Zimbabwe Partnership Trust
In the last decade the people of Zimbabwe have been staggering beneath a yoke of despair. Unemployment statistics are now at close to 90 per cent. The population has faced poverty, successive droughts, and economic disaster.
In July 2008, hyperinflation resulted in the total collapse of the Zimbabwean currency. These conditions have been aggravated by a largely out of control AIDS pandemic, which has left an estimated one in four children without their parents.
A chaotic and violent land reform programme has left the once thriving agricultural sector bankrupt and demoralised. Sadly, food now has to be imported into the country. Yet, despite all these setbacks, the Zimbabwean people demonstrate a resilience and openness to those who would come alongside them in partnership and encourage them in rebuilding and sharing the gospel.
The Zimbabwe Partnership Trust (ZPT) has been set up to send assistance to our brothers and sisters in Zimbabwe in response to this crisis, and is now encouraging churches in the UK to support us in achieving these objectives.
Ministry
The first is to support churches in their ministry and mission by providing preachers’ workshops, theological teaching and training; providing Bibles and study books; and supporting the Theological College of Zimbabwe.
The second is to relieve poverty among churches and their communities by supporting feeding programmes; assisting with livelihood projects and sustainable agriculture schemes; and funding the rescue and care of orphans.
The trust is adopting the 1689 Baptist Confession of Faith, but is willing to work with all Bible-believing churches in Zimbabwe. The trust carries out its work in partnership with Christian groups and agencies in Zimbabwe, the UK and other countries.
Most trust members have visited Zimbabwe and seen firsthand the wonderful way in which the Zimbabwean Christians have worked together in meeting the desperate needs of their communities.
We would love the opportunity to visit churches and share in more detail the needs, opportunities and projects we are involved with, including the care of abandoned babies and the building of a new Christian school.
The ZPT is to host a recognition service on 21 April 2012, at West Hill Baptist Church, Wandsworth, London, at 2.00pm. More details from ZPT secretary Roger Prime, at roger@zpt.org.uk
Jon Spalding
