Moe, This is a little confusing. It cannot be Zimbabwe as the current government has not been in power for 38 years and did not gain power in a coup d'etat. I am really not sure what country it would be in southern Africa having ruled out Angola, Mozambique, Zambia, Namibia, South Africa and Zimbabwe from his description. God bless, Jeff >-----Original Message----- >From: Moe Bergeron [mailto:moe.bergeron@...] >Sent: Saturday, 12 June 2004 11:11 PM >To: soundofgrace@... >Subject: [soundofgrace] from Africa vai Moe > >Dear Sounders, > > What follows is the second email of two from a brother in (Zim..) >southern Africa. He's not asking for anything other than some >instruction and encouragement. At the first I thought his firs email was >just another scam. There are so many emails addressed to the website >that are just that. I would encourage you to send Udeme a kind word. >(homegathering@...) Tell him I introduced you. > >Much Grace! > Moe > >----- ----- ----- > >Hello brother Moe, > >Warmest greetings to you in the precious name of our Lord and savior >Jesus Christ. I want to thank you for taking the time to write to me. >Thank you for recommeding Soverign Grace Ministries, I will take time >to visit thier website, and hopefully, it will be of blessings and >inspiration to our little house fellowship. I want to take this moment >and share with you part of my little testimony with you. I was born into >a non-christian family, my parents and ancestors were voodoo priests, I >was thereby initiated into it, and in my youth I also played important >role in the traditional rituals and sacrifices. Through the work of God, >I disassociate myself from voodoo and accept Jesus Christ after some >interaction with a certain Catechist. I was a christian member of a >catholic church for several years, I was there up to the position of >leading and function in teaching some of the youths, especially the >children. This leads me to study the scriptures more deeply as to share >with others. I know that it was the will and leading of the holy spirit >of God that draw my attention and studies of the Acts of the Apostles, >and the other gospel. That was where I get little confused, because >nothing was found in the bible that resembles most of the doctrines, >ordinances and practices of the catholic church that I attended. The >doctrines and footsteps that christ and the early apostles set for us >to follow was different from that of the catholic church, so I started >to realize that I was into man made doctrines and practices. After a >while, I planned with my wife and family to leave the catholic church >and find another church that have sound doctrine based on the teachings >of christ. Though we planned and were ready to leave the catholic >church, It was a bit difficult to disassociate ourserves from the >catholic church. But we take a step of faith and break the bondage that >we were in. > >We were at home making findings about the practices and doctrine of the >church that will be convenient to us and will fit into my understandings >of the scriptures, but it was so hard to find one. While still searching >for a church to attend, my wife and I decided to be having bible studies >and prayers in our home. Through deep studies of the scriptures and the >work of the Holy spirit of God (leading me to learn and seek the way of >the early apostles), I was delivered from the chain of institutionized >christianity completely. Instead of thinking about finding a church to >attend anymore, I rather think of being a church! After some months of >meeting with my wife, myself and our children, we started to invite >others to meet with us and enjoy the wonderful freedom that we have in >Christ through our home meetings. Other families and singles joined us >and have been having a continous fellowship with us till today. Since >then, we are enjoying the freedom and liberty we are now having in Christ. > >Yes, I understand that there are many scams coming out from Africa >seeming to be from christians, I personally get more than 20 emails >every week from the email spammers. But the work of the evil ones will >not be hindrance to the will of God. We long to unite ourselves with >others, and learn from each other. Our prayers is that the Lord will >unite us together in His love. > >Many people here in Africa were also mourning the death of your former >President Reagan because his good work and aids to some Africa >countries. We have been made to be aware that because of his leadership >there is much peace in the world and especially peace between USA and >the former Soviet Union. His presidency was a blessing to the whole >world. Your nation have been blessed with good and God fearing leaders >from time to time, but for our country, it is not the same. The present >president of our country who took over power in coup d'etat, have ruled >this country with iron hand for over 38 years continuously. He have very >little concern about christianity and christians. He is very much >concern about the affairs of the muslim, and others traditional >religion. There have been attempt for new election so that he can leave >office, but it all fails. For over 10 years now, European Union(that >gives aids to almost all the Africa countries) put sanction against this >government thus making life to be difficult to the less fortunate ones. >My family and other brethren are among the fortunate ones through christ >Jesus. I cann't imagine how our life would have been without Jesus >Christ, our Lord and savior. There is serious poverty going on here, >some families hardly have a meal in a day, thier children don't have >clothes to wear, etc. Our prayers for our country is for God to give us >a good leader, the one that will like christianity to stay. > >Extend our greetings, love and thanks to your family, and to the >brethren that meets with you. > >Looking forward to hearing from you whenever you are able. > >Your brother in Christ, >Udeme > > > >-- >Read the Sound of Grace pages at >http://www.soundofgrace.com > >To unsubscribe, send ANY message to: soundofgrace-unsubscribe@... > >To view our online archive go to our web page at >http://www.associate.com/groups/soundofgrace >