From:-
TORCH TRUST FOR THE BLIND, Torch House, Torch Way, Northampton Road, Market Harborough, Leicestershire, LE16 9HL, U.K.
Telephone: (01858) 438260, Fax: (01858) 438275, email: info@torchtrust.org
Charity Number 1095904.
[Sue Richards greets us with a New Year thought ...]
It happens every year. Two or three days before Christmas I think about arranging a colourful table decoration with holly berries, red and white carnations and silver sprayed pine cones. The centrepiece of this arrangement has to be a tall, slender red candle. I race to the shops for one, but look in vain. They could sell me sugary pink ones, hectic purple ones or electric blue ones - but the red candles were sold out long before 1st December. So I have to hunt around in a drawer for the stump of last year's candle feeling disappointed that my table centrepiece won't look as I wished. That is, until the candle is lit. Once alight nobody need know that it should have been taller with a clean white wick. It gives off the same warm glow and makes me feel Christmas has really arrived.
I think I should class myself as part of the "older generation" now and it's easy to look at myself as less useful in serving the Lord now compared to my children. They have their lives before them and are full of enthusiasm to shine for Him. They seem like tall, new candles, and I sometimes feel like a well-used stump! However, Jesus is the source of the light that shines from us. His light can burn just as brightly even if the candle is short.
Let's encourage each other in this New Year as we shine for Jesus in a dark world. It's His light that others will see and they won't even notice how far our candle has burnt down in years. Oh, and I shall look for two tall red candles in the January sales for next Christmas!
I am Lemmy Chisi, born on 31st July, 1975, into a family of eight: five girls and three boys. I am the fifth born.
I was born in Zambia as a sighted person. When I was in Grade Four I started facing eye problems. I was able to see the chalk-board clearly, but failing to see the exercise book. This was happening in the classroom, but when I went home I was able to see very well.
My father took me to various hospitals, but the specialists were assuring me that the eyes were good. Therefore, in 1981 my father took a leave and we came to Malawi which was our original home. My father went back to Zambia and I remained with my elder brother who was employed at Kamuzu International Airport as chief accountant.
This brother, known as Christopher, tried his level best to go around with me to some of the hospitals. Still there was no help. Instead the doctor who we met instructed my brother that he should send me to Chiranga School for the Blind in Kasungu.
In 1990, when I was in Grade Eight, Mum Heath, Sandy, Rosina and others, including Mr Mazinga who led this team, visited our school for the first time. During this occasion I was being chosen by the Chaplain of the School to share the Word of God, since I was the head prefect and I had the knowledge of the Scripture. It was wonderful.
After the team from Torch went back to UK we formed a very strong Torch fellowship group which helped me spiritually. I had already received Jesus Christ as my personal Saviour on 10th October 1987 after hearing a message from a lady - Linly Mbeta - who preached on Psalm 23, "The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want". So because of this my life was totally improved. There were even others who came to Christ. In that same year I lost my sight completely.
In 1993 I passed my primary level and I was being selected to St Patrick's Secondary School in Limbe. In 1998 I finished my secondary level and I joined Weaving Factory Torch Fellowship Group. After a year there I met Michael, Janet and Mr Tim Malaidza. These people encouraged me so much to go to the Evangelical Bible College of Malawi in Blantyre. In 2001 I really went and I started schooling there. I was the only blind person amongst the sighted students who totalled 400, from different churches.
In 2003 I graduated and my headquarters posted me to Nkolokoti Church of Nazarene in Limbe, where I am ministering now. In fact, I started ministering while I was single. It wasn't simple - I faced so many challenges in the ministry.
I thank those who prayed that I would find the right person to be my wife. Beatrice is a true believer, very supportive and dedicated to the ministry. We got married on 28th January, 2006. I greatly enjoy my ministry of pastoring among the sighted people.
2008 will be Torch's forty-ninth. In 2009 Torch will be celebrating 50 years since The Torch magazine was taken on by Ron and Stella Heath and the Torch Trust of today was born. Already we are starting to prepare for the 50th year celebrations.
Ron completed his earthly journey in 1999, but Stella resides today in the south of England. Although she and Ron stepped back from day to day involvement in the mid 1990's, Stella continued to contribute to this magazine until she unfortunately suffered a stroke. Do continue to prayer for her and for Eileen Cole, her companion whom many will remember as Torch's former braille librarian.
The history of Torch is an extraordinary story; a journey of practical faith in our faithful God. From humble beginnings the work developed as Ron and Stella experienced the faithfulness of God in the day-to-day provision for the work. They learned to trust God for ever greater resources to respond to the needs of blind and partially sighted people.
The apostle Paul wrote to the Corinthian church about the work they were doing: "This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of God's people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God" (2 Corinthians 9:12). It follows that the work done by Torch in the name of Jesus over forty-eight years should prompt us to give thanks to God. This is God's work, not ours - so He should get all the credit for it.
Paul continues, "Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, men will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else (v13). It seems that Corinthian onlookers saw that the service given by Christians, and the spirit of generosity in which it was given, was rooted in what they believed, their confession of the gospel of Christ.
Our relationship with God through Jesus leads us to confession; to telling others what we believe. And what we believe also determines how we act: supplying the needs of God's people and doing so in a generous manner.
The links in the chain are: belief, confession, action. Paul is saying that the chain works both ways. People see how we act, tie it together with our confession of Christian faith, discover what we believe about God and as a result give thanks to God. From watching what we do and hearing what we say they can encounter the God in whom we believe. If we act generously, they will deduce that the God we believe in is a generous God. As Paul wrote, "your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God." (v11)
I am sure this works corporately as well as personally. Paul was writing to a church and the individuals within it. I would like to extend it to include a mission like Torch. When Torch provides something - whether it be a book, a magazine or fellowship - and does it well and with generosity, declaring that it is done out of our belief in God through Jesus, then we can expect thanksgiving to God to result. As we so often remind ourselves, what Torch does is done for the glory of God.
Paul's words in 2 Corinthians 9 are also encouragement to keep going. To keep supplying the needs, to continue to act generously. "Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work" (2 Corinthians 9:6-8).
As we reflect on 48 years of Torch we can affirm the truth of these words in our experience. God has supplied every need. Much has been given into the work - and not just money; equally important is the huge amount of effort given by volunteers in many different ways. The work has grown and grown - and continues to extend its reach across the world.
We are on a countdown to Torch 50th year. Over these many years we have learned to trust our generous God. Of course, his most outstanding gift to us was Jesus, his only Son, sent into our world and into our humanity. Paul declares, "thanks be to God for his indescribable gift". Through God's most generous act we have received life; life that we want many others to come to enjoy through the worldwide mission of Torch.
To our fiftieth year and beyond, we press on knowing that if we submit to God's will and trust him he will surely continue to bless the work of Torch. God blesses us, not so that we can accumulate, but so that we might be generous. I conclude with Paul's words: Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion (2 Corinthians 9:10,11).
Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously." Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. As it is written: "He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor; his righteousness endures for ever."
Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.
This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of God's people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, men will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else. And in their prayers for you their hearts will go out to you, because of the surpassing grace God has given you. Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!
[From the Holy Bible, New International Version Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. Published by Hodder & Stoughton.]
We congratulate the following people who have successfully completed Bible study correspondence courses:
Saimon Simeti (Zimbabwe), Hesbon C. Lunyaji (Kenya), Micah Chizhande (Zimbabwe), Frank Wamuwi (Zambia).
James Mutale (Zambia).
Irene McMinn (Australia).
Peter Pandian (Malaysia).
Matthew Omirigwe (Nigeria).
The time is 13.00 hours on a Saturday afternoon. Along the corridor that passes through Chayamba Building is where Peterson Simbulela huddles up, anticipating his luck.
The young man is resting his elbows on a "board". He has remained in that position since 7.00 in the morning but he has to wait a little longer before he picks up his "board" and heads for Chirimba where his wife Rose and daughter Joyce are waiting for him. The board, on which he is resting his elbows, is not an ordinary board; it is a harp that he plucks with immense talent. He leaves a lot of people, who have ever enjoyed his great artistry, wondering why he remains rooted in that position everyday, struggling to earn a living. The board rests on a sound box, brown in colour, triangular in shape with its strings evidently succumbing to continuous plucking, perhaps telling how much money it has generated.
"On a good day, I make as much as K300 because I charge K20 per song but today has been a bad day for me. I have been here for about 6 hours and no-one has asked me to play a song," complains Simbulela who quit school in 2002 while at Ngabu Secondary School since he has no-one to support him financially.
Simbulela, who was born blind, was doing well in school until 2002 when his parents divorced and that spelt doom for the young man who was born in 1980.
"My father is incapacitated and he cannot use his right leg and arm. After the divorce, my mother married again in Zomba and my father could not afford to fend for me so I quit school when I was in Form 3," says Simbulela who comes from Siyakhuni Village, T/A Ndamera in Nsanje.
After quitting school, he came to Blantyre hoping that life would be bearable.
"Before I learnt playing the harp, I knew how to play a guitar and basically that's what brought me here in 2003," says Simbulela who chanced to meet a Samaritan who sent him to a music school to learn the harp. The Samaritan, who Simbulela only knows as Janet from Britain, works for Torch Trust for the Blind in Chirimba.
"When I met Janet, her organisation was mainly concentrating on the Word of God. I benefited a lot from the braille books that they produce. At the time, I was able to play a guitar which I learned when I was in primary school," says Simbulela, praising his teache,r Daimon Kudzala, who taught him the art at Lulwe School for the Blind in Nsanje.
After noting that Simbulela had that talent, Janet sent him to Chechamba School of Music, so he could learn how to play the harp.
"One thing I have learnt is that not everyone is happy with the beggars they see in the streets. I know that every person has to work to earn a living; that is why I sit here everyday so that when I play the music, I can earn something," says Simbulela.
He does not underrate the impact of his harp either. He finds inspiration, and when he recites 1 Samuel 16 verse 14 which he memorised, it raises his hopes:
The Lord's spirit left Saul, and an evil spirit sent by the Lord tormented him. His servants said to him, "We know that an evil spirit sent by God is tormenting you. So give us the order, sir, and we will look for a man who knows how to play the harp. Then when an evil spirit comes on you, the man can play his harp, and you will be alright again."
Simbulela, who believes that everything happens for a purpose, says there is an evil spirit in the world and his harp can be used to show people the light.
"There are so many problems in the world. Even the richest man has his own worries too. I keep on wondering why the rich employ guards to look after them at night while a poor man sleeps peacefully.
"People forget that it is only Jesus Christ who is the source of happiness; that is why those who believe in Jesus will have eternal peace," says Simbulela highlighting the message in his song "Umoyo Wapadziko ndi Ozunza".
He adds that his wish is to play a bigger role in a church and not merely play his harp to earn a living.
"I like reading the Bible and I composed 10 songs which I memorised. I would like someone to help me record my songs so that I can reach out to many people. It is also my hope that one day I will have the opportunity to perform in a church because a lot of people miss the message in my songs," says Simbulela whose other favourite song is "Siwonse Okuti Ambuye Akalowa Kumwamba".
What are his last words? He smiles and says: "I have experienced a lot since I was born and I want to share my story with people. The people who face problems should know that there is God who looks after everyone of us. I want to tell people these stories."
[August 2007. Copyright © 2005 BNL Limited, Malawi.]
You place my feet upon a larger place, Lord,
You give my hands a greater task for you.
You set my eyes upon the far horizon
and in my heart I know your word is true.
You place a reservoir within my heart, Lord,
that all my tears would come from a different place;
That all my ways would minister your grace
to those who long to see your face.
So in my life may I know your approval;
So may I move out with your commendation,
That my words may be filled with your grace and truth
From the reservoir within my heart.
You place a reservoir within my heart, Lord,
that all my tears would come from a different place;
That all my ways would minister your grace
to those who long to see your face.
You cause my heart to soar like an eagle,
You teach my feet to conquer like a deer.
All I survey shall echo with your praise, and Lord,
I know that I must know you here.
You place a reservoir within my heart, Lord,
that all my tears would come from a different place;
That all my ways would minister your grace
to those who long to see your face.
This new series of Bible studies is about people we meet in the book of Acts. Bible people are not perfect. They are like you and me. At the time of writing, I've just been picking plums. Some are large, soft, juicy and round. Others are small, hard and sour. Those on the sunny side of the tree are the best, as the warmth and light encourage growth. It's the same with Christian maturity: we need the Holy Spirit to ripen his fruit in our lives. "The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control." (Galatians 5:22, 23).
We shall be looking at each character in the light of an aspect of the fruit of the Spirit.
The first person we meet after Jesus' ascension is Peter. His story is central to the early church. Like many Christian leaders, Peter was quick to speak and act. "Jesus looked at him and said, 'you are Simon son of John. You will be called Peter' (which means rock)." (John 1:42). Jesus knew that the man standing before him was well named. Simon means weak. But with Jesus, Peter could gain self-control, and become strong.
As I write, I am surrounded by laughing Romanian blind children on the summer camp. We have been listening to the cock crows, and I have been crowing back. I seem to speak "crow" language! But the cock's crow was a misery for Peter.
Peter said, "'Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death.' Jesus answered, 'I tell you, Peter, before the cock crows today, you will deny three times that you know me.'" (Luke 22:33, 34). After Jesus' arrest they accused Peter of being a follower. "'Certainly this fellow was with him, for he is a Galilean.' Peter replied, 'man, I don't know what you're talking about!' Just as he was speaking, the cock crowed. The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter. Then Peter remembered ... and he went outside and wept bitterly." (Luke 23:59-62). Are there things that remind you of your failures? Can the Holy Spirit change us, developing self-control? Did it work for Peter?
"Peter stood up with the eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd: 'Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say.'" (Acts 2:14.) "'Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.' When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, 'brothers, what shall we do?' Peter replied, 'repent and be baptised, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins'" (vv 36 to 38). "Those who accepted his message were baptised, and about three thousand were added to their number that day." (v 41)
Is this the weak weeping man we saw at the end of Luke? What has happened? Peter has been transformed by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Do you sometimes feel you have let yourself get out of control and really let God down? Peter's experience is that God can take us forward from our failures if we let him give us the power.
"They seized Peter and John ... [and] put them in jail" (Acts 4:3) The Jerusalem leaders were furious with Peter. He was proclaiming that a lame man had been healed by the power of Jesus. When faced with the great authority of the law, most of us would give up. The old Peter would have turned tail and run! But what happened? "Know this, you and all the people of Israel: it is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed." (v 10) "Salvation is found in no-one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved." (v 12)
Peter's uncompromising words resounded across the court. All the authority of the law was brought to bear to silence them. "But Peter and John replied, 'Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God's sight to obey you rather than God. For we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.'" (vv 19 and 20).
Not many of us face prison for our faith. Pray for the Rev Ivy Noel O Gernandez, a blind pastor in Cuba, who leads a Christian braille work and is often imprisoned. The Holy Spirit can give us the self-control not to run away.
Peter was a strict Jew. It is hard for us to imagine how difficult it would be for a man like Peter to have any contact at all with foreigners. The idea would be totally alien to him. But salvation in Jesus must be available to everybody. Peter was selected as God's messenger. "Peter went up on the roof to pray. He became hungry and wanted something to eat, and while the meal was being prepared, he fell into a trance. He saw heaven opened and something like a large sheet being let down to earth by its four corners. It contained all kinds of four-footed animals, as well as reptiles of the earth and birds of the air. Then a voice told him, 'get up, Peter. Kill and eat.' 'Surely not, Lord!' Peter replied. 'I have never eaten anything impure or unclean.' The voice spoke to him a second time, 'do not call anything impure that God has made clean.'" (Acts 10:9-15).
Peter got the message. He had to break with his traditional understanding of correct behaviour. Immediately Peter was summoned to the house of the Roman centurion, Cornelius. "While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message." (Acts 10:44.)
The first gentiles followed Jesus. This is the dramatic outcome of the Holy Spirit's work in changing Peter's outlook. What is your church like? "I sit in my usual seat." ... "The service is a nice mix of hymns, prayers, and Bible teaching." We get very comfortable with the way our churches work.
But what about people who come into our churches wanting to meet with Jesus? This magazine goes to different cultures across the world. We all have a variety of ways to worship. There isn't just one way. I have recently visited a church near Torch Holiday and Retreat Centre in Sussex. "The Point", as it's called, is growing rapidly with many people meeting Jesus for the first time. They have a family time for the first half of the meeting. Then there is a coffee break followed by two options. One is serious Bible teaching. The other is an informal introduction to Christianity. To start with, most people stayed for the introduction. Now about half of the people go to the Bible teaching. Perhaps we need a fresh vision from God to enable us to share Jesus with unchurched people.
Peter's experience of the Holy Spirit didn't make him perfect. Paul needed to tell him off for not eating with gentiles in Galatia (Galatians 2). However, Peter's experience gives us that real hope that God has the power to enable us to have "self-control".
After all of the excitement of the holidays, after the last package has been unwrapped, and the last hope fulfilled - or dashed, as sometimes happens - after the decorations are taken down, and life goes back to the "same old, same old", we often experience a let down of spirit.
In this post-holiday quietness, we have a wonderful opportunity to reflect on what God has done for us, and let His peace and tranquillity fill us. We can rest and glory in His presence. Take the time to give Jesus His present - the adoration of your heart.