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.
EASTMINE HOME CHURCH NEWSLETTER.
(The Newsletter of Ibandla Lendlela Eyodwa
– Congregation of the Only Way. Jesus is the only way.)
NUMBER 2
April 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
Hi brethren. This is our second news letter and would like to apologize for the late post. Myself (the author) have been pre occupied with pharmacy board exams and hadn’t been able to get to post the newsletter till now. February was a quick month for us and none other than the ordinary has happened since the last newsletter (except growth and love amongst ourselves).
Scripture wise, we’re going through the book of Hosea, looking at prophesy and how God wants his people to be go back to him and be faithful at all times. We also concluded Matthew 13 on the parables after looking into it in detail to really understand why Jesus spoke in parables, what the implication of the parables meant for the present time and the future.
We’ve had a visitor, who attends mega churches in townships around northern KZN who is devoted in truth. It’s always pleasant to have visitors coming to fellowship with us. We pray that God will always help her discern what is Gods word and what isn’t from God.
Scenes from Eastmine
Prayer requests:
MamaNtombela’s contract has been terminated, and is looking for another job in Vryheid. May we please keep her in our prayers, ask that the Lord provides for her and her family.
Unsaved:
There are a few people who attend the fellowship and have been hearing the truth but aren’t saved. Without any pressure, join us in prayer as we pray that the Lord may open their eyes to see His goodness.
The fellowship:
May we please pray for the Lord to continuously guide the fellowship, teach and lead us at all times. Also pray for Phumlani, Mesuli and Thobani’s guidance and direction from the Lord as they share the word alternatively.
Mesuli Mhlongo
Sal, Di and Mesuli have supper with the Wells family
As Alan and Sue have adopted, fostered and have privately placed 11 children meal times are always a big affair.
Goodbyes 😦
Time has come to say goodbye to the Wells family.
Alan and Sue’s son, Ben, having his cool picture taken
At the O. R. Tambo Airport a few hours before Sal and Di departed.
Morné, Doret, Mesuli, Sue Wells and Thabo Wells accompany Salvador and Di.
Goodbye sister
Time for Singing hymns and choruses to the Lord at the Church meeting.
View from Phumlani’s place near Eastmine
- Mama Ntombela, part of our fellowship, will no longer be employed from April because her contract was not renewed due to corruption happening at her workplace. She isn’t well physically as well so may we please keep her in our prayers. Shes been really worried about her contract not being renewed but Celani spoke some words of encouragement to saying in Zulu “inkosi izolenza icebo buka angisebenzi kodwa nakhu siyaphila” meaning, “God will make a way, look I’m not employed but we’re surviving.”
- This really encouraged mamaNtombela. May we please pray for her.
- Thobani is growing in the Lord and it is encouraging. He wants to further his studies, and wants to do accounting as his dream job is to work in the bank. May we please pray for him that the Lord may lead him where he needs to be.
- There are a few members in our fellowship who aren’t saved. They have heard the truth may we pray for their salvation.
- Just between December 2017 and February 2018, one person has been butchered and thrown into a river apparently by young boys from the Eastmine community, juvenile suicide from Alpha area and 1 murder case where a man has was shot with 30 bullets and head butchered for theft. People in this area have heard the truth. We ask the Lord that He may use us to speak to the people in the community.
SALVADOR & DIANNE’S MSINDISI MONTHLY
NUMBER: 151 Jan 2018
+27 (0) 728311008
+27 (0) 815836288
Email: msindisi@gmail.com ,
salv.di@gmail.com
KwaZulu Mission Website: http://www.kwazulumission.com
KwaZulu Mission Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/kwazulumission
Allegiance Website: http://www.allegiancethemovie.co.za
Allegiance Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/allegiancethemovie
We are still waiting on the outcome from NZ migration. However, Praise the Lord that He has made a way for Salvador to come to New Zealand. As a British citizen he can go on a return ticket and receive a 6 month visa waiver. This will enable us both to await the outcome of his NZ residency application in New Zealand. So the ticket is booked. We are both able to leave South Africa together on the same flight on the 11th January to Dubai and then on separate flights to Auckland where Salvador will await for Di to land. But more on that later.
An Aloe in KwaZulu Natal is a very versatile thing. It can be used for a whole variety of applications. Lol.
Here we are in Gauteng, house sitting at our friends’ place in Boksburg. The beginning of the month saw us leave our cottage by the sea and stay with our friends, Grant and Alicia. We visited Vryheid to say goodbye to our Vryheid family. Having spent 7 years of our lives with the brethren it made it hard to say goodbye. Precious souls hidden away in a rural situation, unknown to the rest of the world (except through our newsletters), serving the Lord quietly. Having departed to live near Ballito for a year made it easier for us, as we had already said goodbyes previously. We praise the Lord that He eased our departure in this way. We began with meeting most of our small home cell group on the friday evening in Vryheid. Our friends, Craig and Magda, had moved into a farm house, near Craig’s work place. We did a small bible study based on the Hebrew text of Psalm 23.
With Craig and Magda outside their new home.
The next morning we visited Asimbonge and Ncedo with their adopted family. Those of you who have followed our newsletters for several years will remember that their mother, Babhekile, was murdered at our home while we were visiting Kokstad. (You can read about that news here https://kwazulumission.com/2014/01/02/msindisi-newsletter-112/ ). Soon after Asimbonge and Ncedo went to live with their grandmother and uncles near a town called Newcastle, who became their adopted family. We were so happy to see that they are excelling in their schooling, Asimbonge especially. It was lovely to think that Di had a part to do with teaching him basics that prepared him for school.
Di with Ncedo and Asimbonge and their school certificates.
Di with Asimbonge when he was a baby.
Look how tall Asimbonge is now.
Later in the day, we went to our Zulu home where Phumlani and Sphiwe were waiting. We had hoped to stay a week but unfortunately we had to leave the following Tuesday evening in order to be ready to fly to Gauteng to house sit. Phumlani and Sphiwe hosted us generously. They prepared all our meals and it was a joy to relax, to speak about the Lord and to fellowship. Phumlani asked Salvador if he would bring a message for Church, so after prayer Salvador felt led to share about the Lord’s humility and the call to be slaves though we are sons, and the voluntary servitude that pleases the Lord. It was amazing to see that Leslie Crickmay’s sermon that Sunday at Coming King Ministries was also on Sonship and Servants. Celani put on a wonderful meal after the meeting and we shared one last meal together.
Church Meal
In the afternoon we went to the Creche that Salvador used to do a Bible study at in KwaBhekephi. We were so blessed by Grant and Alicia lending us their 4×4 to get to that area. It worked the difficult terrain like a breeze. We brought toys for the Creche and then did a bible study. The Lord is their teacher but they valued the input that we gave. These are precious souls in the middle of nowhere but they have the word and the Spirit. The next day we visited some people in the community. Salvador visited a friend who made a profession of faith several years ago but suffered a stroke. It was sad to see he had backslidden and says that he doesn’t remember making such a commitment.
We are so grateful to have used Grant and Alicia’s 4×4.
Maria, her sister and the creche they run.
Receiving toys donated to the Creche.
On Tuesday morning, early, we left to go to Newcastle to Asimbonge’s home where Celani was visiting for one night in order that she could do a Facetime call with our friends Caleb and Sophie who Salvador used to minister with in 2002 – 2004. Unfortunately, Salvador got the time difference wrong but thankfully Sophie got out of bed to take it. The joy on Celani’s face was priceless as she was able to video call her long time friend and sister in the faith. It really struck us that the Lord has so enriched these precious brethrens’ lives by bringing believers from the other side of the world to share their lives with these forgotten and hidden people. Those bonds of fellowship and family will never be broken. When we got back, Celani made a lovely lunch for us, and set it out like a restaurant. It was her way of showing her love and heart with us though we didn’t expect it. That evening our friends, Johnny and Kim came round for a meal which we shared with Phumlani and Celani. We drove back late that night, which gave us a couple of days to sort out laundry, to pack our things and to tidy unfinished business before leaving Ballito to go to Gauteng.
Lunch for 2 at Celani’s Zulu home, restaurant style.
Singing some Zulu hymns in Phumlani and Sphiwe’s home.
Di with Phumlani and Sphiwe’s daughter, Thobani
Di with Thoba and Mlando.
In Gauteng we have caught up with precious friends, Allen and Sue Wells with all their kids (even though some are young adults lol). Soon after Allen, with two of the younger kids went to visit the oldest daughter and her family. So the rest of the family visited us on Christmas Day. The previous week we visited a couple called Roald and Lydia who had transported some of our possessions from Ballito when they visited in November. We visited our missionary friends Tony and Maria. They are not well. Maria had a benign Tumor which she has had surgically removed and Tony has an infection on Thyroid. Please pray for them. They are equipping various people from different churches to do cross cultural mission and church plant. On the Sunday, (24th Dec) we visited their home church in Thembisa. A young man named Ashley preached a fantastic message on Jesus as Emmanuel and as Saviour. South Africa needs more preachers like him.
Sue and most of the Wells family visit on the 25th December
With Tony and Maria, and Ashley and his wife Nicole after church.
We also got to catch up with John and Esther Raath who were visiting their family. They are from Ballito and part of Coming King Ministries. Esther was instrumental in Salvador’s Hebrew classes being established in the Church. The following day we had our friends, Morné and Vicki Rabie with their daughter for breakfast. We have not seen them for years. It was in their home that we got married, they slaved over their garden for the wedding. When Di first came to the country, the mother of the couple we are house sitting for, Val, in had prayed that Di and I would be married and a month before we got married she went to be with the Lord while visiting for one night in Morné and Vicki’s home. It was such a blessing to see them again and we trust it was an encouragement for them in the Lord. Then in the afternoon we went to visit some lovely friends, John and Julie Leo. They distribute the Berean Call and the Discernment Ministries newsletters in South Africa and sell their books and materials. Please pray for them. Hardships and illness have hit but their faith is strong and they handle it with grace.
Coffee with John and Esther Raath
After breakfast with Morné and Vicki
Our other friends also need prayer. Mark and Paula Hibberd’s eldest son was cleaning the drains, and the drain cleaner’s lid popped while he was pouring it and the drain cleaner splashed up violently against his skin, burning his clothes and skin. Miraculously it burned his eyelids but not his eyes and missed his neck. However, his face, chest and arms were burned. His mother had just done a first aid course after being persuaded by a friend and acted quickly. For the first period of time in hospital their son was sedated as the pain was too severe. Many people prayed. The latest news is that he will need some skin grafts on his body but his face is healing nicely. He has not suffered infection and the nurse had remarked that this could have taken his life but his healing is beyond expectation. Praise the Lord. We visited him in hospital and although it must be hard so for him to go through this, he was chatty and gracious during our visit. We visited the rest of the family afterwards. This Sunday we visited Bread of Life Ministries and the message that was preached was a fantastic gospel message which challenged the hearer to recommit to the Lord and acknowledge any blindness or hardheartness to the Lord.
Today we had coffee with a young man from Bread of Life called JP. We knew him from Port Elizabeth from an assembly of wonderful brethren that we have been in fellowship with since 2010. It was wonderful to see the Lord in His life, the Lord’s leading and his growth. This was followed by lunch with Clayton and Maggie Lowane whom Salvador had the pleasure of officiating and preaching at their wedding back in 2008. They and their home fellowship have been an enormous source of encouragement and blessing to us over the years. 2 members of the house church were part of the “Allegiance” film and shared their testimonies of how the Lord saved them out of ancestral worship. Their names are Karabo and Mujuru.
Coffee with JP.
Lunch with Clayton and Maggie Lowane.
This is surely a time of reflection for Salvador. The Lord first brought him to South Africa on the 2nd January 2002, 16 years ago tomorrow. When he left the UK, the pastor of the Church shared a message that “You will never pass this way again”. It almost feels the same. We don’t know what lies ahead. We know this is a new chapter of our lives and ministries but don’t know what will be written in that chapter. As Salvador will be in New Zealand as a visitor, he will not be able to work or study. We can stay with Di’s mum up to three months. But it seems that we will visit various believers and churches, possibly in Australia too (which has been spoken about with a certain sister in the Lord in Australia). We plan on being mobile and allowing the Lord to close wrong doors and open right ones. We look back and see how faithful the Lord has been to bring us this far. We know He will not forsake us now. We feel like Abraham going forward to a land he did not know.
After ten years of marriage and ministry together we can testify to the faithfulness of the Lord in every area of our lives. It is His mercy and grace that has brought us this far and we look forward to seeing what he has for us next.
Prayer needs:
Sal has submitted his NZ residency so please keep that in prayer
Di has regular contact with her mum on FaceTime, please keep her in prayer
For John and Julie Leo.
For Mark and Paula Hibberd’s family.
For Tony and Maria Verlaan and their health.
For Coming King Ministries
For Phumlani and the Zulu Church outside Vryheid.
For the Lord’s leading for us in New Zealand.
If anyone is interested, here is the next teaching in the series on Eschatology:
Eschatology 7: The Inclusion of Gentiles in the Jewish Ekklesia
SALVADOR & DIANNE’S MSINDISI MONTHLY
NUMBER: 150 Dec 2017
PO BOX 1481
VRYHEID 3100
KWAZULU NATAL
SOUTH AFRICA
+27 (0) 728311008
+27 (0) 815836288
Email: msindisi@gmail.com ,
salv.di@gmail.com
KwaZulu Mission Website: http://www.kwazulumission.com
KwaZulu Mission Facebook page: www.facebook.com/kwazulumission
Allegiance website: http://www.allegiancethemovie.co.za
Allegiance Facebook Page:
http://www.facebook.com/allegiancethemovie
One last look at the View outside our home when we left.
We have now moved out of our home and are now homeless. Di’s ticket to New Zealand is booked for the 11th January but sadly Salvador will need to remain in South Africa until his application for New Zealand residency is finalized, which may be as late as March 2018!!! If they take any longer then Di will be sure to be knocking on the door of NZ immigration in Auckland.
Visiting the beach one last time with Alicia, and with Matthew and Maralize.
This month we have finished all our ministry on the North Coast. Salvador finished his eschatology series and his series on God’s vision for the Church which he began when we started to minister at Coming King Ministries last year, all the email links are available on PDF files. (If you would like copies of the links please email msindisi@gmail.com). It is hard to believe that a year and a year and three months have flown by.
Salvador teaching the final eschatology class.
Last week we had the final Hebrew class Salvador taught the homeschool boys. For the last ladies meeting and Friday Hebrew class we just met up for coffee. We had the final Wednesday night cell group for the year and this week we had the final Tuesday afternoon cell group, in which we got up to Romans 11.
Salvador teaching the homeschool boys the final Hebrew class, Psalm 23.
The Homeschool boys studying Hebrew.
Hebrew is finished!
Last Meeting with adult Hebrew Class.
On Sunday evening of the 19th Salvador went to preach at a Zulu church in KwaMashu in which there were some members who still hold to ancestral traditions. The leadership of that church have taken copies of the allegiance movie and Salvador shared about ancestral traditions in light of the gospel. The message was wonderfully received and on the following Saturday Salvador recieved the following message.
“Hi, Just to report. God is doing a wonderful work in the lives of our people. A lady took off her animal skin band at our service and said she wants to put her trust in Jesus only. U have been a blessing to our church. Thank u.”
Church camp at Hazelmere Dam.
We received this whatsapp message while we were on a church camp at Hazelmere dam on that weekend. It was wonderful to share this with the Church members and to fellowship with each other in a relaxed environment. On the Friday evening we had celebrated our 10th Wedding Anniversary. We are so thankful for this wonderful time of celebration while things have been hectic in preparing to leave. Last week we left our home as the owner’s family arrived to have their holiday there. Our friend’s Grant and Alicia have very graciously and generously opened their home for us to stay, though we had no shortage of offers to host us. It has been so helpful to have one base in which we could sort through our things. They have also lent us a car as the one we were driving has now been sold. This last week has basically been one of visiting people and saying goodbye.
Kids from Coming King Ministries made us goodbye cards.
This last Sunday was our last meeting at Coming King Ministries. Les preached an epic message on hope and people shared testimonies. It was a blessing to see the Holy Spirit move, touch people and confirm the message preached. After the meeting we went through as a church for a braai (South African version of a BBQ but better than a BBQ), where the Church wished us well and gave a photo book they had made for us as a goodbye present. We were really touched by their love and kindness.
Coming King Ministries members wishing us farewell.
Close up of some of us at farewell Braai.
Our photo book present
Inside one of the pages of our photo book present.
Tomorrow we leave to visit Vryheid and say goodbye to our friends and family that side. Thanks to Grant and Alicia for the use of their 4×4 which will allow us to visit people living in more difficult terrain. We return to Ballito next week and then fly to Gauteng where we will house sit and say goodbye to friends and family that side. It is extraordinary to believe that after over 10 years in South Africa we are leaving but we are confident that the Lord will lead us and open the right doors. We go not knowing where we will end up but we go by faith. We are open to where ever the Lord may have us be. The first thing we need to establish is Salvador’s residency in New Zealand.
With our brother Derick, visiting the Umhlali river mouth.
One last catch up with David, Krista and their family.
As stated before Di will leave South Africa on the 11th of January and Salvador will remain until his application for NZ residency is finalized. His South African permit will not run out till 2019 so that is not a problem. In the meantime it seems that he will minister in a couple of places in South Africa while he awaits the outcome of his application. We appreciate your prayers as it will be hard for us to be separated this long. We have never been apart from each other more than a week at a time, on the occasions that Salvador visited Zimbabwe.
One last cappuccino at Salt Cafe
Prayer points:
- For our move to New Zealand and God’s direction for our lives and ministries
- For our Church, Coming King ministries
- For Phumlani, Mesuli, and all the Zulu brethren back in our old area
- For David and Krista and Mission Thando
- For Kokstad and the believers there
- For Salvador’s NZ residency/permanent residency application
If any one is interested, here is the next teaching in the series on eschatology:
Eschatology 6: The Kingdom will be Restored to Israel.
SALVADOR & DIANNE’S MSINDISI MONTHLY
NUMBER: 149 Nov 2016
+27 (0) 728311008
Email: msindisi@gmail.com ,
salv.di@gmail.com
KwaZulu Mission Website: http://www.kwazulumission.com
KwaZulu Mission Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/kwazulumission
Allegiance the Movie Website: www.allegiancethemovie.co.za
Allegiance Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/allegiancethemovie
Tick tick tick….
After 10 years of living in this beautiful country and meeting so many incredible people we have just finished packing up our world of possessions into 22 boxes (mainly books) and have them ready to ship in the future.
Packing boxes for shipping
We still wait on the outcome from NZ immigration for Salvador’s application for NZ residency. Sal received another email last month to submit more proof that we actually lived together over the last 10 years. They wanted electricity and water bills, bank statements and proof of receiving mail to both of us to our PO Box. As you can imagine this was impossible for water and lights as we lived in a Zulu homestead for over 7 years. Also, when we left the rural area we got rid of all old paper work not thinking we would have to prove we actually lived together. In saying all this Sal got straight onto it. He took a trip to our local area and then proceeded to go around all the schools, clinics, neighbors and ask them to write letters (in English) for NZ immigration.
Salvador with Jacob Boachie, Educator at Hamu High School, near where we used to live.
We got friends to write again and tell them of our marriage and their first hand experience of visiting us as a couple or staying in their homes.
We went back over all our what’s up messages from 2014 hoping that may help and then got all our bank statements to show where we had drawn money and purchased goods in the same area. We have also explained that we would be happy to be interviewed separately if this helps also.
Di with Mujuru who was visiting Ballito. Mujuru was one of the people interviewed in the film, “Allegiance: Walking with the Dead” http://www.allegiancethemovie.co.za
I think if it still gets turned down….. My family would be happy to visit NZ imagination with me and bang on a few doors. So now we wait, we are very good at this now, as we are aware any visa application can a long time to be processed.
Salvador with Mujuru.
Quick overview of our plans, dates may change but always around that time frame.
30 Nov – We must move out of our home, and go and stay with friends
8 Dec – We will travel back to our rural community outside Vryheid, stay with Phumlani and visit with family, friends and the fellowship that side. Then we will drive back to Ballito around the 17th December.
18 Dec – We will fly up to Joberg and connect with family and friends that side
10 Jan – Di has to leave the country as her visa expires on the 11th. It will depend on the NZ application for NZ residence, if Sal will join her on that date. Fortunately Sal can stay longer in SA, as his visa does not expire until 2019. We do not want to be separated but we are committing this to the Lord’s hands. His will be done.
We continue to pray and trust the Lord for ongoing guidance for our future.
We haven’t ruled out returning to SA but are totally open to wherever we are lead and how the doors open. Please keep us in your prayers. Isa 50v10
Catching up with Khethiwe and Zuzu, from our old area. They have been studying in Durban.
We are in the process of selling the car we have, so ask you keep that in prayer also.
Over the next month we will be winding things up and saying our goodbyes.
Visiting Mission Thando in Durban for the Canadian Thanksgiving meal.
This last month we ministered for the last time at St Luke’s home for the disabled and Salvador ministered for the last time at Bill Buchannan’s old age home. We also had our last Umhlanga cell group with Simba and his family.
Di with some of the guys from St Lukes.
Salvador has finished his series that he began over a year ago this last Sunday, concerning the vision he believes that the Lord placed on his heart for Coming King Ministries. This culminated with a special gathering on Sunday evening where we experienced a first century type church gathering. He will also be finishing his series on Eschatology this Thursday.
Enjoying a shabbat meal with friends from Church.
Experiencing the vibe of a first century style meeting.
Starting the gathering.
We visited Kokstad for one last time. The guys there would love us to minister there more permanently but alas that is not possible at this time. Salvador ministered to 3 lots of Zulu staff concerning the gospel and ancestors. On the weekend he also ministered at a Baptist church there.
Scene from Kokstad
Another beautiful scene from Kokstad
We met up with “Jean” from the movie Allegiance for a visit. She introduced a pastor’s wife whose church meets in a Zulu Community. Salvador will be going this Sunday evening to share about ancestral traditions.
Jean was played by Nicole Els from Vryheid.
Dr. George Mnisi, a commentator on the Allegiance film, is the Principal of the Union Bible Institute.
Thadikhaya Manciya is an evangelist in Pietermaritzburg.
Dr. Munyuradzi Mujuru is a lecturer in the University of Limpopo.
Karabo Lotsholo works with BMW Rosslyn and lives near Pretoria.
Salvador was asked to share the gospel in isiZulu with the staff members of a family business in Ballito. The meeting went well and we hope to see them again before we go.
Salvador sharing with the staff of Cyber View Lettings, Ballito
Thami is ministering the Gospel in rural KwaZulu Natal, near to Tugela Ferry. His desire is to see Zulus saved and discipled. A friend of ours in Pretoria was able to sponsor a lot of bibles for him.
We also met up with our dear friends Veronica and Joshua who have loved and supported us for over the last 10 years. They have continually prayed for and been such an encouragement for us from the time we got married, which will be 10 years on the 24th November a couple of weeks time.
Jozua and Veronica have faithfully supported and prayed for us other the last ten years. It was wonderful to catch up with them on their break in Umhlanga.
Prayer points:
- For our move to New Zealand and God’s direction on our lives and ministries.
- For our Church, Coming King Ministries.
- For Phumlani, Mesuli and all the Zulu brethren back in our old area.
- For David and Krista and Mission Thando.
- For Kokstad and the believers there.
- For Salvador’s New Zealand residency/permanent residency application.
If any one is interested, here is the next teaching in the series on Eschatology.
Eschatology part 5: Israel and the Kingdom.
SALVADOR & DIANNE’S MSINDISI MONTHLY
NUMBER: 136 March 2016
PO BOX 1481
VRYHEID 3100
KWAZULU NATAL
SOUTH AFRICA
+27 (0) 728311008
+27 (0) 815836288
Email: msindisi@gmail.com ,
salv.di@gmail.com
KwaZulu Mission Website: http://www.kwazulumission.com
Hi all
I, Di, am writing this after a day of washing….. There was so much in fact that I had to hand wash at least 4 loads, then spin them in the machine, then use the machine for the other 4 = 8 loads. My back is really sore, from hanging it out , bringing it in, folding it …… and I could just sit and stare into space. Warning never leave your washing that long before you do it !!!!
Its newsletter time and It must go out ….. So today is that day.
Just got up to look for my calendar but it’s not here. Left it at home. This should be interesting now, having to go off my memory. All the omega 3 doesn’t seem to help. I have trouble remembering what happened last week let alone a month ago. Bear with me as I think …………
I do know we have stopped filming now, think that was last week that we stopped. Now Sal is 100% tuned into editing it. However, sadly on top of this he has had to step up in ministry as Phum is getting married in 2 weeks and is stepping down from ministry. We see this now as a good opportunity to address some areas that we see as vitally important for growth in the church and our lives. We are asking for prayer concerning labourers as the work and the DVD project added together is rather large.
We filmed all of Hamilton’s scenes and a few weeks ago went to Ballito to film a dream sequence. Lee Pauls, who made our model Ark said it looked like we would not be able to film as there was high probability of rain and storm. He had a cordless drill to use. Salvador said, “The Lord’s held back cloud and blown away mist for this film so he can hold back the rain.” Everybody was skeptical and we were praying that the Lord would be merciful. Well the rain was held back till the following day. We also did not have someone to play the Noah Character in the dream but last minute found someone by the side of the road who was willing.
We came back and got straight into helping a visiting evangelist, Cecil Peasley, with outreaches. Salvador interpreted into Zulu for him. We were also blessed no challenged by his messages at Bethany Baptist Church. It was after we got back we received the news from Phumlani of his future plans.
For the last segment of filming we travelled back to Ballito to film movement sequences with Isabella Pauls and Connor. We were supposed to have a professional dancer, who is a big guy but sadly his grandmother passed away so Connor stepped in last minute and was the only person to answer the call. He is a young 17 year old . The time frame was very tight but we are grateful it went well. Lorna Pauls was amazing and went the extra 50 miles for us. Organising Connor last minute, getting the dance studio booked for us, doing make up, driving etc. Many many thanks Lorna. While there in Ballito Sal was asked to to a teaching at Coming King Ministries as they are planning on doing a Shabbat once a month for the fellowship. This happening on the Friday night after filming. Come Saturday we literally crashed and both needed a day of rest so we relaxed, chilled, went down to the sea. While away, a friend of ours called Mandla, came and did a teaching at our Zulu church.
While we were away Celani got started on the building of her second hand clothing shop. It’s all very exciting and once again we thank those who are giving clothing and other things for the community.
Pause …… Trying to think again.
Salvador went to Alpha on Tuesday and is challenging the brethren to keep their eyes on the Lord and keep praying and fellowshipping with one another. There is one testimony that I recall which blessed me greatly. On Friday afternoon we went to kwaBhekephi where a bible study takes place with 3 lovely ladies. This week only 2 could make it. Near the end of the study they said they have news which they wanted to share. Earlier in the year someone had given cash to help with education in their area. These ladies been running a crèche in a mud hut but a storm flattened the crèche building. The money was given to help with rebuilding the crèche. On Wednesday this week they went to town to start buying the cement but they said the Lord told them to wait and they felt Him say so again so they put the money in the bank. The following day the mayor visited their area and said their application for a new crèche building was approved and they need to get quotations from contract companies. They glorified the Lord with joy.
This month Salvador is busy editing the film with a computer and software on loan. He is picking up the extra responsibilities with the Church. There are no gospel outreaching now for the time being. He is also getting documents together so he can apply for another three year extension on his visitors permit, and this is his tenth year of being in South Africa on a Visitor’s permit. Please pray. We need Zulu speaking workers for the vineyard, but people with a calling and that are not looking for a job opportunity.
I guess you could sum the month up with many words, shock, discouragement, overwhelming, enlightening, dependence, hope, joy, anticipation.
We praise the Lord that He knows the beginning to the end
We trust Him daily for His grace and spirit to fill our lives
We know He works all things together for good for those that love the Lord
We thank Him for His unfailing love, that He never leaves or forsakes us
We serve an amazing God who reveals himself to us daily through his word and the body of Christ.
We ask for your on going prayer support as we labour together.
We thank you for all your prayers and giving.
Prayer needs :
Khethiwe as she runs the New kids club.
Thank the Lord for the help of so many people concerning the DVD project
Phumlani’s new marriage and family life.
The Lords strength, wisdom and protection.
Thankful for His mercy for the rain that has arrived, was badly needed, but need more
SIXTEEN
THE SACRIFICIAL LIFE IN TOLERANCE
ROMANS 14
I would like you to contemplate the following paragraph and see if you can discern the error in it.
If we turn to verse 22 of Romans 14 it tells us that we are to have our faith as our own conviction and that we are happy if we do not condemn ourselves in what we approve. In 1 Corinthians Paul says that an idol is nothing in itself and, in having knowledge of that, there is no problem eating meat sacrificed to idols if we buy it in a market place without asking questions. Now here is the issue: What if I do not condemn myself in eating those meats in a pagan temple? What if I do not condemn myself in getting drunk on a weekend? What if I do not condemn myself in sleeping around? What if I do not condemn myself in going around and getting into fights? Etc. Paul says it is my own conviction and I am happy if I do not condemn myself in what I approve. It is my conviction and it is personal. What we are dealing with in Romans 14 is tolerating each other when we have differing sensibilities. Paul actually tells us in verse 10 not to judge our brother. So when someone denies the trinity, should we just accept them as part of the fellowship, because after all that is their own conviction and we are not to judge our brother?
When we take a verse away from its context we can use it to advocate something that the bible is fundamentally against. It is true that this chapter advocates tolerating one another in our differences of sensibilities but there is a fundamental mistake made here. The above paragraph fails to differentiate between what is black and white and what is grey. There are definite verses in the bible that speak against drunkenness such as 1 Corinthians 6: 10, which says that drunkards will not inherit the kingdom of God. In 1 Corinthians 5: 11 it tells us that we are not to associate with any so-called brother if he is an immoral person, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or a swindler – not even to eat with such a one. So there are black and white issues in the bible. But in Romans 14 we are dealing with grey issues. Though the Bible is against drunkenness it speaks favorably concerning the consumption of wine and strong drink. Let us read the first thirteen verses which I will entitle, ‘Do not judge’. Then we will look at verses 14 – 23 which I entitle, ‘Do not cause offense or stumbling.’
VERSES 1 – 13:
DO NOT JUDGE!
In this passage we are dealing with the living reality and the temporal outworking of the doctrine set forth concerning Jew and Gentile that was presented in Romans 11. You will remember that when we started the epistle we saw that Jew and Gentile are equally sinners. As Romans 3: 23 says, ‘all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.’ But then again Paul also said that there is much advantage in being Jewish and in being circumcised. There is one thing that we must never forget when we read Romans and the epistle to the Hebrews. Just because believing Jews are not under the Law of Moses anymore does not mean that they are to stop practicing aspects of the Mosaic covenant. We cannot turn round and say that it is wrong for a Jew to circumcise their baby boys or to keep the Jewish feasts because they are not under Moses but under Christ. Early Church Fathers such as Tertullian would say that the Holy Spirit rebuked the Jews for their holy days. This is not the truth. The reason that the Holy Spirit hated their worship was not because they kept Shabbat and the Jewish feasts. He could not have been angry at those things because God was the one who commanded the Jews to observe those feasts. Rather the Holy Spirit was grieved because they drew near to the Lord with their lips but their hearts were far away from the Lord. God did not hate circumcision but He was appalled at the fact that their physical circumcision lacked the internal reality of having the circumcision of heart. If it is wrong for Jews who believe in Yeshua to obey the writings of the Old Testament, then the Apostle Paul was wrong to keep the nazirite vow and then have his hair cut. (Acts 18: 18) It was wrong for him to go into the Temple and purify himself to show that he did not speak against the Law of Moses. (Acts 21: 26). It was wrong for Paul to do those things if that was the case.
JEW AND GENTILE, ONE IN MESSIAH
So here is the crux of the matter. If believing Jews who follow Yeshua still maintain observance of Moses, and as we read in Romans 11, that we Gentiles, according to the flesh, are grafted into Israel’s olive tree, then how can we have complete fellowship? Believing Jews will still eat Kosher, I do not. Some believing Jews will have issues about stuff that I do not have an issue with concerning certain observances. How can we meet together? You only have to read Acts 10 to see how radical an idea it was for Jews to eat with Gentiles. Well maybe the answer is that we separate the believers into two different fellowships. In one fellowship the Jews can maintain their culture and in the other we can maintain ours. But is this how they did it in the times of the apostles? If you read acts 15 we see that the Apostles loosed us Gentile believers from everything in the Mosaic Law apart from 4 things. These four things go back to Noah, and the covenant God made with all of humanity. These things are to abstain from blood, not to eat meats strangled, from fornication and things offered to idols. James, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, set these laws in place for us so that fellowship between physical Gentiles and physical Jews may take place. But Paul goes even further than this.
DO NOT JUDGE!
The first philosophy Paul expounds is non-judgmentalism. If you are Jewish and have been laid hold of by your Messiah and follow Him, you are saved by faith and not by works of the Law. So why should you be upset if your Gentile brethren or even your Jewish brethren fail to keep Shabbat or one of the feasts? These things do not procure salvation or make us more spiritual. In fact we are sometimes prone to think that someone is spiritual because they keep religious observance, they can preach a good sermon, and they have a good knowledge of scripture. These things are necessary but you can do all this without being spiritual. Such was the case with the Corinthian church. They had all the knowledge and they were praised by Paul in the first chapter of 1 Corinthians for their knowledge but knowledge does not make us spiritual. There is not a dichotomy where you can be totally fleshly and totally spiritual. Remember in Romans 12: 1 – 2, Paul said that what we do in our bodies is spiritual. The back bone of the spiritual life is our old friend ‘faith’. Our justification is by faith and not by works of the Mosaic Law. Our sanctification is also by faith and our activity for the Lord must also be by faith. The problem is a little complex because you have two paths that hold out a promise of justification. You have the path of faith and the path of the Law of Moses. The path of faith is totally different to Moses and yet it is not totally different. Now that sounds a contradiction but we are dealing with two different perspectives. Remember the analogy of the two diagrams.
Diagram # 1 Diagram # 2
Righteous: Power of Spirit:
Law of Moses & Law of Christ
Law of Christ
__________________ _________________
Unrighteous: Power of Flesh:
Law of Sin Law of Moses
& Law of Sin
From the perspective of righteousness they are not so different in that the righteous requirement is the same. It is the same God who gave both laws and in essence they embody the same law, which is Love. Love for God first and then love for one another. But from the perspective of spiritual power, Christ is superior to Moses in that His law is kept in the power of the Spirit. It is brought into effect by a spiritual birth but the Mosaic Law is kept only in the power of the flesh. The two laws are also different in properties. The Law of Moses is contained in outward ordinances but the law of Christ is one of faith and the renewal of our heart and mind. Therefore when a Jew gets saved, it is not like he has to leave all his Jewish practices behind as if it was an awful pagan religion. God instituted it. Paul does not regard the path of Moses as something dirty and wicked. Paul’s argument is that the path of Moses is good BUT it does not work because it requires 100% obedience. We must go back, once again to Romans 1: 16 – 17.
16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “BUT THE RIGHTEOUS man SHALL LIVE BY FAITH.””
The path of faith works. It brings about justification, sanctification, assurance of salvation, hope, and a huge inheritance. As Jeremiah 31: 31ff shows us, this covenant is relational and not merely legal ‘For they shall all know me.’ Though our religion has rules, it is not merely a legalistic religion. But the heart of everything we do must be faith; our obedience must be a product of faith. Some Jews did not fully grasp this it seems, and so what do we do with them? Do we write them off? Not at all! Paul says that we are to accept the one who is weak in faith with out using it as an opportunity to pass judgment, or to wrangle, over his opinions. Just because someone feels they must keep Shabbat, so long as they do not make it a salvation issue and enforce it on everybody else, do not try to wrangle over it and debate the issue. We are entitled to have our own opinion on these issues. Paul presents to us a few issues where someone may be weak in faith. Let us look briefly at each one.
TO EAT MEAT OR NOT TO EAT
According to verses 2 – 3, one person has the faith to eat all things but one who is weak in faith eats vegetables only. Now this has a two-fold application. For one, it can refer to people who abstain from meat because they may not believe it is Kosher. Maybe it is not slaughtered to let the blood drain out. Maybe it is because of the mixture of dairy produce with the meat. Some people who believe do not have the faith to eat non kosher food. Now that person is to be accepted without regarding the guy with contempt. But the one who cannot find it within himself to break kosher should not judge the one who will eat all meats. It is not a justifying issue.
More probably it has to do with the fact that in various cities in the Roman Empire meat was sacrificed to Idols. Now we were already told in Acts 15 that we were to stay away from things sacrificed to idols. Paul even reiterated that in 1 Corinthians 10: 21 – 22. But here is the issue, the meat that was sacrificed to idols was often mixed with non-sacrificed meat and sold together in the market. You could never be sure that the meat that you were buying was not sacrificed to idols. Some people would have seen all the meat as being contaminated by virtue of the fact that there was some meat sacrificed to idols being sold there. Other Christians thought there is no such thing as an idol anyway, they were not seeking for anything sacrificed to idols and they wanted some meat. But Paul has taught that a person may buy it without asking any questions. But if the person selling meat says, ‘Nice bit of meat here just sacrificed to the gods, extra lucky.’ Refuse it for the sake of that person’s conscience. If he does not tell you, feel free to buy the meat there. But other Christians might object saying that that person might be bringing in cursed meat and allowing a demonic influence into their home.
People say these things today. You must not celebrate Christmas, (though I do not personally care about celebrating December 25th). They say you must not read secular literature or go to a pub or to the movies or to any other such place. If you tell them that you are not involving yourself in immorality or drunkenness or even pagan fertility rites they sometimes say that nevertheless you might open a doorway for a demonic spirit to come in and then you will be in trouble. What would Paul have to say to that argument?
Verse 4 Who are you to judge the servant of another? To his own master he stands or falls; and he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand.
Who are you to judge the servant of another master? They are not your servant, but God’s. Just because the meat they have bought may or may not have been sacrificed to an idol does not necessarily mean that that person will fall. He will stand for the Lord is able to make him stand.
SHOULD WE KEEP THE SABBATH?
There is the aspect of Shabbat which we have looked at already. We cannot say that Jewish believers must not keep Shabbat and neither can Jewish believers say that we, Gentiles, must keep it. The key that Paul gives us here in verse 6 is that if we observe the day we must observe it for the Lord. And if we do not observe it we do so for the Lord. Either way the motive has to be to honour the Lord. However there are some in the church who say that although Shabbat has been done away with, we must keep the Lord’s Day, which they call the ‘Christian Sabbath’, as a day of rest. What they say is that this was something that was instituted in the early church. Therefore, to fail to observe this on a Sunday is a sin. Now I have nothing against meeting on a Sunday and using that day as a day of rest. I think it is a great day to meet on and it is a special day in the Bible, being termed the Lord’s Day. But neither do I regard Sunday as a Sabbath. But to reject another church because they might meet on a Saturday would be something that I would have a problem with. There are Christian churches in Israel that meet on a Friday night or a Saturday. There is nothing wrong with this.
But people will protest by saying, that there are scriptures in the New Testament that teach us that Sunday was the day that the Church set aside to meet on. Rev 1: 10 is used to say that Sunday is the Lord’s Day and as such it is the day of meeting. But this verse does not specify that John was actually meeting with other believers on the Sunday. It only says that John was in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day. What about 1 Corinthians 16: 2? Does this mean that Sunday is the day that Believers are supposed to rest on? It tells the readers to lay aside some of their income, on the Lord’s Day. Does this prove that Sunday is a ‘Christian Sabbath’? No it does not. The saving up of income in the text is shown to be individual and not in the context of a collection. Each person is to store up as they prosper so that no collection would have to be made in the meeting when Paul came. This verse is not saying that Sunday was to be a day of rest.
I am not saying believers did not meet on the Lord’s Day, because they did. In the churches of Gentile lands it seems that Sunday afternoon or night was when they met. I am only speaking against the imposition of it as a Sabbath for all believers and then applying Old Testament scriptures such as ‘Remember to keep the Sabbath holy’, and Isaiah 58: 13 and other such scriptures to prove it. In fact we know that people did meet on Sunday because of Acts 20: 7 which talks about the believers meeting and breaking bread when Paul was in town on the Lord’s Day. In the early Church it was called the Lord’s Day because Jesus rose from the dead on the Sunday. But there is no indication in the New Testament that this day was set aside exclusively as a day of rest, especially when we look at the fact that Paul in 1 Corinthians 11: 20 – 33 alludes to the fact that slaves had to work. Therefore, they could only arrive late for the breaking of bread, whether that would have been on a Sunday or any other day of the week.
In fact the precedent set in Jerusalem by the early Church was of meeting, not only on a Sunday, but every single day. They met in the Temple and were breaking bread from house to house. You cannot appeal to the writings of pre-Nicene Church Fathers to back up Sunday being a Christian Sabbath because the Scripture is the sole authority for all matters of faith and morals. To appeal to Tertullian or to Origen as doctrinal authority is doing what we accuse the Roman Catholics of doing, which is to treat Church tradition as equal with the scripture. We are doing what Jesus said, in that we are teaching the inventions of men as doctrines of God. Therefore, we should not argue over these issues amongst ourselves. Each person is to have his own conviction. Only the scripture says ‘do not forsake the assembling of yourselves together’, whenever that might be. Some people will come up with many excuses not to meet with a church. I am not talking about people who do not have the opportunity to meet at particular times, due to work commitments or because there is no biblical church that they can get to. I am speaking of people who would rather not meet together and would rather stay at home.
If I go to a messianic fellowship I am not to criticize them for meeting together on a Friday night and observing the Sabbath day. And they are not to judge me for not observing the day. I may choose that I would honour God more by meeting on Sundays, especially amongst a society of westerners, where Sunday has traditionally been regarded as special. In fact amongst some people groups it would be a very bad witness not to meet on a Sunday morning.
WE WILL ALL GIVE ACCOUNT TO GOD
If my decisions on these issues are down to my own conviction, what is it that stops us going off the rails with having a Christianity of our own personal invention? Verse 12 says that we must give an account of ourselves to God. Paul is not referring to God as an abstract idea which differs from person to person. God is not a belief that is relative to each person but is the God of the Bible. The same God, who gave the Sabbath as a day for His Jewish people, is the same God who gave us the perfect Sabbath which is in the Messiah. On these issues of food, drink and special days, let us not judge one another in terms of our freedoms. But there is another principle that Paul exhorts us to maintain.
VERSES 13 – 23:
DO NOT CAUSE OFFENCE OR STUMBLING
In Christ we have freedom. I am not bound to Moses, apart from maintaining the four things of Acts 15 that preceded Moses. I am free to eat anything sold in the market place without asking questions. I am free to drink wine. I am free to forego the observance of Shabbat and I do not have to attend the Jewish feasts. No Jewish believer can judge me for this and when I am on my own, there is no problem. However as we saw in Romans 12: 3 – 8, Christianity is not only individualistic but it is also corporal. We need time alone but we also need time together. What happens when Jewish believers and physically Gentile believers meet together to eat and to worship? This Church in Rome would have had to deal with these issues because it was composed of both Jew and Gentile. Paul has already laid down the doctrinal foundation, but how does one experience that in the practical realm? While we have freedom and may use that freedom, we must follow Christ’s example of restricting that freedom at certain times. It is not a law in stone, but the law of love in the heart that is worked out in various ways and in various contexts.
Because of love we are not to cause our brethren to sin and fall away from the faith. Do not put an obstacle or stumbling block before someone in regards to their faith in Christ because the whole point of Romans 12 – 16 is the bringing about of the obedience of faith. We are being made Christ like and so if using our freedom will cause someone to fall away or stumble in the pursuit of being more Christ like, we are to restrict that freedom for their sake. The obvious example of this is found in verse 21. It is good not to drink wine if it causes someone to stumble. I like a good glass of red wine and I can drink it without indulgance. I can limit my consumption in a way that it is respectable to drink. However, if I am in the company of someone who has just overcome a drinking problem, I injure that person if I drink around him. By restraining from drinking I am not saying to him that I think alcohol is wrong, but I do not want to cause his being enslaved to alcohol again. It is the same with food. Paul said that he is convinced there is nothing unclean in and of itself. A saved Jewish person might not keep Kosher but other Jewish people might have a problem with it. Now the one weaker in faith is not to judge the other Jewish believer for not eating kosher in his own home. But the one who has no problem with having bacon sandwiches is to restrict himself for the one who has the problem. When he is around the guy with the problem he is to refrain, if it causes offense. This does not mean that he must agree with the person that one should only eat kosher. If he is pulled up for eating unkosher, the one stronger in faith may defend his position. But here we are dealing with living in tolerance of things that scripture clearly shows are not to be debated or divided over.
Do not destroy that guy with your eating. An example of overcoming this issue was in a different context when I was growing up. We were friends with a certain family in Church, and this family was a loving family that really befriended us. They were vegetarian and sometimes when we ate together they made vegetarian food and we ate it together. We did not despise them for being vegetarians and they did not judge us for being meat eaters. We must have tolerance on the issues the Bible teaches us to be tolerant on. It is wrong to force someone to eat meat that does not have the faith to eat meat. Neither is it right to force someone who only eats kosher to eat unkosher. At the end of the day wine is not important. Food does not matter. What do I care if I eat vegetarian lasagna or a steak? It is food at the end of the day; it goes into the mouth and out the other end. Our focus is not to be the food. Eating food is important but there is something more important than that. It is more important to maintain a good testimony. Paul said in verse 16 that we should not cause someone to speak evil of something that is good for us, by causing someone else to stumble with that good thing. I should not cause someone who has a problem with drink to drink and therefore bring a bad reputation on drinking. Our focus should be verse 17. Peace, righteousness and joy. Our decisions and our freedom must be shaped by our faith and not merely by a set of rules.
SALVADOR & DIANNE’S MSINDISI MONTHLY
NUMBER: 148 Oct 2017
+27 (0) 728311008
Email: msindisi@gmail.com ,
salv.di@gmail.com
KwaZulu Mission Website: http://www.kwazulumission.com
KwaZulu Mission Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/kwazulumission
Allegiance the Movie: http://www.allegiancethemovie.co.za
Allegiance Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/allegiancethemovie
Dear friends and family.
This last month has been a little bit of a rollarcoaster, it has had ups and downs. After 10+ years of ministering in South Africa our present season is coming to an end. Di’s visa runs out at the beginning of January, but in order to apply to extend her permit, we have to apply for a change of conditions permit first. This is because we have changed from one ministry covering to another. What we didn’t foresee was that to apply for change of conditions of current permit we still have to produce police clearance and other documentation. It takes about 8 weeks to get police clearance, another 8 weeks to get the change of conditions permit through and then we are supposed to apply for extension of permit 60 days before the expiry of current permit. Salvador is still waiting for his New Zealand residency to be finalized and though we have shown sufficient evidence of our marriage and relationship with each other, Immigration New Zealand have still requested that we supply more evidence to prove that we have lived together over the course of our married lives. Without having utility bills or tenancy agreements, this has made it hard to provide any official documents from Banks or Services. However, we managed to get testimonials of the tribal authority, where we used to live, testimonials of friends and testimonials of our current landlord and church. If Salvador gets Permanent residency we will have flexibility concerning our ability to live outside of New Zealand but if he only gets residency status, then he will have to stay in New Zealand. We have both felt that we have been fulfilling the vision, which the Lord has laid on our hearts for CKM and by the end of the year Salvador will have completed sharing the vision that has been laid on his heart. The eschatology series will also be completed. Though there are many doors that could open for us ministerially in South Africa, both in our current church and elsewhere, we both feel the next port of call is to establish our residency in a common country, which will serve as our base, and then see where the Lord leads. As it stands Salvador has UK and Portuguese citizenship and Di has New Zealand citizenship but we do not yet have the right to live in each other’s countries. If Salvador only gets a residency permit and not permanent residency it may mean that we will have to live in New Zealand 2-5 years in order that Salvador gets permanent residency or citizenship. It is possible that on the way to New Zealand we would be ministering in Australia but we will wait for confirmation on that.
Celebrating the Feast of Trumpets with the friday evening fellowship.
Our plan is to continue ministering in Ballito till the beginning of December, visit the folks in Vryheid one more time in December and then continue the rest of the time in Gauteng till we fly out. This means that there is much that needs to be done. The car we are driving will have to be sold, the books and possessions we are taking back will have to be freighted, other things given away and sold. Books have already been put in boxes. If you think this would mean that we would slow down ministerially in order to prepare for New Zealand you would be wrong. Salvador will continue with Tuesday afternoon cell at Jacqueline’s, Tuesday evening bible study (Hermeneutics) with some friends, Wednesday evening cell group, Thursday morning eschatology, Thursday afternoon Hebrew class with home school boys (We had a holiday from that this week), every second Thursday evening cell group at Umhlanga, Di does the Friday morning ladies group and then Salvador teaches Hebrew class (had a break this week too), Friday nights fellowship evening and then there is the Saturday morning men’s meeting. In between these meetings there is time set aside for study and preparation.
Di at Shane and Christy Van Niekerk’s in Rorke’s Drift
This month we visited Vryheid over a weekend to visit our old Zulu Church. On the way there we visited some friends at Rorke’s Drift who run a guesthouse. The following day we headed to Vryheid, picked up a trailer and then loaded it with boxes of clothes and toys donated by folk on the north coast and generously couriered by our friend, Grant MacArthur. We took the majority of these to Celani for her rural second hand shop but quite a number of toys were left for two crèches in the area. On the following day (Saturday) we went to visit Asimbonge and Ncedo who live with their Grandmother. If you will remember, Asimbonge and Ncedo’s mother was murdered a few years back at our homestead. After church on Sunday we visited our friends, Craig and Magda in Vryheid before leaving on Monday. We also took that night, and the following morning to be by ourselves. That evening we hit an emotional low point as we remembered all the memories over the last ten years in this country together.
Shane Van Niekerk and the Sparrowhawk he is rehabilitating.
Trailer with boxes to take to Eastmine.
Most of the donations given.
Di catching up with Celani.
In Celani’s Second hand shop.
Last weekend we went through to Kokstad and ministered to the home church we have started to get to know. We can see the Lord’s hand in leading us to them and have been blessed to see the Lord minister to them. It seems that both times we have visited, the Lord has used the visits to encourage, and to bring the brethren together. We also got to minister to a lovely lady who is 101 years old. She is a gracious lady and both of us got the opportunity to share the Gospel with her. On the last morning before leaving Kokstad, Salvador got the email from immigration New Zealand requesting evidence of our cohabitation throughout our married life. This would mean going to Vryheid to the tribal authority in order to collect the documentation. Thankfully, our friend Mesuli had booked a seat on the bus to visit us this last week before going to Durban to write an examination. As his bus was scheduled to leave Vryheid at 3pm, he was able to go to the tribal authority on our behalf that morning and collect the documentation. All other documentation was collected over the following two days and couriered to New Zealand two days ago. Praise the Lord, as they require the documents by the 12th October.
Visiting Asimbonge, Ncedo and their grandmother’s family.
Di with Asimbonge and Ncedo.
We had a great time of fellowship with Mesuli and we can see the Lord working in his life. He attended both the Eschatology class, and this week’s ladies group because one lady had requested a teaching on being “Slain in the Spirit?” So Salvador taught what scripture had to say about it. After this we went to Bill Buchanan Old Age home in Durban for the last time. Next week we will visit St Luke’s. Tomorrow afternoon we will also visit Mission Thando in Durban to catch up with them.
Mesuli with us.
Mesuli’s First Experience of Chinese Food.
The lady we called “Jean” in the Allegiance movie went to minister to refugees in the Near East. For this reason we had to black her face and hide her real name. She is visiting Durban at the moment and so we will be catching up with her on Monday.
Nicole Els playing “Jean” in the Movie.
Please pray:
- For our move to New Zealand and God’s direction on our lives and ministries.
- For our Church, Coming King Ministries.
- For Phumlani, Mesuli and all the Zulu brethren back in our old area.
- For David and Krista and Mission Thando.
- For Kokstad and the believers there.
- For Salvador’s New Zealand residency/permanent residency application.
For those who are interested, here is the fourth message in a series Salvador has been doing on eschatology.
“Eschatology 4: The Land, Davidic and New Covenants.”
SALVADOR & DIANNE’S MSINDISI MONTHLY
NUMBER: 147 Sep 2017
+27 (0) 728311008
+27 (0) 815836288
Email: msindisi@gmail.com ,
salv.di@gmail.com
KwaZulu Mission Website: http://www.kwazulumission.com
KwaZulu Mission Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/kwazulumission
Allegiance the Movie: http://www.allegiancethemovie.co.za
Allegiance Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/allegiancethemovie
Dear friends and family.
We know it has been three months since our last newsletter. Not that there has not been anything to write about. The last three months have been awesome and we thank the Lord for open doors of ministry. The usual eschatology teachings have continued as well as Hebrew for the home school boys and for the beginners, although the more advanced class has halted as one of the students has a ministry opportunity that has opened up and that conflicts and the other student is now going to visit family in Canada for five weeks.
Salvador doing Hebrew with home school boys.
Last Friday the beginner’s Hebrew class went and ministered the gospel to the folks at the special needs home, St Lukes in Stanger. Salvador has reduced his visits there to once a week as another ministry opportunity has opened itself up which we will share just now. It is such a privelege to minister to these precious people who have mild to severe physical and mental challenges they face every single moment of every day. They are the pretty much forgotten of society. Some of their families visit regularly and have interest. Others were abandoned by friends and family alike. The Hebrew class were nervous about ministering there, not knowing what to expect. One of the ladies who live there asked, “Why are you so nervous, it is just us?!!” We always think they bless us as much as we bless them.
Some of the guys at St. Lukes
Moyra Sharing about our rest in Christ.
Barbara sharing about the wages of sin being death.
So Salvador has reduced his visits to St Luke’s and to the Old Age home in Durban to once a month. This is because we have made connection with a missionary couple from Canada, David and Krista Meisner. We heard about them through Roger Oakland who supports some of the orphans they minister to through Bryce Homes. David and Krista run Mission Thando doing outreach both humanitarian and gospel into areas just out of Durban called Quarry Heights, Kabezelani and Mount Moriah near Kwamashu. We went through one Sunday to their church and Salvador preached. It was great to meet them. Salvador will be visiting once a month to maintain connection and hopefully be an encouragement.
Salvador preaching at Quarry Heights
Fellowship meal with brethren.
Ladies hard at work.
We also were asked to visit a home group in Kokstad of believers who needed encouragement. It was a blessing to see how the Lord had been ministering there and to be an encouragement. We had seen the Lord work just in the short time that we visited. We believe that the Lord has connected us to them. Our hearts have resonated with their hearts. So between them and the local independent Baptist church we should be visiting regularly to continue sharing with them and encouraging them.
Beautiful scenery of Kokstad.
Di has been helping a family with their homeschooling by that is coming to an end, which will be a great help in terms of ministry. She continues to facilitate the ladies bible study and is involved with the life of the church sharing in the practical set up and participating in the young children’s Sunday school. Every second Thursday evening Salvador has been going through to Umhlanga to do cell group with a Zimbabwean family and an Indian lady called Ruth. It has given rise to discussing important topics regarding salvation. Every Tuesday afternoon we have a cell meeting with Jaqueline who has responded to the preaching Salvador has been sharing and wanted to have something on in the day time. A small group of us have been going through the first principles of Hebrews 6:1-2 over the last few months, as have the Wednesday night cell group. Tuesday evenings we have been doing Bible study with Grant and Alicia and recently, by their request been studying Hebrews. Often we will also attend the Friday night meal that Grant and Alicia put on for the brethren. As they are now on a family holiday and we are house sitting for them Tuesday and Friday nights have eased up.
Grant & Alicia and Matthew & Maralize visited with there kids after church one sunday. We live by the sea.
Salvador reading a story to the kids.
On top of this we have had two visits from our brother Mesuli. For those who don’t know Mesuli is a brother in the Lord from the area we used to minister to when we lived outside of Vryheid with Phumlani. Salvador used to teach Mesuli in the kid’s club back in 2004 when he was ministering with Caleb and Sophie Massey. Since then Mesuli has gotten saved and gotten serious in his walk with the Lord. He studied Pharmacology in Grahamstown and just returned to Vryheid this year to do practical before doing his community service next year to fulfill requirements for his degree. As Mesuli has good access to the internet and is fluent in his English we have asked him if he would write regular reports of how the brethren are doing back in Eastmine for the KwaZulu Mission website, and how their service for the Lord is going. As the KwaZulu Mission website concerns the work being done in that area and as we are no longer ministering there we think it important to focus the reports on that website on the work back in the area. So expect to receive Mesuli’s reports in the future.
Salvador and Mesuli
Our friends Sean and Kathryn De Klerk from Gauteng came and visited us while taking a much needed break in the area. We were blessed by the fellowship and we love their heart for ministry and outreach. We always love to keep the lines of communication open with brethren and pray that the Lord will strengthen our bond of love always.
Sean and Kathryn having dinner with us and Les and Angie.
Sandile has now got work in Palm Lakes Club house working in catering. This has meant that the opportunity to continue with Bible studies has become extremely limited. He is however well and extremely grateful for the studies we have had and would love to have opportunity for more. This really demonstrates the truth that we need to take opportunities to sow seed while we are able because we do not know what will become of tomorrow.
We are also facing Visa issues concerning Di and are praying concerning this and our future in light of this. Salvador’s application for residency for New Zealand is still in process and this will likely affect the choice we will have to make for our direction. Please pray concerning these legal issues and the Lord’s direction of our steps.
Lastly, we are preparing to visit Vryheid next week for a short-term mission trip and catch up. We will start by visiting friends at Rorke’s drift and catching up with Asimbonge and Ncedo, who used to live with us at Phumlani’s place with their mum Babhekile (Phumlani’s niece). That was sadly until she was tragically killed on that awful time when Phumlani was also shot in the head in December 2013. https://kwazulumission.com/2014/01/02/msindisi-newsletter-112/. After this Asimbonge and Ncedo went to live with their Gogo (Grandmother) near Newcastle. Di had deposited so much into this little boy in education and English speaking that when he started school he aced his subjects. After the visit we will meet Andre and Lorna from Coming King Ministries who will come up for a short term mission trip bringing aid and getting to know the people. We will also try to catch up with other people while there and have a cell group meeting too.
Wonderful reminder of God’s faithfulness.
Sorry that we have been so tardy in getting our newsletters out. We trust that the Lord continues to bless His people and that these Newsletters will be a source of such blessing. We value your love, prayers and support.
Please pray:
- For the mission trip next week.
- For David and Krista and Mission Thando.
- For Coming King Minisries and the people who fellowship there.
- For Kokstad and the believers there.
- For Di’s visa issues and the Lord’s direction.
For those who are interested, here is the third message in a series Salvador has been doing on eschatology. “Eschatology 3: The Abrahamic and Sinai Covenants.”
SALVADOR & DIANNE’S MSINDISI MONTHLY
NUMBER: 146 Jun 2017
+27 (0) 728311008
+27 (0) 815836288
Email: msindisi@gmail.com ,
salv.di@gmail.com
KwaZulu Mission Website: http://www.kwazulumission.com
KwaZulu Mission Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/kwazulumission
Allegiance the Movie: http://www.allegiancethemovie.co.za
Allegiance Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/allegiancethemovie
We left NZ with much anguish, it was incredible hard leaving, as we waved goodbye and boarded, my mum and sister stood alone waving and hugging each other. We parted with many tears. Our flight home was long, emotional, with long stop overs. We both were overjoyed to finally land and put our feet on solid ground. Our dear friend Kevin met us at the airport with food supplies and dropped us at home. As we entered our home it truly looked like a war zone. We had both left in such a hurry that it looked like the wardrobe had exploded, there was water on the floor from the serve rain the area had experienced while we were away. The mould had taken off with the house being locked up for 3 weeks and the gekko’s had enjoyed the freedom of an unoccupied house. Sal graciously tried to clean up as I sat on the couch …. Saying i don’t care !! If there had been no hot water for a shower then I am sure I would have collapsed into tears.
With Di’s family in New Zealand
Us in New Zealand
So we were back …. It had been a time of sorrow, reflecting, joy, tears and much hugging ,catching up with some family and friends we hadn’t seen for over 10 years and sorting out legal, personal necessities for my mum and ourselves, Sal had been able to share a teaching in a fellowship in Bulls while there, he was also mums handyman for awhile. In mums words ” she was so happy to have all her family with her over this time”……….. now we were transported back into SA time, the process of cleaning up the house came the next day with many interruptions of tears as the thought of never seeing my Dad finally had time to settle into my mind.
Death makes you see what is truly important, it can be a time of reflection which I think is so important when we live in the hectic pace of life….. It comes to us all. I saw the way many tried to handle the grieving, most drawing from a wishful thinking place, all believing that there was a happy place, a freedom that Dad would now be in. Most desired to keep the thought that he was still around spiritually and watching over. For me, I know the only hope for peace and rest in the afterlife lies in accepting Jesus and His work alone but the memories of my Dad’s life live on in my heart and mind. My desire over this time is that people would seek the truth about what happens when we die. The bible is a history book filled with stories recounted about people and nations, prophetic fulfillments and clearly teaches the only way to gain real life that continues even when we die. Many shy away from it …. My question would be… why? If anything, at least read it. Many have tried to prove it wrong however it stands consistent with history and is being fulfilled in these very last days. The documentary “The Daniel Project” is one such film that demonstrates how the Bible has seen prophecies fulfilled in the modern era.
For more information about the Daniel Project please click the following link:
http://www.thedanielprojectmovie.com/d7/
And to watch the trailer here is the link:
After the clean up of our home was over, we returned to our routine and started to connect again with people. Two families had planned a few days away and invited us to go, i have to say i was reluctant but after a muddle up with dates, thinking we needed to be in Kostad we ended up going. Those few days proved to be just what we needed. The drive into the rural of SA again warmed my heart, we were truly able to relax and gather our thoughts, be refreshed and have sweet fellowship, returning ready to immerse ourselves in ministry again.
On the way from Grosvenor, a vendor tries to sell to drivers and passengers who wait at road works.
Salvador was able to take time to witness to Teresa and Agnes
Grosvenor
Kevin and Salvador study scripture together.
Sue Wells and her dear friend Lillian arrived with Precious and Themba for a weeks break away from Joburg ( Springs) the day after we returned. This was such a special time for us all, Sue’s years of experience in homeschooling from 1998 meant everyone was eager to speak with her and benefit from her wealth of knowledge and experience. There were many dinner dates, we tried to have some down time to walk along the beach and refresh and catch up as it has been awhile since we had seen each other. I first met Alan and Sue in 2007 at Aletheia church in Springs with Dave and Lyn Royle. While here, they joined in with bible studies, the End Time teaching study, Hebrew class and Sunday fellowship where Sal brought the word . Friendships were formed and emails and contact numbers exchanged. Real sharing and fellowship had taken place. We were all blessed. We are looking forward to future visits from the Wells.
Having a picnic together with Sue, Lillian, Precious and Themba.
Themba and Precious
Sal is totally back into ministry, he has started a teaching on the principles of meeting together from Acts 2:42-46 teaching, breaking of bread, fellowship and prayer while I am about to start helping out 4 mornings a week facilitating home schooling for a family in the church and continue with the ladies study on a Friday morning. Sal has also been asked to teach a men’s coffee study which meets on a Wednesday morning at 6 in a cafe in town. They are studying the book of revelation and have asked for input.
Sal continues in the End Time teaching, these are available on youtube for those interested. He continues to teach Hebrew so the scriptures are understood clearly from the Hebrew language. In the future we will take our learning and minister to a disabled home called St Luke’s that Sal visits every fortnight. We continue to meet in cell groups, these meet at varied times during the week one in the evening and the other has just started up which meets in the day. We share a meal, break bread and bring a word. In the evening cell we are sharing our testimonies so we get to know each other more. I shared mine a few weeks back. There is a Friday night Shabbat gathering also which brings those together who wish to come.
Salvador Teaching Eschatology
Sal is also meeting up with a young Zulu guy called Sandile every sat to study the word together and there is talk of a Zulu teaching group starting mid week for those interested.
We are aware that our week has gotten very full, so time management is extremely important as we share our vehicle. We don’t want the work to become our master but continue to keep our thoughts and prayers on Him who is able to do exceedingly more than we can ever do.
Salvador Playing at the Old Age home.
We thank you all so much for sharing in this time with us, with the parting of my dad, praying for us, words of encouragement and supporting the Lords work.
Prayer needs:
Sal has submitted his NZ residency so please keep that in prayer
Di has regular contact with her mum on FaceTime, please keep her in prayer
That cell groups continue to live out the principals of Acts 2:42
Future opportunity to visit the brethren back near Vryheid with a mission group
and visit Asimbonge and Ncelo
For friends in NZ who are unwell and undergoing treatment for cancer
For those who are interest, this is Salvador’s second session in his series on Eschatology.
KwaZulu Mission 