Dr Deslee Campbell

Our SOMA Mission to the Seychelles was a first for me. It was a very challenging time in many ways but I believe we were able to impact a nation. This was in part because the ground had been well prepared and because the local churches as well as we ourselves put so much effort into it but mostly because the Holy Spirit was gracious. By faith we sowed little seeds and He multiplied the harvest, and He is still doing so. Almost daily I receive delightful emails from Seychellois Anglicans demonstrating how congregations are going on in the Lord and how individuals are stepping out in ministry. It is wonderful to think how much can be achieved for the Kingdom in just three weeks !

Dr. Deslee Campbell

Message from the Seychelles

Warm greetings to you!

I am doing great by the wonderful grace of God.  I feel so blessed with your visit to the Seychelles with the team, the fire of God was once burning in me but was kind of put off, for what ever reason... but your visit... Oh bless the Lord... it has revive and I am so grateful... Bless the Lord!!! Praise be to His Holy Name!!!

The visit of the SOMA has left us with a challenge to ensure that the fire of God is not put out... I bless the Lord for the wonder He has done and is still doing... please keep us in your prayers.

All the same, this was just a quick note to say hello and to bless the Lord for you all allowing Him to use you to help us revive the fire of His love in the heart of the people of Seychelles...

Please kindly give my regards to the other members of the team.

With every blessing

Peace & Love

The Revd Christine B Benoit

 

Ross in the Seychelles

Just a few lines about my experiences in the Seychelles. I have found the people in the Seychelles to be very warm and friendly in their welcome of us. They were expecting from us to help them in their worship of God. In my time of ministering to them I had come across quite a lot who were having trouble getting close to God. They felt that there was a barrier separating them from God and they didn't know what that barrier was. I came to understand the reason for that feeling of separation from God was caused by their association with the occult which is part of their culture. A very lot of people from the Seychelles have been involved in some sort of witchcraft in one way or the other and once that demonic power was broken through repentance and prayer for release then the barrier that was separating them from God was broken and the peace of God was released and any illnesses or curses that came about as a result of that occultic activity was also dealt with and they were set free. Praise the Lord!! The church in the Seychelles is on the brink of coming into renewal. The last night that we were in Praslin the church was overflowing with joy and they were singing full of voice because of what God was doing in their lives. People were being set free by the power of God working through the SOMA ministry team and it was wonderful for me to witness and experience it. This causes me to look forward to my next mission with SOMA.

Ross Holman

 

John & Rosemary Davies

Mahajunga is one of the four major ports of Madagascar although the port is shallow and does not handle a high tonnage. It is situated on the North West coast of the island.  While there are some scenic parts of the town, mostly it reflects third-world poverty.  The Bishop’s house has no running water.

Our visit was different to most SOMA Teams, which are invited by the local Bishop.  Ours was arranged by the Province, in accordance with the Archbishop’s vision to bring Renewal to the whole region.  However, during the time of the Provincial Conference in Antananarivo it became evident that there had been very little communication with the Diocese, and nothing had been planned for our visit.  Our only contact had been through the one Diocesan representative, Rev Hery, a wonderful young man who attended the Conference and has a vision to run Alpha courses. Our one sure event was that I would be preaching on Pentecost Sunday.

The original team of Rosemary and myself was expanded with the addition of Mary Waiguchu from Kenya, and she was a great blessing.  Our journey on the Friday took twelve hours in a small mini-bus down a winding road.  We were accompanied by the Bishop and his wife, who travel by public transport, as they cannot afford a car.  We arrived in the dark and were taken in two tiny taxis to our accommodation, about 8km out of town, down a horrendously rough road.

We were told there would be a meeting the next morning, where we could talk about SOMA, but nobody turned up! On Sun. morning I preached on the message of Pentecost.  Almost everyone raised their hand to indicate they wanted to accept Jesus as “Saviour and Lord,” and everyone stood to receive the outpouring of the Spirit.  However, there were no outward manifestations to indicate anything had happened.  One young man said later he was “encouraged.”

A meeting was announced for 4pm, in conjunction with Evening Prayer, and we indicated there would be Prayer for Healing.  After the sermon by the Cathedral Priest we taught on healing, and about 30 came forward for prayer.  All indicated they were fully or partially healed.  There was some very significant ministry, and at least one lady received the gift of tongues.  The bishop sat at the back of the church, obviously cautious about what was happening.  He indicated later that many of the Committee were upset that “Anglican traditions” had been broken.

Another meeting was advertised for Monday Morning (a Public Holiday), but only about 20 came, mainly the bishop’s extended family and a few leaders.  We taught on Spiritual Gifts and some more on Healing, and answered questions.  The response was enthusiastic, and the bishop joined in!  We also sang some Renewal Songs, which were new to most of them.

By mutual agreement we continued in the afternoon with practical work.  We demonstrated how to pray for the sick, and most of them were involved, especially the bishop’s wife, who testified that the Holy Spirit had touched her.

We then divided them into groups of about 6 and taught them how to ask God for a word to pass on to their neighbour.  Everyone said they were blessed and encouraged by this. We believe that there has been a genuine breakthrough of the Spirit into the lives of at least a dozen people in Mahajunga.  They all said that nothing like this had happened before.  The bishop’s wife and family, and the head of Mothers’ Union were deeply touched and are, we believe, very significant for the future.

On Tuesday afternoon we were taken to three homes to pray for sick people.  Then followed  a meeting with the Mother’s Union!  Mary and Rosemary spoke and were well received.  At the end we were all warmly thanked for our visit.  At night our hosts invited their neighbours in for prayer & blessing.  There were about 35 children and 25 adults.  Many were Roman Catholics (as was our host’s wife) and some knew about the things of the Spirit.  Everyone was prayed for individually and blessed.

When we left on Wednesday, the bishop, his wife, and about 8 others took us to the Airport in a bus and farewelled us with an invitation to return!  The whole attitude towards SOMA had changed, and we left behind some lovely new friends in the Body of Christ.

John and Rosemary Davies

 

 

    

Ken Hargreaves - Team Member

Toamasina gets its name from history. When the king of Madagascar came to this place he found that the river water tasted salty. It was named “salty taste” or “Toamasina”. Now the Anglicans of this diocese are learning how to be the salty taste in their community.

            Four SOMA members spent a week in the city teaching and allowing the Holy Spirit to work in a core of people in the diocese of Toamasina. Rev Dr David Maurice (a GP), and Mrs Credwyn Hart, from SOMA UK, and Ken and Bev Hargreaves, from SOMA Australia, accompanied Bishop Jean-Paul Solo, and two clergy and two lay persons from the SOMA Conference in Antananrivo to the diocese for teaching in how to be empowered by the Holy Spirit for ministry, church growth and evangelism.



    The situation of the church as it stood was one where congregations were regular in worship, loyal to the priest and congregation, but willing to leave the ministry entirely to the parish priest. In line with the Archbishop’s vision, Bishop Jean-Paul wanted lay involvement in each parish’s ministry and evangelism. The lay people, however, felt powerless to progress in this way.

            The team started with a core group of about 20. David and Ken led teaching on The Kingdom of God, and the meaning of Jesus’ reconciliation on the cross. They were led into a time of offering themselves once again to God. Bev and Creddie, with their gifts of drama, led these people through acts of forgiveness, reconciliation and openness to God

            By the next class, the numbers had increased to about 30. Ken taught on the person and work of the Holy Spirit through history. After Credwyn’s testimony, David led the group into infilling of the Holy Spirit. This was, for them, a precious time.

            The final night saw 40-50 come. Bev brought her testimony, and then members of the class were invited to say what the Holy Spirit was doing in their lives. From a quiet, staid people came an outpouring of excited testimony. Numerous times a person would get so excited telling what God had done that the poor translator was left behind, then both would dissolve in laughter.

            The final act was to have members of the class pray with and for each other. Everyone participated. The seed had been sown.

Ken Hargreaves - Team Member