May - the Free Presbyterian church of Scotland

154
The Free Presbyterian Magazine
5 and 6 has enabled the John Tallach Secondary School to enrol its first
group of Fifth Form pupils. It is a heartening prospect that pupils will now
be under the gospel for two extra years. In practical terms this means that all
pupils must attend worship at morning assembly each school day, all church
services on Sabbath and weekday, Sabbath School, and examinable religious
instruction classes in their timetable. The boarding pupils must also be present
at morning and evening worship in their dormitories every day. As Miss
MacLean, the Deputy Head, underlines, there is an ongoing need for more
people on the staff who have the ability to impart Bible knowledge, and it
helps greatly when visiting teachers from abroad assist in this work.
At Mbuma Mission, the objectives of our hospital staff in their constant
round of duties are the saving of lives, healing of the sick, and prevention of
disease, but behind these aims “is the desire”, says Dr Anneke Snoek, “to
reach more of our patients with the gospel”. They were therefore pleased that
their request for an extra Catechist has been granted. When he is appointed
in the near future, God willing, he will work with Mr G Nkwane and Mr N
Mpofu in “looking after the spiritual needs of staff and patients in the hospital”
and in the “wider area around the hospital”.
A new Sabbath School session has begun at Mbuma, with the classes
meeting between services. The more than 100 children also meet on Saturdays
when, under their teachers, they work through such children’s books
as Peep of Day, Line upon Line, and Truths of God’s Word.
The hope of having Mr Leendart Boon resident at Mbuma, as the new
Administrative and Technical Manager, is not yet realised because he is still
being refused a work permit by the Immigration Department. However, he
is able to do much of his work for Mbuma from his home in Holland.
In the New Canaan area, the pastor, Rev Zororai Mazvabo is much encouraged
by the completion of the fine new church at Maware, well built by
the people themselves, and by a pleasant communion season there, the local
chief being present at most of the services. Mr Mazvabo looks forward to the
completion of the new church building for his Ebenezer Congregation at
Zvishavane (where his manse is located) and for reaching out with the gospel
to the surrounding homes of the employees at the Mimosa platinum mine.
The Translation Committee reports that the new translation of the Ndebele
Bible is now in the hands of the Trinitarian Bible Society (TBS). The TBS
has informed us that the new translation is now typeset and that they expect
it will be launched in Bulawayo in the autumn at a public ceremony, at which
our Church will be represented, God willing.
Thembiso Children’s Home operates smoothly under its new system of
five family units. Mr Mapala, the Superintendent, expresses his appreciation