"Joseph Generation" by Scott Marques

Scott Marques

It was so encouraging listening to Scott Marques preach on the “Joseph Generation” to the Operation Trumpet Call farmers. His vibrant, energetic, solid preaching was captivating. This is what he said:

Genesis 40: 20 -23. Scott gave the background of the Joseph story up to the point where the chief cup bearer did not remember Joseph who was still in prison.
a) Joseph was in a position much like us: in prison and with tough circumstances. We living in days where we feel like we are locked up and the situation is tough. We live in a continent that is the wealthiest in terms of natural resources and yet we are in poverty, are sick, in conflict and generally in a mess. It’s a kind of prison we find ourselves in. In prison we don’t have enough food, medication, there is daily fighting. Joseph was in those circumstances.
b) Joseph was in obscurity: Not only was his situation tough but he was forgotten. He was pushed in jail and left there. He got into that position due to a combination of things – both good and bad. For whatever reason we find ourselves in this position in Zimbabwe, God is working out His plan. In reality, the Church has been slow, weak, soft, unheard, unfelt and relegated.
c) Gods hand was on Joseph: We also see that with our circumstances. God’s hand is on us In Joseph’s obscurity, He gave Joseph the mechanism of deliverance which was knowledge/revelation to feed the nation.

Scott Marques preaching

If we think we are small and insignificant, God is on us, he is giving us revelation to feed our Nation. He is using the weak things of this world to confound the wise.

Read more on the Characteristics of Joseph

Summarised by Molly Manhanga

Testimonies from across Zimbabwe pt 2

It was so encouraging when one of the farmers went up to testify and all he wanted to do was to sing to God of the joy that was in his heart. It was just beautiful! He harvested 5 carts of maize.

Kensington: Foundations for Farming really works. My crops matured and I have a bumper harvest of 4 trucks loads. I showed the difference between mulched crops and those without mulch. I want to thank God. If you do as instructed, the crops will not wilt. I have plenty of groundnuts and I used my hands a lot.

Gwanda: I didn’t harvest anything from the field where I didn’t do Foundations for Farming. I’m expecting a harvest in the Foundations for Farming field. I’ve learnt about mulching.

Victoria Falls: I learnt many things about farming. I received my seed bags late and planted where I had prepared my field and put manure. I received the message of Foundations for Farming and I have knowledge. The Lord intervened with my crop and I received a bumper harvest. I have 28 carts of maize.

Bikita: We didn’t have much rains but we managed to mobilize people and teach them Foundations for Farming. Although we mulched our fields, we had lots of sunshine and eventually our crops failed because of lack of rain. There is a definite difference between Foundations for Farming and our traditional methods of farming. We look forward to this next season and we will prepare our land on time.

Binga: We had erratic rains this season and we received our seed late. A lot of us didn’t plant although we had prepared our fields. One old women and two old men risked planting in mid-January. They received a good harvest from their fields. I also received a harvest from my field. We started out with 35 farmers but we now have 80 in total. Foundations for Farming is being received so well and it works. We are looking forward to the next season.

By Molly Manhanga

Testimonies from across Zimbabwe pt 1

It was wonderful listening to the many testimonies from Operation Trumpet Call farmers from across the nation. This is what some of them had to say:

Mbalabala: I didn’t harvest any maize but I got groundnuts and roundnuts. I am very grateful. Next season will be better.

Nkayi: I had a bumper harvest and I am thankful for the teachings on Foundations for Farming. I harvested 4 carts. My crops were wilting and I put mulch. The rains came and my crops did well.

Tsholotsho: I didn’t know I could harvest so much here in Zimbabwe. We got so much maize in an area where we usually plan millet. I planted a small field of maize but my yields are hih. With Foundations for Farming, my crops were wonderful. We also had lots of rain. Bless the lord.

Masvingo: I planted using the Foundations for Farming method. I compared this method of farming to our traditional method and there is a vast difference. Though the rains weren’t good, I had a bumper harvest in my Foundations for Farming plot.

West Nicholson: There was lots of sunshine and many crops wilted. We tried to farm but our crops wilted. Although I didn’t get yields, I am rich in knowledge.

By Molly Manhanga

God's Lavish Grace: How to live a Grace-filled life pt2

Terry and Wendy Virgo in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe

Acts 19:1 - 8 “ And it happened, while Apollos was at Corinth, that Paul, having passed through the upper regions, came to Ephesus. And finding some disciples he said to them, ‘Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?’ So they said to him, ‘We have not so much as heard whether there is a Holy Spirit.’ And he said to them, ‘Into what then were you baptized?’ So they said, ‘Into John’s baptism.’ Then Paul said, ‘John indeed baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying to the people that they should believe on Him who would come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.’ When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul had laid hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied. Now the men were about twelve in all. And he went into the synagogues and spoke boldly for three months, reasoning and persuading concerning the things of the Kingdom of God.”

Terry Virgo having a relaxing moment with Stephen Manhanga, Mbonisi Malaba and Tapiwa Chizana

All of Judea went out to John the Baptist to hear him. They believed, were converted and were filled with the Holy Spirit. When the spirit fell upon people, they were changed and transformed. It was not a gradual growth. After the day of penticost, no one was asked to wait. Why would Jesus tell the disciples to wait? John 7:37 – 39 “On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, ‘If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’ But this He spoke concerning the spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.”

Look to Jesus and not to man.

Gift of Tongues – the spirit and speaking in tongues goes together most often. Speaking in tongues is a strange thing – it’s a language you never learnt. Your mind is unfruitful but your spirit is praying. 1 Corinthians 14:14 “For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful.”

Gift of tongues, the spirit is free to praise. It’s not confined to the limitations of the human mind. Look at the woman with the oil. The miracle was that the oil didn’t stop coming. Be filled with the spirit, speaking in psalms, hymns and spiritual songs.

It is a LIFESTYLE!

Summarised by Molly Manhanga