One on One with Mcebisi Ncube

Mcebisi Ncube

Q: Tell me about your background?
A: I come from Simbumbumbi which is a 4 to 5 hour walk from Ebenezer. I stay with my grandparents as both my parents have passed away. I am the first born in a family of 4 and I am 20 years old.

Q: How did you hear about Ebenezer?
A: My neighbour told me about Ebenezer. I filled in some forms and attended the Selection Camp. I enjoyed the camp especially the games and the film “Faith like Potatoes”.

Q: What has been your greatest challenge at Ebenezer?
A I haven’t experienced any challenges yet since coming to Ebenezer.

Q: What has been your greatest joy at Ebenezer?

A: I enjoy playing ball games because I am good at them. I also enjoy the spiritual lessons with Stephen Manhanga because I am learning more and more about God. I have really improved as my understanding is getting better.

Q: You have planted your first tomato crop. How are the crops doing?
A: I have harvested 456kg to tomatoes so far. It’s a good first attempt for me. My cabbages are not looking so good. I think it is the soil so I’ll continue to apply manure.

Mcebisi’s field of tomatoes

Q: Good going Mcebisi. Who is your role model?
A: My role model is Mr Stephen Manhanga. He is active and so passionate about God. I want to be just like him.

Q: Wonderful. Where do you see yourself in 5 years time?
A: In 5 years time I’ll be a successful farmer. I’ll also be back in my community teaching my family about Farming God’s Way. I’d like to travel as well if things go well for me.

Thank you Mcebisi. May you be blessed as you continue to impact your

community.

Interviewed by Molly Manhanga

Kingdom Finance - God's Perspective

Gottfried Hetzer

I had heard so much about Gottfried Hetzer and the book he wrote that when he came to Ebenezer, I just had to interview him. What an extraordinary man with a radical view on Kingdom Finance.

M.M: Gottfried, please tell me about your background.
G.H: I was born near Hannover in Germany and I’m the first born of 7 children. I did 11 years of schooling before dropping out because I wanted to make money. I learnt to become an industrial salesman and yet I couldn’t do maths. I had a mentor who trained me and brought some stability into my life. I became a financial manager and worked for 15 years in multinational corporations. I knew my wife when I was 17 and she was 15 years old. We married 3 years later and I divorced her 6 years later. We both didn’t know God. During this time we both became Christians and we remarried again. We have been married now for 30 years. My wife couldn’t have biological children and so we asked God to correct that and He did. We have 3 biological girls and an adopted son from Kenya who is HIV+ from birth. In 1994, we left Germany following God’s call to missions. For 11 years, it took us to various African countries.

M.M: How best would you describe your family life?
G.H: We had problems in our family life due to the baggage of the divorce, debt and the death of our youngest daughter in Namibia but Ruth (my wife), the children and I experienced God coming through amidst these difficult times. Today, I consider us to be a happy and blessed family with much love for one another. We are not perfect but highly fulfilled.

M.M: When did God start speaking to you about His perspective on finances?
G.H: In 1997 God started teaching me on His perspective of finances. He did that here in Africa. Ever since, I’m trying to help people understand this paradigm shift from a life of serving money to a life of serving God.

M.M: Excellent. From your wealth of experience in training people, what kind of response do you get on Kingdom finance?
G.H: There are 3 different response groups:
a) This group is absolutely anti Kingdom finance. They reject it to the extent of walking out.
b) This group understands the challenge, embraces it politely for as long as I’m around.
c) This group understands that something has to change and they want to get to know more. This group is by far the smallest – about 2% of those who listen.

Gottfried addressing the apprentices

M.M: Incredible. In a nutshell, how would you describe Kingdom finances versus a worldly concept?
G.H: In the world, money is EVERYTHING and everything is judged by financial benefits – the car you drive, the house you live in, the clothes you wear, the position you hold and so on. In the Kingdom of God, money is a tool and everything is judged by ETERNAL BENEFITS which ALWAYS has to do with PEOPLE.

M.M: What is your opinion on the vision and heart of Ebenezer?
G.H: You are “spot on”- Connecting spiritual truths with an outworking in the practical. One follows the other. The challenge is to give people an understanding of the power of money versus God’s money. The spirit realm, which is real, has a real influence on the power of money. When you help others for their benefit without having an advantage, then you’ve captured the Kingdom message. The ultimate goal is to lead people to the Creator.

Gottfried(left) & Peter(right) walking the apprentice plots

M.M: I have so enjoyed listening to you discuss poverty. How would you define poverty?
G.H: Mankind understands poverty as not HAVING anything or not enough of something whereas Jesus understood poverty as not DOING anything.

M.M: Very interesting Gottfried and time is just so short. Do you have any last thoughts or nuggets to leave with us?
G.H: God in His power is unlimited. We need to be careful not to put him in a box. He is not dependent on financial logistics and so on. The principles laid down for our lives are the same no matter where we are or what context we find ourselves.

This has been very enlightening and inspiring. Thank you so much and be blessed as you continue serving God and sharing His perspective on finance.

Interviewed by Molly Manhanga

One on one with Mgcini Sibindi

Getting to know Mgcini Sibindi

Q: Tell me about your background?
A: I'm also known as Mchengeti and I come from Khozi which is an 8 hour walk from Ebenezer. I live with my grandparents. I’m 18 years old. We are 8 in my family and I’m the 2nd born. My parents passed away in 2001.

Q: How did you hear about Ebenezer?
A: My brother told me about Ebenezer. I filled in forms and attended the Selection Camp. I really enjoyed the camp especially the games and making new friends.

Q: What has been your greatest challenge at Ebenezer?
A Clearing my first plot was easy because we worked in team. The second plot was difficult because I cleared it on my own.

Q: What has been your greatest joy at Ebenezer?
A: I enjoy the Ebenezer life. It’s good especially the lessons. I enjoy spiritual lessons with Stephen Manhanga. He makes it very enjoyable.

Q: You have planted your first crops. How are they doing?
A: Generally, my crop of tomatoes is doing really well. I am expecting a bumper harvest. They are looking very good. I’ve already harvested 169kg of 1st grade tomatoes. My cabbages though seem to be struggling to grow. I think it is a shortage of fertilizer. I’ll need to apply fertilizer when stocks are available.

Some of Mgcini’s harvested of tomatoes

Q: Fantastic on your tomatoes. Your field certainly looks good! Who is your role model?
A: My role model is my brother. He didn’t rush into marriage and he was wise in setting up his home first before marrying.

Q: Wonderful. Where do you see yourself in 5 years time?
A: In 5 years time I’ll be back in my community. What I am learning now at Ebenezer I’ll be implementing in my community.

Thank you Mchengeti. May you be blessed as you continue to impact your community.

Interviewed by Molly Manhanga

One on one with Mbongeni Nyathi

Mbongeni Nyathi

Q: Tell me about your background?
A: I am 18 years old. I live in Halale village. It takes me 3 hours to walk home from Ebenezer. I’m the first born in my family. I have one young sister. My father passed away in 2002 and I live with my mother.

Q: How did you hear about Ebenezer?
A: My mother who works for the Red Cross told me about Ebenezer. I filled forms for the Selection Camp and attended the camp. I enjoyed the camp especially the games. I learnt a lot of new things.

Q: What has been your greatest challenge at Ebenezer?
A I haven’t found anything difficult as yet since coming to Ebenezer.

Q: What has been your greatest joy at Ebenezer?
A: I enjoy worshipping God, playing games and farming.

Q: You have planted your first crops. How are they doing?
A: I have tomatoes and cabbages in my field. I have started harvesting tomatoes and I’m expecting a good harvest. My field is looking great. I also think my cabbages will do well.

Mbongeni’s tomatoes

Q: Well done Mbongeni. Your field certainly looks good! Who is your role model?
A: My uncle has been my role model. He is a very generous man and I want to be like him.

Q: Wonderful. Where do you see yourself in 5 years time?
A: In 5 years time I’ll be back in my community teaching others to farm. I’ll definitely be a successful businessman. I’ll also be looking for a wife.

Thank you Mbongeni. May you be blessed as you continue to impact your community.

Mbongeni’s field

Interviewed by Molly Manhanga

Tomato sales at Ebenezer

Harvest time at Ebenezer

Harvested tomatoes in a store room waiting to go to market.

It’s a really busy time at Ebenezer as the apprentices are harvesting their tomatoes, weighing them and sending them to the market in Bulawayo. A and B grade tomatoes get sold in Bulawayo while c grade tomatoes go to the ostriches at Pumula.

Tomatoes going to the market

The quality of the crop is excellent and it’s exciting to see the apprentices pushing wheel barrows of tomatoes for weighing.

One of our major problems at the moment is transporting the tomatoes to the market. We are using open bukkies and a 1 tonne truck. The amount of tomatoes is coming in at a faster rate than it goes out.

We thank God for what seems to be a bumper harvest.

Prosper Zondo – a 1st year apprentice, is delighted with his excellent crate of tomatoes.

By Molly Manhanga

A visit from the U.K Team

The blessings of the Lord shall overtake you

Gavin Bateman (with sun glasses), Paul Edginton & Graham Giles

The blessings of the Lord certainly did overtake us this past week as we had the privilege of spending time with Martin Tibbert and Gavin Bateman from Open Door church in St Neots, and Paul Egdinton from The Community Church in Stanford, U.K . They are leaders of New Fronteir churches and Martin is an Apostolic leader. This visit was God inspired and so timely. The gentlemen enjoyed their time at the Ebenezer Dam as well as the breath-taking view from the chapel.

They started with a tour of Ebenezer and were blown away with the diligence of the apprentices and just how hard they work. The evidence is showing in the crops they are harvesting.

Ebenezer Dam

They served us so excellently at Crossroads Combined Cell as well as with spiritual training of the first and second year apprentices at Ebenezer. They also had an eye opening community visit in the Mabhlauwuni area. The vast difference of rural life in Zimbabwe and rural life in the U.K was so evident as well as the whole concept of “community”.

Typical Zimbabwean rural homestead

It was a joy getting to know them and hearing their testimonies.

Martin Tibbert addressing the 1st year apprentices

By Molly Manhanga

Up close with Martin Tibbert

Up close with Martin Tibbert

It was great having an opportunity to interview Martin Tibbert, leader of Open Door church, St Neots.

M.M: Tell me something of your background?
M.T: I grew up in South London until I was 6. We then moved to Bedford. I attended Brick hill Church which is part of New Frontiers in Bedford. I met my wife Dawn at church. We now have 2 girls: Ester 17, and Rebecca 15 years.

M.M How would you best describe your family life?
M.T: Being the only male in my home, I am outnumbered – in a positive way and very blessed. I can plat hair and I used to play with dolls when my girls were younger. The girls also play my games too like football.

M.M: Excellent. Is this your first time in Zimbabwe? If so, what are your first impressions?
M.T: Yes. This is my first time in Zimbabwe although I have been to Cape Town. I find the people are positive, warm and the experience so far has been tremendous.

M.M: What do you think of Ebenezer and the vision?
M.T: I heard about Ebenezer 14 months ago. I’d also heard about farming God’s Way through new Frontiers. I’ve been looking forward to seeing Ebenezer and it has exceeded my expectation. The wonderful thing about coming now – almost 2 year later, is that I am seeing the fruit of everyone’s hard labour - The quality of young men and women. It’s incredibly moving hearing of the life the apprentices have had and the challenges they have.

Martin with Stephen Manhanga and the 1st year apprentices

M.M: Great. You taught spiritual lessons to the apprentices. What was your experience like?
M.T: I think they as REAL questions which are challenging for those addressing them. There is honesty and a desire to understand. Generally, it was great. I had fun and the games were good too.

M.M: What has been the highlight of your visit to Ebenezer?
M.T: The Combined Cell evening was the highlight – seeing the apprentices worship God. Another highlight is seeing God raising up men and women who will shape the nation, transform communities by planting churches.

M.M: How would you best describe your visit to the community?
M.T: It is very rural and widely spread out. It’s very different. People have further to walk to get to church – 7km or so. I will take this back home.

M.M: What caught your attention at the Crossroads stand?
M.T: 1 Thessalonians speaks of the churches faith and hope. I see that for Crossroads and the work involved is being known outside the region. It’s already happening with Crossroads and Ebenezer. There is so much more that God is gong to do in terms of exploits of faith being known.

M.M: How encouraging Martin. Thank you. Any last comments?
M.T: One of the reasons we came here is in preparation to send future teams from our church to this part of the country. We want the teams to catch hold of what God is doing and to serve. We’d also like to build stronger links between the churches.

Thank you so much Martin. Be blessed as you continue to serve New Creations Church in Bulawayo. Have a pleasant stay in Zimbabwe.

By Molly Manhanga

One on One with Paul Edginton

Paul serves at The New Community Church in Stanford, U.K. I was so blessed listening to his testimony and getting to know him better.

Paul Edginton

M.M: Tell me something of your background?
P.E: I was born in the Suburbs of West London from a working class family. I have an elder brother and a younger brother. I didn’t enjoy my school years. I liked nightclubs and drank too much. I met my wife Anne in a nightclub and we got married. We have 3 children, Claire, Christopher and Rachel. I gave my life to the Lord and he set me free from alcohol. Anne got saved as well. We lived in Northampton for 15 years attending Kingdom Life church which was adopted into New Frontiers through David Devenish. We have since moved to the New Community Church in Stanford and it’s really exciting.

M.M: Awesome Paul. How best would you describe your family life?
P.E: Lots of fun and really exciting. Our children are all grown up. We have great family times. Our children changed from “children” to our best friends. God has blessed me and my family. It’s remarkable.

M.M: Is this your first time in Zimbabwe. If so, what are your first impressions?
P.E: It’s my first time in Zimbabwe and the continent of Africa. It is a place of real beauty and real contrast. There is joy, happiness, seriousness and courage in the midst of all the difficulties. There is a lot of open space.

M.M: Brilliant. What do you think of Ebenezer and the vision?
P.E: Fantastic. I love the idea of impacting local people, supplying what the people need. It can be likened to a beacon in darkness. There are Godly ways of doing things and it can turn a nation around by it being replicated elsewhere.

M.M: You taught spiritual lessons to the apprentices. What was your experience?
P.E: They were thoroughly engaging and challenging with their questions.

Paul addressing the 2nd year apprentices

M.M: What has been the highlight of your visit to Ebenezer?
P.E: Practically – it was walking in the apprentice fields and seeing farming God’s way in operation. Spiritually – It was Combined Cell especially when there were hands that went up to receive the Holy Spirit.

M.M: Yes. I will remember Combined Cell for a long, long time. It was amazing! How would you best describe your visit to the community?
P.E: Surprising. It is very spread out and people have so little.

M.M: What caught your attention while you were at the Crossroads site?
P.E: The vision of Crossroads Community Church and the expectations. Stephen talks the talk and it is God planned. You and Stephen are in tune with the people. Crossroads is a work of God and a work of love and there is an anointing that Stephen carries.

Paul with Stephen at the Crossroads site. The congregation meets under this marquee.

M.M: Wonderful and thank you. Any last comments?
P.E: I’ve already made so many comments. You can choose.

Thanks Paul. This interview was amazing. God richly bless you as you continue to serve.

By Molly Manhanga

Getting to know Gavin Bateman

Gavin has formally joined the church staff at Open Door in St Neots and works closely with Martin. I was honoured to interview Gavin and came away very inspired by him and totally blessed.

Gavin Bateman

M.M: Tell me something of your background?
G.B: I was born near Portsmouth into a Catholic family. I left home at the age of 16 to join the air force where I was an apprentice for 3 years before becoming an engineer in the air force. At age 20, I was independent and spent the next 6 years going around the world. After some time, I moved to Peterborough and that’s where I met my wife Fiona. We married and have a miracle daughter Maisie who is a blessing. I was self-centered; career oriented but God radically changed my life. Fiona and I moved to Swindon for 6 months which I’d call Foundational time before attending Open Door Church– and we haven’t moved since. I have joined the church staff full time and Fiona started an International Women’s group 18 months ago with 5 people and now there are 85 women attending.

M.M: Praise God. This is really exciting! How best would you describe your family life?
G.B: It’s an amazing blessing. I am excited for our daughter Maisie as she was prophesied over. I want her to see Zimbabwe and the ostriches. There is so much more to see in the world than what is back home. I have rediscovered the importance of family and God keeps on showing me just how blessed I am.

M.M: Fantastic Gavin. Is this your first time in Zimbabwe? If so, what are your first impressions?
G.B: Yes it is my first time in Zimbabwe and I am just blown away. Since coming out here, I have been at a loss for words. It feels so much like home, natural and comfortable. My head is spinning.

M.M: What do you think of Ebenezer and the vision?
G.B: Ebenezer – I didn’t know what to expect. I came with a British, European view of things which has changed in 24 hours. Walking the field and seeing the apprentice eyes, you just catch the vision. The dam is impressive.

M.M: You taught spiritual lessons to the apprentices. What was your experience with them?
G.B: Amazing! Seeing the apprentices sitting with notebooks and a Bible in their work clothes is like such a contradiction. They have so little and yet so much. They listened to what we were saying and were applying to their lives before asking questions. There is lots of Ebenezer to catch and take back home. The apprentices were inspirational.

M.M: Great. What has been the highlight of your visit to Ebenezer?
G.B: Combined Cell. It was incredibly strong and easy to connect with God.

M.M: How best would you describe your visit in the community?
G.B: It was a privilege and very humbling. I was given a chance to understand rural life here.

M.M: What caught your attention at the Crossroads site?
G.B: Crossroads. I watched the children. The poor children were smiling and it was a beautiful sight. Crossroads is surrounded by beautiful kopjes and when Stephen shared the vision, I could actually see it. The word I had for you was to “Build a tall church”. It’s not so much in the physical building but about a church that stands tall – that’s resolute in the word and can be seen for what it is.

M.M: Truly inspirational. Any last comments?
G.B: I have a real sense that Crossroads Community Church – the purpose, vision, position is for a stronger community. It’s the greatest Church planting lesson. What is modeled through Crossroads will be impressive. It’s the final piece. You and Stephen have been prepared for this work. It’s Crossroads you have been coming to all this time.

I am now at a loss for words. Be blessed Gavin as you continue to be salt and light wherever you go.

A lighter moment: Gavin at the computer with Paul looking on….

By Molly Manhanga