“Every follower of Jesus has a work to do as a missionary for Christ, in the family, in the neighborhood, in the town or city where he lives.” –Christian Service, p. 18. This is the most important reason why God chose the children of Israel as His people. It is the same reason that He has chosen us to be His peculiar people in these last days, regard-
less of our social status, of being poor or rich, educated or uneducated, each one has a part in his sphere to be a channel of light. “When Jesus went away, He left to every man his work, and nothing to do’ is an unwarrantable excuse. ‘Nothing to do’ is the reason of trial among the brethren; for Satan will fill the minds of idlers with his own plans, and set them to work.” –The Review and Herald, March 13, 1888
I would like to share with you a small testimony. It was in the year 2020, when the COVID pandemic was at its peak that we decided to leave the city. By God’s grace we had already purchased a piece of land some 20 km from town. As soon as we arrived in this place, we started to do door-to-door visitations so that at least we could introduce our message to the people and by God’s grace we could find some souls to fellowship with.
This is when we realized that out of all the places where we had worked as missionaries, this particular place was the hardest community to accept the message or even give you a chance to explain. The reason for this hard soil was because most of these people belonged to a certain spiritual sect which was teaching its members some false doctrines like believing in prophets, polygamy, and also discouraging members from going to schools. Because of these doctrines the people believed that only their leaders and the so-called prophets could tell them the truth. Most men here will not entertain another gospel, to keep their families in bondage under their control; it is even difficult to reach the wives, for a wife to be seen discussing a different gospel with a stranger is considered an offence. Illiteracy among most of the members of the community is also one of the greatest hindrances otherwise we could have resorted to distributing tracts. As I visited some families, I was heartbroken to see most children playing around at home while it was time for school.
We were facing a dilemma on how we were going to live among such people, but we believed had God sent us to this place for a purpose. Therefore it was up to us to bring light to this place. The most important task which came to my mind was to introduce education to these people, not as a way of generating income but as a way of finding a breakthrough with these people. We then brought the matter before God in prayers.
There was no light ahead since we are also a poor struggling family but we decided to utilise what we had and that was our humble home and the experience that I had as a school teacher. In our new home we had one very small room which was reserved for visitors. We then decided to convert it into a small classroom.
I sold the idea to the community of opening a class for kindergarten students at our home, but only few parents responded positively. We started classes mid-March 2022. At the beginning we had less than 10 children who came for classes. We decided to charge a small fee of $5 per term so that at least we could raise the money for buying some small plastic chairs and tables which we did the following term. The news about our school spread very fast like wildfire and by the end of the term we had a total of 19 pupils. We worked wholeheartedly for these children and the results testified to this truth. As a result, by the end of the year we had more than 40 children. As we speak now, in less than 2 years we now have more than 100 students. The Bible says in Ecclesiastes 9:10, “Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might.”
We worked very hard to nurture these children and the results testified to that. We also do extra curriculum activities such as Physical Education, Bible knowledge, and sports. Some time last year we had kindergarten competitions for these extra curriculum activities and among four well-established schools we came first in all the events.
Because of all this, many people’s attention have been drawn to us and our religion has been brought to light. At last we now have an IMS branch in this place with 11 baptized members of which 2 have transferred, and also 13 souls attending baptismal classes. Because of the school we now have many connections with the parents in this community and the prejudice of not belonging to their church has been broken. Most are now aware of our attitude towards politics and also our diet. Some have come for cookery lessons where we prepare healthy foods such as soya milk and tofu. We have even received a nickname in the community of the “Sabbath-keepers” in our dialect, which makes everyone aware of the gospel we preach.
The most important benefit we are getting from the school is the opportunity to win these children to Christ while they are young; and we are doing our best to improve this opportunity. Almost every Sabbath some attend services with us. Some also are restricted by their parents but we know and believe all will take away the knowledge we are giving them at school. They will also grow up with a perspective altogether different from that of their parents. Through them, in the end, we might even win some of their parents to Christ.
Another miracle which we witnessed is that of one of our teachers who was a staunch believer of these false doctrines has since realized the deception she was in and has stopped attending their services. She fellowships with us every Sabbath whenever she is available and also attends the baptism class regularly.
The news of the school reached the authorities of this place unbeknownst to us. At the beginning of December 2024, as we had our last annual meeting with the parents, the Member of Parliament for this place whom we have never met, called in appreciation for what we have done for this community and promised to donate 60 small chairs for the children at the beginning of the year. We thank God for inspiring even unbelievers to come to our aid.
Above all there are brethren from overseas who have made the construction of this school possible. Though the Bible has little praise for the good deeds done by humans, like the sick who were healed by Jesus, whom He commanded not to tell anyone, yet they went out publishing all that had been done to them. We also thank God for inspiring Sister Leila McTavish to give us some help as we started building the first classroom. She has been like a mother to us for years now. May the Lord remember her name always. We wished to honour her by naming the school after her as our first donor, but she asked us to name it rather after her late brother, and our Brother Tim Martin. “And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them.” Revelation 14:13
If we do well, our works will follow us, even in death. Because of its performance and transformation which it has brought to this community, Tim Martin Junior School has become a household name near and far, and will continue to grow to be a channel of light. May the Lord always remember all who have assisted, whom we could not mention by name, for what they have done and continue doing for this community. They may not realise the impact of what they do now, but if they continue to be faithful, one day they will understand when Jesus comes.
Because of all this help we have managed to build two small classrooms and one big block with two classrooms which is still under construction. We received funds for buying a printer and copier from one of our beloved donors, which will lighten our work and help in the smooth running of the school and as well in the promotion of the gospel.
We are still a long way from accomplishing the objective of this dream. We still have need of more classrooms, furniture, and computers. We also wish to extend our education for the children living with disabilities who are not given much attention in most parts of this country. We need specialist educators for the blind and those with hearing and speech impairments so that in the end they also will hear the gospel. Also needed are things like braille and musical instruments. We believe God who started this work will finish it.
From all this as a family we have learned that with God it is possible to be a channel of light and to brighten the corner where you are regardless of your situation. We need wisdom and tact from above on how to bring the light to those around us in this short probationary time. If we seek God for wisdom, and like Daniel, purpose in our hearts to put it into action, God is ever ready to lead and guide us. At the end if we remain faithful, Jesus will open the pearly gates for us as we enter into everlasting life. May God help us so that each one of us can brighten the corner where we are. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
By Josephine Gwina