17 November 2008
Dear brothers
and sisters,
Sunday 2nd
October 2008, which was Thanksgiving day, has demonstrated a growing faith and
an increasing love. Our Thanksgiving offering recorded an increase once more.
Though the day, just like the others, has passed by so quickly, I wish to look
back with hindsight and express my thanks to all of you for your growing faith
and the increasing love of God and His work, which you demonstrated on the day
of Thanksgiving.
One may ask,
"What conditions are necessary in order for the faith to grow and the love for
God and his work to increase?" The answer was given by Chief Apostle Richard
Fehr in a Divine Service in 2004, “… when the word of God is received and
embraced." This is underlined by the words of Apostle Paul in another quotation:
"So then faith cometh by hearing…” (Romans 10: 17.)
On the
sub-theme “The return of Christ” in a recent Divine Service Guide, our Chief
Apostle William Leber gave us his message - “We are ready”. This is a very
affirmative observation by our dear Chief Apostle. He did not ask us as to
whether we are ready, instead he made a declaration. I can also declare that “…your
faith groweth exceedingly and the charity of every one of you all toward each
other aboundeth… (2 Thessalonians 1:3.) – and so we are ready for the return
of Christ!
The whole
district recorded an increase over the thanks offering for the year 2007. For
Zambia, the increase was tremendous despite the many socio-economic challenges
of the time that included floods and drought. For this tremendous increase, I
wish to thank you my brothers and sisters, and in so doing, urge you to continue
with such noble causes.
Malawi also
recorded a steady growth over 2007 despite the many socio-economic challenges
similar to those experienced in Zambia. For this steady increase, I wish to
thank you my brothers and sisters in Malawi.
In Zimbabwe,
there was so much striving by the brothers and sisters that words cannot
express. The inflation has reached unprecedented levels. The political and
socio-economic challenges are overwhelming. It is truly by the grace of God
that our brethren can live from one day to the next. Notwithstanding the said
hardships, our brothers and sisters are thankful to God and our Heavenly Father
will not overlook such efforts. For this striving, I wish to thank you my
brothers and sisters in Zimbabwe.
Dear brothers
and sisters, our thanks as a district can also be extended to our Heavenly
Father for the successful visit by our Chief Apostle in March this year in
Malawi. The Chief Apostle, in addition to serving the living, also served the
souls in the beyond and specifically remembered the souls within our region. In
December 2008, our Chief Apostle will be visiting our district again and this
time, in Livingstone, Zambia. What a blessed year we have had in our district!
We began the year with our Chief Apostle and shall end the year with him!
Once again, I
appreciate all your labours and support in this great work of God and wish you
God’s richest blessings.
Now that
Christmas is around the corner, I wish you a peaceful, blessed and joyous
season. I also wish you a prosperous 2009.
With love and
hearty greetings from me, our dear Chief Apostle Leber and my fellow apostles.
Yours
sincerely,
Charles S.
Ndandula
