CI Ministry News
Zimbabwe Mission Project: Mission Accomplished!
November 2006
Crosspurpose International was part of a whirlwind, short intensive training assignment for national pastors and Christian workers who came from many parts of Zimbabwe to learn and earn credit toward their Bible college degrees. Charlie was invited by Dr. Joe Youngblood of Revival & Missions Intl. and the training program Impact Eternity, to teach a course on "The Art of Expository Preaching." This class would provide a good biblical foundation for leaders who are dedicated to evangelizing their own people with the gospel of Jesus Christ.
The trip began in Columbia, SC with a delayed flight to Washington’s international departure. After only a 15 min. layover from the Columbia flight, Charlie left Washington for Johannesburg, SA. A layover in Johannesburg was necessary for both arrival and returning flights from the states. On his return flight, longtime friend Harold Peasley of Multi Ministries (South Africa), came to the airport at Johannesburg to share some fellowship with Charlie before the conclusion of the trip.
Arrival in Hararee
Because of the original delayed flight, the luggage was late and
did not arrive in Hararee until well into the week. The graciousness of
the Zimbabwean hosts was shown when they used their resources to
provide Charlie with a set of clothes to wear until his luggage
arrived!
Charlie lodged in a hotel that provided bars on the windows for protection and unscreened windows open for ‘air conditioning’. He took breakfast each morning with other lodgers that consisted of boiled eggs, pork and beans, corn flakes, thick slabs of homemade bread with jam, all washed down with strong,
Zimbabwean coffee.
On Sunday after his arrival, Charlie was privileged to preach with the aid of an interpreter in a Baptist church in Hararee pastored by Pastor Champion T. Chasara. Pastor Chasara is a past President of the Baptist Convention of Zimbabwe and Dean of Expository Preaching
Class. There were over 300 Zimbabweans in attendance at the vibrant morning service. A wonderful a cappella church choir sang during the service and the interpreted message was well received with a tremendous invitational response.
Class Begins
The class week began on Monday. Much like an American ‘modular’ class at U.S. universities, the class packed a huge amount of information between
7:45 AM until about 3 PM most afternoons with only
a tea break mid-morning and then lunch.
The class was held in a government compound in
Hararee for added protection and convenience for
those who traveled there from other parts of the
country. Speaking over 24 times during the week
and up to 7 hours each day, Charlie used a
combination of teaching methods to equip the eager
learners in expository preaching methods.
He provided notes and practical instructions. He also
preached sermons while stopping to explain how he
arrived at each point, which added classroom
interaction. At the week’s conclusion, an expository sermon outline was requested from each student. Each ‘homework’ outline will be critiqued and mailed back to them from the states with further encouraging remarks. The students were thrilled to learn such a practical, logical and powerful method to presenting the Bible in their churches and Bible studies back home.
Many friends were made during Charlie’s stay in Hararee and invitations for lengthier mission projects through Crosspurpose International ministries were received.
Thanks to Supporters
We want to say "thank you" to our supporters for making this recent mission project possible. Those of you who support this ministry with your finances and prayers can be assured that not only the lives of those who came for training were touched, but there are many more who will be touched as the students go back home to teach and preach the gospel more effectively to their villages and cities in Zimbabwe, Africa.
Charlie and Harold Peasley
Charlie with Pastor Chasara
Students who completed the intensive training course
