World Church Sunday

World Church Sunday was celebrated on 5^th April 2008 and was led by members of the congregation who were born in Africa.  The church was decorated with African objects and national flags.  Music was a mixture of English traditional hymns and African choruses and included dance.  The Lord’s Prayer was said in English, French, Afrikaans and Sotho. At various points in the service testimony was given.  We include here some of those testimonies.

Helene Ayinkamiye left Rwanda in 1994 to escape the ethnic cleansing.  Her mother tongue is Kinyarwanda.  Her testimony is based upon Psalm 91 verse 11: “For he will command his angels to guard you in all your ways.”

Today I have decided to share with you my testimony, which is based on my recent personal relationship with God.  Nowadays, Psalm 91 verse 11 has become very significant (my daily bread) in my life.  I am from Rwanda; a very small country in the heart of Africa.  Rwanda was not known until April 1994.  The genocide that took place exactly 14 years ago cost the lives of around one million people and made Rwanda to be known to the rest of the world.  Miraculously I was spared from that ethnic cleansing atrocity.  But I always asked myself why I was spared.  And equally I answered myself that there was a purpose and I believed it.  But since last May, when my world turned upside down, I turned against God and asked him again the purpose of sparing me.  How could he let that happen to me in a foreign land where I have no relatives?  No shoulder to cry on.  Is God happy to see my friends turning their backs on me?  How is he expecting me to survive?  I cannot even speak the language.  I cannot express myself as clearly as I want to.  I have to search for a word, even in a simple conversation and that word never comes.  Consequently, I become more and more frustrated.

Then, on 26 February, I stayed up praying.  In my prayers I was saying things that I am afraid of nowadays.  But mainly it was about death.  Things such as what would happen if I passed away that night.  As I was praying, at 00.56, my house started shaking.  It was an earthquake.  I was even more scared then.  It was not big and it did not last for very long, but for me it made me wonder more.  Then I turned in.  I slept well that night, but in the middle of the night I received a letter, and it read like this:

My dear Helene

Know that I love you and I care.  Read Psalm 91 verse 11 now.  “What is it about?” I asked.  Do not ask, just read it was the reply.  I got up and read it.  Ever since I was reassured that God is still with me, even though I am going through a hell of troubles.  “He will command his angels concerning me, to guard me in all my ways.”  God is a promise keeper.  He will never fail me.  As I understand it now, this does not mean that I will not suffer, I will not fall ill, I will not have enemies, that I will never die.  It means to me that God will protect my soul from all acts of evil.  I will always remember that Satan used these words when he was tempting Jesus.  So I am not going to tempt God and do dangerous things because the angels are there for me.  I have to be careful in all my ways in order not to abuse the promise of God.  This is my own testimony.  I now know that God will command his angels to guard me in all my ways.  Not because I deserve it by my good actions, but only because of his love; his unconditional love; his eternal love.

I also believe that it is a promise for everyone here. “He will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways.”  But what about you?  If you have something that God has done in your life, do not be afraid to come and give testimony.  The angels have received orders from God, our gracious Father, to watch over us.  The protection promised to us is unlimited, for it refers to ALL our ways.  AMEN.

Mirriam Mokhuoa was brought up in South Africa and now works as a nurse in Edgbaston.  Her testimony is based upon Matthew 22:34-40, read by Tshepo Mokhuoa in the Southern Sotho language, their mother tongue.

This scripture has a positive impact in my personal life, of which my values and belief system is greatly influenced.

Love is what gives us the courage to do good in every day life: in any encounter with human beings, in our relationships, be it in our families, our jobs, at schools for those in education, among our friends and in deed to do good to our enemies. My parents always taught us to do good and to be friendly to everybody, only God will judge those that do wrong to us. My parents’ advice has influenced my life greatly and probably has a lot to account for in the choice of my career, as I would not be in a position to meet the demands of my job if I did not believe in this commandment. 

In South Africa during apartheid era, it was clear there were people who, either did not understand this commandment or did not want to understand it. As apartheid was being slowly and steadily dismantled it became evident that the power of love working both within and outside South Africa was stronger than the power of hatred. When the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and our President Nelson Mandela called for forgiveness, the Christian love was put to the test.

The Church also was grappling with what it means to love. For many years the church had replicated the way the country operated: the N.G. Kerk, (Nederduitse Gereformeerde Kerk) translated as the Netherlands Reformed Church had 3 denominations: the black people belonged to theirs, the coloured people belonged to the sister church, and the white people belonged to the mother church.

This situation changed in 1994 when these 3 subdivisions united to form one Church, known today as Uniting Reformed Church. With God’s grace and repentance, peace, tolerance, understanding, acceptance and love for one another started to take roots in communities. People started to see the contradictions in worshipping and praising the one God Father of us all, and at the same time hate and oppress each other. It was at this time that Christians felt the freedom to worship in each other’s church without fear of ridicule or discrimination.

Today we give thanks and praise to God for the opportunity to have fellowship as Christians who believe in one faith irrespective of race, colour or creed.

May the Lord give us wisdom to live in peace and to love one another as we continue to serve Him.  Amen