ccm Cross 0202 Eternal Word Church, Vic Falls, Zim

ccm Cross 0202
Saturday February 9 2019

Eternal Word Church
Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe
ccm Cross 0202

Additional Photos After Testimony

4789 cdd I Will Do It
Cyber Daily Devotion
Volume 20 Number 038

Today’s Author: Pastor Bill

Scripture: Isaiah 43:19 “Behold, I will do a new thing, now it shall spring forth; Shall you not know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness and rivers in the desert” NKJV

Hello, I am Pastor William Chapfika. And hello, I am Pastor Ettah Chapfika. We Pastor together with The Eternal Word Church of Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe. This is our Cross Testimony of how Jesus Christ became real in our life and challenged us to serve Him in ways we never considered.

I’m Pastor William and I grew up in the village of Mutoko 700 miles to the east of Victoria Falls. I was born the third of six children. My dad was a teacher in the Zimbabwe public schools. Mom stayed home tending to all the children. We were a church family growing up but it didn’t mean much to me. I went to church because I was told to and made the best of it.

When I was 15 years old there was a tent revival not far from our home. I went with some friends. The preacher was speaking about Genesis Chapter one and original sin. He told us how Jesus came to make things right for us. I accepted Jesus Christ as Lord of my life that night.

Several years later I moved to Harare the Capital city of Zimbabwe.

I’m Pastor Ettah Chapfika. My story growing up was different. I also grew up in the village of Mutoko 700 miles to the east of Victoria Falls but never knew William who is ten years older than me. I was the seventh of ten children. Our father left us, and our mom died when I ten years old. We were left for our grandparents to raise us.

With our mom we never went to church. With our grandparents we were in church every Sunday. When I was sixteen years old, I visited my uncle who introduced me to the Bible and read to me that there is only one mediator between us and God — Jesus. That changed everything for me. Our church was full of worship to statues through works and rituals. When I heard that Jesus was the way to heaven, I accepted Him as Lord in my life.

I became hungry for the word and read my Bible learning all I could about Jesus. We became close friends, Jesus and me. Then I had an opportunity to move to Harare the Capital city of Zimbabwe. I told my self that now I’m free from traditional village life and was excited to have electricity, clean running hot and cold water, restaurants and a car. I was free to serve Jesus and I was excited!

It was 2002 and I found a church that believed in Jesus Christ as Lord and the Bible, so I joined in. Soon I met William. In 2004 what I thought was a last gasp of traditional village life, William contacted my grandparents to arrange our marriage. The cost was 5 cows. A handsome price for a village princess!

We were married. We now have four children. Three boys, Braxton, Bret, Brendon and finally our 6 year old little girl Nokutenda.

In 2006 we became Deacons in our church and together we served Jesus any way we could. We attended four intense leadership training courses each year. Our hunger for Jesus was growing.

In 2008 we became elders in the church. We sensed Jesus calling us to go further with Him. We studied the Bible by correspondence. In 2012 we were ordained Pastors. Everything we did was growing us up in the Lord. It was an exciting time of life. We told Jesus we would serve Him anywhere.

We moved to Victoria Falls and started a church in our house. It didn’t work. We tried a few other ministry approaches. They didn’t work.

2013 we received the Jesus Challenge. It was not what we were expecting. The Apostle of our church took us outside Victoria Falls to a remote traditional village. Fear struck me!

My life in a traditional village was one of poverty. Not enough to eat, drink or wear. If we had a pot of food, we all ate from it. If we had clothing to wear, we all shared. All this rushed over me. I prayed, “Oh Lord not here!”

We settled in the traditional village. My heart was aching. I argued with Jesus. Why me? Why here? Then I began to receive dreams that told me to stay. One by one as the dreams appeared, I began to accept my assignment.

Then the children. The children of this community needed me. HIV/Aids had devastated the area. Dads and moms were infected. There was medicine available but the nearest clinic to receive them was more than 25 miles. There were no cars. Only a 25 mile walk through the bush one way and 25 miles back again through the bush.

Children — yes Lord — for the children. I will do it.

Our favorite BIBLE Verse is John 3:16 “God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life”

The Cross to us resembles the love of Jesus to all mankind. It was because of the work done at the Cross that brought forgiveness and redemption to man. The Cross is a symbol of what Jesus did for us.

It is our prayer that all passersby are given Holy Spirit Zeal to know much more about the Cross and what Jesus did for them. That they would be encouraged to read the scriptures and understand the true meaning of Jesus dying on the Cross. That this Cross planted would be an open invitation for them to come inside our church and learn about the greatest story ever told. The life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Prayer: Father thank you that you equip those You call for Your purposes and give them the desire to use that equipping for building Your Kingdom. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen!