31Jul 2020 by Nigel Ring

Hand out or Hand up? A Zimbabwean model we can all learn from….

Poor, Relief and Development, Zimbabwe
Of all the nations in the world Zimbabwe is among the most vulnerable in the present covid crisis. Yet, as Scott Marques shares here, they are setting a scene for positive support and intervention with long-term equipping and sustainability as their goal to help those most in need of help to climb out of abject poverty. This is a great example of what can be achieved with vision and compassion, and collaboration between apostolic spheres within the Newfrontiers family, and provides a model that others in any nation may be able to emulate. The importance of not just 'hand out' but 'hand up' is so important in any context, not just Africa. That is the way for people to be empowered out of poverty. Scott writes: 'We currently have some big…
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17Jun 2020 by Nigel Ring

Kingdom advance through partnership and empowerment

Poor, Zimbabwe
What is the solution to homelessness? Homes? What is the solution to poverty? Handouts of cash? While there is an element of necessity in both these actions they are not long-term 'solutions'. They treat the symptoms but not the underlying problem that led to this situation. In my last church we ran a project to help people who were on the way out of an addictive life-style to get their lives put back together in a supported house. Much good was done and I believe it really helped many people. But it still did not get them into a place of income generation which would lead to independence and the programme was later adjusted in various quite radical ways to help make these people 'job ready'. With this in mind…
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21Nov 2017 by Nigel Ring

Zimbabwe – a Day of Change, a call to Prayer

News, Poor, Prayer, Zimbabwe
  Remarkable changes are taking place in Zimbabwe. Let’s look at recent events. Recent history Tuesday November 14th According to a post on Scott Marques’ Facebook page church leaders ‘had the joy of being lead by the President of the Evangelical Fellowship of Zimbabwe, Dr Shingi Munyeza - at the national AGM - in what felt like extraordinarily sincere repentance by the church. We turned away from all trust in man, all trust in money, all idolatry, all hatred, all corruption, all greed, all bitterness, and all sin which has had devastating sway in the church, let alone the nation as a whole. We cried out to God that He would work out His purposes WITH US, and then THROUGH US to the nation. I was greatly inspired by this…
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12Oct 2017 by Nigel Ring

Helping Marginalised Children in Africa

Bethany Children's Trust, Children, HIV, OVC, Poor, Zimbabwe
There are millions of marginalised and vulnerable children in Africa. A few years ago Susie Howe, the wife of an elder in a Newfrontiers church in London, found herself in Zimbabwe due to her husband having an assignment there with his job. Professionally Susie had been an HIV/AIDS nurse in one of the large London teaching hospitals and, when approached to help with the needs of orphaned children, she felt that children were not in her area of expertise. But God had other ideas. In this first part of a conversation I had with Susie she is transparent about her walk with Him and how she launched a very effective initiative, now called The Bethany Children's Trust, that is helping churches to address the needs in several African nations. She has also helped thousands of…
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25Apr 2011 by Nigel Ring

Resistance Fighter – Book Recommendation

Books, Christian ministry, Cross-culture, HIV, International, News, Poor, Zimbabwe
Resistance Fighter has just been published and is a read-at-one-sitting book. For me it turned the tedium of a flight from UK to West Africa into an enjoyable, challenging, emotional and disturbing experience as Susie Howe took me from the joys of playing with lively orphaned children in Zimbabwe to the horrors of learning of children accused of witchcraft in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Susie's autobiographical record of her life (how much she has packed in already!) recounts how she has sought to walk close to God in obedience as He has taken her and her husband Jeremy on a number of unexpected excursions into situations that most of us have never experienced nor even dreamed existed. Starting with her childhood she tells of growing up as a talented…
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29Sep 2010 by Nigel Ring

LoveZim Prayer Day

Agriculture, News, Poor, Zimbabwe
A Global Day of Prayer I believe that September 26th will prove to have been a significant day in the life and rebuilding of Zimbabwe. Thousands gathered in Zimbabwe in many locations across the nation to pray and commit themselves to becoming involved in the church-initiated programme ‘Trumpet Call' to feed the nation through Foundations for Farming over the next year. There was prayer and repentance among the church leaders from across the streams and denominations. In Bulawayo over 400 pastors stood together on the platform to identify with this initiative. Around the world there was an outpouring of prayer as well. Reports have already been received from nations in many time zones - Canada, South Africa, Australia, France, the UK, Mauritius and USA. In our own church, one of…
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