ccm Cross 0207
Thursday February 7, 2019
Christian Centre International
Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe
ccm Cross 0207
Additional Photos After Testimony
4814 cdd Unconditional Acceptance
Cyber Daily Devotion
Volume 20 Number 063
Today’s Author: Pastor Bill
Scripture: Luke 15:22-24
“The father said to his servants, ‘Bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet. And bring the fatted calf here and kill it, and let us eat and be merry; for this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.'” NKJV
Hello, my name is Pastor Shadreck Phiri. Everyone calls me Pastor Shadreck with the Christian Centre International, Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe. I grew up in the village of KweKwe in the Midlands of Zimbabwe. I was born the second of five children. My dad was a carpenter while mom watched over us at home. We grew up in church every Sunday. Mom even taught Sunday School. This is my Cross testimony of how Jesus Christ captured my heart.
We moved to Bulawayo, Zimbabwe when I was still young. Church was something we did with dad and mom every Sunday because we had to. It was required. We went to church because it was our custom to do so.
But all that changed when I was 16 years old and the Family of God Church held a crusade. I was invited by some friends to the crusade and I didn’t know it, but it was my night to find Jesus. I was not paying much attention to the speaker when I heard him talk about a Prodigal Son. That caught my attention. I listened and learned about the Prodigal and his adventures with the pigs and squandering his inheritance. But after all that his father fully accepted him. It was this unconditional acceptance that opened the door to my heart.
There was an altar call and I received Jesus Christ as Lord of my life that night. Overnight I became a preacher to everyone I met. My name became Preacher to all who knew me. I was on fire for Jesus and I wanted everyone to join me. I signed on with Scripture Union and learned all I could from them. In 1994 my dad and mom were transferred to Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe. I stayed in Bulawayo to finish the last half year of high school and joined them.
I moved to Victoria Falls in 1995 and joined Christian Centre International Church. Here I began my journey to all that the Lord has for me. Pastor Vincent mentored me, and I started correspondence courses with schools in the USA. I earned several master’s degrees and ultimately my PHD in Theology.
I met my wife Precious in 2003 and we married in 2006. Today along with my Pastoral duties I am Vice chair for Kings Primary School where we look after more than 200 bubbly children for the Lord.
Throughout ministry I have witnessed so many miracles by the Power of the Holy Spirit. A 15 year old girl came for prayer because from birth she has had extremely dry eyes. The eyes were now causing very serious vision problems. Drops were needed continually but they no longer were working. She asked for prayer to reverse this problem.
Prayer is such a perfect way to ask God for a special touch, and in the end, He alone gets all the glory. And so, it was with this young girl. It has been more than a month and she has not needed the drops. She is healed and her vision is fine.
Then there was a young lady who came for prayer because the umbilical cord of her baby was wrapped around his neck. The doctors told her they could do nothing. Prayer took the problem to the Lord and the baby was born properly as the cord was miraculously unwrapped from around his neck before birth.
A lady could not walk because the bottoms of her feet were very sore. The doctors were helpless to cure her. Prayer was her only answer. After prayer she started walking and is still walking everywhere.
One of the ways I help with the Christian School is counseling those in need. I help with study strategies, and the proper way to study. I help guide character and develop a positive self-image through Jesus Christ.
My favorite Bible verse is John 1:29 “The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, ‘Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!’ NKJV
For me the Cross is a place of sacrifice. Jesus did not want to die. He did not want the pain. But He chose to honor His Father and became the sacrifice for me. He took my place.
My prayer for all who pass by this Cross is that they will look past the symbol and see the pain Jesus endured with supernatural eyes. It will be the beginning of a walk with Jesus that they will never regret. Today there is an empty tomb and an empty Cross because Jesus lives. And because He lives, we have eternal life.
Prayer: Father thank you for sending Jesus Christ with the avenue to eternal life for all who claim Him as Lord in their lives. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen!