'God has not forgotten Zimbabwe,'
Works in mighty ways

ZIMBABWE -- Ray Motsi knelt in prayer. His knee rested on the dirty, cold, concrete floor while one hand grabbed a steel bar. Two other pastors knelt beside him inside the jail cell. They prayed for revival in their country.

Arrested moments earlier at a prayer meeting, officials charged the Zimbabwean pastors with leading an anti-government meeting. Hundreds of Christians followed them to the jailhouse, continuing the prayer meeting asking for revival.

"There was revival in Kadoma that weekend," the Baptist pastor said. "Fifty-two inmates and guards asked Jesus to be their Savior and many more heard the Gospel.

"Times may be tough, but God has not forgotten Zimbabwe," Motsi continued. Charges against the pastors were dropped last month. "Disasters are often God's loud speakers to His people. People hear better during these times."

In the past few years, Zimbabwe has had its share of problems. HIV-AIDS wreaks havoc in this country. A severe drought combined with the under production of wheat and maize resulted in 4 million people needing food aid, according to the United Nations. Political woes continue to gather international headlines. Now, the country suffers an economic repression that has most Zimbabweans struggling for day-to-day needs.

A Baptist pastor in Harare noticed Zimbabweans are learning to appreciate the simple things and live by faith.

"When we were comfortable and had everything we needed, people didn't stop to pay attention to God," the pastor said. "Now, we live simple lives and the focus is slowly turning back to God. People want to know about Him. The Lord, in an amazing way, is looking after His people."

Nhamo Chigohi remembers a time when he was persecuted for his faith, but now people stop him to ask questions about Jesus. Chigohi was among the first believers with the Shongaan people in eastern Zimbabwe. The Shongaan are known for their adherence to African Traditional Religions, such as following the ancestral spirits and the witch doctor. When Chigohi turned away from the ancestors to follow Christ, his family and village ridiculed him.

Chigohi and his wife turned down a pastorate with a large church in Harare to minister among his own people.

"It takes a Shongaan to minister to a Shongaan," the pastor said nine years after returning home. "It was slow at first, no one wanted to believe. For the last two and a half years now, planting churches in Shongaan land is easy."

Around 20 churches started in this area of Zimbabwe missionaries described as "hungering after God." Chigohi said the difference in heart came as the Shongaan saw God's love and compassion shine through difficult times.

One village elder admitted that he used to think Christianity was a religion only for the Shona, the majority people group in Zimbabwe. But, he stepped back and watched how God provided for the Shongaan through food, water and medicine -- not to mention caring for the orphans in their community. He knew Jesus came for the Shongaan as well.

"Life is not easy here. It's very difficult," Chigohi said. "The difficult times keep us challenged and turning to God. God is moving. He has now opened the Gospel to the Shongaan people and many others."