Eastmine Home Church Newsletter 3

EASTMINE HOME CHURCH NEWSLETTER.

(The Newsletter of Ibandla Lendlela Eyodwa

– Congregation of the Only Way. Jesus is the only way.)

NUMBER 3

May 2018

C/O Mesuli Mhlongo

P.O. Box 222

Vryheid 3100

KwaZulu Natal

South Africa

Email: mesulimhlongo@gmail.com

KwaZulu Mission Website: http://www.kwazulumission.com

KwaZulu Mission Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/kwazulumission

Allegiance Movie Website: http://www.allegiancethemovie.co.za

Allegiance Movie Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/allegiancethemovie

Greetings brethren. We thank the Lord for all the experiences we go though and what He has been teaching us. We all feel like we are at the time where our faith as a church is being tested but what’s most amazing about it all is that God has prepared and is still preparing us for the challenges we are facing.

So, a lot has been happening over the passed few weeks and will try share as much as possible.

Church visits around Vryheid:

Mesuli, Thobani and MaSithole went and visited a church in Bhekuzulu location (a big settlement in Vryheid) in the beginning of May. This was now the first time that we went to visit another church, one which we had no clue whether their doctrine is true or not. Nonetheless we went and unfortunately singing and announcements were all that was done with a few minutes being allocated for “the word” which I suppose was meant to be reading scripture and listening to the sermon but the Bible wasn’t even read. MamaSithole was quite happy with the service and said this is what real fellowship is like, after having visited our apparently quiet church. As much as mamaSithole is enthusiastic about the gospel, I was a bit worried that her inclination to hyper charisma.

On the other hand, as much as some visitors have been finding the fellowship missing a lot of the Gifts of the Holy Spirit, a humble guy, Mr. Mbuyisa, came and fellowshipped with us. No one knew him or where he was from but said that he’d been to so many churches and this is the first time that he had come across a group of believers who intimately seek the Lord and go into so much depth in the word as we do. This was really encouraging for all believers and we all just knew that it was God speaking to us, reminding us to trust Him as our teacher and pastor. Mr Mbuyisa shared with us that he does ministry where the Lord leads him. He also shared a testimony of how he got saved which was encouraging and we pray that his testimony touches the hearts of those who aren’t saved.

Picture of Mr Mbuyisa sharing his testimony with a lot of enthusiasm.

MaNxumalo (Phumlani’s wife after our meeting).

MaSithole

Sisters having juice and biscuits after the meeting.

Mesuli also had an opportunity to minister at a school in Vryheid. “Upon organizing my visit to Landbou School which is approximately 12km out of town, The Lord put in my heart end times and Laodicea, how to understand scripture and the book of revelations. I prayed and prepare after I had convinced myself this is the message God wants me to go share with the learners and school teachers.

So I got to the school, a bit nervous because I thought the school children wouldn’t understand what I’d be saying. Trusting The Lord, I stared speaking but what was strange about it all was that I was so comfortable and had an inexplicable experience ministering at the school. What I said was in order and this was after making much reference to other scripture (and this is the one thing I’ve always found difficult to do) but on the day it was so spontaneous. I truly believe the Lord spoke through me and pray what was sown in the people’s hearts manifests and grows.

The High School Principal introducing Mesuli.

Mesuli ministering to the school.

The school learners and teachers.

Prayer requests

Our church has been hit to a test where one person has complained about the lack of the “works of the Spirit” in our church. The latter concluded that we needed guidance and needed to find out what our spiritual gifts are. The latter also suggested that we get a pastor from a church in Durban who has the gift of looking at you and telling you exactly what your spiritual gift is. The pastor from Durban would have needed to also be presented with a gift as gratitude. Now, in our fellowship we have had so many visitors and have never been in a position where we needed to give our money for the pastor. This pastor is from a mega church and when the visitor suggested we get that pastor, we were all just skeptical as much as we allow anyone to visit us.

17 Now from Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called the elders of the church to come to him.

18 And when they came to him, he said to them: “You yourselves know how I lived among you the whole time from the first day that I set foot in Asia,

19 serving the Lord with all humility and with tears and with trials that happened to me through the plots of the Jews;

20 how I did not shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable, and teaching you in public and from house to house,

21 testifying both to Jews and to Greeks of repentance toward God and of faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.

22 And now, behold, I am going to Jerusalem, constrained by the Spirit, not knowing what will happen to me there,

23 except that the Holy Spirit testifies to me in every city that imprisonment and afflictions await me.

24 But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.

25 And now, behold, I know that none of you among whom I have gone about proclaiming the kingdom will see my face again.

26 Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all,

27 for I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God.

28 Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood.

29 I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock;

30 and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them.

31 Therefore be alert, remembering that for three years I did not cease night or day to admonish every one with tears.

32 And now I commend you to God and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified.

33 I coveted no one’s silver or gold or apparel.

34 You yourselves know that these hands ministered to my necessities and to those who were with me.

35 In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.'” – Acts 20:17-35

Now almost everyone in our fellowship is unemployed and for them to be expected to prepare a gift was a bit difficult for them to understand. This was not to say that the brethren are against giving but in this context, Mkhulu’s response was that our fellowship is led by the Lord, that He is our teacher and other brethren believed that, God willing, the pastor would come to visit us, despite any issue. Celani also mentioned that we had a visitor, Mr Mbuyisa who to her and other brethren was a confirmation that God is with us and that we should trust Him and that we should be bold.

Our prayer is that the Lord preserves us at this time of testing and that we may remain strong in Gods word and trust him in our faith as we seek him with all our hearts.