By DAMSON SAMSON, Africa coordinator
Sunday, May 31
The closing prayer on Saturday. Giving thanks for all HE has done!
The past week was the week of meeting God at a higher level. From fasting and praying on Monday to the orientation on Tuesday and the DMD training on Wednesday to the trekking Thursday to Saturday. These were moments of coming to His mountain to meet Him.
I have never seen the moment of this kind; it was like we were covered by His glory at all times. As Moses went up to pray and in the same way Jesus always went to that level to speak to God, we have witnessed it and testified to it. Moses meeting God at the mountain. Take off your sandals. We were on the other way at the mountain of fire where the one to be sent discovered he is a sinner. By His grace we received favor that people were able to give us a space to share the Word with them and hundreds have come to the Lord.
In three days of outreach, 166 people heard the Gospel and 94 accepted Jesus as their Savior and Lord!
Saturday, May 30
Team before descent.
This was another great day as the previous two on the mountain had been. Praise the Lord!
We agreed to start devotion around 4 a.m., which was followed with more prayers and testimonies from the team members thanking Climbing For Christ for what has been done in their lives.
Rodney Kambalame thanked Climbing For Christ for the development of outreach on the mountain. “I have seen God at work in this trip. As I started at the gate I was able to share the Word with my friend who always works with a bad attitude,” he said. “I was not expecting them to welcome and listen to me as they did.”
Many witnessed the transformation through Climbing For Christ and they said this trip was not only for us to share the Word, but it has transformed us and put us on another level. We are no longer the same. They appreciated it very much and they asked for more trips to come.
I prayed one by one for the Lord to remember them for the good work they have done wholeheartedly without compromise. I continued praying for the survival of their families during this time that they have been up there on the mountain. The room was so thick that they prayed with the spirit of God until 7 a.m.
Sharing with children on the trail, above, and clients, below.
Starting this morning, Samson’s group was able to reach five children and all accepted Jesus to be their Lord. I also preached to seven people; they accepted Jesus and are able to be connected to the Likhubula small groups.
Today we were also blessed to share the Word of God with five clients. None of them received Jesus as they were in a hurry going up the mountain.
We reached 45 people with the Gospel and 32 accepted Jesus Christ.
Friday, May 29
Team prepared to go out on Mulanje Massif with God’s Word.
The second day started with the morning devotion around 5 a.m. and we thanked God for the work done and prayed for the day’s work ahead. We also prayed for Climbing For Christ leadership and groups established in the villages and every planning ahead for the year.
After the devotion every team member was ready for the sharing of the Gospel.
One group stayed with Samson and me to make sure we reached those coming to work right here at the camp. This group managed to reach 17 people and six accepted Jesus.
Another team went up to the junction of the trails to Luchenya, Chambe, and Chisepo huts. These brothers waited to see if the Lord had prospered their way and within the hours of waiting the Lord provided five clients. Four refused to welcome the Word but one of them named John accepted Jesus and was happy for the appointment. He said to them he was not expecting hear the Word on the mountain.
Mulanje chapter members with two of the clients reached with God’s Word on the mountain.
The next team, which went to Chisepo Hut was able to share the word to one client who accepted Jesus Christ and asked to have four more brochures, which he shared with the team. There were four ladies and they were also excited to hear the Good News.
The other team members were able to reach more porters.
We thank God that as they came back at the end of the second day of three on the mountain they were reported reaching 41 people and 20 accepted Jesus Christ. Among them, 11 clients were reached with the Word and two of them accepted Jesus Christ. The first client was John from Germany and the second was Dorren from Australia.
Thursday, May 28
Damson with a hitchhiker who exchanged his beer for Jesus.
As I started from home I had the grace to share the Word with another person whom I just picked up on the road. He was going to work and he had a bottle of beer. Asking him why, he told me he has been drinking for so long. I shared with him about the hope we have in Christ Jesus. He was really touched because what I was explaining to him was exactly what he was going through. I asked him to pray and I led him in a confession prayer.
The team prays before starting a fruitful climb.
Coming to the lodge the team was ready and we divided into groups of two people on each group. The team worked hard after we had started from down the mountain, climbing from Likhubula to Chambe Hut on the first of three days of outreach on Mulanje Massif.
They came to report in the evening and it was amazing to see how they have worked: 80 people reached with the Gospel and 42 accepted Jesus Christ!
They shared with me how they saw God working on their behalf. One group reported that they were sharing with a woman at her home and she accepted Jesus. After a few minutes a customer came asking for beer and she refused him saying, “We are here talking about Jesus. It is not time for the beer.” And the customer went away.
Another team reached a lady with mental health issues. She confessed Jesus and this brought her joy, and after that she was completely feeling better and answering things well.
On the way up our groups with David Chithyoka (one of our chapter leaders) come across eight people. Chithyoka started sharing with them and they all accepted Jesus. He said the most amazing thing which had happened was that as he was speaking to them they confessed that whatever he was talking about was exactly what they were going through and they needed to be delivered. He prayed for them with tears and crying and they were filled with the Holy Spirit and one of them started speaking in tongues.
Another lady he prayed for was completely healed from her arm problems and she confessed right away that she believes in Jesus.
A woman, above, raises her healed arm to thank God. Below, team members share the truth about Jesus.
It was another gracious time; some came asking for prayers for their sick so heaven can touch them. What I love about this team is whatever we preached the people hearing were willing to change.
Wednesday, May 27
“Communicating the Bible” class.
As we had planned, we had the training with the second class of Mulanje Massif Chapter members, which they come in their big number. We started the day late due to transportation problems, but we thank God to have it all done to His glory.
Despite a late start, we managed to cover encouragement on the duty we are bound to: to share Christ Jesus with the nations and every creation. From there we worshiped God together and started chapter two of the “Communicating the Bible” text, which was all about the basic question of communicating God’s Word.
We asked, “Why do we have to communicate the Bible?” This went along with the message Climbing For Christ president Gary Fallesen sent to us on proclaiming the kingdom. We asked, how and when should we communicate, and where should we communicate the Word of God? We continued with the role of the Holy Spirit.
For a short period, we heard from those who went on the outreach the day before. They really appreciated what God has done, touching the community and lives in it. Those who despised the very beginning of these groups, now they are joining in to proclaim the kingdom together.
Hands up for those going to the mountain for outreach training.
We closed the day with chapter coordinator and head guide Samson Khalani preparing the team so they can be set for the mountain tomorrow.
Tuesday, May 26
Rescue Chapola, one of our original chapter members and a porter-turned-pastor, teaching evangelism at the Fort Lister center.
Mulanje Massif Chapter members met in all four centers – Fort Lister, Thuchila, Likhubula, and Mnesa – for training in evangelism. At Fort Lister, in the morning, they shared the Word and worshiped God together. Then they started training, which is part of our orientation for those who will climb with us on Thursday.
They were able to understand the brochures used during outreach about the Romans Road to salvation. Then they were divided into seven groups and sent into the field to visit homes. They managed to reach 60 people and 30 surrendered their lives to Jesus.
A house visit.
By His grace, some Muslims have been reached with the Word, and they were able to appreciate the time during which the Truth was shared.
Some reported opportunities to pray for the sick in the villages.
They came back with joy, and many are restored to join their small groups. They have asked about visits of this kind as it gives them hope.
Porter-turned-pastor David Chithyoka teaching in Likhubula.
In Likhubula, they shared Matthew 25:1-13 (The Parable of the Ten Bridesmaids) and emphasized readiness as the Lord will come unexpectedly. Then they worshiped and after training they were sent out with the Good News. Out of 50 reached, 44 gave their lives to Jesus Christ.
Outreach in Likhubula.
In Mnesa, chapter leaders John Mollen and Paul Mpaha worked hard only to have the motorbike they were using for transportation break down. I advised them to leave it and use public transportation. By His grace, they made it home at 9 tonight.
There were 40 members at the Mnesa training. They prayed and worshiped and then did our study on evangelism using the brochures. They were sent out two by two, but because the group was so big some went out in groups of five or six. They came home with joy as the Lord honored Himself through their work on the ground. People were reached and many accepted Jesus.
Members at the Mnesa Center after returning from outreach.
Fany Simon’s group reached 31 people, and seven of the 31 accepted Jesus to be their Lord and Savior. Vincente Weston’s group reached 58 people in 15 homes and 10 people accepted Jesus. Picknosi Namalindi’s group visited seven homes in another village, reaching 27 people, and eight of them accepted Jesus. Gift Mtaja’s group reach 20 people in different places, some in their homes and some on the road. It was a great time despite none of the 20 accepting Jesus. One other group also reached 20 people with five accepting Jesus as the other 15 were already brothers in Christ.
In Thuchila, 40 members also met with Mulanje chapter coordinator Samson Khalani. That means 160 total were in class and went out. That’s why I was projecting a great harvest.
Monday, May 25
Today as planned we had time for fasting at Thuchila. After opening with a word of prayer we took time to pray for the following:
- Good health and heavenly cover for our ministry president and the founder’s family.
- Climbing For Christ workers around the globe as well as all members of C4C.
- The orientation meetings on evangelism tomorrow at the chapter’s four centers: Fort Lister, Thuchila, Likhubula, and Mnesa.
- “Communicating the Bible” training on Wednesday. May the Lord give us a good and successful time.
We also prayed for the fruitfulness of our trekking time later in the week. The Lord should grant us the grace to bring more to Him.
Lino Aron sharing from God’s Word.
After this, we worshiped together. Then Lino Aron from Mnesa shared from 2 Kings 1:1-17 about King Ahaziah and the prophet Elijah. The reason for this chapter was we need to be God-fearing people. We need to be humble before Him.
Following this, David Chithyoka helped share about the brochures and how we can use the brochures to evangelize. It was so welcoming learning that the team was responding with more expectation about outreach Thursday-Saturday.
Then I came with encouragement to have this fasting time be productive. I told them we have been trusted to carry out the good work, and we are only doing it for Him and nobody else. We need to perfect our minds and prepare ourselves to do as unto the Lord not man .
Samson Khalani then discussed more about the mountain and how we are going to prepare ourselves before we GO.
I closed with a word of prayer. 