Home Office Director’s Report.
“… and she HAPPENED to come to the part of the field belonging to Boaz….” ~Ruth 2:3
As with Ruth, we trust the same is true for us. Ruth went out in the morning, and instead of turning left, she turned right, and the Lord ordered her steps to put the right people in her path to lead her to a bright future and God’s plans for her life.
Carlene & Greg never know what a day will bring. Often, we anticipate turning right, and the Lord seems to move us left. But we have enjoyed exploring new opportunities and the relationships God has been setting in our path along the way. It is exciting to see the vision for ZEMA’s ministries grow! And indeed, we trust that He will expand these opportunities and the vision for building His Church among the amaZioni.
Opportunities at and through Moody Bible Institute continue to expand. Greg and Carlene were once again asked to teach the Intercultural Engagement class. Do pray for and with us as we interact with 21 students for this three-hour class. Pray that God will lead and direct us as we consider His call to engage missionally wherever He places us on the globe. We also set up tables of opportunity during MBI’s Career Day and Internship Day. These days, there are opportunities to engage students and faculty, but we’re also enjoying the relationships we see developing with other ministry organizations and theological institutions.
Presently, the additional fruit of our days on MBI’s campus is the development of communication and relationships with leadership from five theological institutions. Also, we’re thrilled to report that TheTable podcast, in which Greg was interviewed at Dallas Theological Seminary, was made public in July. You may view that broadcast on the DTS YouTube channel; it’s called Christianity in South Africa. Please pray that we would have opportunities on these campuses to interact with students and share the vision of God’s work among the amaZioni.
Matthew Kuehl is on home assignment raising support and has joined us throughout this year during campus opportunities. Matthew is approaching his targeted amount to be fully supported and hopes to return to SA by the end of this year. It’s been a joy to walk alongside Matthew during his time in the USA and see his fervor and love for the amaZioni. Please pray for Matthew as he prepares to return to South Africa.
We are excited that the Lord is growing ZEMA’s ministries in many ways, not only in Southern Africa! It has been a joy to welcome new board members Lorraine Green, Ron Christiansen, and Des Venter this year. Thank you for your prayers for ZEMA, missionaries, leadership, and the amaZioni! May God continue to bless and encourage you as He has so faithfully done for us!
~Greg and Carlene Seghers
I’ve uploaded pics for your use and included information that can be included with each photo in the Info section for each photo available in that folder on the site. -CS
CELEBRATING 40 YEARS OF FAITHFUL SERVICE AMONG THE AMAZIONI
The organization became recognized by the government when, in 1984, Zionist church leaders officially organized themselves as the Christian Catholic Church in Zion of Africa. This gathering took place at the Ethembeni smallholding owned by the Mahon Mission, located outside the town of Bethlehem in the Free State Province. Eighty-four leaders attended this event from the 19th to the 21st of October, representing a good geographical cross-section of South Africa, according to the General Overseer of the Christian Catholic Church in Zion, IL, USA, Rev. Roger Otterson. Rev. Otterson attended the conference and appointed Rev. E.H. Mahon as the first official representative of the Christian Catholic Church in Zion, USA. Subsequently, Tim Kuehl took on this role, and eventually, ZEMA was acknowledged as the Official Representative of CCC, a status it still holds today.
At that conference, a constitution was accepted, and an Executive Council comprising eight people was elected and convened for their first official gathering. The Rev E. Mngadi was elected president on that day. Today, the president is Rev R. Tunywashe, from Flagstaff, Eastern Cape.
Also, at this Executive meeting, Rev Roger Otterson encouraged Zion leaders regarding two benefits to being a member of the Christian Catholic Church in Zion of Africa. First, to be part of a larger Christian Catholic Church in Zion organization, which also included churches in Guyana, Japan, Israel and the Philippines. The Rev. Lyle Mahon, brother of E.H. Mahon, explained, “It was decided in 1983, and formalized in 1984, to form an umbrella organization where various Zionist church leaders and church groups could become members.” Such affiliations were unusual to the distinct Zionist denominations, who frequently regarded one another through a lens of suspicion due to the possibility of “sheep stealing” congregants. This more formal organization also allowed, for the first time, many amaZioni churches to gain access to property so they could build church buildings and have legal status regarding their pastors becoming “marriage officers.”
Secondly, Rev. Otterson explained that membership provided the opportunity to learn Zion’s doctrinal beliefs and practices through the This We Believe book, introduced at that time. Since then, the This We Believe book has been distributed by ZEMA missionaries and taught to Zionist church leaders and churches both through a Correspondence Course and in-person classes. Today, forty years later, this book has been translated into many African languages, including isiZulu, isiXhosa, Ndau, Shona, Shangaan, Portuguese, ChiChewa, and most recently TshiVenda.
In 1999, the name of the Christian Catholic Church in Zion of Africa was changed to the Zion Evangelical Fellowship of Africa, referred to as ZEFA. This decision demonstrates the maturity and growth of the organization’s membership as they recognized it as necessary to accommodate a broader spectrum of Zionist Churches in Southern Africa. ZEFA, as an organization, carries on today in fulfilling its originals purposes of fellowship of churches sharing a common history, striving towards unity in what we believe and teach, and continued access to governmental structures.
This October with be the 40th Anniversary gathering of ZEFA at Sunbury Christian Camp. On 10-12 October, ZEFA members will gather to celebrate 40 years of learning and growing together as one body in Christ. The theme for our 40th Annual ZEFA Conference is “Remember the Lord and Obey His Word.” This remains the desire of the Executive Council for the future of our Zionist churches.
First Annual ZEFA Conference October 1984
Andy & Heather Sullivan’s Retirement
Andy & Heather Sullivan first joined ZEMA leadership in 2002 when Andy became a part of the ZEMA Field Council. In 2008, Andy and Heather became full-time ZEMA missionaries. Last year, Andy and Heather announced their retirement due to age limitations in doing ministry and the fact that Andy is serving as the interim pastor of Glenwood Community Church. Andy is still active as an administrator for ZEFA and has assisted in planning for this year’s 40th Anniversary Celebration at the Annual ZEFA Conference in October. For the Sullivans, retirement means they are not traveling the great distances they used to, but they continue in administrative roles and are active in many of ZEMA’s ministries. Andy serves on the Sunbury Committee and the planning team for the annual ZEBS Teachers Conference. Though their responsibilities have lightened since retirement, the Sullivans are still a part of the ZEMA family and welcome every opportunity to promote ZEMA and share about the Zion ministries.
Board Member Highlight
Lew grew up on a dairy farm near Zion, Illinois, where his parents lovingly raised eight children in a godly home. A regular part of growing up included attending church, youth group, and going to summer camp. Lew’s family often entertained missionaries around the dinner table; it was here that his love for missions began to grow.
Despite his upbringing, sadly, Lew sensed something was missing in his life. After attending Stout State University (Menomonie, WI) for over a year, Lew realized he had relied on his parent’s faith and needed to make his relationship with God personal. At the age of 19, Lew put his trust in Jesus Christ for eternal life. Lew met his wife Cheryl at Stout State. Together they shared their love for the Lord and a desire to see God’s love spread to others, both personally and through missions.
Lew has known about the work with the amaZioni since the early 1960s. He has had an active role in the work of ZEMA since the early 1990s through prayer, giving, and serving as a ZEMA Board member. Lew and Cheryl have made several trips to Southern Africa to see the work firsthand and assist in the ministry there.
Lew retired from Northwest Airlines after working as a commercial pilot for 28 years. He and Cheryl have six grown children and 15 grandchildren and now live in Arkansas.
