This I received from Brother Martin Today.
Christian greetings!
Our meetings began on Sunday 9th March 2008 to Saturday 22nd March,
2008. I arrived at the venue of the meetings safely and secure on 9th
March and immediately began our first meeting. The attendance on the
first few days was not all that encouraging but we still went ahead
with our meetings undeterred by the low attendance.
In the second week when we often preach about the testing truths about
the sabbath, sanctuary, state of the dead etc the attendance to our
meetings increased instead of declining. We praised our heavenly
father for this as we took the advantage of this turn out to fasten
the minds of our hearers with the truth as it is in Jesus.
Our meetings were not without event but the Lord won each battle the
devil laid in our way for us. I remember vividly how one evening after
the meetings when we went to sleep I heard footsteps and a knock at
the door of our room and when I opened the door I found no one. I went
back to sleep but then again the steps came back and more vigorously
than before, I tiptoed to the door and like lightning opened the door
and again believe it or not I found no one. It was strange because
when I opened the door the footsteps ceased immediately I did not
hear any fainting running steps as I should. Its then that I realized
that I was dealing with spirits or jeans because that part of the
country we were in is famed for black magic and sorcery(People don't
walk at night in this area I was later informed). When I realized this I closed the door
after this I went down on my knees and there and then prayed and went
back to sleep. The knocks persisted but I was not moved an inch and I
slept like a baby knowing that my Saviour was watching after me. I can
attest that these events happened on a daily basis until the day we
closed the meetings and at the same hour. I tried to inquire from our
immediate neighbors about this visits and knocks, and can you believe
they laughed at us and told us in the face that the owner of the house
we had rented had "protected" his property and that the jeanies that
were troubling us were his. We were very saddened and planned to visit
his home not very far from our place of residence, but due to our
tight schedule we did not manage it. Later on the last Sunday when we
were packing our things as we prepared ourselves to travel back home someone
approached us and told us that this Landlord had sent him to
inform us we can come and collect some fruits from his farm but then
again we refused since we did not trust him. There is no way we could
lead ourselves to temptation - this man had tried to disrupt our
meetings through his jeans for two weeks how do we know that he is
not now after us so we declined the offer and told the messenger that we
had to catch up a bus early.
It was an experience I shall not forget, but the good news is not how
the devil disrupted our meetings in succession but the good news is
that some 15 adults - 11 of them students from a nearby Technical
Training institute joined the faith. They attended our nightly
meetings each day without fail and when we realized that they were
being harassed by thugs on their way back to the institute after the
meetings we provided security by asking the church members from the
area to escort them back- us also included. All our meetings were well
attended and the Lord gave us the fruits. It is true that the gospel
of Christ must advance and the gates of hell cannot prevail against it so
brothers and sisters what are you waiting for? Go out in faith
believing and trusting that He who has called you is greater than him
who rules this world and so spread everlasting gospel to every nook
and cranny, in safe places and in dangerous places in season and out
of season.
This and the events of the last month when my house was broken into
and all my belongings taken have served as ways of strengthening my
faith. This meetings were opposed from onset in that the devil thought
by taking the little possessions I had on this earth he was going to
distract me from holding the meetings, but I still went ahead with my
plans, then he brings another problem - lack of money to hold the
meetings and I still carry on with my plans and believe it or not the
Lord provides the means just when we really need it most and then the
devil tries another one through his agent spirits and still the Lord
Jesus wins.
That is why in every letter I send you I request for prayers that if
at all you have nothing to offer or have something to offer please
keep me and this work in your prayers.
I will conclude this brief report with a few request of the things
that I really need as of present.
As you are aware I need a new public address system for preaching.
Hiring is very expensive and so it is good that we sacrifice a little
more to find replacement of this equipments even if it means
purchasing one thing at a time. Another thing is that I really need
the means to move the little things that were left to a better and
safer house, this includes putting on metallic doors and good locks to
the house I will be moving to. I need another computer for preparing
my sermons and study- it doesn't have to be a laptop - desktop
computers are the cheapest and easiest to find in my country not to
mention easy to maintenance. I know by this time you must wondering
where all that money would come from, but I know one thing that the
Lord will provide even if that involves waiting. So please do whatever
the Lord impresses in your heart - it might be microphones, or might
also be the amplifier or any other need. Please pray about it.
Thank you and may the good Lord bless and keep thee. My next meetings
begin on Monday 31st March and will run for two weeks and you need not
to worry for the meetings are all fully catered for by a local church
all that I may need is bus fare from my house to the meetings.
Your Brother In Need,
Martin Kiogora Rutere