to see how the congregation has grown and matured. The singing is harmonious, vibrant, and uplifting. The Holy Spirit moves freely among the congregation. Worship is joyous and alive. Here is the e-mail that I sent Sue on Sunday afternoon:
Dear Sue,
You would never believe the new building. It is yellow brick with red brick trim. The contrast between “then” (remember the little tent that was put up each weekend and the corrugated meeting place?) and the “now” is dramatic and this is considered the first phase with an auditorium to be built later. A large number attended. At least ten came to Christ (a missionary couple from Brazilian Baptists are working with Leslie to establish a pre-school (twenty-five children) based on the PEPE model. The brother worked with those who had trusted Christ and was quite skilled in how he did it. Scores came forward for repentance and re-commitment. Leslie led this part of the service using statements from my message. The altar was filled with many on their knees weeping before God. It was a moving time, one to be long remembered. We are “dreaming” that Zane Abbott from Lynchburg will come in early 2012 and lead evangelistic services. Leslie announced that he was seeking 168 people, each to commit to praying one hour a week for revival starting September 1. Other churches will be involved. I explained that I would not feel good about this happening unless they committed themselves to attend and bring their lost family members/friends to hear the Gospel. The primary emphasis will not be simply encouraging the saints, but to reach out to the unsaved people who live in the area. Remember 500,000 live in this township. We believe that the revival fires are stirring and the church is ready for concerted outreach.
So the climax of the 2011 South Africa mission was amazing, indeed. Now I am going to rest for a few hours and tomorrow, the Lord willing, I will begin the journey home.
MUCH LOVE,
Jim
Psalm 118:1
Before leaving for South Africa, I established specific goals to guide my work. All in all, with God’s help, we were able to achieve them. I believe that there will be lighthouses of prayer penetrating the spiritual darkness in the black townships in South Africa and the other cities in which we ministered. A lighthouse may be one person, two persons meeting together in agreement, small groups families, or churches. Through the grace of God, we have been able to establish these lighthouses of prayer in each of South Africa’s nine provinces.
Leslie will continue to keep JGHM-Southern Africa Branch alive and well and will follow-up and conduct prayer seminars as his time and resources allow. I am grateful for the faithful financial and prayer support from our Doorkeepers and other partners that enable us to travel around the world teaching believers the purpose and power of prayer. We exceeded the one hundred contributors that we asked for and actually had a surplus as far as actual expenditures were concerned. Again, God knows what is doing.
It will be good to be home. Thanks to the availability of e-mail, Sue and I are able to communicate, sometimes more than once a day. She keeps me up-to-date on happenings in our family (and there is always something going on—this time Maggie beginning kindergarten and Willow not feeling well. She shares, also, prayer requests that she has received from folks in the Lynchburg area and elsewhere, including some from other nations. When I made the decision to give myself to the prayer seminar ministry, she and I talked it over. We agreed that my being away, even when she accompanied me, would not be easy. We agreed, however, that the Holy Spirit in a way bordering on the miraculous enabled me to write the prayer seminar workbook. Since the original purpose was to set up a prayer ministry in our local church, the layout provides practical assistance to churches that sponsor a seminar to do the same. God is able! God is willing! God is waiting for us to call on Him.
A special day in South Africa
A special day in South Africa
From the time that I awakened on Friday, August 19, 2011, I looked forward with eager anticipation to arriving in Ficksburg (a beautiful small town in eastern Free State nestled along the Lesotho border). There was time to check in at the Woodpecker Guest House and have a quiet moment to place Prayer Seminar #5 before the Lord for His anointing because it is a very special seminar. It is Seminar #1,500. Little did I know when the first prayer seminar was conducted at Madison Baptist Church, Madison, New Jersey in September 1980 that it would spread worldwide and that my interest would shift from being an educator to being a teacher to the nations. Little did I know that there would be three decades plus of saying “turn in your workbooks to page …” and then guiding and directing learning (my favorite definition of the word “teaching.” Little did I know that I would travel almost two and one-half million miles and arrive at a small town in beautiful eastern South Africa and begin Seminar #1,500.
As I waited for Leslie and Simon, the JGHM-Southern Africa Branch team, I became a little impatient, eager to see my seminar students. When they arrived at the Guest House, they reported that we must wait for someone from the Black township to come for us to lead us to the venue and the seminar. I was a little impatient knowing that we were going to be late in starting. Upon walking into the meeting place, my heart rejoiced because it was packed out with people ready for the seminar.
Very soon, Seminar #1,500 (Part One) started. I quickly began to establish that God, from the beginning, prayer has been God’s way to get His work done. God has not changed that truth. God is able and willing to work in our lives, but we must ask. He is waiting for His children to ask. He is waiting for His church to ask. The flow was excellent. Leslie interpreted into Soetho, the language of the people. When we read together, we read in English and there was harmony in reading; the sound was surely precious in the ears of God. There was no doubt that the Holy Spirit was present bringing the Word alive word by word, phrase by phrase. One could see this on the faces and in the voices of the people. The day indeed was a special day in South Africa and a special day in the history of J. Gordon Henry Ministries.
Seminar #1,500 (Part Two) will begin at 3 p.m. since, for the past few years, Saturday has been reserved for funerals. Due to the Aids epidemic that has swept southern Africa, the death rate has been enormous. In urging his people to return on Saturday, the pastor declared that revival had come to his congregation and that he was strongly convinced that God had sent a messenger at the right time with the right message. God grant that his conclusion be true and that a spiritual awakening has started for South Africa.
The South Africa Story—2011 Version
The South Africa Story—2011 Version
The work in South Africa got off to a good start. I arrived in Johannesburg on Saturday, August 13, at 5:10 p.m. (after a sixteen hour flight from Atlanta) on time. Leslie Motsalane, director, JGHM—Southern Africa Branch, was there to greet me, along with his colleague. We proceeded to Harrismith, 210 miles east of the airport on N-3 toward Durban, which was to be our headquarters until Friday. The next day, Sunday, we traveled thirty miles to Emmanuel Baptist Church in QwaQwa where I preached. QwaQwa is spread out and is home to three million people. Due to political problems, many of the factories have closed and large numbers are unemployed. The building was packed out and five adults came to Christ. After lunch with the pastor and his family, we returned to Harrismith to preach at the New Life in Christ church. Again, there was a good crowd and reception. Seven adults came to Christ. When I finally retired, I looked forward to the first prayer seminar on Monday. The weather was good and spring was in the air.
Since there had been no rain for an extended period, we had prayed for rain during the service at Emmanuel. Around 2 a.m. heavy thunder sounded and continued for several hours. I have never heard such loud thunder. Then I was aware that it was raining and went back to sleep. When I awakened, I could hardly believe my eyes—a heavy snow was falling. To make a long story short, a late-winter storm had come into northeast Free State and even worse toward Durban. It was bitter cold and windy. At 11 a.m., the power went out. We drove back to QwaQwa to begin the 2011 prayer seminars. The people assembled, many walking up to three or four miles. There was no electricity and no heat. Before we finished, candles were brought out. It got down to 22 degrees. I was bundled up, but my knees knocked as I taught. I don’t remember ever being so cold. I remembered a time in Owerri, Nigeria, when I taught in over one-hundred degree weather and that was memorable—the hottest I have ever seen. At the time, the large congregation sat on benches without backs for the six-hour seminar. I felt sorry for them, but my empathy for the QwaQwa participants made me want to forge on and make every sentence count. Even in the candlelight, my students excelled.
By Tuesday morning, the weather had moderated. When we drove into QwaQwa, the tops of the surrounding mountains were covered with snow, but the sun was shining. A cold wind was blowing off the mountains. It was pretty cold during the day seminar. When we returned to Emmanuel to complete that seminar beginning at 5:30 p.m., it was very cold and still no electricity. The candles were lighted. Again, many had walked miles to be present. In both seminars, Leslie and I agreed that those present were among the sharpest we have ever had in the many seminars in southern Africa. Many committed themselves to becoming light houses of prayer for their nation. Once again, I have been reminded of the awesome responsibility that God has placed upon JGHM, to teach God’s children, the purpose and power of prayer and to mobilize prayer warriors.
I will make you a light to the nations
“I will make you a light to the nations”
Isaiah 49:6c
One of the songs of Heaven recorded in Revelation is one that praises the Lamb who was slain to make redemption possible. “And they sang a new song, saying, ‘You are worthy to take the scroll, and to open its seals; for You were slain, and have redeemed us to God by Your blood out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation, and have made us kings and priests to our God; and we shall reign on earth” (Revelation 5:9-10). Another song of Heaven is sung by an innumerable company of the saved. Drawn from “every people and tribe, dressed in the white robes of salvation,” they join in offering praise and glory to God (Revelation 7:9-17). Heaven is filled with praises—praises for the Lamb, for the One born in order to die, to purchase with His own blood “men for God from every tribe and language and people and nation.”
For over a quarter of a century, God has opened doors and allowed JGHM (with the help of many partners, known as Doorkeepers) to be a light to fifty-eight nations (in North America, South America, Europe, Africa, Asia, Pacific Rim. For thirteen of these years (1996—2008), southern Africa was our destination. Usually the prayer seminars were in the fall (winter-time in southern Africa). I have “celebrated” my birthday in South Africa many times over. Since Leslie Motsalane, director, JGHM—Southern Africa Branch, has mastered the content of the prayer seminar, we had hoped to leave the work up to him and invest our time in other nations. Consequently, I did not go in 2009 and 2010. During the past year, however, it became apparent that it would help Leslie for me to return. During the thirteen years, we have blanketed South Africa with prayer seminars—multiple seminars in each province. Primarily our work has been in the Black townships with indigenous churches, although we have had a number with colored churches.
The budget for the mission is $12,900. Normally, we have found that when there are one-hundred contributors, the budget is met. As of Wednesday, August 10, one-hundred four have given $12,024.00 which is $876 short of the goal. I firmly believe where God guides, He provides; so I am confident that the funds will arrive and that the Holy Spirit will lead others to INVEST IN ETERNITY through the seminars. Thank you for your prayer and financial support. I hope you will follow each day with your prayers. My plans are to do an article for MY BLOG each day. I will let you know the results. Pray for Leslie Motsolane, our coordinator, and his wife, Tabitha. Pray for Sue and my family while I am away.
Itinerary
South Africa
Friday, August 12 Ground: LV Lynchburg 11:30 a.m. AR Roanoke 12:30 p.m.
LV Roanoke Delta Flight 4963 1:53 p.m. (357 miles)
AR Atlanta 3:25 p.m.
LV Atlanta Delta 200 7:20 p.m. (8,730 miles)
Saturday, August 13 AR Johannesburg 5:10 p.m. Flight time: 16 hours 40 minutes
Travel: Johannesburg to Welkom (100 miles)
Sunday, August 14 Preaching
Monday, August 15 Travel: Welkom to QwaQwa (??miles)
Prayer Seminar # 1 QwaQwa (Part One) 6-9 p.m
Tuesday, August 16 Prayer Seminar # 2 QwaQwa 9:00-4:30 pm
Prayer Seminar # 1 QwaQwa (Part Two) 6-9 p.m.,
Wednesday, August 17 Travel QwaQwa to Harrismith
Prayer Seminar #3 Harrismith
Thursday, August 18 Travel Harrismith to Bethlehem
Prayer Seminar # 4, Bethlehem
Friday, August 19 Travel: Bethlehem to Ficksburg
Prayer Seminar # 5 Ficksburg
Saturday, August 20 Travel: Ficksburg to Thaba-Nchu
Prayer Seminar #6 Thaba-Nchu.
Sunday, August 21 A.M. Preaching
Travel: Thaba-Nchu to Botshabelo
Monday, August 22 Prayer Seminar #7—Botshabelo #1
Tuesday, August 23 Prayer Seminar # 8—Botshabelo #2
Travel: Botshabelo to Bloemfontein
Wednesday, August 24 Prayer Seminar # 9 Bloemfontein #1
Thursday, August 25 Prayer Seminar # 10—-Bloemfontein # 2
Travel: Bloemfontein to Wesselsbron
Friday, August 26 Prayer Seminar #11 Wesselsbron
Travel: Wesselsbron to Welkom
Saturday, August 75 Prayer Seminar # 12—-Welkom
Sunday, August 28 A.M. Preaching Leslie’s Church
Monday, August 29 Travel: Welkom to Bloemfontain
LV Bloemfontain SA Flight 8131 2:15 p.m.
AR Johannesburg 3:20 p.m. (260 miles)
LV Johannesburg Delta Flight 201 8:20 p.m. (8,730 miles)
Tuesday, August 30 Flight time: 8 hours to Cape Verde Island, 10 hours to Atlanta
AR Atlanta 6:35 a. m.
LV Atlanta Delta Flight 4983 9:25 a.m. AR Roanoke 10:49 a.m. LV Roanoke
BANK OF HEAVEN INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITY
BANK OF HEAVEN
INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITY
Southern Africa. The antecedent for our work in Africa was a prayer seminar in July 1995 in Kiev, Ukraine, attended by Enoch Mulomba, a medical college student from Zambia. During the seminar, he gave rapt attention, taking careful notes in his workbook. His interest was reflected in his countenance so I was not surprised when he asked if Sue and I would bring the prayer seminar to Zambia when he set up his practice in Ndola. Of course, we said “yes!” Off to Africa, we went!
Out of those August 1996 Zambia seminars came seminars in South Africa, Lesotho, Swaziland, Botswana, Mozambique, and Namibia. In 1998, prior to the trip to South Africa, the Holy Spirit indicated that God was going to do a “new thing” with our ministry and I so informed our Doorkeepers not knowing what it would be. It was to form the J. Gordon Henry Ministries—Southern Africa Branch with Leslie Motsalane, the director. Year after year, our major focus has been on southern Africa. Leslie reports that several million people have been touched by prayer seminars. We literally have covered every province in South Africa, concentrating on churches in black townships. Through the giving of the Doorkeepers, we provided an office in Welkom, Free State, for Leslie and basic office equipment (desks, chairs, computer, phone), and a vehicle (Volkswagon mini-bus), and workbooks.
It was decided in 2008 that Leslie was in a position to continue the prayer seminar ministry without help from JGHM. Satan, of course, did not like that and the challenge has been great. The mini-bus has to have a new engine (with work done in Port Elizabeth), a new gearshift, and new tires. Leslie has asked for our help and requested that I resume the annual visits. Based on the investment we have made in South Africa ($149,000 conducting seminars and $51,000 in monthly support, I must go. Since 1996, I have spent 236 days in Southern Africa and have traveled internally 304,963 miles.
Mark your prayer calendar. The dates are August 12-30. The budget has been established at $12,900 (international travel, domestic travel, lodging, food for participants, publicity, Soetho prayer seminar workbooks and pens). Due to the minibus repairs, the financial need is tremendous. Leslie believes that the minibus, once repaired, will be good for another five years. We must help him.
Seminars are scheduled in .QwaQwa, Harrismith, Bethlehem, Kestell, Ficksburg, Ladybrand, Clocolan, Bloemfontein, Botshabelo, Hoopsted, Wessellsbrong, and Welkom. Leslie’s goal is to set aside one week a month of his busy schedule (he is pastor of a large, growing church) to conduct prayer seminars. Thanks for helping!
THE SOUTHERN AFRICA STORY
--THE PAST
ü First seminars in Southern Africa-Zambia 1996.
ü Seven nations: Botswana, Lesotho, Mozambique
Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland, Zambia
ü # Seminars – 131 + seminars conducted by Leslie
ü 1998, JGHM—Southern Africa Branch established
ü Total days for Southern African work: 236
ü Total miles traveled: 304,963
ü Financial Investment
1. Total: $200,748.93 (contributions $165,748.93 plus $35,000 from our general fund).
2. For seminars: $149,423.12
3. JGHM—SA Branch monthly support: $51,325.81
“It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35)
--THE PRESENT
ü August 12-30, 2011
ü Itinerary in South Africa--Free State: QwaQwa, Harrismith, Bethlehem, Kestell, Ficksburg, Ladybrand, Clocolan, Blkemfontein, Botshabelo, Hoopsted, Wesselsbrong, and Welkom.
ü Projected Budget—$12,900
• International travel $1,400
• Planning/Publicity 1,000
• Van repairs 5,000
• Lodging/Food 1,500
• Internal travel 2,000
• Workbooks 2,000
--THE FUTURE
ü Goals:
1. Support Leslie Motsalane’s efforts to provide seminars and go to Southern Africa, as needed.
2. Mobilize long-term financial backing for Leslie’s work.. Due to the demands for funds to continue prayer seminars in other nations, we have been unable to achieve this goal.
3. Although we have witnessed hundreds of professions of faith, our primary purpose is to equip believers to become prayer warriors, including praying for laborers for their own nation (Matthew 9:35-38). Many of the churches we have worked with in southern Africa are led by pastors who have no formal education. Many have indicated that the basic material that we have in the prayer seminar workbook, supplemented by the instruction given during a prayer seminar, has been invaluable to their ministries.
TESTIMONIES
Botswana: “God taught me that there is much help in the Bible to guide my prayer life. I have learned that I must be specific when I want God’s hand to move in order for Him to answer specifically. I have learned how to confess my sins and how to walk in the Spirit—which I intend to do the rest of my life. I will teach others.”
Lesotho: “God has opened my spiritual mind and given me spiritual insights to understand His Word to fulfill my potential in the power of the Holy Spirit. I have learned that prayer is to the Father, through the Son, in the power of the Holy Spirit. I plan to do the prayer work for my family, my church, and my country.”
Mozambique: “Since I became a preacher, I have never received a study like this. From today, I know the purpose and power of prayer. I ha ve learned things that I did not know about the Holy Spirit, about the different elements of prayer, and how to pray and read my Bible. I am eager to teach my people.”
Namibia: “I have learned to pray in ways that I did not know before. I have learned that I am to ask God’s hand to move for myself (petition) and for others (intercession). This is God’s way and has been His plan from the beginning. I will make prayer priority and will organize my life around prayer. I will teach others.”
South Africa: “God opened my eyes and my mind about prayer. Now I know how to pray and how to have my prayers answered. You taught us things we have never heard. God bless you and Miss Sue. I’ll certainly dive into God’s Word and pray as daily priorities.”
Swaziland: “God taught me so many practical things about prayer that I cannot name them all. He taught me that my I am to pray about everything, but my motive must be His glory. Even if I use the name Jesus many times, there will be no answer if my motive is not right. I have learned how to be clean and what true confession of sin is. I will use the ideas about praising God for who He is—His attributes, His essence, and His character. I am ready to give myself to prayer!”
Zambia: “God has opened my eyes. I now know the importance of prayer and if I don’t pray, it is a sin against God. I will avoid hindrances, which I now know. God has reminded me to put first things first and set my priorities right. He has illuminated me from the inside about my prayer life.”