DNa Equip

I would be so grateful for your prayer for our DNa Leaders gathering coming up on Fri 26th – Sun 28th Nov. We are gathering as 50 leaders from Zimbabwe, Zambia and Mozambique for 48 hrs at Lasting Impressions Retreat Centre in Kadoma.

We are hoping for great times of worship, prayer and prophecy. And also some great times of input, strategy and forward planning for 2022 and beyond.

We will be especially considering how we can most strongly advance in planting and strengthening churches that are:

• Full of the Word & Spirit
• Fruitfully productive & generous
• Raising & releasing the next generation

We expect that this will involve dynamic influence and initiatives in area such as:

• Church-planting
• Agriculture
• Education
• Family
• Leadership

And in all these areas, the prominence of YOUTH and NEXT GENERATION leaders in the mix and on the frontlines.

Please do pray for these three things and anything else you wish to:

• Love and Joy in The Lord. That we would know God’s love for us and for each other in fresh and invigorating ways. That the world would know we are His disciples by the love we have for one another.
• Courage in The Lord. That we would be able to consider the immensity of the challenges we face today and the far greater immensity of Christ’s glory, authority, power and kingdom. In light of this, to know His leading into areas of influence for the building of His Church and advance of His Kingdom.
• Vision & Strategy in The Lord. That we would have wisdom on how to mobilise across the breath of our DNA churches and further, to rally the church to action of eternal impact in these days. Perhaps with a view to exploring ideas for MegaVision 2022 etc.

Thank-you for your partnership in the gospel through your prayer, generosity in giving and in encouragement.

Much love and thanks,

Scott

Bible Journey

Bible Journey puts tools in your hands that you can use throughout your life-long study of Scripture.

When you read the Bible you may feel a little unfamiliar with the names and places mentioned. With regards to the Old Testament you may be uncertain about the behavior of God’s people, or unsure of how to make sense of who God is in the text. Is He really same God of the New Testament?

Similarly for the New Testament, Bible Journey takes you literally into Lazurus’ tomb as Dr Tim Laniak speaks from the steps of the sepulcher where Jesus raised him from the dead.

This certificate course is a great framework for exploring the Bible’s geographical, historical, cultural and religious context.

You will watch your own confidence and competence grow when this foundation is laid.

Action Plan for next phase :

1). Last call for anyone else wanting to sign-up.

2). Scott to confirm with all delegates, via whatsapp group, of their commitment to complete the course. The course is normally usd 150.00, but offered to us free of charge upon commitment to complete. (Monitored electronically by online progress). It requires a good internet connection and at least 2.5 to 3.5 hrs of study per week.

3). Nov 10th – all names & email addresses to Gorden-Conwell Seminary for Bible Journey access.

4). Links to be circulated to all participants by mid December for start on 1st January 2022.

5). Dr Tim Laniak and Dr Nicole Martin to join River of Life Zoom call on Monday 31st Jan for a 1st month progress check-in, to celebrate, share and pray.

There are a number of exciting options that may develop out of this and I hope that as a many as possible can be part of this journey in 2022.

The Nurture Project

Children often experience situations in which they are left without the understanding or the vocabulary to explain what they’ve experienced or how they are feeling about it.

The language of PLAY is actually a natural medium of self-expression for children and is essential for development.

The activity of play, in a safe environment, offers them a way to express themselves, understand their feelings and process their experiences in a way that makes sense to them.

Play Therapy uses this language as a tool to give children the opportunity to ‘play out’ their feelings and problems. This is especially helpful to children with social, emotional and behavioural problems as it equips them with regulating methods and techniques.

Coralie Hundermark has recently established The Nurture Project as part of River of Life Church, in close association with Helen Hobbs, the Children’s Pastor.

Spaces are limited and the cost is free at this stage. I believe this would beneficial for all ROL parents, especially with children under 12 years old. It helps the children and it helps the parents to be more in touch and connected with their kids. I would list the top 3 benefits as follows :

-Helps deal with the inevitable and varied stress of the pandemic

-Amazing outreach opportunity for the church to offer the wider community. Feel free to share with your friends beyond River of Life.

-So good for all children, and especially helpful in situations of ADHD, Anger, Attachment Issues, Behaviour Problems, Bereavement/Loss, Bullied/Bullies, Delayed Development, Family Relationship Problems, Lack of Confidence, Nightmares, Physical Disabilities, Separated/Divorced Parents, Social Exclusion, Withdrawn Personality.

For more information, please contact Coralie on the direct and confidential number : +263 785 684344

Family Vision Sunday

Please don’t miss this Sunday’s message. It will be accessible on Saturday evening and Sunday morning on all our platforms.

Half way into our Leaders On The Frontlines series and as we approach the end of the year with covid changes unfolding, we thought it would be good to preach a clear vision message to help keep us all on track with where we sense The Lord leading us.

Some very exciting developments and I am hoping that you will feel more engaged in God’s eternal purposes than ever before.

Access the message via ROL Whatsapp Groups, Telegram, Facebook or Instagram from Saturday evening.

See you there!

Much love

Scott

Bible Journey

Starting in January 2022, River of Life is able to offer the certificated Bible Survey Course from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary – free of charge.  

GCTS is a well renowned Bible School, with Billy Graham as one of its founding influencers.  It has four residential campuses in the US (Boston, Hamilton, Charlotte & Jacksonville) and teaches in five languages with a growing online presence.  

The Seminary offers its Old Testament and New Testament Survey course ONLINE in a full multimedia portal called BIBLE JOURNEY.

This broad-sweeping course takes a thorough look at the text and the context of Scripture from Genesis to Revelation over a 1 year period with an estimated study time of 2.5 hrs per week (30 mins per work day).   The use of video and travel has been strongly incorporated to enrich the learning experience. 

The course is offered in 6 modules with 7 to 8 studies each, totalling 45 weeks of study in the year:

Pentateuch – 8 weeks

          Jan – Feb 

History & Poetry – 7 weeks

           Mar – Apr

Prophecy & Restoration – 7 weeks

           May – June 

The Gospels – 8 weeks

          July – Aug

Acts & Paul’s letters – 8 weeks

           Sept – Oct

Epistles & Revelation – 7 weeks

            Nov – Dec

If you have a desire to engage with scripture more deeply and have good internet connectivity this course is highly recommended for you.  

The course has been made possible to us free of charge by special friend called Gary McDowell.  Gary is one of the Board members of Gordon-Conwell and has a keen interest in developing church leaders in Southern Africa and has offered us 150 places fully sponsored.   The only requirement from us would be full commitment to complete the course which has a tracking system online as you complete modules.  

If you are interested in signing up for this course, your next steps are as follows:

OCTOBER

1) Send your name and email address to Tendai on the church number: 0783 910 799

2) Make sure you can commit to completing all the sessions by checking out the website and seeing the overview of the course.  I would encourage you try out the free trial by filling out the form available on this link here.

NOVEMBER

1) During the 1st week of November, the ROL office will contact each person asking them to confirm if they will be able to do the full course starting on Jan 1st, 2022.

2) All confirmed names will be sent to Bible Journey by 10th November. 

3) All Free Year Passes to be issued out before end of November. 

DECEMBER

1) Final individual preparations to start the course on Jan 1st, 2022.  

I hope this gives you a good overview of the opportunity and I really look forward to doing this journey with as many people as possible next year.

Many blessings,

Scott

Trinitarian Worship

‘…baptising them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit…’ Matt 28:20

At the heart of the Christian faith lies the concept of the Trinity – that God is One – Father, Son and Holy Spirit. 

It is this truth that makes Christianity unique among the religions of the world and distinguishes it from sects such as Jehovah’s Witnesses and Mormons.  

Our salvation is a trinitarian experience made possible by the Father’s sending, the Son’s obedience, and the Holy Spirit’s enabling power.  One God victoriously at work in three persons.  Hence our baptism is one immersion in the name of three persons.  

Dr Martyn Lloyd Jones says, ‘The praise, worship and adoration, indeed all worship, must be offered and ascribed to the blessed three persons…Christian worship must be trinitarian if it is true worship.’

A truly satisfying worship time should reflect on who the Father is – for example His sovereignty, love, grace and mercy.  It should reflect on who Jesus is – for example as prophet, priest and king, the one who has shed his blood to reconcile us to the Father.  And it should reflect on who the Spirit is – for example He whose abiding presence and power enables us to cry ‘Abba!’ assuring us of our sonship and glorifying Jesus in our midst.  

The prayer ‘Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit’ is then the central theme of our worship from which flows all our singing, expressions of praise and exercising of spiritual gifts.

Praise the Father

     Praise the Son

          Praise the Spirit

                   Three in One. 

This is our eternal joy to know, love and worship God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

What a joy also to have worship evenings each Sunday over the coming weeks to reflect and glorify God as Father, Son and Holy Spirit.  Come eager, come expectant, come and worship Him together.  

🤸🏾‍♂️🎉❤️🌟

(Credit Robin Parry whose book ‘Worshipping Trinity’ is highly recommended and David Fellingham who wrote the article ‘Trinitarian Worship’ in Newfrontiers Magazine Mar 2006)

Sign up for Worship Evenings: Click Here

Building on ROCK 2022

Receiving God’s word deeply into our souls is the absolute bedrock of living the life God intends for us.  There is no other bedrock.  It is the basis of genuine faith and every work of the Spirit.

Just like us, Jesus learnt to speak, read and live God’s word – he laid aside his omniscience and chose to learn.  Just like us, His love relationship with the Father and the Spirit was nurtured through his delight in the scriptures.  When Jesus’ parents were looking for him he replied ‘Why are you looking for me?  Did you not know I had to be in my father’s house?’

 Jesus’ delight in God’s truth was not in head knowledge which puffs up nor in dead religion which ticks a box.  His delight in God’s word was in its unique ability to draw him into fullness of relationship.  We are invited into this same depth of relationship through the same word of God as Jesus read plus, for us, the New Testament account of Christ’s life among us and all that flowed from that.  The very same words that Jesus received to grow in love for God and others are the very same words we read for our growth in love for God and others.  In reality, God’s love letter to the incarnate Christ is the same love letter to us.  What a Wonder!

Jesus modelled how we are to live and says ‘He who HEARS these words of mine and DOES them is like a man who built his house on the Rock.’  In other words, our knowledge of the scriptures is the very basis of the most fulfilled and fruitful life we could ever live.

For those wanting to build their lives on this rock of love and fulfilment, it is vital to note that hearing God’s word PRECEDES doing God’s word.  Although this may seem obvious, many of us try to live well but with little intentionality to truly ‘hear’ God’s word.  Could we say that we are really ‘learning’, ‘studying’ or ‘meditating on’ God’s Word as a lifestyle?  The truth is that growing closer to Jesus and accomplishing his purpose for our lives is impossible without a radical, consistent commitment to handling God’s word correctly. (2 Tim 2.15)

Wonderfully, there is a growing intensity of delight in the Scriptures being expressed across River of Life.  The Alpha Course, the translation and embracing of Alpha in Shona, the Minor Prophets series and the huge response to the Bible Journey opportunity are all examples.  Many people express to me how much they are loving reading their physical Bibles and making notes in margins etc.  Many describe that they are more regularly in God’s word and prayer with more sensitively to God’s Spirit.

In light of all this we are proposing the following approach to strengthening River of Life in God’s Word as we approach 2022 :

– Sustained encouragement to everyone to be part of a SMALL GROUP.  This is a vital connection for inspiration, encouragement, accountability and growth in God’s word.  

– Sustained encouragement to SUNDAY MEETINGS.  We will continue to prioritize the preaching of God’s word through the online platform of ROL2Home, and we are hoping this will link in to an increasing expression of In-Person corporate meetings, starting with the Sunday Worship Evenings in October.

– Sustained encouragement to everyone to DAILY BIBLE READING.  Like our daily bread, or our daily bath, the Word of God is spiritual bread and water.  There is something immeasurably healthy in being in God’s word DAILY.  Margit Landman is doing some research on best Bible Reading plan and devotionals.  We will presenting these to you as a package during October which will enable you to try out various options ahead of 2022.

– Special opportunity of the BIBLE JOURNEY in 2022.  This is a formal Bible study that takes you on a literal journey through the Bible from Genesis to Revelation.  It is superbly structured and presented by Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary as an Old Testament and New Testament survey covering 6 modules, each of 7-8 weeks, with an expectation of 2.5 to 3.5 hours study per week.   The course is fully certificated for complete attendance with no exams or submissions.  With the amazing use of multimedia resources, everything you need is online and timed to be able to take you an average of 30 mins per day, Monday to Friday.   We have the opportunity of receiving a free annual pass (value USD149.99 each) for 150 participants who sincerely commit to complete the course in the year.  As a result of this we have the following plan of action for BIBLE JOURNEY : 

       – Sept to Oct – Register your interest by clicking on Bible Journey in the Church Suite App or Website.  Alternatively via whatsapp of name, cell number and email address to the church phone 078 391 0799

      – October – try the free trial here during the month of October.  Make sure you can commit to the course starting Jan 2022.  

      – November – formal commitment.  There will be an online commitment to complete that will open the content on the 1st January 2022. 

     – December – pray and prepare for how you are going to approach the New Year. 

     – January – all Bible Journey people start together.  There will be a back-office dashboard to track all attendance and there will be some check-in sessions to help everyone keep with the programme. 

I would encourage everyone in River of Life to consider how The Lord is leading them to grow in their knowledge of God’s word.  Everyone’s journey is different and I hope these ideas will help you in considering how to Build On The Rock.

Much love,

Scott

Leading out of Lockdown

Don’t miss this Sunday! Links will be circulated on all ROL platforms including Whatsapp, Telegram, Facebook and also via Small Group leaders.

River of Life is entering a new era.

We emerge from lockdown in many ways stronger than when we entered. Although it has not been easy, many people have known the joy of a more intimate relationship with The Lord through scripture and prayer, and more meaningful relationship with others through Small Group participation.

Building on these strengths I believe there is a new dimension of creativity, diversity and energy that we are to experience as we move towards more vibrant In-Person meetings.

To this end, our next series is aimed at profiling some next generation leaders, called ‘Leaders on the Frontline’. Many of these leaders have significant marketplace responsibility as well as significant church responsibilities. I hope it will be an inspiring window into their personal relationship with The Lord and also a provocation to the fullness of God’s purposes for us as a church in the world.

Some are men and some are women, some are single and some are married, some are short and some are tall, some are Kalanga and some are Ndau, some are young and some are younger 🤣🌟. As next generation leaders on the frontline they are a very special and broad expression of River of Life Church. I am praying that this will lead us into a whole new era of blessing to this church, this nation and beyond.

Andrew Makonese is kicking off this Sunday on the usual ROL2Home platform. As part of this week’s ROL2Home we will be announcing our new plans from Oct 3rd 2021. This will include plans for In-Person as well as Online meetings going forward.

I am so thankful to this exciting group of people for Leading us Out of Lockdown and I am very expectant for a new expression of River of Life as we move onwards, following The Lord.

Love and blessings,

Scott

Processing the pain of Grief

Few things can shake one’s life and faith like grief. Whilst people say ‘It gets better with time’ the ache lingers and can steal your breath far longer than anyone warns. ¹

The pain of losing a loved one can be like no other pain on earth.  

Culturally, we tend to gather in support of those mourning, which is of tremendous help and strength. As the commemorations, funeral arrangements and other milestones pass, the dust settles, and life inevitably goes on. Things seem to return to normalcy, and it can often be hoped or assumed that ‘they are now ok’. 

This can be made worse in church where Christians may bravely say they are ‘fine’ because of their faith in Christ and yet deny the excruciating emotions of disbelief, anger, confusion, guilt, fear, loneliness and depression. Even desperate emptiness and crippling lack of motivation for life. Often these emotions are cyclical, toggling between each other on different days or even in the same day. Whilst such experience of emotion is normal and natural for believers and unbelievers alike, they may be beat themselves up saying ‘I’m a Christian, I should not be struggling with this’.

Coping with loss is inexplicably hard. But as Jesus said ‘My grace is sufficient for you, my power is made perfect in weakness’, we would like to be a church that truly, authentically, ‘mourns with those who mourn’ in the grace that The Lord gives us (2 Cor 12:9 & Rom 12:15).

In my experience of grief, I have found nothing more helpful than genuine honesty as the basis for working through the tumultuous pain and array of disorientating emotions. May I encourage us, as we face grief of many kinds, to be courageously honest as we process our loss: 

Upwards with GOD

Outwards with OTHERS

Inwards with OURSELVES

Honesty in Processing Upwards with GOD

He bore our griefs and carried our sorrows. Isaiah 53:4

Sometimes it is hard to know what we are feeling and where to even start looking amid the intensity of our loss.  

God identifies with our loss at the deepest possible level.  God loves us more than our hearts can understand and placed himself, through the cross, at the center of human suffering.  Christ suffered that we would never suffer alone.  

God knows the thoughts of our minds and the attitudes of our hearts better than we know ourselves. We do well (like David, Job and other heroes of the faith) to express to Him our deepest conflicts, fears, angers and emotions with the greatest authenticity we can muster.  

‘However deep our pain, however fierce our anger, however crippling our fear, however numbing our grief – Jesus identifies with it and with us in it.  He is Immanuel – God with us.’ (Dr. G.A. Boyd – Letters from a Skeptic)

God understands us.  He is well able to handle the worst we will face and express to Him.  He is eternally the Great Redeemer who brings beauty out of ashes.   We can respond with full confidence to Jesus’ invitation to ‘come to me all who are heavy burdened, and I will give you rest.’

Honesty in Processing Outwards with OTHERS

Jesus wept. John 11:35

It is vitally important for us to express our grief to others as fully as we possibly can, just as Jesus did at the tomb of Lazarus. 

It takes significant effort and intentionality to meet with a small group leader, therapist, spouse or friend – but the benefits are immense. Find whatever healthy way works best for you, find a safe place, and allow your voice of grief to be heard.  

It is so important not to bury your grief in denial but rather to verbalise, as candidly as possible, what you are feeling and thinking to those you trust.  

Jerry Sittser says is his highly recommended book, A Grace Disguised ‘The only way to reach the light is to face the darkness and walk through it, as painful and difficult as that is.’ As we articulate our grief, we are helped to face the depths of our emotions, which is essential for us to process in the healthiest way. Due to the cyclical nature of these emotions, this process of expression is likely to be a longer journey rather than a once off moment.

Honesty in Processing Inwards with OURSELVES.

…in all things God works for the good of those who love him… Rom 8:28

Somewhere close to the epicenter of our grief/pain, our finite minds grapple with the crushing questions of ‘Why?’ 

Turbulence in the questions of our finite minds challenge peace in the promises of our Infinite God. Getting to this peace is something of what the Scripture calls ‘the peace of God that passes understanding, guarding our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus’. 

One of the most all-encompassing and reassuring of such promises is Rom 8:28-29:

‘And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God fore knew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the first born among many brothers’.  

This is a deeply significant promise.  

John Piper says of this verse, ‘Once you walk through the door of love into the massive, unshakable structure of Romans 8.28-29 everything changes.  If you live inside this massive promise, your life is more solid and stable than Mount Everest. Nothing can blow you over when you are inside the walls of this promise.’

The confidence that a sovereign God governs, for your good, all the pain and all the pleasure that you will ever experience is an incomparable refuge and security and hope and power in your life.  

When God’s people really live by the future grace of Romans 8:28-29 – from the measles to the mortuary – they are the freest, strongest and most generous people in the world. Their light shines and people give glory to God who is in heaven (Matt 5:16).

In a similar mental process, CH Spurgeon faces these questions as follows: ‘In seasons of severe trial, the Christian has nothing on earth he can trust and is therefore compelled to cast himself on God alone. When no human deliverance can avail, he must simply and entirely trust himself to the providence and care of God.  Happy storm that wrecks a man on such a rock as this…. that drives a soul to God and God alone.’

I humbly submit this to you in your grief and pray that it helps you in the unique situation you face. Many of us are facing losses directly due to Covid-19. Others indirectly due to the ripple effects of the broad-sweeping pandemic. Others are suffering loss though incidences completely unrelated to the disease. As we process the pain of grief in whatever circumstance, we can be assured that whilst it is never easy, in fact often seemingly impossible or insurmountable, the fruit of sustained authenticity through the weeks, months and years can be a fountain of life for your soul and many others.

Notes:

¹Whilst ‘grief’ is a term that refers to emotions experienced due to loss in a realm broader than death alone, I am addressing the issues of grief associated with death of a loved one as a primary focus in this blog.

To Jab or Not to Jab – that is the question.

For some Christians this question has become a source of significant contention. Whilst it is a difficult question in itself, there are actually far more weighty issues to consider that may actually help us to come to an answer. I would like to encourage us, as River of Life, to be guided by three key Biblical principles in this:

Firstly, ‘Welcome Everyone’.
Romans 14.1 says ‘As for the one who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not to quarrel over opinions. One person believes he may eat anything, another believes he may eat only vegetables…let not the one who abstains pass judgement on the one who eats, for God has welcomed him.’

Whether we think we are strong or weak in faith, the reality is that every believer is accepted by God and is growing in his/her faith and knowledge of Christ. As such we are all to encourage each other towards The Lord rather than to judge each other based on outward things. As we ‘seek first his kingdom and his righteousness’ (Matt 6.33) all things follow in their correct place.

Let each believer make their decision on this question based on their faith and genuine relationship with The Lord, without fear of judgement or retribution from other believers.

I can imagine Paul saying “there is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, vaccinated nor unvaccinated for you are all one in Christ Jesus’ (Gal 3.28)

Secondly, follow Jesus not human precepts.
Col 2.21 says “‘Do not handle, Do not taste, Do not touch’…- according to human precepts and teachings. These have indeed an appearance of wisdom in promoting self-made religion…but they are of no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh.”

The reality is that we can each evaluate the merits of taking the jab or not, but at the end of the day the jab itself is not of primary importance. What counts is the faith from which the decision is made and indeed a whole lifestyle – far beyond the vaccination – of worship and glory to God.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer said in his great book “Discipleship” that if Christ were walking the planet today, many that now claim to follow Him would probably not, while many that don’t follow Him now probably would.

Let us not prioritise options about vaccinations, but rather prioritise authentic relationship with Jesus and following Him wholeheartedly in all things.

Thirdly, Remember your Leaders.
As we have access to such an array of teachings online it is important that we are able to genuinely evaluate the merit of the different messages through real relationship in local church participation.

As Hebrews 13.7 says ‘Remember your leaders, those who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith. Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever. Do not be led away by diverse and strange teachings for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace…’

As I have considered leaders who have gone before us, I have been inspired by Martin Luther who said during a great plague in Germany :

“Therefore I shall ask God mercifully to protect us. Then I shall fumigate, help purify the air, administer medicine, and take it. I shall avoid places and persons where my presence is not needed in order not to become contaminated and thus perchance infect and pollute others, and so cause their death as a result of my negligence. If God should wish to take me, he will surely find me and I have done what he has expected of me and so I am not responsible for either my own death or the death of others. If my neighbour needs me, however, I shall not avoid place or person but will go freely, as stated above. See, this is such a God-fearing faith because it is neither brash nor foolhardy and does not tempt God.”

Out of interest, as I considered all these principles myself, I came to a decision to be vaccinated. I felt it was essentially an expression of love to God and to others. That was my genuine conviction whilst not imposing it on anyone else.

Life is not easy, and the pressures of the fallen world are immense. The reality of the spirit of the Antichrist is all around as every notion that undermines the gospel vies for supremacy.

As I was vaccinated I believed it would enable me to be of greater use to The Lord in the moments I have left, however long or short that may be.

I hope these principles help you to navigate this question and through these life-changing days.

(Credit to Rob Gerhard and David French for the Luther and Bonhoeffer quotes)