WORD OF TESTIMONY ON THE DAY OF CELEBRATION (NENO LA USHUHUDA SIKU YA MAADHIMISHO) – Dr. Lawi Mshana
My journey in ministry began at Same Secondary School when I was 16 years old. After completing form four at the age of 18, I planted a church in the village where I was born. After that, I continued with my secondary school studies (high school) at Mazengo Secondary School, Dodoma. While at school, I became a student pastor (Gospel Team). When I finished form 6, God told me to see a certain minister who would tell me what to do. That servant sent me to plant a church in Korogwe town in October 1994 at the age of 21. Two years later, I planted churches in Dar es Salaam. Since then, I have continued to collaborate with churches, organizations, and individuals in God's work.
God has enabled me to reach all regions except three. But He has also privileged me to conduct seminars for churches and religious leaders in Malawi, Zambia, Ethiopia, and Burundi. I realize that the great commission requires me not to stay in Jerusalem but to go to all Judea, Samaria, and the ends of the earth. Acts 1:8 “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Samaria is an area that I don't have any personal interest in, and have no branches of our church or relatives there. I cannot justify myself by failing to travel, whereas I frequently donate to the celebrations.
As a student at Mazengo Secondary School, I wrote magazines such as Make Your Call and Election Sure lest You Stumble etc.
We saw the importance of organizing these celebrations without fundraising for the following reasons:
1. Thank God with our friends and neighbors for protecting us and carrying us through so much and enabling us to reach out to others as He has commanded us. But also to strengthen our relationships. Psalm 105:1 “Hallelujah! Give thanks to the Lord, call on His name, make known His deeds.”
2. We have noticed that on various well-known feasts, we do not get the opportunity to eat together. Some return home not even knowing what they will eat.
Luke 22:8 “And he sent Peter and John, saying, Go and prepare the passover for us, that we may eat.” John 13:29 “For some thought, because Judas had the money box, that Jesus had said to him, Buy those things which ye need against the feast; or that he should give something to the poor.”
The Lord Jesus had a feast box and a poor man’s – He did not wait until the feast day to collect. He included the feast in His annual plan of expenditure.
We organize wedding ceremonies in the church where all members, even those who cannot afford to donate, participate, and the bride and groom are given basic gifts such as maize, etc.
3. We have discovered that many celebrations are immoral, and we have been drawn into that system – feasts of gluttony and drunkenness.
1 Peter 4:3-5 “For the time that has passed by is sufficient for us to have worked out the will of the Gentiles, walking in lasciviousness, lusts, drunkenness, orgies, drinking parties, and unlawful idolatries; 4 in which they think it strange that you do not run with them in the same uncontrolled riot, speaking evil of them. 5 And they will give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.”
4. We have discovered that many celebrations these days are celebrated by those who contribute only. With this system, we cannot receive a reward or involve vulnerable people or those who are not close friends.
Luke 14:12-14 “12 Then he said to the one who had invited him, ‘When you give a luncheon or a dinner, do not call your friends, your brothers, your relatives, or your rich neighbors, lest they also invite you and you be repaid. 13 But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, 14 and you will be blessed, because they have nothing to repay you; for you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.’”
That is why today we have also invited a few people living with disabilities so that we can celebrate with them and give them some gifts.
5. We will also be accountable and judged for neglecting to provide social services to the needy. We have often focused only on spiritual services.
Mt 25:41-46 “41 Then he will say to those on his left hand, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42 For I was hungry and you did not give me food; I was thirsty and you did not give me drink; 43 I was a stranger and you did not welcome me; naked and you did not clothe me; sick and in prison and you did not visit me. 44 Then they also will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison and did not serve you?’ 45 Then he will answer them, saying, ‘Truly I say to you, since you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me. 46 And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.’”
NENO LA USHUHUDA SIKU YA MAADHIMISHO
Safari ya huduma ilianzia Same sekondari, nikiwa na miaka 16. Baada ya kumaliza form four nikiwa na umri wa miaka 18, nilipanda kanisa katika kijiji nilikozaliwa. Baada ya hapo niliendelea na masomo ya sekondari (high school) katika shule ya sekondari Mazengo, Dodoma. Nikiwa shuleni hapo nikawa mchungaji wa wanafunzi. Nilipomaliza form 6 Mungu alisema nami nimuone mtumishi fulani ataniambia la kufanya. Mtumishi huyo akanituma kupanda kanisa Korogwe mjini Oktoba 1994 nikiwa na umri wa miaka 21. Miaka miwili baadaye nilipanda makanisa Dar es salaam. Tangu wakati huo niliendelea kushirikiana na makanisa, mashirika na watu binafsi katika kazi ya Mungu.
Mungu ameniwezesha kufikia mikoa yote kasoro mitatu tu. Lakini pia ameniwezesha kufanya semina kwa makanisa na viongozi wa dini katika nchi za Malawi, Zambia, Ethiopia na Burundi. Natambua kwamba agizo kuu linanitaka nisiishie Yerusalemu bali niende Uyahudi yote, Samaria hata mwisho wa nchi. Mdo 1:8 “Lakini mtapokea nguvu, akiisha kuwajilia juu yenu Roho Mtakatifu; nanyi mtakuwa mashahidi wangu katika Yerusalemu, na katika Uyahudi wote, na Samaria, na hata mwisho wa nchi.” Samaria ni maeneo ambayo sina maslahi nayo yaani sina matawi ya kanisa letu wala ndugu zangu huko. Siwezi kujitetea kwamba sina nauli wakati nachangia sherehe kila kukicha.
Nikiwa mwanafunzi Mazengo sekondari, nilianza kuandika majarida kama vile Fanya imara wito wako na uteule wako ili usijikwae, Wanawake wanaoamini nk.
Tuliona umuhimu wa kuandaa haya madhimisho bila kuchangisha watu kwa sababu zifuatazo:
1. Kumshukuru Mungu pamoja na marafiki na majirani zetu kwa kutulinda na kutuvusha katika mengi na kutuwezesha kuwafikia wengine kama alivyotuagiza. Lakini pia kuimarisha uhusiano wetu. Zaburi 105:1 “Haleluya. Mshukuruni Bwana,liitieni jina ,Wajulisheni watu matendo yake.”
2. Tumegundua kwamba katika sikukuu mbalimbali zinazojulikana, hatupati nafasi ya kula chakula pamoja. Baadhi wakirudi nyumbani hawajui hata watakula nini.
Luka 22:8 “Akawatuma Petro na Yohana, akisema, Nendeni, mkatuandalie pasaka tupate kuila.” Yohana 13:29 “Kwa maana wengine walidhania, kwa kuwa Yuda huchukua mfuko, ya kwamba Yesu alimwambia kama, Nunua mnavyovihitaji kwa sikukuu; au kwamba awape maskini kitu.”
Bwana Yesu alikuwa na mfuko wa sikukuu na maskini – hakusubiri achangishe watu sikukuu ikifika. Aliweka sikukuu katika mpango wake wa mwaka wa matumizi.
Katika kanisa letu tunaandaa sherehe za harusi kikanisa na kuwaachia ndugu wa maharusi waandae za gharama ukumbini. Tunataka hata wasio na uwezo kanisani washiriki. Lakini pia tunataka maharusi wapatiwe zawadi za msingi kimaisha kv mahindi, kodi ya pango nk badala ya kupewa vitenge vingi na kulazimika kuviuza.
3. Tumegundua kwamba sherehe nyingi hazina maadili mazuri na tumeingizwa katika mfumo huo – ni karamu za ulafi na vileo.
1 Petro 4:3-5 “Maana wakati wa maisha yetu uliopita watosha kwa kutenda mapenzi ya Mataifa; kuenenda katika ufisadi, na tamaa, na ulevi, na karamu za ulafi, na vileo, na ibada ya sanamu isiyo halali; 4 mambo ambayo wao huona kuwa ni ajabu ya ninyi kutokwenda mbio pamoja nao katika ufisadi ule ule usio na kiasi, wakiwatukana. 5 Nao watatoa hesabu kwake yeye aliye tayari kuwahukumu walio hai na waliokufa.”
4. Tumegundua kwamba sherehe nyingi siku hizi zinasherehekewa na wale waliochangia peke yake. Kwa mfumo huu, hatuwezi kupata thawabu wala kuwagusa wasio na uwezo au tusio na ukaribu nao.
Lk 14:12-14 “12 Akamwambia na yule aliyemwalika, Ufanyapo chakula cha mchana au cha jioni, usiwaite rafiki zako, wala ndugu zako, wala jamaa zako, wala jirani zako wenye mali; wao wasije wakakualika wewe ukapata malipo. 13 Bali ufanyapo karamu waite maskini, vilema, viwete, vipofu, 14 nawe utakuwa heri, kwa kuwa hao hawana cha kukulipa; kwa maana utalipwa katika ufufuo wa wenye haki.”
Ndiyo maana leo tumewaalika pia watu wenye ulemavu ili tusherehekee pamoja nao na kuwapa zawadi.
5. Tutadaiwa na kuhukumiwa pia kwa kutojali kutoa huduma za kijamii kwa wahitaji. Mara nyingi tumejikita kwenye huduma za kiroho tu.
Mt 25:41-46 “41 Kisha atawaambia na wale walioko mkono wake wa kushoto, Ondokeni kwangu, mliolaaniwa, mwende katika moto wa milele, aliowekewa tayari Ibilisi na malaika zake; 42 kwa maana nalikuwa na njaa, msinipe chakula; nalikuwa na kiu, msininyweshe; 43 nalikuwa mgeni, msinikaribishe; nalikuwa uchi, msinivike; nalikuwa mgonjwa, na kifungoni, msije kunitazama. 44 Ndipo hao pia watajibu, wakisema, Bwana, ni lini tulipokuona wewe una njaa, au una kiu, au u mgeni, au u uchi, au u mgonjwa, au u kifungoni, tusikuhudumie? 45 Naye atawajibu, akisema, Amin, nawaambia, Kadiri msivyomtendea mmojawapo wa hao walio wadogo, hamkunitendea mimi. 46 Na hao watakwenda zao kuingia katika adhabu ya milele; bali wenye haki watakwenda katika uzima wa milele.”
Dr. Lawi Mshana, +255712924234, Tanzania
 – Dr. Lawi Mshana){kind=link}