Missionary Tells Zimbabwean Police Officers to Follow Moses
A young Global Mission pioneer is proclaiming Jesus in the heart of Zimbabwe’s second-largest city.
The 26-year-old missionary gazed at the large group of Zimbabwean police officers.
The uniformed men and women had just participated in a colorful parade in downtown Bulawayo, and they were waiting for him to speak.
Emmanuel Msimanga — a Global Mission pioneer tasked with proclaiming Jesus’ soon coming in a central business district of Zimbabwe’s second-largest city — told the officers about the honorable conduct of Moses.
“Even though Moses was in Egypt, he remembered that he was a Hebrew,” he said. “Moses realized, ‘Even though I’m in Egypt, I’m not an Egyptian. I don’t have to follow the ways of the land.’”
Emmanuel looked into earnest faces. The officers belonged to a national police force that has struggled to root out corruption within its ranks.
“Some people are amassing unjust gain. Do not follow that,” he said. “Live a righteous life even though we live in a sinful word.”
Emmanuel, a 2017 theology graduate from church-run Solusi University outside Bulawayo, has a unique opportunity to share Christ. Since becoming a Global Mission pioneer in July, he has been seeking ways to reach out to police officers, government workers, and university students who live and work in his district. He received permission to give a 30-minute devotional message at regular training courses for local and regional officers by simply asking. The training courses start with a parade at 7:30 a.m., and Emmanuel speaks at 8 a.m. Sometimes he also speaks at lunch.
Emmanuel had much more to say about Moses at the recent training course.
“Moses chose to suffer with the Israelites rather than enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin for a season,” he said. Turning in his Bible to Hebrews 11:24-25, he read, “By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter; choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season.”
“Moses knew that whatever comfort or benefits he would receive were temporary and could not be compared with the suffering of the people of God,” he said. “Suffering in the presence of God is better than enjoying something where God is absent. Even if we suffer, we are better and safe if we are on God’s side.”
Police officers thanked Emmanuel afterward.
“This is the devotional we need,” said one. “It tells us things that we don’t want to hear but we must hear.”
“Others preach what we want to hear but not the truth,” said another.
A third officer said, “It was a word of rebuke and correction. God blessed me today.”
Emmanuel said the officers encouraged him to keep preaching about righteousness.
“More than 50 police officers were present, and they came out appreciating the message,” he said. “They did not see that the Word was at war with them but that the Word was at war with sin.”
Emmanuel prays that God touches the police officers’ hearts.
After each devotional, he invites the attending officers to enroll in free Voice of Prophecy Bible studies and gives each a copy of the Adventist Church’s 2017 missionary book, “Story of Hope,” by Ellen G. White. Ten officers are currently taking Bible studies, and Emmanuel is also ministering to 20 others.
No police officers have requested baptism, but Emmanuel is sure that the Holy Spirit is at work. After just two months as a Global Mission pioneer, five university students in his district were already prepared for baptism.
As Emmanuel pushes ahead, he is eager to keep preaching righteousness — just as the police officers requested.
“Like Moses, we must always stand for the right, even though the tide of the time says we should be corrupt,” he said.
Emmanuel Msimanga recalls how God saved his life as a boy. (Andrew McChesney / Adventist Mission)
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