More Missionary Insights
By Michelle Connor
In August
2007, I, along with a team of 15 people from all over the United States, flew to Durban,
South Africa for 10 days to
help build homes for children who have been orphaned in the village of Ntshongweni.
This heart-filled ministry is through several partnership organizations, such
as Habitat for Humanity®, Christ Church Lutheran in Phoenix,
and Shongweni Lutheran
Church in South Africa, whom are committed to
giving relief to children devastated by both parents who have died from the
HIV/AIDS pandemic. During my short trip to South Africa, I experienced God
working through a particular servant named Pastor Senzo Majola.
Senzo
Majola is the pastor of the Shongweni
Lutheran Church
in Ntshongweni. I met Pastor Majola last summer when he attended our Basic
Mission Planter Training (BMPT) in Irvine.
I have one vivid memory of Pastor Majola at BMPT sharing a song with the group
called "Thank You Jesus", which he sang in both English and in Zulu. I remember
this because he had such a powerful and beautiful voice. I could feel that he truly
believed the words he sang and there was a rich meaning to him. Now having the
opportunity to see him in the trenches of the mission field, I can see how God
has used this servant. The insights I gained were not so much revolutionary to
me, but more of a reminder of what Christ has called us all to do as His
followers.
Go and Multiply
"Therefore go
and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them inthe name of the
Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey
everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very
end of the age." (Matthew28:19-20)
I
discovered from conversations with Pastor Majola that not only did he find BMPT
to be helpful to mission work in South Africa, but also he has
applied a lot of it to his ministry and trained other pastors that have not
been able to receive our training. This is exactly what God calls us to do. Go
and make disciples, including mission planters! Well, maybe He did not say it
like that exactly, but the words Jesus spoke in the Great Commission still apply
here. As missional church workers, called by God, we are called to share our knowledge,
to build up leaders, and equip them with the tools necessary to go out into the
mission field.
The Forgotten
"Speak up for those who cannot speak for
themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly;
defend the rights of the poor and needy." (Proverbs31:8-9)
There are
so many orphans in South
Africa, mainly due to the AIDS pandemic, that
they often are overlooked or forgotten in their communities, but people like
Pastor Majola have not forgotten them. He has been the voice for the orphans in
his community. Pastor Majola, an orphan himself, has made it a priority in his
ministry to help these orphans see that they are not forgotten and are precious
children of God. Who are the forgotten or overlooked in your community? How
might God be calling you to reach them?
Basic needs
"If
there is a poor man among your brothers in any of the towns of the land that
the LORD your God is giving you, do not be hardhearted or tightfisted toward
your poor brother. There will always be poor people in the land. Therefore I
command you to be openhanded toward your brothers and toward the poor and needy
in your land." (Deuteronomy 15:7, 11)
Pastor
Majola has been active in the process of recommending the families to receive
the Habitat homes. He saw that these families' basic need of adequate housing
was not being met and did something about it. We too are called to help those
in need, with even their most basic needs of food, shelter, and clothing. Through this
love in action, that is where people see Jesus in us, through us. Jesus, our
perfect example did this often (all the time) during his earthly ministry.
Beyond church members
"Dear children, let us not love with
words or tongue but with actions and in truth." (1 John 3:18)
It is
evident that Pastor Majola has a heart for all the people in his community, not
just those who attend his church or are Christian believers, but everyone. This
is his outreach, his way of opening the doors to share Jesus with the people
that are hurting the most. In my opinion it is every bit as important to extend
help in Jesus' name to those
outside of the church than exclusively to those inside the church.
Those who do not know the Lord need our witness and good works, not so we can
earn "brownie points" with God or them, but so this may point them to Jesus,
the author of our faith and the reason we feel compelled to show love in
action.
Whether
these insights were a reminder or affirmation of the work you are already
doing, I pray that you continue to be open and willing to be used by God in new
ways that will draw more people into a relationship with our loving and
compassionate Savior.
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