Today's story is about how the ANESU Partnership is working shoulder to shoulder with Zimbabwean Christians to reach a new generation with hope and Christ.
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It is one thing to read the Bible and it is another thing altogether to do what it says. The Scripture says that we are not just to be hearers of the Word but doers of the Word.
On one of our excursions was into the Cranborne community in Harare to Cranborne Community Church. We had a meeting in a pastor's home. On the surface, the property was very nice. It had beautiful gardens and trees. Beside the house was a large 25x15 foot porch in the middle of the yard covered with a thatched roof.
Under this roof, seven young Zimbabweans had gathered. They were young people in their late teens and early twenties. They had gathered to tell us about their lives. All of them had been orphaned or abandoned. The pastor had given his wife, Pavensi, permission to bring them into their home. So, Pavensi began the effort of caring for them
However, as she cared for them, she realized that she needed to prepare them for life by ensuring their education and providing life-skills training. She began a ministry to them and through them called the "He is Faithful Ministry"
The idea of He is Faithful is to train young people to go into the rural villages and work among other disadvantaged children and orphans by tutoring them and sharing the Gospel. Their goal is to share the Gospel of Christ through the door of compassionate social ministry.
So, Pavensi began training them. She converted the garage to a chicken coup and started an egg and fryer buisiness. The money began to support the orphan's care and provide for resources. Then, TEAM sent Karen DuBert to further train the young people in refining English, public speaking, and teaching skills.
The orphans in Pavensi's home each have a personal faith in Christ. They have hopes and dreams for their own employment. But they also have a desire to share their hope with others. They will be going to rural areas soon to begin a ministry with orphans. Many of these rural orphans are in "child led homes" without a future. These homes are in crisis. As children head the homes, they have to take care of their siblings and have no time for school or English. English is required by the universities. Without further tutoring, these children have no hope of success or hope of hearing about Christ.
He is Faithful desires to "raise up God-fearing children out of the orphan community." They desire to "catch them young for God." They want "to touch and change the world by teaching and encouraging children in Christ."
So here is Pavensi's work. She read the Bible and saw that to care for the widow and orphan is true religion. She took the orphans into her home not only to care for them, but to raise them up for God. She then began equipping them for life and for ministry. These orphans are now articulate young adults and beginning the work of helping other orphans.
Pretty amazing! But, God can use you too. Are you willing? Begin to pray and ask him to show you.
Pavensi said at the end of our talk, "I don't know how this is going to work out, but we are going to take the first step."
That is faith in action.
