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Bringing in the Sheaves

by Rev. Joseph Kazadi on November 28, 2019

When I was 23 years old, I began to serve as a church minister in a small village in the Democratic Republic of Congo. My parish was very poor and small with only about 50 members. We had no building so worship was held in a shed with members and their children sitting on the floor. The village had no health clinic and no source of clean water (water was brought from surrounding rivers or streams, which were often contaminated). And, even though my congregation was very poor and small, I was thankful because I felt that I was special to God. I was chosen and sent to spread the seeds of kindness, hope, joy and love. As Jesus says, “You did not choose me, but I chose you. And I appointed you to go and bear fruit.” (John 15:16). This reminded me of the song Bringing in the Sheaves.

Sowing in the morning, sowing seeds of kindness,
Sowing in the noontide and the dewy eve
Waiting for the harvest and the time of reaping.
We shall come rejoicing, bringing in the sheaves.

Going forth with weeping, sowing for the Master,
Though the loss sustained our spirit often grieves,
When our weeping’s over, He will bid us welcome,
We shall come rejoicing, bringing in the sheaves.

I was so happy because the will of God was being fulfilled. I had become a pastor – a shepherd of the Lord’s flock – and the Good News of Jesus Christ was being received in our village. Our first two children were born while serving at this rural parish. God showed us His love and goodness every day, keeping us safe from physical danger and deadly diseases. Members of the parish lovingly supported us through donations of cassava and corn, staples from their homes and green vegetables from their local gardens. God had sent me to this village for the purpose of serving the poor and bringing Christ to His people.

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