A tribute to a friend, ministry partner, husband, father and spiritual leader!

I can still remember the first day I met this man. He walk towards me and gave me a hug and true brotherly kiss! At first I did not understand this, since I was young in my understanding of the culture, but soon came to realize that this is Godly love in a human body!

Anatoli, known by most in the Live School Team as “ papa Anatoli” was the husband of Taya Ageeva, the father of Oleg and his young family – wife Macha and son Pasha and soon to be born, Misha, but also Tonya – my personal assistant, interpreter and very close friend.

We grew to love this family as our own after we moved to Dneprodzerzinks a few years ago. Anatoli got involved in what we do after starting a Live School in his church, facilitated by one of his leaders. He went through the school himself and constantly testified about new revelation and how the school impacted his church.

One of the highlights of our ministry together was the Retreat in Ukraine in September 2009. For at least a year and a half before the event we had been seeking God’s face together, going on prayer journeys, planning and meeting with key leaders together. He was there on the stage with me as we stepped out in faith trusting God for a new season in Ukraine. He was there when I made mistakes, not understanding the culture and maybe wanting to act too quickly. We ministered together in small gatherings of Live School students, facilitators’ training sessions and leadership meetings. Whenever I needed a person to talk to about ministry or personal issues – I could knock on their door.

Although Anatoli was already sick when I saw him the last time, I will never forget our last short conversation. “When I was in bed the last week Hennie, I watched Process of Preparation by Willie Crew again” he said. Quietly I acknowledged but thought by myself:” Here we have a man, sacrificing so much and still willing to sacrifice more, but yet he still felt a need to allow God to prepare him for his purpose on earth - so dedicated, so eager to see a united body seeking God’s face and reaching the lost.

With this short statement I want to say thank you to his family for allowing him to be with us for this - way to short - time. I would be lying if I say that I did not dream of ministering with him in the future on stages in very difficult countries - because I did. It was a privilege and honour for us at Live School to be associated with Anatoli Ageev. In his absence I also thank him for what he meant to our ministry and personally as a family.

As we covered his body with soil we can only believe that his life is now buried as a seed and will produce the fruit he so eagerly awaited.

Ukraine lost a quiet General!

During February I landed in Pemba, Mozambique for the first practical phase of what had taken years of endless prayer and planning from people that we may never know plus the efforts of those that have continued with us in various levels to this very present moment. God had called us at World Mission Centre, not only to provoke, enthuse challenge and mobilize the local Church to the task of World evangelization, but to equip the Church as well,  using the Live School the Live School curriculum.

In the Live School dream the completion of the Swahili version was one of the best news for this Africa’s’ very own product that was touching and affecting lives and Church planting movements all over the world using the English, Russian, Arabic and now Swahili version with many more languages to come.

Pemba Facilitator Training

The training at the Coastal Capital of Cabo Delgado province began on the 16th – 18th of February at the Igreja Pentecostal Missao Rural De Mocambique or RAEP ministry facility. In attendance were representative Pastors and leaders of the hosting Ministry, the Apostolic Faith Mission and Igreja Pentecostal Monte Templo De Mocambique. A total of 10 people took part in the training.

The first Swahili Live School had recruited 22 students for their training process and the first Swahili School is now up and running. The School started on the 3rd of March with 8 students of the intended 22 due to floods and other factors that affected a number of trainees as these were being drawn from various parts of Mozambique.

From the training, a need arose for the Live School in Boane- Maputo which we’ll be looking into for the future as we trust to start one more School in Cabo Delgado to serve some of the regions away from Pemba.

Lichinga Facilitators Training

Pemba had been awesome and whereas I had expected to conduct training with only five people, God was busy prompting the hearts of those that would be part of the Live School. Leaving Pemba via Maputo on 19th I landed in Lichinga on the 20th with a sense of great expectation from God. A total of two Ministries were represented in Lichinga and after preaching in Swahili in one of the Churches, I realized that the Niassa region was very much Swahili.

For the two Churches and Schools, six leaders and Pastors attended the training. The Living Water Ministry will begin their training in March /April 2010 while the Liberty Church will begin theirs sometime in June. While reflecting on the training after the first day, the following thought came to me “Re writing the History of a Nation or generation demands the invocation of divine foresight and wilful embrace of individual responsibility in light of eternity. May we live as foundation raisers for many generations.”  I did not understand everything about it till day two of the training when I asked for feedback and one of the leaders in attendance said that the Independence struggle for Mozambique began in the North, thus it was imperative that salvation move begin in the North and filter through to the other provinces of Mozambique. I was awestruck to think that the God of heaven and would entrust as few and little as the process may seem to inaugurate the re writing of the History of Mozambique as we raise a God conscious  generation using the Live School Curriculum.

Literacy and Evangelism Training

In our constant search for ways to ensure effective ministry among the National pastors and leaders, WMC in liaison with Literacy and Evangelism International hosted a Teachers Training Workshop (TTW). We had planned for just about 12 Pastors and leaders, but we ended up with 18 during the training that ran through from the 25th – 27th of February. The Pastors welcomed the training and now took some of the Primers that we trust they will start using shortly in the literacy classes.

We challenged the Pastors and leaders to see the Literacy program as a tool that they could even use to mobilize Government action and partnership with the local Church for their own people.

Pastors Committee

While the need to plan for the September Lake to Sea was great, I spent time talking through some of the prevalent issues among the Committee as Ps Gama was busy with the Land Rover. These ranged from leadership differences and opinions to personal interaction, communication and financial transparency among other things.

I conducted a SWORT analysis with them and in the end challenged to them to see Lichinga and Niassa not only with the presence of WMC, but even in the days to come, and to take ownership of the process.

There is however a great need to train the Committee as we come to the end of the Lake to Sea project and if possible, Ps Gama should still go up in July to handle this as we move to bring closure on the Lake to Sea project later in the year.

Besides everything, they are ready for September should the teams go up.

Lake To Sea Visits

On the 1st of March, we left Lichinga on a trip to visit some of the Churches planted as a result of the Lake to Sea project. Leaving Lichinga at 05h30, the journey took us through Lione, Chinenje, Massangulo, Chisimbiri, Ngapane, Mandiba, Cuamba, Morrupa, Mavago Chiconono and Bandeze. Time and rains could not allow us to go to all the places and Steven leaves today for Cobue and Metangula regions to finish the intended visits having showed him what and how to interact with the Pastors while we were together.

We visited with some of the Pastors from the newly planted Churches. Although they were just brief stops, the joy of the short visits were amazing as their eyes beamed with smiles while they begged us to stay for a meal. In one of the Churches, the leader in charge and the congregants had been waiting for us since 07h, but we only got there at 17h55. Their patience and hospitality crushed and humbled us that we opted to stay while they served us the Pasta dish they had prepared for our lunch before heading off in the twilight.

Land Rover

The Pemba Land rover is still at Lucas’ garage in Pemba. It was officially registered under Ps Gama and the new Id book would be out in just under 90 days period. We paid for the license before it could expire in March to avoid penalties from the Gov. of Mozambique. Lucas has still opened his garage for us to use until we are ready to move the Land rover later on.

Lichinga Landrover was in a real bad state with rats having chewed out the wiring system. The spares carried from South Africa were fitted and an auto electrician worked on the Landrover before the Mechanic could come to finish the repairs. A new battery was also bought and fitted on the Land rover under the supervision of Ps Gama. Its’ license and radio permit was also paid for and it can now be used within the district. After everything the Mechanic conducted a test drive from Lidias’ house and back without hassles.

I made a temporary arrangement with Lidia and Cardoso to run the Landie engine at least once every two weeks for sometime, an hour at the most, an arrangement that they were fine with. 

Ps Gama flew out on the 3rd of March and I followed the very next day 4th Mar for South Africa with gladness for what the Lord had accomplished on the trip.

I just wanted to give you a quick wrap up of what happened, otherwise see you soon for further discussion.

Paul Okach

Report on a church planting project in Southern Africa

I'm honoured to bear witness to God's work in the Lichinga village church plant. I was privileged to attend the church planting conference in Lichinga, in northern Mozambique, focusing on the Lake to Sea Project. While there, I attended the opening ceremony of the newly constructed church in Lichinga, and visited two additional church plants-one in Matola village and the other in Utuculu village-each a result of God's work through the labour and efforts of the Lichinga pastor, Pastor Zondeia. Not only did I visit newly planted churches, but newly planted church buildings, as well. Wow, how amazing is that!

When we talk of how church planting that takes place in Africa there is a typical question in the back of our minds. Will the pastor take the initiative and ownership to ensure the newly planted church survives? Would Pastor Zoneia be such a man? After spending two weeks in Lichinga and the surrounding villages, I have no doubt that he has indeed taken initiative and ownership, to the glory of God.

When Pastor Zondeia arrived in 2008, suffice it to say, he was more than just a little out of his depth. He came from a part of Mozambique where it is an understatement to say that life was a lot easier for him and his family. With the cost of living and the cost of food forever on the rise, and a salary that barely lets him, his wife, and five children survive financially to the end of the month, he has no easy task at hand.

Coupled with the starting of a new, baby church in a region where Islam is not just a religion, but a culture, he has no mere hill to climb, but a mountain. However, this man of God has purposed to forge ahead, being about the Lord's work with faith, diligence and excellence.

I have to admit, I was pleasantly surprised by the outstanding workmanship of the Lichinga church. As you are no doubt aware, to construct any kind of building is not an easy task, let alone a cheap one, in any part of the world.

I sat down with Pastor Zondeia and asked him, "How did you do it?" His gracious reply was, "It was only by God." I learned that the 50-or-so members of the church had banded together to help raise funds and contribute skills. That, along with the help of earnings from a humble bread business that Pastor Zondeia began to help support his family and ministry, supplied the funds to erect the building.

On the 26th of July, the Grand opening of the church, which seats about 80 people, was held. The entire congregation, out in full force, sang and danced, praising God for His blessings. It was truly a joy partaking in the excitement surrounding this celebration of God's work-work that was facilitated by His grace through caring churches and individuals giving of their time, money, and of themselves.

The church and Pastor Zondeia send their regards. With much anticipation, they look forward to the possibility of more churches sending outreach teams to plug in to God's work in northern Mozambique. They invite you to once again share first-hand in their excitement. Your team was sorely missed this year, but the church continues to pray for future possibilities of working together with you.

The work in Matola is also moving ahead under the oversight of Pastor Zondeia. He explained to me, however, that there are so many people and the need for evangelism, training, and discipling so great, that a team is much needed to help strengthen the work.

In Utuculu, God's work is progressing. The church is still in the tender, vulnerable stages of growth and they've experienced a setback. A horrific storm took the grass roof off of the church. Making plans to fix it, the members ask that you pray not only for the repairs of the church, but for their protection. The presence and spreading of the Gospel to the surrounding villages is far from easy, not without spiritual attacks from the devil, therefore they covet your prayer covering all the more. They move forward with faith and have committed to persevere, come what may.

Blessings in Christ

Patrick Charping
World Mission Centre
Southern Africa – Mozambique