March 20. 2014
Heart and Hands in Action Ministry
Salima, Malawi
ccm Cross #0064
GPS/DMS 15°49’24.8″S 35°01’05.2″E
Additional Cross photos after the Testimony:
3516 cdd Heart and Hands
Cyber Daily Devotion
Volume 15 Number 080
Today’s Author: Pastor Bill
Scripture: Matthew 28:19
“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” NKJV
My name is Pastor Jackson Dimba from Malawi, Africa and this is my ccm Cross Testimony.
I grew up with an over powering fear of death. My father died when I was 9 years old and we moved in with my grandparents. My grandfather was a Pastor. He and my grandmother died soon after we joined them. My mother eventually remarried and my step father was a strong believer in witchcraft. To overcome my fear of death he gave me special charms blessed by a witch, to carry in my pocket. The charms did not work. I was consumed with a fear of death. It affected my everyday life.
When I was 21 years old an old schoolmate invited me to a meeting. It was a Christian revival and for the first time I listened to the words preached. The preacher spoke against charms, witches and fear. I heard that Jesus would set me free from all of this.
The Holy Spirit grabbed me — I mean really grabbed me — before I knew it I was on my knees crying and asking Jesus for forgiveness. I received Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior — joy and peace filled my heart. Eternal life was now my goal and I was on board with Jesus.
Over the next few months my life radically changed. There was a burning desire in my heart to preach the word of the Lord. I enrolled in a Theological College. Three years later I graduated and was ordained. I was Pastoring a church in Salima, Malawi when the Lord gave me a dream.
This dream contained my vision for the future and direction for the rest of my life. The dream was about planting churches and multiplying the body of Christ in Muslim communities. Immediately I began fasting every Friday for Muslims while they were in their Mosques. I prayed that their argumentative spirit against Jesus Christ of Nazareth would melt away. That Muslims would hear and believe that Jesus Christ of Nazareth is the Son of God and he rose from the dead for their sins too.
That same year it was my privilege to baptize six born again believers in the Lord Jesus Christ renouncing their Muslim faith.
The next five years I studied Muslim Evangelism. My heart ached for the lost Muslims and the Lord further defined my future by directing me specifically to the Yao Tribe, situated along Lake Malawi. I began by traveling 350 kilometers (200 miles) holding Christian revival campaigns and showing the Jesus Film.
Eventually a church was set up along Lake Malawi and I moved from Salima. Over the next few years 8 new churches were planted with nearly 500 members. This led to the establishment of Heart and Hands in Action Ministry. (HHA) We meet at our office called Mission Conference Lodge (MCL) where the Cross is now planted.
Our HHA goals for reaching Muslim communities were defined in my dream.
Equip making Disciples
Build Partnerships
Prayer Networking
Church Growth
HHA is dedicated to the Lord Jesus Christ building disciples for HIS Kingdom. Currently I’m working with 60 disciples in our Discipleship Making Movements Program. Another sixty have already graduated. Our graduates are extensively working with football (soccer) sport teams. This is our most participated sport in Malawi. Our work with the players is evangelism in its boldest form — An introduction to the saving grace of Jesus Christ.
We formed our own football team made up of talented young believers who are hungry to share Jesus with opponents. We distribute Bibles and footballs after our seminars. At each seminar Jesus is taught and many come to HIM as a result. Our theme is, ”When you win, give glory to God, when you lose, congratulate the winner in Christian love and take it as a challenge and work harder for winning the next round.”
To date our graduates have planted 42 churches.
My favorite Bible verse is: Galatians 2:20
“I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me” NIV
This Cross planted reminds me of the Old Rugged Cross where Jesus took the full penalty of sins upon himself, on my own behalf.
Prayer: Father thank you for Pastor Jackson and his disciples who spread the Good News of The Lord Jesus Christ and plant churches throughout Malawi. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen!
Preparing the hole
Johan drilling beams
Staining Cross with preservative and insect treatment
Lifting Cross into position
FIRE IN THE HOLE
Preparing cement
Securing area around Cross
Adding rocks to increase cement strength
Johan attaching Cross plaque
Pastor Jackson
Cross planting team
Plaque
Declaring God’s Glory
over Malawi, South East Africa