ccm Cross 0162 K. Manakaza Cong, Nqamakwe, South Africa

ccm Cross 0162
Tuesday February 20, 2018

K. Manakaza Congregation
Uniting Presbyterian Church
Nqamakwe, South Africa
ccm Cross 0162

Additional photos after Testimony

4572 cdd Doers of the Word
Cyber Daily Devotion
Volume 19 Number 081

Today’s Author: Pastor Bill

Scripture: James 1:22a
“Be doers of the word, and not hearers only” NKJV

Hello, my name is Reverend Xola (Cola) Mluma. Everyone calls me Reverend Cola. I grew up in the small village of Keiskammahoek, 300 miles away from here, near King Williams Town, in South Africa. My dad was a tractor driver preparing the fields for planting and mom a domestic worker. I was the middle child of three.

My dad died of cancer when I was 2 years old. I was raised by my grandparents on my mother’s side who lived in the same village. My grandfather was an Evangelist. They made sure I was in church and Sunday school.

I raised my hand to receive Jesus as Lord in my life when I was very young. I lived the Christian life through high school and then entered the seminary. I would follow in my grandfather’s footsteps. But Jesus had other ideas. I graduated from seminary thinking I would be an Evangelist.

But when I was 21 years old it was a tough time for me as my uncle had just died and all the hurts from my dad ‘s death were upon me too. I was listening to a preacher named M.E.B. Sani on the radio. He was speaking of an encounter between the Prophet Samuel and King Saul in First Samuel Chapter 9. Samuel, the man of God, was challenging Saul to learn and understand the word of God. It struck me in my heart. The Holy Spirit convicted me that I was not fully committed to the work of the Lord. Everything changed that day and I never looked back.

The word of God came alive for me and I began to understand what the scriptures were saying.

Then I had my first encounter with my future wife. I met Nondumiso and my countenance relaxed. I heard the Lord say, “she is the one.” My heart leaped, and I told her, “you are the one who has been sent to me by the Lord.” Her reaction was not what I wanted to see. She ran from me. But I knew she was the one the Lord had for me. Seven years later after Nondumiso stopped running from me we were married. We now have three children ages 14, 10 and 5. The Lord has been good, and our marriage is strong. It was worth the wait.

My prayer as I was ordained was that the Lord would send me to a place that had nothing. A place where the work for the Lord would shine and He would send me helpers that wanted to work alongside me to build the kingdom of God.

In 2002 I came to the K. Manakaza Congregation in Nqamakwe, South Africa, as Pastor. I’ve been here ever since. Our congregation is a large area in the Kei Mountains with nine out stations. The rough and tough mountain roads prevent us from worshiping together every Sunday, so we meet locally at each out station with a Deacon preaching. Then once a month we traverse the rough mountain roads and come together as one congregation.

In 2015 we began work on our new church building which is now about 80% complete. It is a miracle that God has provided the funding and the people to build it. And the Cross planted today is another miracle in that we didn’t know how we could afford to have one. But now it is here, and it is our welcome to the entire Mountain top community that Jesus Christ is Lord over these mountains.

The Lord has answered my prayers as out of nothing has come a congregation that loves to work for the Lord and serve one another. One of my biggest challenges when we started was the ancestral traditions of the Sangomas (Witchdoctors). These old wives’ tales were a stronghold that had the people locked in demon worship. They were in bondage to the teachings of their demented ancestral traditions. All this was blocking the Cross.

One by one I preached about each stronghold. I showed our congregation the light of Jesus as expressed in the Bible. The light of Jesus out shined the wicked darkness of the Sangomas. The people were set free to worship Jesus and love one another. Jesus is the Way.

As a Pastor my favorite thing to do is visit people and listen to their needs and pray for them. The Lord has done wonderful things as people have been healed, set free and encouraged.

There was a young lady in high school who was an excellent student. But whenever it was time for exams she would be overwhelmed by migraine headaches. I received a call from a nurse who is a member in my congratulation. She said medication could not relieve the young girls pain. She explained she felt there was a stronghold in her life that needed to be dealt with. I met with the young lady and asked if she would like to be set free from the headaches. She enthusiastically said, “YES!”

I prayed that Jesus would set her free. He did. She has never had those headaches again and is able to take tests without any interference.

My favorite Bible verse is 2 Corinthians 5:7, “We walk by faith, not by sight.”

One of the basic principles I teach my congregation is that we not only read the word of God but apply it in our lives. We are to become doers of the word. Pastors Bill and Carol thank you for bringing this Cross to us, all this way on to the mountain top, and showing us that you are doers of the word. You are an excellent example to all of us.

The Cross for me means that I am favored of God. If I was the only one on the planet Jesus would have still gone through all His agony and pain just for me. He loves me that much.

This Cross planted today sends a strong message to everyone in these rough tough and rugged mountains. This Cross is a place of Jesus Christ. The Cross we have preached about for over one hundred years, on this mountain top, has now arrived. It is a light for everyone to come to Jesus.

Prayer: Father thank you for Doers of the Word the world over who unashamedly present the Gospel of Jesus Christ. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen!