05/02/2022
*KITWE-CHINGOLA APOSTLE AREA*
_FAMILY FELLOWSHIP ARTICLE No. 03/2022_
*MY HOME CONGREGATION EXPERIENCES*
My dear brethren,
I will be failing in my task if I do not appreciate your valuable responses verbally, in writing and in photos of nice churches on the previous Topic: *THE CONGREGATION IS OUR HOME TOO!* That said; it is very important that those nice comments and photos are translated into nice *EXPERIENCES* that indeed makes *A CONGREGATION TO BE OUR HOME TOO!*
1. Since childhood, I have been a New Apostolic Member and a child of God. Through God's grace, I was ordained to be a church minister as a youth. The beauty of God's house and numerous *EXPERIENCES* cannot be explained in few words. It is a place where I have made a greater family of loving brothers and sisters who are helpful, dependable, available, reliable, because they are close by. I have few relatives compared to the children of God close by. The congregation has been there for me in times of sorrow and joy, in times of need and plenty, in times of good health and sickness, in times of loneliness or in a company of many people and so on. Like anybody else, I have sometimes gone to church sad but returned home happily. It is a wonderful family of God. Wherever I traveled, I felt at home when I met a child of God even outside the Apostle Area or outside the country. *I have vowed not to distance myself from the congregation which is my important home too!* Don't be cheated, one will never ever find joy and peace outside fellowship with brothers and sisters! Many times, a prayer in times of need brought about solutions to my predicaments to give me comfort. At the time when I was a Bishop, I remember in 2006 when my wife fell ill, the Doctor told me that my wife was no more! I called my Apostle immediately and he responded: *"Bishop do not fear, I will pray with you and she will be alright"* And just after that moment, she came back to life again. This is one of my greatest living experiences. *A CONGREGATION IS MY TRUE HOME TOO.*
2. In my congregation I found some people who taught me how to be loving, patient, persevere, to be happy, to forgive and so on. I have been robbed, offended, blackmailed, betrayed by people but I always found back my peace and joy from the congregation again after a word from my brothers and sisters and church leaders. *The proclamation of the forgiveness of sins by the Apostle Ministry is a unique offer of grace only found in my congregation.* The congregation has impacted greatly on my character for the better so much that even my employers and workmates always associate me with the church. Surprisingly, even people who do not know me, have associated me with Christianity and leadership of the church. I have heard many people asking me: *"Excuse me Sir, Are you a Reverend or Pastor?"* I have always acknowledged. It's my experience that the effect of what I get from my congregation has influenced the way I carry myself in society. Therefore, I have lived to know that my help, love, patience, hard work and good character comes from the congregation. So many experiences of Faith strengthens me. Those are some of *MY HOME CONGREGATION EXPERIENCES.*
3. I have also come to appreciate that congregants are not the same. We all manifest various characteristics. I know that not everyone loves me. Not everyone trusts me. Not everyone wants to talk to me. Not everyone wants to laugh with me. Not everyone wants to greet me. Not everyone speaks good about me. Not everyone wants to assist me. Not everyone wants to visit my home. Not everyone visits me when I am sick or have a funeral. Not everyone.....and the list is endless. However, I also know that others love me, others like talking to me, others visits me, others always helps me, others trusts me, others look up to me as their brother and church minister, others pray for me, others likes making me laugh, others.....and so on. I remember one time after having three funerals in my family within a month, I was very broke financially. I had no food at home, no fuel to put into my car and lacked many things of life. I tried to borrow from my workmates and close friends (not from brothers and sisters)but nobody had! I prayed and prayed. I just decided to stop in town waiting for anybody to help me without asking. I believed that after asking from God, I should not again ask help from anybody! God was sufficient! I therefore just sat in my car, without enough fuel to reach home. Few minutes later, a brother called John came to my car with much joy of seeing me after a long time. I felt that his joy surpassed mine by far. I tried to maximize my joy as well! He immediately asked me to come out of my car and gave me a big long hug! Without telling him my situation, which I did not want him to know anyway, he immediately asked me to accompany him to the supermarket!. Whilst in the shop, he smiled and challenged me: *"Sir, pick whatever you want from the shop and I will pay. Today is my day of blessings. I got my salary and bonus at work. Feel free!"* I got frozen with such an unbelievable rare offer and the first in my life! Believe me you, I failed to pick anything. In any case, I needed so many things, from mealie meal, relish, cooking oil, salt, vegetables, sugar, bread, butter......name it. I told you that I was broke! I felt embarrassed to pick all that and besides I was still shocked. I was scared at the love of God in this brother. Afterwards, he picked for me all that I needed and much more! He later gave me cash and said *"Have this for fuel sir"* Indeed, *A CONGREGATION IS MY HOME TOO.* That is how life is and I have accepted the fact that whilst others may hate me, others will love and respect me. I also know that I am not perfect just like anybody else. And this is found in my congregation as well.
This is my congregation where I have been taught to *LOVE EVERYONE* regardless of their standing with me whether they are my enemies or not! Love is easier to carry than hatred. I have learnt to look for something good in each person rather than looking for weaknesses. That makes me comfortable and joyful to live my life!. Those are some of *MY HOME CONGREGATION EXPERIENCES.*
4. Above all, indeed, the congregation *IS MY HOME TOO* because I love going to there and spend as much time as possible. This has not been a burden to me at all. Serving the Lord has been my first priority despite my busy schedules because I know that I am being prepared for the return of our Lord Jesus Christ to take me to *MY ETERNAL AND BEAUTIFUL HOME in heaven where there will be no more sickness, death, pain or sorrow.* That makes *OUR CONGREGATION TO BE OUR HOME TOO!* It prepares us for greater things to come!
5. My dear brethren, before I was born, I found a home in my mother's womb and when I was born, I found a home in my parents' house. Later, from our home I was taken into a congregation where I made a home too. Therefore, what would *MY CONGREGATION* achieve if it cannot help me to be ushered into *MY ETERNAL HOME IN HEAVEN* and everlasting life? Above all, even if my *ETERNAL HOME* is still concealed, my faith helps me believe that the Home of my soul is in heaven. I have a home beyond this life where clouds no more appears. I have a home being prepared for me by my Lord Jesus Christ. He promised me too: *"And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there you may be also"* (John 14:3). I can only be prepared for that heavenly home if I remain in the house of God for the rest days of my life - *MY CONGREGATION IS MY HOME TOO*
My dear brethren, I invite you to also justify that the *CONGREGATION IS YOUR HOME TOO* by sharing your *HOME CONGREGATION EXPERIENCES OR PERSONAL EXPERIENCES ( As I have done)TO SHOW WHAT GOD HAS DONE FOR YOU!* You can also share what you miss in your congregation which deprives you of peace and joy that needs to be addressed.
Let us sing:
*BEYOND WHERE CLOUDS NO MORE APPEAR - I HAVE A HOME*
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I convey to you the greetings of love from our dear District Apostle and our dear DAHs.
Warm regards.
*Steven L. Lindunda*
*APOSTLE*
