Walking Humbly

“…And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” (Micah 6:8)behle

At the end of October the Lesotho Evangelical Church in Southern Africa (LECSA) celebrated the 2nd annual Leeto la Thapelo (Journey of Prayer) event. This church-wide celebration was started to help bring the church closer together and strengthen the unity of the church. This year the event highlighted specially-designed blankets, in a variety of colors, featuring the new logo of the church.

Members of the denomination came to the weekend event in their thousands from all over the Lesotho and parts of South Africa. As was the case last year, there were sessions for prayer when all in need were invited forward and prayed for by the pastors of the church.

There were special guests this year from the Community of Churches in Mission, better known by its French acronym CEVAA. CEVAA is the successor of the Paris Evangelical Missionary Society, the body that sent the first three missionaries to Lesotho in 1833. Today CEVAA is comprised of 36 denominations from countries in Europe, Africa, Latin America and Oceania.

Following the Saturday morning opening service and afternoon fundraising celebration, the day concluded with an evening service of sermons, hymn-singing, another prayer session and communion, all of which continued into the early hours of Sunday morning.

The Sunday morning service was graced by the presence of members of Lesotho’s royal family. Prince Seeiso Bereng Seeiso, brother to the king, led some of the singing during the offering. Her Majesty Queen ‘Masenate Mohato Seeiso spoke during the service, sharing those familiar words of Micah 6:8, and also joined in singing with the youth of the church.

In recent years the LECSA has emphasized the importance of prayer. At the church I attend in Morija we often join hands together in prayer during services. I am thankful for the many churches and individuals who pray for me, the LECSA and the work of Global Ministries. One of the things I will again ask you to pray for is the Bolahla Primary School project. A number of months back I mentioned there would be an update soon on the construction developments. There has been some progress as the foundation slabs are now completed. However, transportation problems continue and, for the third time now, we are searching for a transporter so that the project can move forward.

Having heard two transporters assure us (“Don’t worry…no problem.”) that they could deliver the goods and then give up, Micah’s words of “walking humbly” offer a rebuke to the brash overconfidence one often encounters in life. Finding the right balance between walking confidently, yet humbly, in faith sometimes seems elusive. We may know all the right words (“God will provide…Cast your cares on the Lord…”) but the doubts of the devil can, and do, push their way forward and shove faith to the side. At such times it is always good to have reassurance of God’s faithfulness. At the LECSA office in Maseru where I work I am blessed to have ‘M’e Masara Mathaha as a colleague. She is a true servant of the church who walks humbly, yet confidently, with the Lord. The problems and difficulties which we all encounter are part of the faith journey. As ‘M’e Masara likes to say, “It’s part of the fun.”

These words from 1 Peter seem to sum up the situation: “Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” (5:6-7).

Yours in Christ,

Mark Behle serves with the Lesotho Evangelical Church. He is working to identify development projects, assist the church in preparing project proposals and coordinating project implementation.