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MY TESTMONY
My name is Winston Mpanga. I was born on August 13 1965 my childhood life
was comfortable till when I lost my father in 1976.
The Lord came through for me and provided all that I need to survive as
well as go to school.
During my youth hood I never thought about God. I thought God only came
for sinners and I thought I’m not a sinner because of two things which I never
used to do. I never used to drink beer in the Bar and I was against Fornication.
One day a man approached me concerning the word of God I said I’m not a
sinner so please go to the Bar and to the prostitute I don’t need God now
I’m okay.
Few days after this man went, I was with a friend who always talked about
going to Church, I always opposed him, but he never gave up.
So one day we were about to part Company he said to me “God bless
you”. I covered my
head with a blanket then I heard the voice again. I thought some body within the
room is speaking those words. So I remained in the blanket, it repeated the same
words “God bless you” three times. I remained quiet and I found my self
crying. Then God showed me that I needed him in order to be saved from my sins.
That day I wept like a baby leading for God’s mercy.
The following day I went to my friend and asked him to take me to the
Church leader who were serious with God. He took me to a Church called Christian
Brethren. I told the
leaders of that Church that I wanted to be serious with God; they lead us to
Christ in the sinner’s prayer. I prayed with all my heart and then they told
me to read through the book of Acts. I ready through with all my heart
and then I discovered two things
(a) Baptism in the name of the Lord Jesus and that there was no Baptism
class.
(b) There was a prophet known as Agabus. So my question is there no
prophet today.
I went straight to the leaders of the Church and asked them about these
two things they explained to me in a way that did not satisfy my heart. I
demanded to be baptised then they told me to wait for a baptism class. I refused
to wait for one but referred them to the book of Acts where those who repented
were baptised right there and then. I forced my way till they gave up and
baptised me without a formal baptism class. During the act of baptism I heard
the man who was baptising me say “I baptise you in the name of father Son and
the Holy Ghost”. The following
day I went back to the leaders of the church and asked them why the man baptised
me in the name of the father, Son and Holy Ghost? They failed to explain the
answer to me. The question concerning the prophet today was not also answered so
I had these two questions in my heart.
I stayed with these two issues for 8 years and in 1992 the conviction
grew too big to bear. This time I had joined the Pentecostal assemblies of God.
One day I prayed to God so that he can show me where I can find people who
believe the things that were upon my heart. I never heard about the message
believers or the prophet Malachi 4. One thing I remember is that I loved to read
and kept the message books, I could even make sure I took any book preached by W
M Branham. I remember get a message book “He that is in you” from a friend
in a way of stealing from him. Because I thought he will not keep it the way I
could keep it.
One day I found a man preaching in my neighbourhood. I stood and listened
as he preached to my friend. Some thing spoke to me “this is what you are
looking for” I never gave it the seriousness it deserved I came to meet the
man again and this time he was speaking on the serpent seed. I think I did not
believe right there. I went away but yet I said I will not take the issue on the
serpent seed I will obey the voice within me and go to the baptism in the name
of Jesus. I followed this man brother and demanded that I be baptised in the
name of the Lord Jesus. I thought I was joking but I said please I need that
baptism right now else I will baptise myself.
He went down the stream and I got baptised straight I went to the
Assemblies of God and preached in the Church the right baptism. I every body to
go back to the river and be baptised in the name of Jesus Christ. This preaching
made me stand before the church council. The church leader wanted to renounce
what I had preached and my baptism. I said what I preached was right and my
baptism was biblical. So they excommunicated me.
I stayed at home without going to church. I said Lord what is the way
forward for me. I heard about the prophet’s books some where I sent for them
and some brother brought them for me. Some brothers came and said we start a
fellowship. I said needed time to be alone with any one bringing his influence
upon me. I stayed alone home for about 3-4 months. This time there was a lot of
confusion among message believers. The issue of thunders being revealed or not
revealed was the talk of the day. I told some brother that came that we start a
fellowship on condition that we shall be alone, No visiting pastor or minister
was to come from either camps.
This is how we started a fellowship. We went on very well till the Lord
started speaking to me about my position concerning the 7 thunders. So I gave
the two camps a chance. I went to both camp and had fellowship. After my visits
to the two camps I found the camp that does not believe that 7 thunders were
revealed by the prophet where not different from the Pentecost church I left.
The lives were not convincing to me so I went to the camp of those who say
thunders are revealed. There lives where okay and the Gospel was preached
without compromise. So I decided to stay with people who believe that Rev 10:1
was fulfilled by Mal 4. I rayed to God and said LORD I don’t understand about
these thunders now but I have seen the light of the word in the lives of these
people. I will stay here till you reveal to me the issue of the seven
thunders. Today I strongly believe that the seven thunders were revealed by
Mal 4. To believe that the seven thunders were not revealed by Malachi 4 is to
say that we have to wait for the eight messengers which is outside the word.
Since I believed the message I have a compassionate heart for any one who
is outside the word. I feel the love of God for the denomination people and I
pray to meet and talk to them about the word.
In 1998 I start feeling the pull to preach in the prison. At this moment
there was not prison near my home. The nearest prison was 15 kms away. One day
in 1998 I went to this prison fellowship our organisation that has been made to
monitor the preaching in prisons. When I introduced myself and made know the
prison of going then, the boss of that organisation said “why are you coming
to us” your church does not believe in preach in prison and the doctrine which
you believe is different for us. I said I want to enter the prison not to join
their organisation. They said I will only work in prison with a chaplain so as
to monitor what I’m preaching. They also gave me their doctrine guide line. I
went to see the chaplain for the prison, He was also against me because of what
I believe. He made sure that I preach as they wanted so I said Lord I think it
is not time for me to enter prisons yet. I will physical keep away but
spiritually I will be with the prisons from 1999 – 2003 I stayed away from
prison. This year 2004 when I was transferred from Ndola to Kabwe I
found that in Kabwe a Pastor in the message is already preaching in the maximum
security prison. One of the biggest in the Southern and Central Africa. I saw my
prayers answered. I explained my position to him and straight out he assigned to
start preaching in a prison near to my home about 6 kms away.
When I went to Mpima Prison I was told there are already 5 denominations
preachers in the prison. We were to be the 6th Church. I told the
prison authorities that all I wanted to stand and preach to the inmates. We got
permission from the prison HQ and I went to start our mission. I was told that
we must be going on Saturdays and
on this day we were to share time with the seventh day Adventist church. So 2
weeks before I started preaching in prison I prayed and said LORD let every
wrong doctrine stop going to prison. When I went to prison I was told that the
Seventh day Adventist stopped going into the prison two weeks ago. I remember
that two weeks ago was the time I prayed against wrong doctrine. I thanked God
for that. After preaching for 3 weeks, one day after the service one inmate
actually the one who is in charge of church matters said the inmates have said
they don’t want any other preacher with another gospel apart the message they
have accepted it. Soon we have be baptising about 25 inmates in the name of the
Lord.
Brothers and
sisters life in a Zambian or African prison is not different from being in HELL.
What you see in western world prisons are hotel standard not here.
We need your prayers so that we can preach this Gospel to every soul in
prison in Zambia. The only hope for the inmates is the gospel of the Lord Jesus
Christ as revealed to us by the prophet Malachi 4
Out of about 96 prisons we have effectively reached 4 prisons in Zambia.
We are praying that believers in every town will have the heart to go and preach
in prisons. It is not easy but we believe God that God will speak to many of
them about this great work in prisons.
Thank you for every little help you are doing for the inmates where ever
you are going.
Brother
Mpanga Winston |
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