Messages from Coworkers
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| COUNTDOWN TO BLOWING THE VUVUZELA OF SALVATION |
| Clemence Machadu
( Zimbabwe )
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2010-04-22 Views
: 12 Touched : 6 |
On March 3, South Africa marked a special day (100 Days Countdown) which kick-starts the counting down of the number of days left before the Soccer World Cup kicks off. The number of days left is displayed every day in the daily press and on television. The atmosphere is pregnant with excitement, and I think the 2010 Soccer World Cup is the most talked about event in Africa, generally and in Southern Africa, particularly. This is the first mega soccer event of this magnitude to be held in Africa.
During the period 11 June – 11 July, preaching the gospel in South Africa is equal to preaching the gospel to all nations at once. It is like killing all the birds with one stone. Every nation will be represented on this mega soccer event, and it’s such a rare world gathering, which comes after every four years.
In South Africa, you cannot talk about supporting a soccer match without talking about a vuvuzela. This is a trumpet like instrument which is blown, and it produces a sharp sound. It is usually made of plastic material, to make it light to carry, I suppose. I also think it’s because plastic is less expensive as well. A vuvuzela is the pride of every soccer supporter in South Africa. I am sure those who are going to visit us here, in Southern Africa, will learn a thing or two about the incredible way we support the wonderful game of football here in Mzansi Africa. I also hope that the visitors will take with them the vuvuzelas back home.
I have my own vuvuzela which I have been blowing in my room, a few days ago. Just holding it in my hand gives me the imagination of how the mega soccer event shall be like. I also couldn’t stop imagining the extent to which we can make sure that every vuvuzela which shall be blown at the World Cup will be a Vuvuzela of Salvation. How can we possibly make the soccer fans to blow the Vuvuzela of Salvation? I have been thinking that if we make some small stickers which are pasted of those vuvuzelas, it could be a great way of promoting navigation to our main website, where visitors will inevitably meet salvation. On the stickers will be written our main website address and a small message. It is these small messages which make people curious and want to know more about what exactly the gospel of water and the Spirit is all about.
Stickers and flyers are an effective way of passing a message to a large and busy crowd, without incurring considerable cost, or consuming plenty of time. My fellow co-worker, Hector Alonso, can testify to that. He has distributed thousands of flyers to preach about the gospel of water and the Spirit. He told me that this method is very effective. I challenge every co-worker in the Southern African region, especially those in South Africa, to make sure that every vuvuzela which shall be blown, and seen by the whole world, at the World Cup, will be a Vuvuzela of Salvation. The pasting of these stickers on the vuvuzelas can be done at stadium entrances, when ecstatic fans will be pouring into the stadium, holding their vuvuzelas. You just nicely say: How about this wonderful sticker on your vuvuzela? Don’t forget to say, “Sho sho!” when you finish sticking. I, for one, will make sure that I travel to my neighbouring South Africa, from my country, Zimbabwe, during the World Cup, to fulfil the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20) in a number of ways.
The small cards, which are usually sent along with the Christian books, from The New Life Mission, are also an effective way of spreading the gospel, during the Soccer World Cup. The cards are small (like the size of a business card) and the recipients can keep it in their wallets, purses or even in their pockets, for later use. Co-workers in the region should make sure that they have sought enough of these cards, from The New Life Mission, for distribution.
The printed books can also be another effective way of spreading the gospel to the whole world, during the period 11 June – 11 July. The printed books can be read, by the visitors, while they are relaxing in the comforts of their hotel rooms, when no game is being played. Some may decide to just keep the books in their suitcases, and enjoy reading them with friends and family when they are back home. The entrances to the stadium are the most strategic/ideal areas to distribute these books.
The electronic books (eBooks) cannot be ruled out, also, as an effective method of preaching the gospel of water and the Spirit, during the period when each of the 32 qualifying nations will be battling to lift the golden trophy. Unlike the printed books, which could be heavy to carry/transport, if they are in large quantities; with eBooks, you can actually walk around with all the Christian eBooks downloaded on your laptop. You might choose to download the eBooks on a flashy disk and copy them to the PCs of those who want them. Alternatively, you can download the eBooks on your mobile phone (if it has an eBook reader) and simply transfer the eBooks to other people’s mobile phones (who will be requesting them), using Bluetooth. The eBooks can also be downloaded on gadgets/devices like iPods. I urge co-workers in Southern Africa to start downloading eBooks for distribution. If you experience problems in downloading them, you can write to The New Life Mission, and they will send you the eBooks on your email.
There are other wonderful Christian resources which we can actually download from The New Life Mission website, and distribute at the 2010 Soccer World Cup, for the benefit of the whole world. The banners carry a message which is short and precise, but useful. Some people may want to have those banners on their phones. The mp3 messages and songs must also not be left out. These are wonderful ways of spreading the gospel. Sometimes reading can cause boredom. Some people are also illiterate. They cannot read and write. Some are blind. If they listen to an mp3 message, they can grasp the will of the Lord, and get saved. Music can penetrate through the mind and the soul, leaving a lasting impression.
Preaching by the word of mouth is also a wonderful method of spreading the gospel to the whole world, during the World Cup. For anything you say, whilst in South Africa, between 11 June and 11 July, you will be saying it on an international platform. Whatever you’ll be saying is going to be heard by the whole world, just as the vuvuzela sound shall be heard worldwide. So, I urge co-workers to also preach about the gospel, using the spoken word. I hope Mr Phil Grahn will also be in South Africa, during the period. He visited South Africa, a while. From what I observed, he seems to be someone who can easily get along with people in Southern Africa. He has already introduced me to several Zimbabweans who live in my country, yet he lives out of Zimbabwe.
We should also take the Soccer World Cup as an opportunity to pray for all the visitors we meet, for by doing so we’ll be praying for the whole world. “First of all, then I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all men, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life, godly and respectful in every way. This is good and acceptable in the sight of God” (1 Timothy 2:1-3). Our prayers, as born again saints, have a guarantee of being powerful and effective (James 5:16).
I would like to encourage cooperation among all co-workers in the Southern African region. Let us liaise with each other about distribution strategies and other issues pertaining to spreading the gospel during the 2010 Soccer World Cup, so that we can make the most out of it. I also would like to encourage Co-worker Jerry Sakala to rise to the occasion. He is a wonderful e-Marketer, and I am sure that with his assistance, the true gospel will spread like veld fire, during the World Cup period.
As we count down to the 2010 Soccer World Cup, may each day find you awakening to the things that you actually do to add value to the beautiful gospel, as you fulfil the Lord’s Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20).
Yours in His Vineyard
Clemence Machadu
www.nlmbookcafe.com/blog/clemence
clemencemachadu.blogspot.com
www2.bjnewlife/shona.html
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