On to the capital, this time with Linhas Aereas de Mocambique, and to the latest church plant. We ate in the courtyard of Inocencio and Alexandra’s very basic rented accommodation with an enthusiastic group of students.
By the light of a flickering fire I heard of their plans for churches, schools, and a Bible college. As I wondered at the enthusiasm for the gospel of these people with so little materially, and the disinterest in the affluent West, I thought of Jesus’ visit to Nazareth where the people thought he had nothing to offer them. They were warned that if God’s blessings were rejected by them, they would be received by others, as indeed he has been.
In the morning we drove (in a borrowed SUV) to meet Bishop Martin Morrison at the airport. Six weeks earlier he had expressed an interest in meeting with Inocencio and this was it.
Martin loves Africa – passionately. He planted a multi-ethnic church of 600 in Midrand, with an accompanying school, Christ Church Grammar School (now up with the best in SA), a school for HIV affected children in Thembisa township (with a long waiting list), a programme which trains African pre-school teachers, and a network of people helping ministries (Love Trust).
He is what I call “a kingdom entrepreneur”. He also offers episcopal oversight to churches in the Eastern Congo. When he learned about Inocencio’s desire to establish Christian schools…well they really hit it off. Christ Church Midrand has now provided the means for Inocencio to rent more suitable premises for his church plant, in the city centre.
It was a tired but deeply thankful teddy who said goodbye and returned to the ho hum of Perth – except that Lorraine met me at the airport and announced that our daughter, Caris, had started contractions. After a difficult labour (for her) and some anxious pacing around the hospital (for me), Samuel Aaron Moore (3.96 kg) was born by CS at 2.30am. Thank you God!