Zimbabwe, March 2022
After a number of attempts to get into Zimbabwe were moved or cancelled due to the pandemic, it was a real joy to be back on African soil, following a renewed call from the Lord to minister in the nation of my birth and upbringing.
Over the last 2 years, I have felt a stirring in my spirit about the nation. It was as if God was highlighting the determined and appointed places, as Paul writes in Acts 17:26. There still was a reason I was born in Zimbabwe, and there still was something I could give back of the kingdom of God to that nation. I started to reach out to friends that I knew were still in the country doing ministry, and a wonderful relationship was re-established with an old school friend, Danie Grobler. I taught Danie to play guitar in high school, while he inspired a boldness in my faith by regularly speaking to the college. All these years later, Danie was leading the church founded by his father in Zimbabwe, while I was ministering in the UK. Many points of connection; including a mandate Danie felt for revival in Zimbabwe, made us feel as though God was in this!
Being based at Danie’s church ‘Kabod’ in Marondera, Zimbabwe, I started the trip by meeting with the worship team there. I spent the day training on how to flow with the Holy Spirit and each other, the dynamics of leading worship, song choice and writing... among many other things. It was wonderful to pour into them from the same values and experiences; some things we can take for granted but are reminded how foundational they are when teaching about them again. I also spent some time installing a new sound desk for the building, setting up the mix as well as installing a new camera they bought just for recording the meetings.
The church in Marondera has done an incredible job of creating a space for the community to gather through 'Msasa Village.’ This base houses their coffee shop and also rents spaces out to a butchery, hair dresser, beautician, pharmacy and a gift shop. There is a wonderful pioneer spirit upon the land to make things happen.
Msasa Village also helps raise funds for projects and ministry in a very needy country, and there was much need to witness. Apart from the obvious financial lack, which manifest especially in a shortage of food; there is also a huge need for training and leadership. They were so hungry to hear about the courses and manuals, and how that teaching can help equip leaders in the community.
There is a school in Marondera where Paul, Danie’s dad, with Kabob church have been running a feeding programme. Since the programme began 4 years ago, school attendance improved dramatically and the education pass rate (end-of-year exams) went from 30% to 82%! These children often come to school without having eaten anything, and something as simple as a daily cup of porridge is changing their lives. It was a joy to be a part of the work here and spend time wit the head teacher as well.
We then travelled 4 hours by jeep to the wild and rugged area that borders Mozambique called the Honde Valley. We dropped in on a number of coffee and banana farmers, and had an impromptu meeting in their homestead. The village heard about it, and the room started to full up with children and workers from the fields! We worshipped in Shona and had an electric prayer meeting. I was then asked to ‘bring the word of God’, and preached with the elder of the village taking his time to translate. It is here in the Honde that we sense God is opening gateways into the community for Jesus.
Returning to Marondera, I spoke at the church on Sunday morning. The congregation are hungry for God to move. Unless He does, they have nothing! The meeting continued past lunch as the whole church responded for prayer.
There was an ease and a joy in flowing with God throughout the whole trip. Watch this space for future trips!
Ryan Baker-Barnes
