The Truth Spreads like a Forest Fire

“If God abhors one sin above another, of which His people are guilty, it is doing nothing in case of an emergency. Indifference and neutrality in a religious crisis is regarded of God as a grievous crime and equal to the very worst type of hostility against God.” Reformation Handbook, p. 16, para. 2 We were privileged and richly blessed with the presence of our dear Br. Shirima, minister of the Seventh Day Adventist Church, Reform Movement in Africa. Br. Shirima was dreadfully sick, having a fever close to 105F. However, our brother did not give in to his sickness, but gained strength through Jesus Christ to share his wonderful experiences he had as a missionary for the Lord in Africa.

About Africa

Africa is a continent made up of 57 countries with several different languages, Swahili being the most popular, and also includes Spanish, English, Arabic, Portuguese and more. It is spoken in all parts of Africa. Islam and Christianity are the two main religions, constantly causing war with each other. Brother Shirima, being a witness to several of these wars, later on shared some of his deadly experiences.

How the Reform Message Came to be in Africa

The Reform message was first heard in Africa in the early 1920’s. Later it was introduced to Zambia in 1940. In 1968, Kenya came to know the reformation, and in 1994 it was received in Tanzania. The message began to spread quickly through all of Africa. Because people began to convert to this wonderful faith, many were put in jail for at least a week, only making the message spread even quicker, amazingly touching the hearts of many.

Four years later, when war broke out in Africa, many brethren held onto their faith by not joining in such acts. These men and women of strong courage were tortured, put in jail and even put to death. Brother Shirima, Victim of Burundi’s Genocide When the message was brought to Burundi, over 3,000 souls accepted this truth, but not long after a genocide war broke out, causing Br. Shirima and a thousand more to flee at once from the war zone. Praise
God, Br. Shirima was rescued after fleeing for a week. Unfortunately, thousands were killed in this genocide. As the war was isolated to Burundi, people had to flee to nearby countries. Only half of our brethren survived. These people had to suffer for ten years because of this genocide. Today there is great poverty in Burundi and our brethren need all the help they can get.

The Genocide in Uganda

One million people were killed in the genocide that occurred in Uganda. Many of them were brethren in our faith, sadly in one incident, a whole church was wiped out.

Congo

Congo, a French-speaking country, is the third largest country in Africa. Before the civil war in Congo, there were 10,000 members in the Reform Church. But after being scattered because of the war, only 3,000 members have remained. Life in Congo is very miserable because of the amount of poverty that is found there. Out of all the other countries in Africa, Congo is considered to be one of the worst to be in. When Br. Shirima went to Congo for the second time, he was temporarily put in jail because he had traveled from Rwanda, and at the time there was a war between Rwanda and Congo. He was released the following day.

Ghana

The northern part of Ghana is made up of Muslims, but Christianity is most popular in the south. Ghana is a very religious country. In 1994, the Reform message came to Ghana. Brethren from North America would constantly go visit believers in Ghana making it very stabilized. But for a while it was no longer visited, which caused it to collapse. But God in His mercy has once again given hope to the brethren.

Togo

Sixty percent of Togo is made up of voodoo religions. But many were receptive to the truth, a message they had never heard of. Their hearts were touched when Br. Shirima brought them this wonderful light.

Liberia

The brethren in Liberia are very enthusiastic about evangelizing the message to others that they have received. On the contrary, Nigeria has no members. But Br. Shirima intends to bring them this wonderful truth we have.

Ethiopia

Ethiopia is a unique country, interestingly it has never been colonized. For a while, Ethiopia didn’t want any communication with the rest of the world. It is very different from all the other countries in Africa. It has its own language, called Alamaric and it also has its own food. The brethren who wanted to preach the truth in Ethiopia weren’t able to for a while. But, of course, the Lord always makes a way, with a lot of prayer the brethren had the opportunity to share with the Ethiopians the way to Jesus. Now there are 450 members in Ethiopia.

Goodbye

The doors are still open in Africa to win many souls. May our hearts be moved to help as much as we can. Offerings and donations are accepted at any time. Let us always remember these brethren from Africa in our prayers and especially Br. Shirima who is hving difficulties with his health.
AMEN.

Veronica Garcia

Number of Members:
Tanzania 1,000
Kenya 1,200 – the brethren are begging for donations to build a missionary school
Uganda 300
Rwanda 500
Burundi 1,500
Congo 3,000
Ghana 100
Benin 50
Cameroon 300
Ethiopia 450
Malawi 400