ONE VOICE FOR AFRICA!

ZIMBABWE: Update: "If you have been watching international news, you know that we seem to be in the eye of a political storm right now. The political violence has calmed except for small pockets here and there. There is tension in the air, as all of Zimbabwe and the world watches the progress of the talks between the opposing parties. To ease the economic struggles, 10 zeros have been dropped from our currency. What cost $4,000,000,000,000 (trillion) dollars last week, now costs $400 ZD. New currency has been introduced to reflect these changes, and even old coins have been allowed into circulation again. Line-ups at the bank for the new cash have tripled and quadrupled, and systems are down temporarily as everyone readjusts.

"On the ground, the shops are emptier and basic commodities are getting harder to find. It seems just when we think things can't get any worse, they do. We really are amazed at how people are surviving. Cash is hard to get, grocery supplies hard to find, medical care difficult because of the foreign supplies needed to keep things going. How the Village of Hope is surviving becomes more of a miracle with each passing month! God is truly making 'streams in the desert'! We still have yet to cut back on a feeding program, on a preschool meal, or on the protein our resident children get!"

Prayer Focus: Please pray for peace to reign in Zimbabwe and for strength for Gord and Anita to continue to minister in these very tiring circumstances. Pray for the many food and building supplies needed at the Village of Hope. Pray also that the new resident children will settle in well and that God would bring the right people to minister as teachers and house Moms. Pray also that Gord and Anita's work permit applications will be approved and that the process will be resolved quickly.

NAIROBI July 26, 2008 - Founded in 1978, Pan Africa Christian University is PAOC's flagship educational initiative on this continent. Today was PACU's 27th Graduation and the first as a fully-fledged international University. The 77 "Beacons of Hope" graduated from the following programs:

Pentecostal leaders from all across the continent are converging on Nairobi for the General Council of the Pentecostal Assemblies of Africa. The air is filled with excitement as we get ready to welcome the delegates, but even more so, as we anticipate what the Lord will achieve among us during these days!

The Pentecostal Assemblies of Africa is a Fellowship of the African churches founded or partnered by the Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada. How we thank God for the fruit that has come through 100 years of ministry on the continent of Africa! Check out the program on the PAOA photo album on the right.

25 years ago I began researching Comparative Religions in preparation for a course I was going to teach in Brazil. When it came to Animism (also called Tribal or Primitive Religion), I came across a study of the Ameru people of Kenya. I was fascinated by their story and their world-view and so were my students. Yesterday I got a chance to take that research to a new level in Northern Kenya. I found myself in church with a converted Ameru.

How wonderful to test my book knowledge with this man's experience as an Ameru. How wonderful to confirm that just as I had suspected - MULUNGU - is worshipped as a High God whose rule extends over other unknown people's and tribes. How wonderful to know that the missionaries that have taken the Gospel to the Ameru have not only seen conversions to Christ, but have seen those converts called to missionary ministry.  Joshua Thuranira is now an elder of a church reaching out to the Samburu people.

The Samburu people are related to the Masai tribe although they live just above the equator where the foothills of Mount Kenya merge into the northern desert and slightly south of Lake Turkana in the Rift Valley Province of Kenya. They are semi-nomadic pastoralists whose lives revolve around their cows, sheep, goats, and camels. Milk is their main stay; sometimes it is mixed with blood. Meat is only eaten on special occasions. Generally they make soups from roots and barks and eat vegetables if living in an area where they can be grown. Most dress in very traditional clothing of bright red material used like a skirt and multi-beaded necklaces, bracelets and earrings, especially when living away from the big cities.

Will you join me in prayer for the Samburu people? I have been asked to return as soon as possible to spend a week teaching those who have been saved and called into the ministry. I have promised them that I will bring FIMBO YA MCHUNGAJI (The Sheperd's Staff) with me - a wonderful pastoral resource of Bible and Leadership Teaching. Could you invest $5 to make this gift possible? I want to take at least 20 copies with me.

SMOKER ALL FIRED UP

Donna, a single mom of three children, wanted desperately to volunteer at Starehe Children’s Home in Tanzania. Her past life was not one of total commitment to the Lord from youth and smoking was a habit which stayed with her even after she came to the Lord in mid life.

“NO SMOKING” is one of the criteria for volunteers at Starehe. Now she was in a dilemma! Volunteering was so strong that she decided to quit smoking before coming to Starehe Children’s Home. Lots of activities, excitement, new culture and fulfilment in working with the children pushed the cigarette craving into the back ground.

Coming home to the familiar and old routines she found that smoking was a big part of it. With renewed determination she continued to remain smokeless – she did always have a pack ready though in case she was totally overwhelmed by the craving.

Driving down the freeway one day she could not resist lighting up. No sooner was she into a few puffs and the song, “The Air I Breath?” came over the radio. “That’s it Lord! I hear you speaking,” she exclaimed. Opening the car window she flicked the cigarette out – she thought. Suddenly she realized the wind had blown the cigarette back and down the back of her blouse. She was on fire!

Hastily she pulled over and jumped out of her vehicle. A Good Samaritan passer-by stopped and smothered the cigarette. That put a real damper into her cravings and she continues to live without smoking.

Starehe Children’s Home has greatly impacted many lives of volunteers – some in dramatic fashion!

Ronald Posein

July 2008

Greetings from somewhere in Africa!
God continues to work so powerfully with the church in this place. There are so many churches being planted and so many open doors for more into remote parts of the country in villages that have never heard and also into the very difficult countries around us. The price to pay is high and the fruit is real. We thank God.

One of the church planters\missionaries (name withheld) was falsely accused of terrorist activities as a form of persecution by M*slims trying to destroy his work. He was taken to prison.

The first cell he was put into there were 39 prisoners in the cell. The first day of his imprisonment was hard for him, he was beaten and mocked by the other prisoners. The next day he continued to witness about Christ and 13 prisoners accepted Christ. On the third day he was put into another cell where 13 other prisoners also accepted Christ. On the fourth day 3 more people accepted Christ. All these 29 converts are now attending basic Christian teaching in the prison. (by another group of evangelists\ teachers we support working in all the prisons of this country). 

The court which was following his case and investigating the accusation proposed by the M*slims found that they were not real and released him. He is back doing the work and the prisoners who came to Christ are being discipled.

Remember the revival that took place in Philipi when Paul and Silas were jailed unjustly? Serving time in jail was a tough but effective way to win souls then and it is no different today in Africa!

I knew that you would be interested in this update from members of our Zimbabwe team - Steve

Hi there!

Just another quick update and praise report! We are so thankful for the overwhelming response of prayer support that came across email, and even in a few phone calls, for the scriptures shared! We are a blessed family and the ministry is blessed! It meant so much.

Please know that things have calmed considerably in the last few days (it’s almost like the last few weeks never happened). But the general mood in the country is one of complacency and worry. Though the current political woes are settling, and the violence has calmed, there are still pockets of unrest.

One of our own workers was arrested at a downtown market for not having the red mark on his finger to show he had voted. He went missing for 3 days and we & his family, were worried sick. When he was finally released, having to hand over his goods from the market and any cash on him, he walked all the way home. He was shaken, very hungry from having not eaten for 3 days, and tired. But he was also praising God that he was not beaten like so many others around him – he knows that God protected him!

The economic struggles continue, as we now reach transactions everyday that run into the trillions and quadrillions, and the banks cannot handle the amounts in their computer systems.

As you know from international news, this ‘season’ is not over quite yet, but the immediate violence and instability seems to have calmed enough that we are no longer worried for our immediate safety.

We praise God that after spending about 5 hours visiting immigration Wednesday, we were granted another 30 day extension to stay and work here while a decision is still pending on the reapplication of our work permits. And so with this news and with feeling more at peace here again.

Our VOH feeding programs will be back in full swing this coming Monday if things stay quiet. Our school is open and all programs are running again. We are slowly picking up again where we left off J. The Village of Hope has remained an oasis, in the middle of all the unrest around us! What a miracle!

Please do continue to pray for our work permits; for the safety of us and our children, as the unrest has taken its toll on them as well.

We thank God for keeping us through this time. It’s not over, but we gained ground, and are feeling settled once again. God is still in control J.

Thanks for being there!

Romans 8:24 – “FOR WE ARE SAVED BY HOPE…..”

How did we celebrate Canada Day in Kenya? Well the first thing we did was to declare it a holiday and gave the staff the day off! Then we invited all our Canadian Missionaries in the area to our house for a barbecue and a bit of Canadian Fellowship. With lots of good will and an admirable amount of Canadian plates and flags etc we had a great afternoon together. As missionaries we spend a lot of time living outside of our culture that it is special to celebrate it. Our African neighbours were curious about the preparations and we duly informed them of the significant day we were celebrating. Later in the afternoon one of the neighbours tried to gate-crash the festivities - but today we kept the door closed and honoured the special moment. How wonderful to sing Oh Canada! together and to pray from the heart that God will keep our land GLORIOUS AND FREE!

Thank you to all our friends and supporters! We are your arms extended to Africa! By the way - you do know how to spell Canada with 3 letters don;t you?

C -eh, N - eh, D - eh!

Keep us in your prayers - pray especially for our Zimbabwe team - you know why!

Steve and Heather

WINDHOEK, NAMIBIA, April 13 2008

Steve was welcomed to Namibia this weekend. He writes from Windhoek: "The last thing you expect in Namibia (extensively covered by desert) is rain - but a cloudburst greeted the South African Airbus as it touched down. Oddly enough I had packed a plastic rain-poncho in my travel bag. Did I ever feel pleased to pull it out and get across the tarmac to the terminal without getting soaking wet! However, Sunday morning (afternoon really) a number of new-believers needed more than a raincoat inside the Windhoek church - they were drenched in the waters of baptism!

Carl Verhulst met Steve at the airport - kind of fitting really. Carl was the first one to bring Namibia to life for Steve when they visited Northern Ontario churches 21 years ago. Here they were together in Windhoek. Steve finally got a chance to see the church that Carl and Ruth built through the miraculous provision of the Lord. Built at a cost of $100,000 - the 3-year project was valued at $1 million upon completion! Superior quality windows bought from a bank at $1 each, the 4 prisoners that worked on the church every day under Carl's watchful eye, and Ruth's auction-bidding skills in Afrikaans - all part of the great story!

That was 22 years ago - but the story continues. Parts of it are tragic - 2 years ago a terrible car accident left the leader of the work a paraplegic and then claimed his life. I saw his widow in church today - she is strong in the Lord - a tribute to God's Amazing Grace! The new leader, Pr. Nehemia David, is doing a commendable job of leading the church and today it was our privilege to ordain him as Bishop of the Pentecostal Assemblies of Namibia. You can see him in the left of the photo with his wife Liz and the General Secretary of the Fellowship, Rev. Manzambi António, also ordained today!

WHAT IS NAMIBIA LIKE?

The people I talked with had vivid memories of the Apartheid era when Namibia was under South African rule. Separate hospitals and schools for Whites and non-Whites. Non-Whites forbidden to look into the eyes of Whites, non-White men forbidden to wear long-trousers, non-Whites forbidden to buy white bread! Unbelievable injustice for those of us that grew up elsewhere! Namibia is the former German colony of South-West Africa during World War I and administered it as a mandate until after World War II, when it annexed the territory.

   In 1966 the Marxist South-West Africa People's Organization (SWAPO) guerrilla group launched a war of independence for the area that was soon named Namibia, but it was not until 1988 that South Africa agreed to end its administration in accordance with a UN peace plan for the entire region. Namibia won its independence in 1990 and has been governed by SWAPO since. Apartheid ended here 3-4 years earlier than in South Africa!

PROJECTS FOR NAMIBIA!

Drop us a line at chaloners@africaonline.co.ke

1. Pray for a revival!
2. Computer for the National Office $1,000
3. Software for the Computer $400
4. Used vehicle for the Bishop's use $10,000
5. Church roofs $2,500
6. Bible college student scholarships 5x$500

If you can donate something to any of these projects you will be making a difference in NAMIBIA! Maybe you could bring a team to Namibia to do some church building and ministry!  

Heather and I are still adjusting to our new ministry but count it a privilege to serve in this capacity. Being Regional Director for all of Africa is quite a challenge, but Marg Foreman’s first-class admin. skills, great attitude, and calmness under stress make it so much easier. On the continent that defies definition, our daily prayer is for His Kingdom to Come, His will to be done, and the gates of Hell not to prevail against His church in Africa! In our extremities, we are blessed to see the Lord at work in so many wonderful ways.

· PAOC 100 Years in Africa! Charles Chawner left for Africa on Feb. 12, 1908. His simple obedience to go and preach the Gospel to the Zulus so marked his son Austin that he forsook all to establish an apostolic ministry that has swept hundreds of thousands into the Kingdom!

· Pan Africa Christian University Charter – February 15, 2008. It took 30 years but we all know that God's timing is perfect! In the midst of all the trouble and post-election violence that has rocked Kenya and the world, God brought President Kibaki to PAC to present its university charter and to witness the installation of its Chancellor, Bishop Bonifes Adoyo, and Vice-Chancellor, Kirk Kauffeldt. God has set before us a wide-open door that no man can shut! 

· Villages of Hope Africa… Everyone knows that Africa and starving children are almost synonymous, but Villages of Hope Africa are establishing oasis o f hope in the wilderness of despair! How we thank God for VOH Champions Sergio and Nancy Bersaglio and their Team of anointed care-givers. On that note we rejoice with Gord and Anita Coolege in the official opening of VOH Zimbabwe and its school on March 15, 2008. In Zambia the new VOH site is under development.

· Leadership Development: TELTAC brings together all the key players in our leadership development centres. In our November 2007 Conference, Principals and Academic Deans from 12 colleges in 10 countries, representing 50,000 students, pastors, and leaders met together to emphasize Servant Leadership – striving to be the godly servant leaders in Africa.

· Mozambique: Training initiatives continue to flourish and the empowerment course for Pastors’ Wives is bringing so much blessing to the church. The Distance-Education programme reaches 1,500 students all across the nation, while over 200 students study on-campus, in Diploma, Undergraduate and Graduate courses, and over 150 pastors and their wives participate in weekly leadership seminars.

· Senegal: On the heels of a major Islamic summit - the Assemblies of God pushed the envelope for Jesus as they celebrated their 50th Jubilee on Easter weekend! Beginning with a formal celebration in a sports stadium, believers took to the streets in a public March of witness for Jesus and led to a great outdoor concert of praise and worship followed by powerful evangelistic services.

Africa – The Unfinished Task! 300 Million Africans still have no viable access to the Gospel. Many of them are in North Africa. Without a doubt, Reached Africa holds the key to Unreached Africa! Promoting missions by Africans, for Africans is fundamental. With this in mind, last year PAOC held Africa’s first-ever Missionsfest in Lubumbashi DRC. This month (Feb. 2008) the second Missionsfest was held in Pretoria, South Africa. In West Africa where 40-50 Talibe children come to one of our centres for a shower, first-aid and breakfast, 2 boys were overheard in their native language Pulaar, “we are really blessed here, the way they take care of us!” Love is a language anyone can understand! In Kenya, the Turkana people are hearing the Gospel loud and clear as we build and develop schools, churches, and clinics and train a team of transformational professionals!

It only took Jesus about 36 hours to break free from the tomb and probably 35 hours and 59 minutes were spend waiting for Resurrection Day to arrive! It's taken Heather and I much longer to reactivate our web-space - but finally One Voice for Africa is back from the dead!

Since we are on the Easter theme - welcome to our update on Easter in Dakar Senegal!

"CHRIST IS RISEN" ...  "HE IS RISEN INDEED!"

What better way to express our hearts here in Dakar this Easter Sunday! On the heels of a major Islamic summit - the Assemblies of God is pushing the envelope for Jesus as they celebrate their 50th Jubilee! Beginning with a formal celebration in a sports stadium, believers took to the streets in a public March of witness for Jesus and led to a great outdoor concert of praise and worship! Last night the power of the Gospel began with the preacher himself - who testified of how Jesus transformed his former life as the son of a Maribu in Isla*. The message "Bring him to Jesus!" revisited the healing of the paralytic man - brought to Jesus by his four friends. Check out the pictures below and Praise the Lord with  us!

"No need to be ashamed of the Gospel of Christ - It is the power of God unto Salvation to all who believe!"

Steve and Heather Chaloner

"A voice of one calling: “In the desert prepare the way for the LORD; make straight in the wilderness a highway for our God. 4 Every valley shall be raised up, every mountain and hill made low; the rough ground shall become level, the rugged places a plain. 5 And the glory of the LORD will be revealed, and all mankind together will see it.  For the mouth of the LORD has spoken.” 

ONE VOICE!

One voice CALLING! - One voice calling IN THE DESERT!

One voice calling in the desert, calling for PROGRESS!

PREPARE THE WAY! Prepare a HIGHWAY! Prepare a highway for our GOD! Prepare it in the WILDERNESS!

FILL THE valleys! LEVEL the MOUNTAINS and the HILLS and the ROUGH ground and the RUGGED places!

God will be GLORIFED - Publickly, Simultaneously e Certainly

ONE VOICE HAS SAID IT ...

THE VOICE OF THE LORD!

Psalm 29:3-9

3 The voice of the LORD is over the waters;
the God of glory thunders,
the LORD thunders over the mighty waters.
4 The voice of the LORD is powerful;
the voice of the LORD is majestic.
5 The voice of the LORD breaks the cedars;
the LORD breaks in pieces the cedars of Lebanon.
6 He makes Lebanon skip like a calf,
Sirion like a young wild ox.
7 The voice of the LORD strikes
with flashes of lightning.
8 The voice of the LORD shakes the desert;
the LORD shakes the Desert of Kadesh.
9 The voice of the LORD twists the oaks
and strips the forests bare.
And in his temple all cry, “Glory!”