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"Under the Apostolic Ministry we. are submitted to each other. "
During the years 1991 to 1995, I was discouraged, frustrated, and no longer had any hope in serving the Lord. I almost quit the ministry. At this time I had a friend in Kenya , called James, whom I decided to go and visit. He is the one who told me a little about CTMI, and encouraged me to get in touch with Stephen Gachengo in Nairobi . I didn't hesitate to call him. After making contact, Stephen and his team started making plans to come and visit us in Musoma on Lake Victoria . They arrived in December 1995, and I can tell you that was a new beginning for me! The gospel of the Cross was what I wanted, because I had become so tired of the law, of trying to apply the Bible and copy things, but without any real work of God taking place in my own life. So this is how I came to be exposed to the gospel of the cross.
At that time, I had nothing in me, no direction, and I was just very tired. So this was reflected in my relationships. I was a man of God, but I was not growing. However, since I've served under this gospel, everything has changed completely. It has brought a foundation in my ministry and a rest in me; and given me the desire to continue, especially in my relationship with my wife. Our relationship was deteriorating. We would say to each other: "You need to do this and that for me, " so it was a disaster. But, through the cross, everything has changed, even our relationship with our children. The gospel has brought all of us closer together.
In my relationships with other men of God, as with most charismatic preachers, I was so independent; each one had his own program. Under the Apostolic Ministry we are no longer like this, but rather, are submitted to each other and don't do our own independent things. We live and operate as a team. So when go to a place, I know I have been sent by the brothers; I see this as a security for my life. Some of the churches I've visited for CTMI are in Rwanda , Congo , Uganda , Burundi ; mostly East Africa .
When we go travel like this, we see a circus going on in the churches. The pastors are fighting and doing all sorts of things. But when we preach the gospel, it is different from the past. Today, we are no longer representing ourselves, but preaching and defending the gospel, and sharing the life of Christ. And, so, we bring people to know Christ.
When this message of the Cross and grace first came to our place, we were doing a lot of things. This stopped, and we had only the desire for God to mould us to make us more like Him; the way He had always planned it to be. The churches, and the pastors around us, who knew us, would mock us, saying that we were backsliding and had changed to another gospel. We remained quiet, but one thing that amazed them was the closeness we developed with one another as Elders; and also in our families. Even though they were speaking bad things against us, they were somehow attracted by our way of life. Today, one by one, slowly, they are coming to us, having been attracted by the spirit of God at work in our hearts and evident in our lives.
The conference here in Mauritius really made me respect God's plans. When you are a preacher, you sometimes think you know it all. You are preaching and dealing with people and, eventually, you think you are the professor of everything. But every time I come under the Apostolic Ministry, and listen to the gospel, I see how much I need it for my own life. When Miki shared about sound doctrine and revival, I tell you my life was confronted and challenged and I cried. In my heart, I see myself as not able, but I'm so grateful to God for allowing me to hear the gospel of the Cross. It also makes me realise how much responsibility I have for God's people. This is why I need God to work in me, and to change me, so I can be useful to my church and my country. I'm going back to Tanzania encouraged, a different man. Not having my own plans, but ready and willing to surrender my life more and more, so that God can use me.
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