CBN East & Southern Africa
Director - Keith Strugnell
Top Accomplishments
In 164 media events in the townships and informal settlements of South
Africa, a total of 22,420 people were led to Christ, an average of 135 per
film show.
The former Muslims who were busy doing evangelism in East Africa last
month led a further 13 to the Lord and baptized them.
Post-production of the Angus Buchan story was completed and it has
been sent to Virginia Beach for application on Turning Point.
Top Prayer Points
Pray for the ministry among Muslims in East Africa, a ministry that has
exploded in the past few months. Fulfilling the mandate to the New
Testament Church these new converts have been properly taught and
disciple and are themselves leading many in their Muslim communities to
the Lord.
Pray for the upcoming elections in South Africa in April, probably the most
critical since 1994.
Last month the Kenyan government declared a national crisis as the
number of starving Kenyans doubled in only 3 months, quickly reaching
over 10 million. The crisis was caused by drought and a 99% crop failure,
along with post-election attacks in 2008, which cost the country at least
20,000 acres of maize cultivation. Overall, food staples in Kenya have
risen about 44% in price. Although the government is now offering lower
prices on seed, distributing extra soil and importing 5 million bags of maize
to assist its people, the aid is not enough to immediately quell the crisis.
Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka is calling on the church to pray.
Top Story of the Month for Website
YOU RESTORE MY HOPE,
THANK YOU OPERATION BLESSING
My name is Miriam Mweni. I’m 22 years old and a first born in a family of 6
children. My parents died on the same day from a poisonous chemical in a depot
where they were working as casual laborers, leaving me to take care for my 5
siblings. I was 19 and had just completed my secondary school one year earlier.
It was when I was preparing to join college that this unfortunate situation
happened.
One year later, our situation deteriorated further as all our relatives abandoned
us. All my 5 siblings stopped going to school due to lack of school fees. We had
no food; it was difficult to survive.
As the first born, I decided to take my 5 siblings to Emali town where one of our
uncles lives. Unfortunately, he turned his back on us and wouldn’t allow us to
stay with him. We were then forced to live on the street, spending almost one
month begging for food and sleeping in the market place, before somebody
offered us shelter - a tiny room built of iron sheet. But as we still had no food the
situation was unbearable.
Desperate, I decided to join prostitution in order to provide for my 5 siblings who
were depending on me.
In the prostitution field, it was not as easy as I thought. I was abused both
physically and emotionally but felt I had no choice, especially when I looked at
my siblings. I was barely making enough money to sustain ourselves, leave
alone paying school fees for my siblings. Some men were arrogant and they
wouldn’t pay me; on weekdays I would barely make 50 Kenya shillings (~US$0.7)
a night and on week-ends 80 Kenya shillings (~US$ 1).
But something happened one night in November 2008. I went out as usual and
got a client (a man) who took me to a popular night club. A fight broke out and I
was suddenly hit with a bottle on my head and seriously injured. I was bleeding
profusely…then I fainted. The next day, I found myself in a hospital bed with a
heavy bandage on my head and receiving a blood transfusion. I was later told
that field officers from a Christian ministry brought me here. I was treated and
discharged one week later.
The Christian ministry exists to rescue girls from prostitution and they
rehabilitated me and, with support from Operation Blessing, I was sent to a local
vocational training school to learn tailoring, my passion since childhood. In two
months I completed my course and practices by the end of January. Again
Operation Blessing supported me with $200 to set up a tailoring business. I
bought a good second hand sewing machine, materials and started working.
The good second hand sewing machine OB bought for Mweni
Mweni at work while a customer bargains for a cloth.
In just one month in the business, I received almost 40 orders (without counting
clothes bought by customers). Now I’m planning to set up a full workshop in a
rented room. There’s hope now, we’ve moved to a more comfortable room with
enough food. My youngest sister has already started going to school and within
two weeks all 4 remaining siblings will be back to school.
Sisila, the youngest of Mweni's siblings who's now back to school.
God is good!
Thank you very much Operation Blessing.
Television & Radio Programming, Media Blitz Highlights, and Video
Ministry
Media Ministry Centers & related children’s ministry
In 164 media events in the townships and informal settlements of South
Africa, a total of 22,420 people were led to Christ, an average of 135 per
film show.
Television
Production
Post-production of the Angus Buchan story was completed and it has
been sent to Virginia Beach for application on Turning Point. In the
process of doing the story we were given permission to use shots from the
film Faith like Potatoes.
Lwazi returned from a trip to his home country, Zimbabwe, where he
filmed a story about the condition of the people there, and the church’s
response to them. He also shot the testimony of a man healed of AIDS.
The production team is in the process of learning all they can about our
new HD camera. They plan to shoot our first stories on it very soon.
Also in preparation is a new My World insert for One Cubed.
Scenes for the 2009 Regional Directors’ Conference DVD will be shot in
the new month and editing will begin.
Humanitarian Highlights
(Report is available from OB E&S Africa)
Training, Cell Church Planting, Evangelistic and Discipleship Highlights
In 164 media events in the townships and informal settlements of South
Africa, a total of 22,420 people were led to Christ, an average of 135 per
film show.
The former Muslims who were busy doing evangelism in East Africa last
month led a further 13 to the Lord and baptized them. They give the new
converts 20 lessons on the Christian faith before they baptize them, and
the new disciples immediately begin the work of reaching their
communities for Christ.
Testimonies
I am a regular viewer of 700 Club. This program is such a blessing to me. I
praise the Lord for the amazing work that is done through these programs.
J. Sisande, Walvis Bay
I watch the 700 Club often and it is my favorite program. I have seen how
much you help people around the world. R. Fulawulu, Zambia.
Watching 700 Club always brings me closer and closer to God. I enjoy the
testimonies and the humble teachings. Me and my wife have been given
hope by your program. A. Mwale, Zambia
It has been a great challenge to see the way the 700 Club program is
changing and radically transforming lives of people S. Mwangi, Kenya
Thank you for an amazing program and the help millions are receiving
through you and your partners. I Van Rooyen, Pretoria.
I am extremely happy with the wonderful work being done by CBN to
demonstrate the love and compassion of Jesus Christ to the forgotten
people of this world. L. Vartharajulu, Chatsworth
Letters and Testimonies from counseling centers
Kenya
Thanks for praying with me. The person who owed me money actually
called me today after going underground for a long time. Every time you
pray with me, I feel so much peace. Carol
God has been faithful; He’s healed me of depression, thanks to your
prayers. Paul
Thank you for the powerful Bible verses. I’ve been blessed & may God
bless you too. Anonymous
Thanks for the word; it has got me to tears. God bless you. Anonymous
Since I came to know about the 700 Club I yearned to contact you. I
believe in you guys because I see God’s hand working through you.
Thank you so much for the kindness you show to people, God bless you
for that. Abigail
I have been watching your programs on TV and ever since I knew you,
I’ve grown a lot in my faith and I’ve learnt to put my trust in God always. I
know my life is in His hands. I would like to thank you all at the 700 Club
for the good work you have done for/to the people around the world .I pray
that God will empower you much more because you have tremendously
changed the lives of many through prayers and donations. Selina
I actually thank Turning Point for what you’ve impacted in me. I can say
that am not born again but am reading the word of God. Since the day you
helped me get out of pornography I don’t watch it, but I read the Bible and
pray instead. I would like you to help me receive Jesus Christ into my
life today. I just finished high school – Chichi (She later gave her life to
Christ).
Malawi
A young man sent a text message after watching Turning Point and asked
for prayer to get a job. We prayed and two weeks later he sent another
message to say he has a job.