ccm Cross 0103 Monomutapa Baptist Church, Gweru, Zimbabwe

Monomutapa Baptist Church
Gweru, Zimbabwe
ccm Cross 0103

GPS/DMS 19° 26′ 24.18” S 29° 48′ 6” E

4315 cdd Against All Odds
Cyber Daily Devotion
Volume 18 Number 085

Today’s Author: Pastor Bill

Scripture: Romans 8:31b
“If God is for us, who can be against us?” NKJV

My name is Pastor Obert Green Banda of the Monomutapa Baptist Church Gweru, Zimbabwe. My friends call me Obert. I was born the eighth of nine children. My dad was a farmer while mom took care of the kids. Mom and dad did not attend church but they placed us in an Anglican school for a good education. Religion was something others did. Not us. Through my young years, I never heard about Jesus.

Then August 8, 1974 I was invited to a revival meeting. Jesus got my attention. The preacher was talking about only one way to new life in Jesus Christ. The light bulb went on — I accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior. There would be no more drinking, no more weekly drunkenness and no more womanizing. My life was transformed from gutter talk to talk of Jesus. I lived as Jesus would have me live.

I got a steady job. Began to read my Bible and pray consistently. Yes, I was changing. Then in 1979, I met Sarah. She had the same desire to serve Jesus as I did. We were married. We had three children who to this day love and serve the Lord.

Sarah and I were determined to raise our children for the Lord. I always had a steady job with good pay so I began to study part time at the Theological College to see what Jesus could do with someone like me.

Then life got hectic so I never fully completed my courses. I tried again to complete my course work some years later but it just didn’t work out for me.

Then the economic crisis in our country happened. Everyone lost their jobs. I was included. It has now been more than 10 years and economically we are still struggling as a country. Since then I’ve been the Pastor of Monomutapa Baptist Church, Gweru, Zimbabwe.

Against all odds, without a paying job and our members without jobs, the biggest miracle has been that Jesus continues to provide.

The Lord has blessed me over the years with:

1. My wife Sarah who is a strong Christian.

2. Christian children who love the Lord.

3. Before the economic down turn I gave a house away to our church. During the worst of the economic problems we faced, someone gave me a house, where we live today.

4. Every time we experience a church challenge Jesus shows up and settles the issue.

My favorite Bible Verse is Psalm 121:
I will lift up my eyes to the hills- From whence comes my help?
My help comes from the Lord, Who made heaven and earth.

He will not allow your foot to be moved;
He who keeps you will not slumber.

Behold, He who keeps Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.
The Lord is your keeper; The Lord is your shade at your right hand.

The sun shall not strike you by day, Nor the moon by night.
The Lord shall preserve you from all evil; He shall preserve your soul.

The Lord shall preserve your going out and your coming in
From this time forth, and even forevermore.

Many people have asked us through the years “Why don’t you have a Cross to tell everyone who you are?” Today we can say — here is the Cross of Jesus Christ. His tomb is empty because He rose from the dead.

This Cross tells of the Love of Jesus Christ and what He did for us on the Cross. Everyone who comes to Jesus will share in His victory.

Prayer: Father thank you for the wisdom of such a statement. “Everyone who comes to Jesus will share in His victory. Help me spread the message. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen!