Ministry Update: May – July 2020
We look back at May, June and July with awe and wonder as God has enabled African Enterprise to do so much in our communities.
Your support, prayers and gifts have changed the lives of many. Thank you for being a part of African Enterprise.
Highlights:
- Trained 2,590 church leaders, pastors, associates and mission volunteers on HBE all across Africa.
- All of our teams have been able to donate food and facemasks to vulnerable people in their communities.
- Our sewing projects in Kenya (Mathare Women Empowerment Project) and South Africa (Ngezandla Zethu Sewing Project) has made hundreds of reusable cloth facemasks for distribution.
- Our PTC program has seen massive growth all over Africa during the pandemic with students enrolling and completing courses online and in small groups.
- Malawi’s Health Programs Offices, Mrs Tamandani Nazimera has facilitated training sessions with Foxfire Teams on “Youth Response to COVID-19”, equipping them with the correct knowledge about the pandemic and how they can raise awareness in their communities.
- AEDRC partnered with television and radio stations for public awareness and sensitisation campaigns as there was confusing messages on social media about the pandemic causing panic and reckless behaviour in the community. They also started a kids a Bible Study at home, using the opportunity to share the gospel with children while schools were closed.
- AE Ghana was able to donate hospital beds, hand washing stations, sanitizer and soap to the Mother and Child Hospital.
Another highlight is the following story from AE Kenya, a heartwarming story of how we can inspire and uplift others through the gospel:
GOSPEL CHALLENGE BEARS FRUIT
AE Kenya challenged its members and associates to share the gospel with at least five people each during the month of May. Unable to gather people for outreach in schools, hospitals, offices etc. as usual, they were encouraged to share the gospel with those within their reach. Nancy Kuria took her gospel campaign online. “I have been hosting online sermons, sending short messages on WhatsApp among my contacts, especially those that I know are not born again. I have been sharing my testimony whenever I get an opportunity. This far I have spoken the word of God to 306 people, out of which 11 have made commitments to salvation.”
Margaret Wambui, who is 24, watched Nancy’s testimony on Facebook. She got in touch and the two ladies started a conversation online and via phone calls. According to Margaret, she was desperate and had come to her end. She had been frustrated in life to a point of being suicidal. She had lost her job and even meeting her basic needs was impossible. After listening to 
Nancy’s testimony, she thought of turning to God. Nancy says: “I shared the Gospel and she made a commitment for salvation during one of our phone calls. The following day we met and from that time, we have created a relationship that is exceptional. It is wonderful to see the great transformation Christ has brought to this sister. She is now happy in the Lord. Today, as I see her smiling, I often have the sobering thought that, if the Gospel had not came her way, she would possibly not be alive!”
Prayer Points:
- Pray that many will hear the gospel through different channels and that as many will turn to the Lord during this challenging season.
- Pray for the ongoing mobilisation and training on Home Based Evangelism (HBE), and that those trained will remain motivated and committed to implementing the strategy.
- Pray for the AE staff members and volunteers in Africa’s frontlines carrying out Covid-19 community response across all teams.
- Pray for all AE friends and supporters during these challenging times of Covid-19 pandemic, for providence, protection and healing.
Africa has the youngest population in the world – its average age is just 19 years.
At African Enterprise, we know that the key to the continent is its youth; this is how the dream for the Foxfires, the youth arm of AE, was born. Foxfires play a vital role in AE city-wide and university missions each year, as they reach their fellow youth with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The program’s name comes from Judges 15 – where Samson ties torches to the tails of foxes and releases them into the fields of the Philistines. The name is symbolic of youth who, set ablaze with the Gospel of Jesus Christ, carry His fire into the world.
AE currently has Foxfires teams in Kenya, Zimbabwe, South Africa and Malawi, with each team made up of around 10 young Africans. Many of our Foxfires come from difficult backgrounds, but they have a passion for the Gospel, and they choose to devote a year of their lives to Christian ministry.
After 2 months of training, the Foxfires visit schools, children’s homes and youth groups, using energetic dance and drama performances to share the Gospel message. They also mentor younger leaders and present programs that help young people to contribute positively to society, while navigating issues such as peer pressure, drug abuse, crime, poverty and HIV/AIDS.
Julie Kibie, a social worker at Bro Beausang Education Centre, was overwhelmed by the effect that the Kenyan Foxfires have had on pupils at the school, describing the Foxfires as “the change agents that we so need for this generation!” One of those pupils, Lizzy, lost her mother at birth, and suffered from low self-esteem due to ongoing rejection by her stepmother. Speaking of the Foxfires, she describes:
“I have learned that my background does not dictate my future or how I should view things… Furthermore, my decision to welcome Christ in my life has had a difference since I can now speak my heart to God. I am forever grateful for the new me that the Foxfires program has carved”.
With COVID-19 having affected the Kenyan Foxfires’ schedule this year, the team are determined to continue shining their light in the midst of dark and seemingly hopeless circumstances. One team member, Brandon, encourages fellow youth around the world not to lose hope during this challenging season:
“Have hope and be positive. See the best that can be done to improve your skill as a young person during this period. Let your dreams keep hope alive. God honours his child’s heart’s desires. He will ensure that it happens in due time. Focus now on the talent, the gifting or the strength you have always passed over or ignored… Be that unmoved change agent for a better life tomorrow. God bless!”
“I have in the recent past had a zeal for God’s word and started doing CBR (Continuous Bible Reading) and I must say the journey has been full of God’s presence.
During this Pandemic, there has been a lot of free time on my hands and I was just asking and praying that God brings something exciting, worthwhile and of course one that would bring glory and honor to God.
PTC is God sent, not only have I been able to understand much more of what I study in my Bible, but also grown in every aspect.
Of course, like Paul puts it, “God facilitates the Growth”.
One of the aspects is on how I view the series of outcomes in the Bible and how they all blend with the typology of Jesus at the end of it all. Indeed, Jesus Christ is the pivot and anchor of the fulfillment of God’s promises in our lives.
I believe that the knowledge I have acquired will help more in ministering to my fellow youth with deep understanding of the word and prowess.
I thank God for PTC and the entire fraternity for bringing this to me/us. It’s really a life changer. Blessings.’’
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. (Matthew 5:6)
A Hunger for the Word
What struck me the first time I visited Kigali to teach PTC in 2015 was the hunger of the students for God. In a country where many crave physical nourishment, I saw a deeper hunger – a voracious appetite for learning about God’s word, and delight at the feast of ideas laid out in the training material provided by Moore Theological College.
Our students come from diverse backgrounds: pastors, evangelists, church planters, university campus workers and aid workers; some with tertiary educations and others with much less formal education; some with excellent English, but most working in an English-speaking ministry setting for the first time. Regardless of circumstances, these students each relish the opportunity to be further equipped to handle the Bible correctly.
As a former school teacher, my favourite element of class time is the discussion around Bible ideas. Given the non-denominational setting of our classes in the African Evangelistic Enterprise Rwanda headquarters, we enjoy a rich diversity of churchmanship and theological perspective. Our free-flowing conversation, discussion and theological reflection is marked by a godly humility from men and women who understand the weight of their calling. Where differences occur, the cohort is learning to go to the Bible to assess the validity of individual preferences and practices, rather than assuming them as concrete principles.
Whenever we spend time outside of our normal setting, our eyes are opened to new perspectives and experiences.
I feel deeply blessed by my time in Rwanda, and my learning and fellowship with so many gospel-hearted brothers and sisters. God has taught me about the spiritual richness of his people in other parts of the world, the way other Christians enjoy the blessings our Father bestows, and their fervour to follow Jesus. I often observe a hunger for God that is missing in my own country where bellies are always full.
Perhaps we all need reminding to hunger and thirst for what is most important in this life…
Having ministered at Anglican Churches in Sydney since 2012, Dan Bidwell is now the Senior Pastor at Yountville Community Church in California’s Napa Valley. He was involved as a visiting PTC lecturer in Rwanda from 2015-2018, and is currently developing a partnership with IFES and GBU Rwanda to enable the theological training of university campus workers.
Ministry in Africa really was a two-way street!
From 2003–14 I had the privilege of helping to run a PTC in South East Africa Program – a joint initiative between African Enterprise and the Moore College External Studies Department (as it was then known). The aim was to provide high-quality, low-cost, short-term theological education to untrained African church leaders – of whom there are many.
Sub-Saharan Africa is full of fine Christian men and women who, for reasons of lack of money and opportunity, have not been able to receive much (if any) formal theological training. The idea of the program was to use Moore College’s very good Preliminary Theological Certificate materials (appropriately adapted to the cultural context) to better equip these leaders. It was the “teach the teacher” principle.
We put on a regular program two week Australian-taught intensive courses, with a view to putting the students through six or more PTC subjects over a one to three year period. I travelled to Africa on eight occasions, teaching in Kenya, Uganda and Malawi … and LOVED it.
Local African leaders were very enthusiastic about the initiative. I recall one prominent Kenyan pastor describing the church in Africa as being ‘a mile wide and an inch deep’. This training we offered was a strategic and greatly valued way of addressing that.
But … the benefits were not one-way! In terms of Christian learning and encouragement, it
really was a two-way street. The African believers I met and became friends with had a LOT to teach me, too!
In my very humble opinion, we in Australia had something to contribute to the growth of the church in Africa in terms of theological training, organisation, finances and prayer. But I found that I learned so much from my African friends in the areas of evangelism, prayer, a concern for the spiritual and social needs of people, and hospitality.
Many Africans I met felt at ease in sharing their faith evangelistically almost anywhere. A lot of African churches seemed to prioritise prayer and prayer meetings – often overnight. Christians were flat out evangelising and pastoring AND helping with development and aid work. And African hospitality was a pleasure to experience. In each of these areas I was greatly encouraged and inspired!
It’s been about six years since my last trip to Africa, but I am still in contact with a number of former African students and co-workers. I am sure that the capacity for Australian Christians to help African Christians, and African Christians to help Australian Christians is just as great as ever.
It has been truly great to be part of God’s transnational purposes on this planet
Written by Stephen Liggins
Stephen Liggins is a minister at Anglican Churches Springwood, and guest lecture at the Sydney Missionary and Bible College.
Luyanda Zulu
Rejection – I was abandoned at birth. So, I’ve always felt unloved, unworthy and this all led to me trying to fit in for I struggled to be accepted socially. How I dealt with this the current church (Christ Amplified Church) I joined had a real positive impact in helping me to deal with this pain and hurt. They showed me love before they introduced me to this loving God. I then realised that God accepts me and that He loves me before I even loved Him.
Low Self-Esteem – I was verbally and emotionally abused a lot by my guardian and even my school peers .I was very skinny and due to that I would get called funny names such as e.g., matchsticks that effected how I would looked and view myself. It was hard to deal with this even though you train yourself to try and forget it still somehow reminds you especially the pain attached to it. The friends at my church encouraged me and reminded me how God view me as that I am fearfully and wonderfully made.
Expectation – I hope to leave this Foxfire program with full understanding who I am and my calling in the kingdom of God. To acquire leadership skills. To share the good news and keep the banner of evangelism high.
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