Greetings to you all and praise God friends,
I wish you all an amazing 2011. It is my prayer that it will be a year full of blessings and achievements for you all.
The ministry of Bethel is made possible by your support, hard work and participation, and I want to personally thank you very much for that. It’s fair to say that Bethel would not be where it is today without the kindness, hard work and generosity of you our supporters and co-workers in the ministry. Your prayers have refreshed and protected, and donations toward our Bethel programmes have enabled us give people hope.
I took a moment to reflect on the year 2010. It was a year of scarcity, strong opposition, imprisonment, beatings and threats of all kinds; but at the same time we have experienced great achievements, through you and I, God’s work has continued. I have been made aware that I wasn't called to serve alone, that I was called to this ministry with you, and so your strengths are a part of what is offered to God right next to my weaknesses.
Our ministry achievements:
1.We have managed to start 2 church plants. El-Shaddai in Bubetsye started in February 7th 2010 and Emmanuel started in November 2010.
2.Evangelism seminars have been carried out and we have had several Muslims come to Jesus both in Bethel and in the new church plants. There have been a number of baptisms due to that.
3.We have held trainings for Sunday school teachers, leadership, youths in life skills, evangelism, couples, children’s bible clubs teachers and seminars for couples and youths.
4.We have been able to pay school fees for the needy children we are within the church and in our families.
5.We were able to build one shelter for the needy man who was living in a bad condition.
6.Some women who serve in the community were able to go to Tanzania for training in health related issues. They will pass the knowledge to others in the church and community for more to know how they can live better.
7.Vincent and Grace travelled to our partner church in Australia. This was a great achievement and new relationships were established and the old ones were strengthened. Some funding was raised to make the work of the above mentioned achievements possible.
8.Other programmes like Sunday school, bible studies, Alpha, spots, caring for the needy, economic empowerment for the needy, goats given away for the widows, food security, evangelism, bible clubs, literacy class and several others have continued and people have been blessed.
9.Some marginalized people including Florence have started a journey of new hope. There are several testimonies to hear.
Some challenges in 2010:
1.Our Muslim converts have been mistreated by their families. Young people were kicked out of their families and lacked where to go. So they ended up in church members homes. For men their wives and children were taken away from them and they also left their ancestral homes.
2.Some church leaders have been put into jail and some have been physically assaulted.
3.Due to insufficient funds we were not able to build our medical and community centre last year. The satellite church structures were not built.
4.Did not carry out all the leadership trainings as it was intended in the work plan of 2010.
The new year good start:
The year 2011 has started well. We already have good stories of interest.
1.The first one is, Joseph Wogama Khabego got his wife back on Sunday the 2nd. Joseph is one of the Muslim converts who were forced to leave their biological families when they got saved, and in addition to that his wife Alima and children were taken away from him by the Muslim parents. Through the support of members, himself and donors he was able to redeem her back on the 2nd/01/2011. Now they are planning for the wedding and they will live together legally.
2.The second one is, Florence’s husband whom some of you prayed for came to church on the same Sunday 2nd of Jan and thanked the church for the prayers and all the support. His mental problem seems to be getting better. Although he did not confess Jesus as Lord (he is still Muslim) he promised to keep coming to church.
3.On the 15th of the same nonth one of our new church leaders (El-Shaddai pastor) Gorden is going to pay dowry to marry Justine.
4.Martin Muhiyi will introduce [Ed.: similar to an engagement] on the 29th of the same month. Martin is a youth and worship leader in Bethel Church.
5.In January we are going to begin to construct the church building of El-Shaddai, buy land and build Emmanuel church building as well.
6.And in the same month we are going to send 2 of the leaders to Seminary for higher training for pastoral leadership. The 2 are Gorden and Paul.
Prayers:
1.Pray for the rest of the Muslim converts who lost their wives and children due to their conversion to Christianity.
2.Pray that we shall get enough to pay for the needy children’s school fees without fail. The new term is coming soon.
3.Pray that the rest of the marriage bride price arrangements due to take place in this month shall go well, and that we shall have enough to cover everything as far as dowry is concerned/
4.Continue praying for the new ministries: that God will strengthen the leaders.
5.Pray that God will enable us to meet all our objectives in the year 2011. There has to be a new ministry or two during this year.
6.Continue praying for Florence. She is much better than the first time we knew about her, but she still has a journey to make before she can recover fully. She still lives in a very bad house.
7.And pray as the Spirit shall lead you.
Thank you one and thank you all for your commitment to the ministry of Bethel. May God bless you highly.
Your friend, brother and co-worker
Vincent Munyosi.
