Transformation
The dramatic changes in Zambia over the last 20 years could hardly have been more acute. The contrast with my first visit to Lusaka Central Police Station and this latest one was extreme. As I was being received by the Commissioner of Police and ushered into their Boardroom for a special Chaplains service, my mind went back to that first time I had seen Lusaka Central Police Station. Incarcerated The Frontline mission team I was leading had been arrested at Kazangulu after refusing to bribe Zambian officials. We had spent an excruciating day and night of abuse at the hands of the Zambian security forces, and thrown into filthy cells where the overpowering stench was nauseating. After a night of being attacked by swarms of mosquitos, my skin had been turned into relief maps of angry red bumps and bites.
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Mission to Mpumalanga
By God's grace, I had the privilege of being invited to conduct a Missions Conference in Mpumalanga. The Message in the Music The first meeting was a Youth Rally where I had been asked to speak on The Message in the Music. Before I had even taken the podium to begin the presentation, the music group, which had led the praise and worship, filed out, carrying their musical instruments with them! A missionary's job description is to comfort the afflicted and to afflict the comfortable. Cult Confusion
Our Mission team to Zimbabwe reported back on a proliferation of cults, sects and false gospels undermining churches throughout Zimbabwe during this troubled time of power failures and food shortages Mission to Zimbabwe Our Mission team delivered Boxes with Love to destitute pensioners and conducted Discipleship Seminars in three churches. The Discipleship Training Seminars used the new Discipleship Training Manual of Frontline Fellowship as the primary textbook. Lectures presented included: The Essence of the True Gospel, Repentance, Full Salvation, What is a Christian?, The World vs The Word, I am Not Ashamed of the Gospel, The Beatitudes, Suffering and Revival. All in all the Mission team took 60 meetings, including lectures, sermons, devotions, Bible studies and film ministry. Kajo Keji
After an epic 8000Km overland journey across eight countries, we were warmly welcomed to Kajo Keji by the very friendly and down-to-earth Bishop Anthony and his staff. We had a very effective and appreciated time of ministry in Kajo Keji Diocese. Evangelism Workshop We had a week of Evangelism Workshops everyday from 08h30 to 16h30 from Tuesday to Saturday focusing on Evangelism and Discipleship. Some of the topics that we dealt with were: A Biblical Vision of Victory, Abiding in Christ, The Greatness of the Great Commission, Principles for Soul Winning, The Greatest Book, The Ten Commandments, Evangelism Explosion, The Way of the Master, The Challenge of Islam, Comparing the Bible with the Quran, Gold Nuggets for Evangelizing Muslims, The Uniqueness of Jesus in the Quran, The Lordship of Christ in All Areas of Life, Missions 9 Ways, The Power of Prayer, Understanding Humanism and The Heart of the Gospel. We thank God for 30 Years of Frontline Fellowship's Mission and ministry to persecuted Christians, suffering for their faith in Christ, in restricted-access countries, both Communist and Muslim. We praise the Lord for His blessings on Frontline's fidelity to the Word of God, faithfulness in presenting a true Biblical Worldview and vision for discipling nations. The Mission's motto, The Great Commission is our supreme ambition, has propelled Frontline teams to penetrate man-made barriers. Our Lord's command, "Go into all the world and preach the Gospel," did not exempt so-called closed countries. Tribute is due Frontline's Founder and Director, Dr. Peter Hammond, whose influence has been felt all over Africa, England, Ireland, many parts of Europe (both East and West), the United States, Canada, Mexico and Australia. His many books have fired our hearts to a deeper commitment to serve Jesus Christ. His published mission periodicals and frequent feature articles in JOY! magazine inspire all of us to keep on keeping on. Undaunted by communist prisons or Muslim fatwas, Peter has forged ahead to plant the Christian flag in fertile soil and transform nations – specifically South Sudan and Zambia.
It is also fitting that we pay tribute to Lenora, who organized and set up the first Frontline office, adjusted to a new culture, accepted Peter's constant comings and goings, home-schooled their children, softened some of his brashness, endured many indabas and has had an overall mellowing effect on one of God's most complex servants. Peter, this occasion is the time and place for me to express my personal appreciation for the example you have set for us to follow. Of all the men I've met in over six decades of serving Christ, you are in the top echelon of Christian Brothers whom I admire and respect. I have never met anyone, in the more than 100 countries I've visited, that can produce a fraction of what you routinely accomplish. You have a unique work ethic. At the same time you have invested quality time with your children – much more than I did, a matter I've lived to regret. You have kept on keeping on, in spite of criticism and undeterred by difficulties. You survived and carried on when others would have quit and thrown in the towel. Your vision for ministry and missions is remarkable in its accomplishments. Harriett and I are honoured that you are a part of our family. We couldn't ask the Lord for a son that we would love or be more proud of, than you. This month is Frontline Fellowship's 30th Anniversary. Looking back we rejoice in all that the Lord has accomplished through your efforts, and thank God upon every remembrance of you. As Frontline enters its fourth decade we can say with the Apostle Paul, …we are "confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ." Philippians 1:6 Rev. Bill Bathman Chairman Frontline Fellowship P O Box 74 Newlands 7725 Cape Town South Africa Tel: 021-689-4480 Fax: 021-685-5884 Email: [email protected] On 15 March the Pinelands Town Hall was packed out with friends and supporters of Frontline Fellowship rejoicing over three decades of answered prayers. After a celebratory supper participants were treated to multi-media presentations on various aspects of the Mission’s wide ranging activities. These included film footage of South Sudanese pastors testifying of the tremendous impact of the Mission upon their congregations and communities. Messages were also read from leaders worldwide. For your encouragement and edification these are appended here:
March for Life
On Wednesday we took part in a march for life in Cape Town. 1 February marked the 15 th anniversary of the Legalisation of Abortion on Demand in South Africa. Since president Nelson Mandela signed the Termination of Pregnancy Bill, over one million South African babies have lost their lives through abortion, legally, with taxpayers money. National Day of Repentance Each year Frontline Fellowship missionaries and staff have joined with our sister Mission, Africa Christian Action in conducting a funeral procession march through the city of Cape Town. We carried little coffins, flowers, crosses, placards, banners and Christian flags. We were preceded by a hearse. A six meter billboard trailer with the words: Abortion Kills Babies and banners with:Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves. Proverbs 31:8andChoose Life so that you and your children may live.Deuteronomy 30:19brought up the rear of the procession. Dear Friends, Intercessors and Supporters
"Sing to the Lord, all the earth; proclaim the Good News of His Salvation from day to day. Declare His glory among the nations, His wonders among all peoples." 1 Chronicles 16:23-24 This has been an incredible year with the Islamic Revolution sweeping the Middle East, the success of South Sudan's struggle for secession culminating in Independence celebrations for South Sudan, 9 July. 2011, also marked the 400 th anniversary of the King James Version of the Bible. We thank and praise God for His marvelous provision, guidance and protection throughout 2011. We have completed many far-reaching mission trips and outreaches and we have had the joy of seeing many people brought to conviction of sin, to Repentance and Faith in Christ. By God's grace we have seen many lives transformed by the power of the Gospel of our Lord, Jesus Christ. Through Sickness and Health
We are drawing near to the end of our very effective time of ministry in South Sudan. We have been pushing on through sickness and fatigue and have seen many faces beaming with appreciation for the valuable training and vital materials received. This is more than enough reward and motivation to keep pushing on. Mission to Zimbabwe
Despite daunting obstacles and complications, our Mission team succeeded in delivering desperately needed Boxes of Love to destitute pensioners, Bibles and books to pastors, and conducted Leadership Training courses and Evangelistic Rallies throughout Zimbabwe. Way of the Master Despite power failures, shortages and all the complications caused by the Communist dictatorship of Robert Mugabe in Zimbabwe, the Mission team conducted Evangelism Workshops training pastors, teachers, chaplains and Evangelists in Way of the Master and Evangelism Explosion. They then followed these up with Evangelistic outreaches, film evangelism, ministry in prisons and church services. |
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