FATHER AND SON IN AFRICA

Hello To Everyone!
The mission of Impact International is simple! Leave a legacy for generations to come. What better way is there than leaving a legacy through one's own son?

In the past few weeks Alastair (father) and Craig (son) have been traveling Africa - separately! Yes, although I traveled via South Africa I didn't get to spend personal time with Craig - why? He was on his own assignment.

As you will see if you follow the blog page on our site that my son Craig (born in Zimbabwe) now live in South Africa and works for an NGO (Non Government Organization), providing food for hundreds of thousands of children in a variety of countries in Africa. In recent weeks he has spent time in Sudan, Kenya, Burundi and Rwanda, some of the toughest parts of Africa. He reports in a recent email:

'I had meetings with the World Food Program. Moved from Loki and Nairobi in Kenya to Rwanda. Whilst in Rwanda I visited the Genocide Memorial and couldn't believe what I saw, dark rooms with just lines and lines of skulls and bones and clothes. The history was laid out for us. To think that this actually happened between neighbors, friends and family. I stayed for a film, 'shooting dogs' and we heard from a genocide survivor it was emotional and amazing to hear the first-hand story. I went up to him afterwords and apologized on behalf of the US and the international community for our lack of action that contributed to the murder of 1 million people. For me it was an incredible experience'

Craig is in these countries researching possibilities to develop a feeding program for children. How awesome is that?

As for me - well, I had the very best trip ever to Zimbabwe. The nation is going through a major political and economic crisis. The government refuse to recognize the political facts that the opposition leader should be the new President. As we write this to you Morgan T. is outside Zimbabwe and unable to return for the election run-offs due to reported assasination squads ready to 'take him out'. Inflation is the world's worst. Would you believe it if I told you that inflation was over 300,000%? True! A loaf of bread costs $Z 200,000,000. That is two hundred million Zimbabwe dollars! 50 million Zimbabwe dollars is worth about 20cents! There are food shortages, electricity is in short supply as is fuel for vehicles.

With all the above in mind, the church is thriving! The Kingdom of God is being advanced. There is a sense of hope in the Christian community! Why! When adversity comes the bible clearly shows that the people who know their God can endure. I bring a positive report of the growing church within the nation.

I was accompanied on the trip by Ngwiza Mnkandla my original 'son'. He did an amazing job in growing the work of Faith Ministries that I handed over to him in 1983. He in turn raised a generation of 'sons' and they now lead the congregations of Faith Ministries, of which there are over 45. Shingi Munyeza is the FM senior pastor and also the CEO of Africa Sun Hotels. Time does not permit to elaborate at this time, except to say Shingi is one of Africa's leading hospitality business men with many hotels in Zimbabwe and a growing stable of hotels in other African countries including; South Africa, Botswana, Equatorial Guinea, Mozambique etc.

Impact International had discussions with the Christian business leaders to see how we might partner in leaving a lasting legacy. Ngwiza and I were on a God Assignment to offer a strategic partnership with Impact and the local community on the ground in Zimbabwe. We accomplished that. (See our CAKE program on this impact site - Creating A Kingdom Endowment using the principle of Kingdom Add-On). It is our plant to create Impact Zimbabwe and through business models fund the program of national restoration in the nation. We plan over the next few years to be able to finance; orphanages, AIDS clinics, entrepreneurs, church planting, food programs and so much more!

Keep watching this site for updates! God is working in Zimbabwe and Impact is on the cutting edge of what God is doing now and in the future!

Please feel free to dialogue with me through the site and we can stay in touch!
There is so much more to say only direct contact can say it all! We will be posting more information on the web site as we go along.

Thanks again to you all!
On behalf of generations to come!
Alastair

CRAIG IN SUDAN

We have received a recent report from Craig in the Sudan. He is on a mission to establish feeding programs for children. The Sudan is rife with political unrest. Craig traveled there from Northern Kenya where he and several others spent days on the road to travel north and meet up with a UN mission team. He reports long hot days of travel without adequate supplies of food. Craig will be in some remote regions of Africa for the next couple of weeks and request prayer from friends back home (he will report personally when he returns to his home base in South Africa)

HALF TIME DRILL!

My Dear Friends:

The front page of our web site shows a book - 'Half Time' by Bob Buford that is likely to change the lives of those approaching midlife! The author takes the reader through the challenge of moving life issues from SUCCESS to SIGNIFICANCE.

No doubt one has to wrestle at some point with the question that Rick Warren poses in his book 'The Purpose Driven Life'- What is our purpose? Why am I here? In answering such questions we must consider how SIGNIFICANT is our life? That brings me to the provoking thought - How can I make my life count?

To make a life count in this world is certainly commendable. But is there not a greater question? How can I make my life count after I am gone?

The difference between inheritance and legacy is simple. An inheritance is the estate left behind at death. A legacy is the spiritual fruit left behind from deposited seed during a lifetime! HOW DO YOU PLAN TO ENSURE YOUR LIFE NOW WILL COUNT ONCE YOU ARE GONE?

Pericles said 'What you leave behind is not what is engraved on stone monuments, but what is woven into the lives of others'. In the book of The Acts of the Apostles it says 'when David had served God's purpose for his own generation, he fell asleep' - this King of Israel had left his mark.

Let me use my blog to encourage and at the same time challenge you to ask some questions of your life. Why am I here? What can I leave behind when I am gone? How can I be significant with the life I have?

This is not something left to a last gasp 'come to Jesus moment' on a death bed. It is purposeful, planned and demonstrated as a lifestyle now.

Impact has a simple mission. Make deposits now and leave a legacy for generations to come. I will answer questions and post challenges weekly on the Impact blog. Please write to me. I look forward to furthering the discussion.

I leave for Zimbabwe this week on another God assignment and I will report upon my return after May 20.

All are blessed few are favored!
Alastair

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