A Habit of Bible Reading

On Sunday, Hlulani (18) texted, “Evening, brothers, I just wanted to share by the grace of God I have finished reading His Word, but it is not enough for me to read it. I also want to see myself living according to His Words.” This young man completed a 3-year quest to finish all 66 books. He joins 4 other Tsongas who have reached Revelation from Genesis. One member has not missed a day of Bible reading since 2022. 

To make disciples means to teach men to follow all that Christ commanded. How can they follow His commands if they have not read them? And how can they remember them without having read the stories of the old covenant, the laws of Moses, the songs of David, and the proverbs of his son? 

To build the habit of Bible-reading, we have Bible reading charts, weekly memory verses, and prayers from different Bible verses. 

Two days ago, Scotch Vukeya (70’s) asked to meet with myself and the other two men in the church in Makhasa after the Sunday service. He has not yet given a testimony of God’s grace, but he said that he has been reading his Bible at least 5 days per week. Over the last 3 years he has quit coming to the services twice, but Sunday he testified to the men that he wants to stand on God’s Word now and believe it. He asked me to pray for him that he would do that. I think his interest is a result of his Bible reading and the sermon that he had just heard from Hebrews 11:1-3. The Westminster Larger Catechism says, “The Word preached [should be received]… as the Word of God.” (Q. 160) 

That sermon from Hebrews was preached by Matimba Siweya (50’s) who has been learning to look at the text and ask questions carefully. Sunday he said he finished reading the epistles, and has already begun rereading them for better understanding. 

Jomo Kubayi (56) has completed the whole Bible and is now working through it a second time. He leads a prayer meeting with 3 people each Wednesday. 

In the village of Bungeni, where there are 4 baptized believers meeting each Lord’s Day, I saw Martin Moyo’s Bible. He (40’s) has been diligently putting a green tick after each verse when he finishes it, and in this way has completed nearly half of the NT. We hope he will testify to saving grace on Easter and be baptized as the fifth member. Though he raises and sells chickens, he has been joining me for evangelism on Thursday because he said, “It’s not nice for you to go by yourself to reach the people.” 

Monthly Prayers

When Phathu (14) was asked to close the service in prayer, he asked God, “Please open our eyes so that we would see the wonders from your Word.” This request was the church’s January prayer from Psalm 119:18. 

In 2023, we chose 12 different prayers from our Lord, and the next year different prayers for each month from the apostles. This year David has been guiding us as we asked for “open eyes” (Ps. 119:18), “conversion of the nations” (Ps. 2:8), and “a true view of ourselves” (Ps. 22:6). 

And the Lord has answered us. Vuako (15) told us on Friday that he is now reading a full chapter each day, but he is understanding what he reads. Lindiwe (40’s) said she had been praying for Thabiso (24) before he preached, and his preaching is evidently improving. 

Are these brief anecdotes not answers to your prayers? If you have been praying for a work of grace among the Tsongas, here are some initial drops of rain. If you have been praying for spiritual hearts, here is a group of your brothers and sisters.

Church Attendance

Currently, 8 little groups of Tsonga believers are meeting. For each assembly we are praying that they would increase in their devotion and numbers. Specifically, that ongoing prayer meetings would consistently be held—with our without the missionary, in Bungeni and Makhasa. 

As of 2024, the Christians in Valdezia have been holding their own prayer meetings with nearly all the members attending each week. Three weeks ago in Makhasa, the singing on the Lord’s Day was so lively that two adults shouted out, “Let’s sing that again,” when we finished a song. In Elim I was told that they have run out of chairs more than once. 

Another church meeting is the men’s meeting every other week. Recently we have averaged about 20 Tsongas, but sometimes up to 30. Outside of the pastor’s children, there are no second generation Christians in any of our churches. 

The Bible, prayer, and the Church: these three are the means of grace, the channels or vehicles whereby God delivers such kindness to us. We would not boast save in the Lord and His work in building up His church. He knows the sins, the backslidings, the late arrivals, and the broken promises among those whom He has lately redeemed. 

But I place these few examples as to say, Be not faithless but believing: Other sheep He has, and they will hear His voice. Therefore, ask the Father that He would give the Tsonga nation to the Son. 

Please update your address book with our new email addresses: sethmeyers@mailbox.org and amymeyers@mailbox.org. 

Laboring to enter His rest, 

Seth and Amy

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