ccm Cross 0106
February 10, 2017
Bethel Church
Netherburn, Zimbabwe
ccm Cross 0106
GPS/DMS 18°19’00.0″S 29°51’00.0″E
Additional photos after testimony
4272 cdd Dr. J Gets the Call
Cyber Daily Devotion
Volume 18 Number 042
Today’s Author: Pastor Bill
Scripture: 1 Corinthians 14:26
“How is it then, brethren? Whenever you come together, each of you has a psalm, has a teaching, has a tongue, has a revelation, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification” NKJV
Hello my name is Gerhadus (Gert) Olivier from Bethel Church in Nethberburn, Zimbabwe. I’ve been married to my wife Anna for 48 years. This is my Cross Testimony of how the Lord has patiently met our needs through the years. I grew up in Southern Rhodesia which is currently called Zimbabwe. I was the third of seven children. My dad was very strict with us and did a variety of work which included mining, transport and his favorite — farming. We attended church every Sunday when I was growing up but we lived too far away from the church to participate during the week.
When I was very young I earned the nick name, “preacher.” Seems from the earliest of age I was preaching sermons to dogs and cats and all my siblings. When I was old enough my dad sent me to ministry school in South Africa. I spoke the Kings English and instruction was in Africans. I did not fare well. I returned home and my strict father was not happy.
Without proper ministerial schooling I spent years working on farms and in the mining industry. Anna and I married and started our family. We had three children. Then my dad died. I met a crazy man who said he was a Christian but his actions did not show it. We became friends and together we learned what a Christian life was like. We gave our lives to Christ. We built our relationship on 1 Corinthians 14:26. That man eventually fell back into his old life style. But not me.
The preacher in me bloomed like a ragging wild flower. I began preaching in the rural areas. Bringing Jesus Christ to all who would listen. The ministry grew and then we received word that a precious metal mine was closing. They had a series of quality buildings with houses. The government required that upon closing all the buildings must be destroyed. We thought this would make a wonderful orphanage. We talked to the government and the mining company. Everyone agreed that the mining company could give us the buildings for an orphanage.
We filed our papers with the government and they agreed we could start immediately pending final approval. We quickly filled the buildings with 50 orphans. We used our financial reserves for a few years waiting for government approval. Then the local government changed personnel and said they could not find our paperwork so we were denied.
The buildings were ours, we were out of money and we had to turn away all the children. We were heartbroken for the children. But there was nothing we could do. The government did approve us for elderly housing but we no longer had the resources for such a project.
We stayed on the property and worked in the rural area to build the church. Today we minister at Bethel Church and people come from all around for teaching, Bible study prayer and healing.
Although the government never stepped up to help us the Lord did. We now have a wonderful opportunity to minister to our people. We don’t have any income; our people do not have jobs but the Lord miraculously meets our needs daily.
Not long ago a lady had a broken leg that did not heal well. She was carried to us set in a wheel barrow and wheeled into our service. We asked her what she wanted and she said, “I want to be healed.” Jesus did just that. By the end of the service she was dancing, singing and praising the Lord. Government funding money will never be able to buy that!
Then there was the service that a mother carried her young son into. She lived a good 30-minute walk from us. She entered and said, “my son died at home — please pray for him.” We did. Jesus did the rest. The woman and her child walked out of the service smiling and giving praise, glory and honor for what the Lord had done.
Many women who were told by their midwife that a C-section was necessary have come for prayer asking Jesus for help. We pray and Jesus answers — they have had normal births.
Barren woman come for prayer after years of frustration over no children. We pray and Jesus answers with a baby.
Locally we have no hospital or medical facilities. We are in a very remote rural area. When someone is sick Dr. Jesus gets the call. They ask, we pray, He heals.
By worldly standards we have nothing. But with Jesus we are wealthy beyond imagination.
My favorite Bible verse is Romans 8:28 “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose” NKJV
Through the years, I have established a prayer place on the mountain behind our settlement. The Lord speaks to me there. He asked me to complete an altar there. This I did over the years one stone at a time. This altar looks down directly on the spot where this Cross is being planted. I’ve learned over the years that God has a plan — we just must be patient and He will unfold it before us.
This Cross planted today is part of that altar blessing this entire valley. People will come by and know this is a place of Jesus Christ.
Prayer: Father thank you that Jesus keeps His promises as we patiently serve Him. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen!
The local Zimbabwe people are living in the miner houses.
They have not had electricity since August
The goats led the way to the Bethel Church.
We drove carefully as not to run over the goats.
We arrived and Pastor Gert met us. They were already mixing the cement with sand and rocks.
Pastor Gert and Albert helped Pastor Bill center the holes
The Cross planting team helped tighten the nuts onto the bolts.
Wonderful young Godly men
Everyone was eager to move the Cross into position
Six mighty men of God lift the Cross while
four men balance the Cross on the corners with ropes
The guys with the sticks did a great job lifting the Cross higher.
Two of the corner men pulling up the Cross
As you can see it’s almost up
“FIRE IN THE HOLE”
Ready for adding the concrete. Notice the unique way they
brought the water in a barrel and out it came through a hose
Future Mighty men of God rooting the corner men on
Pouring in the concrete. Notice the motor oil
used to repel termites and wood eating insects.
Cross planting team at Bethel Church
Pastor Gert and Alfred attach the plaque “Giving God Glory over Zimbabwe”
Pastor Bill interviewing Pastor Gert for his testimony
Anna, Pastor Gert’s wife prepared us a very tasty lunch
The whole Cross Team
Willie in the background was our special gift from God helping plant the Zimbabwe Crosses.
Here he is leading the little ones from the neighborhood praising God for their new Cross.
Plaque “Declaring God’s Glory” over Zimbabwe
The goats stayed all day!