Preaching under a tree in Africa

It was a moment I will never forget. We asked the pastors and their wives to leave the school hall and go outside so that I could address them. We found a spot under a great old tree. They brought some chairs and sat down, some in the sun and some in the shade. I stood and taught them for about an hour on practical ministry.

No microphone was needed, no band, no great platform with high back seats that look like thrones, no plush carpets, no pomp and circumstance, no flashy backdrops, no electronic devices, no glitter and no showmanship...just simply under a tree...I thought, that's how Jesus did it. It's so simple, it cost so much less, there is no fuss and there can be no pride involved. Yet it is so effective, just a man talking to a group of people.

The Zimbabwian conference was held in a school hall in Mkoba where Apostle Alastar Brown Mpofu and Samu his wife and family live. Pastor Zimbarashe and his wife Porscha pastor one of the 6 assemblies that Apostle Alastar planted in Gweru and rural areas around Gweru. They came from Churungw, Kwe-Kwe, Chibi, and Ascot. People struggled to get to the conference because of transport costs and availability of transport, but they came. It cost $10 to attend. They took up offerings for the food. For breakfast we had a slice of bread and some scrambled eggs and tea. They made pap and meat for lunch and dinner.

‘Moroi, Jesu indije ishe!' is Shona for Morning, Jesus is Lord!

There were wonderful testimonies from the people.

‘I saw God on Sunday!' one of the young ladies testified. She needed money to pay rent and she lost her money when she went to buy some groceries. When she went back to the grocery store she picked up $100 with which she could pay her rent. This was evidence of God in her life.

Another one testified how they had no more food in the house but how she put the pot on the stove in faith. Her husband returned home with joy that day. He had made some money at work and had brought enough for them to buy food, clothes and pay their tithes!

Pastor Simba who trained at Miracle Bible College in Cape Town, explained to the people that the singers and musicians are not there for a show, but they are there to lead the people into worshipping God - just like Nola and Chantal taught him. I noticed that the sound system was not as loud as it normally is in African churches - because we trained him that the sound is there to support the singing of the people and not to blot them out with noise!

Apostle Alastar informed those who did not know me and my family about each of us: ‘Nola begins to prophesy when she sits behind the piano, and Chantal is now doing the same, Aje takes care of the church and the bible school when Andre is not there, Yvette travels with her father and makes films of the trip. Apostle Andre's house is always open - I don't think they have any keys. There are always people coming and going. Samu and I stayed with them in their house by the sea. Andre is a doctor, but not a physical doctor. He is a spiritual doctor. He doctored Simba and you can see the change in him! He went to Cape Town and came back strong!'

They took photos of Nelson Mangwende who was healed of Aids two years ago. They brought him in on a stretcher. They told me they had buried his wife and had already dug his grave when I was about to pray for him. But God healed him and he is strong and fit today!

In February I also prayed for Alastar's son, Omega Mpofu who developed a strange and painful bone disease in his legs. The pain left immediately but the legs are still bent. But he is able to walk to school now. He plays the keyboard in church.

A taxi driver on the way to the airport in Harare told me how he developed his business: he went to buy a car in Mozambique from the Japanese and then another and another until he has 6 cars and a 4X4 that he rents out. It is hard work and one needs to be disciplined to make it.  Too many taxi drivers are lazy and have no personal discipline, he said. Then he gave me his card and asked me to contact him before I come to Zim again so that he can wait for me at the airport. A good example of entrepreneurship, I thought.

Heart of Darkness

July 2010

E. M. Foster’s novel about a pioneer’s venture into the Congo revealed a whole new dimension to travelogues: the real darkness was in his own heart, not in the jungle. As a young student at the University of Cape Town, I read that book and wondered when I would ever go to the Congo.

And now I’ve come and gone – and it was not what I had expected at all.

Perhaps Lumbumbashi, in the cold, high south, is not typically Congo at all. Perhaps I need to visit Kinshasa and Brazzaville before I express my opinion, but at least I can say that I ministered to some people in the Congo.

How it came about was not the way anyone could ever have planned it. Pastor Joseph Okeleke from Nigeria asked me if I would go and speak at a conference in the Congo. I agreed and the pastor Timothee invited me. Because French is the lingo, we must have had some miscommunication on two occasions because after I booked my flights and got my visa he emailed that I was only supposed to come at the end of July, not the beginning!

So there I was, high and dry, suitcase in hand and nowhere to go, when Hentie, one of our ‘Band of Brothers’ in Harvester brought pastor Jean-Pierre from the Congo to see me. He immediately phoned his pastor Laurent in Lumbumbashi who invited me to come that weekend. So off I went.

From the air there are very few tarred roads in Lumbumbashi. There are mostly dirt roads. There is a new housing development close to the airport.

They call ‘pap’ bukhari or ‘chemise’. Here are another few delicacies; Shikwange – made from bananas; Farin de Maise – maise pate; Thompson is a kind of fish that you can either have cooked, smoked or grilled; Boulettes – are mince meat balls; Tangawizi is a traditional ‘boisson de revitalizante’.

Leaving the Congo is almost more difficult than arriving! You have to be at the small airport at 9 am (which no one ever tells you) in order to get your ticket print out. Then you have to get into another queue to pay your airport tax ($50). By the time I had undergone the whole treatment they were closing the plane door and taking away the steps! I had to run and get the air hostess to wait another minute for me. I just made it before the plane took off.

When I arrived in Lumbumbashi there were several ‘elders’ to help me: each one grabbed a bag. I had a little bag with a surprise for Nola in my hand. They even took that away from me. We boarded two vehicles and after two days I realised my little package was still missing. I had placed the money that I exchanged into Congolese francs into that packet as well. The vehicle was loaned to people for a wedding and the packet was gone. The cash was missing but they at least took the little present I bought for Nola out of the packet.

It was much colder in the Congo than I thought. I got a cold because I didn’t have warm clothing or a hat with me. I spent most of my days in bed; only when it was time to preach did I get up and go out.

The first message I brought was about the veil. By throwing a shawl over my interpreters head I demonstrated how people serve God: with a veil of ignorance and a veil of the Old Covenant still over their understanding. As I explained the reality of righteousness by faith, young people were silently weeping.

The Pastor’s wife confirmed that my message was prophetic because they had been discussing the veil over the Congolese Christians who had no desire to serve God any more.

Through prophetic acting I illustrated my sermons so that people could clearly understand what I was trying to convey. ‘Thank you for the powerful messages you brought to us. You etch your message onto our hearts through your acting!’ They explained.

From the first meeting I asked them to turn the sound system down. It was ear-piercingly loud! But the next meeting it would be as loud as before. So I would demand to have it softer.

‘You don’t like the way Africans worship?’ they asked.

‘On the contrary,’ I replied, ‘I love the way they worship without sound systems! God gave Africans beautiful loud voices to sing and preach. They do not need sound systems to amplify their voices. I think they have become addicted to noise and they have equated volume with anointing! It’s an adrenaline rush they are after!’ I said.

But the sound in one meeting was louder than the previous one. I kept on arguing with them and trying to explain how bad it was for their hearing.

‘Half of you are probably deaf by now! You are harming your ear drums!’

On the final night, as I finished preaching, the wires of the sound system caught fire and the flames ran up the wall. The people fled out of the building. We had to finish the meeting in the dark with candles…in the heart of darkness, I thought!

‘This is a sign! God is confirming what I have been trying to tell you: the sound is too loud. But because you didn’t want to listen to me, the Lord allowed the wires to catch fire and burn out!’ They looked at me as if I took away their lollipop!

Pastor Laurent had to start all over again several times with the church. Due to the war and the atrocities of war people fled to other countries. He had a lot of soldiers in his church but when they moved HQ he lost all those soldiers. They had to find a new venue every time. Now they have started building a church but it is far from finished. The beam right above the pulpit had an enormous crack in it and I refused to stand there and preach. I moved away and went to preach closer to the people!

I prophesied to the church: ‘God has prepared a feast of choice things for you. He will take away the veil that is over the Congolese people that prevents them from seeing what God has prepared for them. He will wipe away every tear from all faces. He will establish peace in the Congo. The nation will increase and god will be glorified. God is calling believers into their secret chambers of prayer for a while to take hold of God’s strength.

The new move of God’s spirit will take root in the old move but the old move will no longer bear fruit. The new move shall blossom and bud and fill the face of the world with fruit.

The Lord will keep you like a vineyard of red wine. He will keep it and water it every moment so that no one can hurt it. He will keep it might and day.

They shall worship the Lord in spirit and truth from now on’.

‘Today you took away the veil from the people’s eyes and showed them how they can serve God and how they can work in the church. God sent you to unveil the Congolese,’ they said.

I asked believers to testify to how God has used them for divine healing. Several members had seen the dead raised, the cripples walk, the blind see and the incurables cured! It was a revelation to them. They did not know that about each other.

Sunday lunch included Bukhari and Chenille (caterpillars or Mopani worms) and egg plants.

‘The next time you come we will arrange a giant open air meeting and a pastor’s seminar with hundreds of pastors attending,’ pastor Laurent promised.

Prophet David prophesied to me: ‘Your coming created a storm in the heavenlies and high levels of demons were released to try to stop you from coming to the Congo. But God says I will be with you in the work that you are doing. Ministries will come over to you to help you do this great work. You have the ability to plant many churches all over the world. Why do you hesitate?

‘You came to wake people up and to support and build believers. I see pastor Laurent will be with you one day in your home and you and your wife and he will pray together. The devils attacked your wife with sickness but the sickness is broken. Sickness will not get into your house.

‘Because of the important work you are doing and because of what you represent before God, you will die after 100 years old. You will still keep the fear of God and God will give you everything you need for your life and for your work.’

There was a movie many years ago about brave soldiers who flew in to rescue hostages from Entebbe Airport in Uganda. They came in under the radar screen and left before anyone knew what had happened. It was called, ‘Raid on Entebbe.’

It felt something like that to me going in and out of Entebbe within three days! By the grace of God I was able to arrange a conference for more than a hundred pastors and their congregations within three days with people I have never met before! I must have come in under the devil’s radar screen and accomplished the mission before the enemy knew what happened! The pastor’s hearts turned towards me as a sent one. After many hours of discussion and fellowship they were convinced that I had a timely word for the nation:

”Your message is what Uganda needs right now. There is no one preaching what you are preaching. The people, and especially the pastors, need to hear what you are saying. They are all just building their own kingdoms and there is no one to father us,” said pastor John Boaz.

Our Contact in Uganda

Richard Ssendi visited our church a few years ago when I was not there.

“The people at Harvester received me so well, they treated me so well, your son took me for lunch and prophesied that his dad would one day come to Uganda. People asked me what I needed and someone gave me a lift back to the place I was staying. The worship and the preaching was something quite different of what I have ever seen before. The children dancing and worshipping spoke to me. What impressed me was that you were not even there. You must have taught the people well. I decided then to relate to Harvester Reformational Church,” Richard explained.

He wants to start the first satellite bible school for Miracle Bible College.

According to my source there are about 30 million people in Uganda and 60% are young people! The rest died in all the wars and fighting that plagued that country for so long under the cruel dictatorship of Idi Amin as well as during the Rwanda genocide between the Tutsis and Hutus. Idi Amin’s reign of terror destroyed the nation’s confidence in any form of leadership promising change.

The Need in Uganda

There is a great need for Christian Schools and Bible Colleges in Uganda to lay a Christian foundation in the lives of the new generation. Most pastors have to run schools for extra income because of the poverty of the church members that cannot contribute to his needs.

“Olyotja” is hello how are you and “Debulunge” is I am fine. “ Mokama Yebazibwe” is praise the Lord.

The aids epidemic and tribal wars have left millions of orphans. As a result of the wars the present adults have no education. Most of them had to hide for years in the forests to escape death. They had to fetch water every day to survive. Because they are uneducated they cannot find any employment.

That explains why the majority of Ugandans are extremely poor.

The African culture of polygamy is still evident in the church. Adultery is a reall problem and broken marriages abound. It is not a good witness to the unsaved. Then there is the new challenge of homosexual pastors who are being sponsored in American dollars to plant churches that allow homosexuality in the church. They are successful because of the financial support.

The devastation of war

During the wars and genocide many women have been raped by soldiers and militants and many were killed. The atrocities in Rwanda left a permanent scar on the nation. The main area of war was Nakasene.

President Museveni successfully overthrew the government of president Obote on 25th January 1986.

In 2003 the Tutsi’s endeavoured to eradicate the Hutu’s. The tribal hatred is still prevalent today.

Summary of Richard’s Ministry

Pastor Richard Ssendi. He as appointed pastor in Nakaseke in the Redeemed Church but in 2002 he moved to Kabowa to preach the Gospel of reconciliation in Christ the Lord Church. In 2007 he left the church because the pastor allowed adultery.

In 2007 he started Faith Christian Church resorting under the born Again Christian Churches. The Government of Uganda forced all the independent church to form one umbrella denomination to give them a voice in the country. At the present moment there are about 70 adults and 350 children in the church.

Richard is actually an apostle. But they have no accurate knowledge concerning apostolic ministry, so everyone still goes by the function of pastor. He took a loan from the bank to buy land and build a school. He is paying it off at the moment, bit by bit. The church is in Wobulenz about 30 Km from Kampala where I met him. He also started a church in Rwanda and appointed a pastor to oversee the work. Richard lives in his own rented house with his wife Christina and 8 children. Christina was one of those who had to grow up in forests without any education.

Conference in Uganda

There is a pastor’s fellowship in Wobulenz with 36 churches. They meet together and pray and also act as a disciplinary board for pastors who step out of line. They want me to come and hold a conference in September to teach them on apostolic reformation and principles for prophecy.

They expect about 160 pastors to attend at the conference during the day time seminars and several hundred people meeting at night. We will have to raise funds to pay for the conference, the rent of the hall, the food for the participants as well their accommodation. They will pay for their own transport.

”Your message is what Uganda needs right now. There is no one preaching what you are preaching. The people, and especially the pastors, need to hear what you are saying. They are all just building their own kingdoms and there is no one to father us.”

There’s the challenge lying before us. Who will go with me? Who will stand with me? Who will say, like Isaiah, ‘Here I am Lord, send me!’

I would like a team with me to Zimbabwe 6-9 August 2010 and to Uganda in September 2010 (dates are still to be set). If you feel a drawing in your heart and you are willing to pay the price to go, you can contact our office at office [at] harvesterchurch.org.za or email me pelser [at] harvesterchurch.org.za or write to P O Box 276, Milnerton 7435, South Africa.

You could also have a share in the apostolic mission by sponsoring the event partially or contributing to the costs. We also need all the prayer cover we can get to accomplish this great task for the Lord.

Andre Pelser

March 2010

Dearly beloved,

I greet you in the precious name of our Lord and King, Yeshua.

I have not written for ages and I am sure am nearly forgotten, correspondence is difficult to maintain in the pressure cooker, the refining fires and the anvil of His love. Yet He is always good, I must decrease that He may increase. We were planning many things; wanting to go to Uganda, move on with Anitani and yet we were falling more and more into debt and kept expecting some kind of rescue. Sometimes we are looking to the ends of the earth when the answer is close at hand. So lately I decided to 'go fishing' (John 21:3 ) I accepted that I need to work and that Art is the area in which I am gifted.

I soon was offered a commision to do a large work in mosaic for Hotel Gilgal in Tel Aviv. The area is about 6 metres x 2 .5 made up of a large curved wall with a door slap bang in the middle. The Lord quickened me while Yacov, the brother who owns the Hotel, and I where speaking. The subject is Elisha and Elijah - the moment that they are separated by a whirlwind and Elijah is taken up into heaven in the whirlwind and a chariot of fire with horses of fire. The whole story is in 2 Kings 2 the mural is verse 11. 'Then it happened, as they continued on and talked, that suddenly a chariot of fire appeared with horses of fire, and separated the two of them; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.'

The sun is setting behind Elisha, who stands overwhelmed as Elijah is taken up toward another heavenly light source, Elijah gazes heavenward while his mantle joins the one cameo image to the other with Elisha. The mantle hangs like a 'chuppah' over the door. Elisha is receiving the mantle and anointing of Elijah as he is left on earth to face the dark night to come while Elijah is drawn heavenward.

This is a type, a shadow, a picture of the body of messiah, the called-out ones that follow Him wherever He goes to whom He says: "Blessed are they who do not see and yet believe." To these is given a mantle of power and an anointing ' double potion' to face the dark night here on earth until He returns.

Elisha is full of energy, hyper in expectation, zeal and nervous agitation in a background that is very peaceful almost pastoral, the air hardly moving, no other action except the gently flowing Jordan river, distant Jericho and the setting sun. Elijah on the other hand is at perfect peace gazing upward, arms raised in a background that is turbulent whirl wind, billowing clouds firey horses and chariotwhirling towards a still point in the left hand corner of the picture.

I am loving it and learning so much, I know the Lord is with me, this must be 'the other side of the boat' (John 21:6)

This is the wall with the cartoon drawn on it

I started with the clothing of Elisha

And then Elisha's face

Slow progress still working on Elisha

A blue robe for Elijah

And a new turban on his head

Glory!!!!!!

Back to Elisha

And this is how far we are.....

The process is very slow, but so satisfying, I love it! All honour praise and glory be to God!

It has been school holidays and the children, that is our older ones and Yaron and Kelly 's eldest Kai as well as Mike and Mary's Mikki have been going to camp with other believing children, they absolutely loved it! It is so good for them to meet other kids who have believing parents and who serve the Lord. This time Tali joined the older three who have been going for a few years now every holiday. Shoshanna and Kai were counsellors for a younger group and then went later to a camp for their age group. They all returned obviously strengthened in the Lord, we rejoice and are so thankful for these camps.

I have been spending my weeks from Sunday to Thursday night/or Friday in Tel Aviv and only coming home on the weekend for Shabbat and a bit of fellowship with the body of believers here and TLC with home cooking etc. Karen joined me for two nights a few weeks ago, what a blessing! A sister from our old congregation in Tel Aviv offered the whole family a week in a plush, modern penthouse apartment off Rothschild street in Tel Aviv. So I slept there and went to work; we met on the beach in the late afternoon and had fun. We were all blessed like King's Kids, the Lord does these things for us sometimes, I am so grateful, Thank you Father.

Lately while we all were in Tel Aviv, Kelly gave birth to a beautiful baby girl who was miraclously delivered, caught and received by Yaron and Sally, Kelly's mum at home..... what a joy. We are all looking forward to the Wedding of Adam and Sari, God is so good.

After 2 months of summer holiday, the kids start school again on September the 1st. Karen will continue home schooling Asher (10 turning 11) and Johnathan (12 turning 13), and they will be joined by Shoshanna who is going into grade 9. Together with Shoshanna we have sought the Lord. She has done really well at school both academically and socially but with awe and trembling we are entering into this new season believing this is the way He is showing for our family. We have been blessed to see the results and fruit with the boys. High school level may seem a little daunting but the currriculum we have is fantatastic and Karen receieved the following scripture from Romans 12:2 "Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is- his good, pleasing and perfect will."

And this we will do God willing.

Liove and blessing in the King and Messiah of Israel and Lord of Lords.

Baruch

Hi Aje, Chantal, Leigh, Lynette and team

First of all, what a blessing!!! I so enjoyed you guys and I appreciate so much what you came to teach us. There was such an amazing freedom that was just evident in everyone during the dance workshop. There is such a wonderful, tangible unity between you guys but it is not exclusive at all and the Friday night as Leigh led during worship and I joined in, I immediately felt part of the group. You were accessible and REAL. Thanks.

Thanks for the impartation, I believe by you guys being here at LW, something significant shifted in the spirit concerning the dance. I am truly excited for what the Lord is going to do concerning the arts here at LW. You have opened our eyes and also gave us some fresh ideas concerning the dance and getting everyone involved.

My friend Belinda was so moved after the dance workshop. She had never before danced before the Lord, and experienced such a release. She told me the other day that she now really moves while worshiping the Lord at home.