Partnership between Harare Synod / CCAP Zimbabwe

and MAPC

Where we’ve been, Where we are, and discerning

Where God is calling us to go!

1

Outline of Discussion

– Following a series of 4 visits to Zimbabwe & New York that began in 2007, we discerned God calling us to formalize our partnership

– In developing this partnership, HS & MAPC used a framework suggested by PCUSA mission liaisons, Ted & Sue Wright.

– We discussed:– Objective of the partnership– Life Cycle of the Partnership– History of activities to date– Elements of partnership agreement

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Partnership Objective

• Why are we doing this?– To strengthen each other’s ministries and

discipleship

• We each give out of our strengths and receive in our areas of need

• Build mutual capacity to share God’s love in Jesus Christ and not a relationship of dependency

– A healthy relationship is not based on money

• Mutuality: Be open to learn from each other

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Life Cycle of Partnership

• A Partnership has 7 stages:1. Mutual discovery – series of visits, prayer, email

2. Formalizing the partnership – written agreement

3. First activities4. First disappointments5. Making adjustments6. Expanding the tent - exposing more people to partnership

7. Evaluation - decide whether to renew, repair or release

We have moved from stage 1 (discovery) to stage 2 (agreement).

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Partnership Agreement

Partnership Agreement has 5 Elements: • Agreed on theology behind the partnership• Agreed how parties will communicate

- mode, frequency, responsible parties

• Identified needs / resources of each partner – what each partner wants & is willing/able to give

• Agreed on first activities: – 1-3 specific action items for each party that:

• Support partnership objective• Are measurable with specific timeframe• Provide opportunity for early success

• Specified duration of the agreement04/19/23 5

Theology

• We acknowledged our common Reformed theological heritage & Presbyterian polity

• Engaged in Bible Study focused on nature of partnership from Biblical perspective

• Agreed that:– The Synod of Harare, as a judicatory of the CCAP, and MAPC,

a congregation of the PCUSA, share a common theological and confessional heritage in the Reformed tradition.

– We share the Presbyterian system of church governance.– We share a commitment to partnership in ministry as informed

by scripture.

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Communication

• We agreed that communication between Harare Synod & MAPC will be by email & personal visits– All Emails between the 2 parties will be between

(and copied to) all 6 of the following persons:• Harare Synod office (Libias Boloma, General Secretary

of the Synod, Pattison Chirongo, Synod Moderator, and Lamiel Phiri, Technology consultant)

• MAPC (Allison MacEachron, Don Wahlig and Fred Anderson)

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Strengths and Needs

• Delegations from HS & MAPC spent the initial 2 days of our week together here at MAPC in May, 2010 identifying strengths and needs

• Our approach:– We reviewed together our respective strengths

and needs, incorporating information gathered in past visits / workshops, and from input gathered earlier this year from our congregation, committees and Session

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Matching Strengths & Needs

• Our Approach:– We examined how our strengths

and needs matched up by area of ministry.

– We identified areas of ministry where one party’s need matched the other’s strength.

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First Activities

• Our approach:– Based on the matches of needs

and strengths, we first identified potential first activities for inclusion in the partnership agreement

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Selecting First Activities

– On our final day we narrowed down the list of potential first activities to those which both MAPC and Harare Synod agreed were doable and most needed

– We divided these into 2 categories:• Ongoing activities in support of the partnership• New activities

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Ongoing Activities in support of the Partnership

• Prayer– MAPC and Harare Synod will continue to

engage in regular corporate prayer for the other & partnership

• Exchange of Delegations– MAPC and Harare Synod will continue to

exchange delegations• MAPC to Harare Synod in May• Harare Synod to MAPC in October

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First activities for Agreement

1) Communications Support for HS– MAPC will assist Harare Synod with

communication infrastructure by providing redundant PCs, router and printer by June 2011.

– HS agrees to set up and connect PCs to Internet by July 2011 and will continue to maintain the system at its expense.

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First Activities for Agreement

2) Harare Pastor in residence at MAPC– Harare Synod will identify and send a Pastor at

MAPC’s expense to be in residence at MAPC in the fall of 2011

– The pastor will:• Engage in all aspects of MAPC worship & programs especially

leading worship, preaching, teaching, offering pastoral care, etc.• Work closely with evangelism and outreach committees and the

MAPC Board of Deacons• Assist in small group development on prayer house model• Participate in Continuing Education at local theological institutions’

workshops / mini-courses with MAPC’s approval and at MAPC’s expense.

– Upon return to HS, the pastor will:• Conduct awareness / training workshops for other pastors focusing

on church administration• Assist in reorganization of Deacons to include outreach ministries 04/19/23 14

First Activities for Agreement

3) Administrative Support to Harare Synod– MAPC will provide HS with documents outlining its

staff structure & roles, programs and systems by December 2010.

– These will include:• How MAPC IDs members’ skills:

– NM forms (member info. form, survey of interests)

• How MAPC tracks member involvement– NM tracking spreadsheet

• Staff / Session / Finance communications and systems– Staff org chart, Session org chart & Officer training packet

• Financial Reports (monthly report, budget)04/19/23 15

First Activities4) Children’s Pen Pal program

– Both HS and MAPC will begin a Children’s and Teens’ pen pal program by October, 2010

• Both sides will engage children ages 5-12 in various forms of communication with each other.

• HS will provide MAPC with a list of children’s names and the physical (and later email) addresses of their churches.

• MAPC will engage children in its Sunday School and Kids Club programs in writing letters

• HS will engage children in responding. • Program will start with hand-delivery of letters/drawings

during the MAPC delegation trip to Harare Synod in October, 2010. Later we may use email.

• On MAPC’s next visit to Harare, HS will deliver reply letters

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Agreement Duration

• The agreement is expected to be in place through December 31, 2013.– During the term of the agreement, Harare Synod and MAPC will

consult during each delegation’s visit with regard to the health of the relationship, any modifications to the agreement and any additional activities, such as those listed on the attached addenda and perhaps others.

– During the final year of the agreement MAPC and Harare Synod will confer to decide whether to continue / modify the agreement for a new term to be decided mutually or to conclude the partnership agreement.

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Addenda A

• List of potential partnership activities identified by Harare Synod

• List of potential partnership activities identified by MAPC

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Activities Identified by Harare Synod• Infrastructure & Administrative Support

– Documents on staff structure & roles, programs and systems • How MAPC IDs members’ skills (new members and ongoing)• Staff / Session / Finance communications and systems• Officer training packet, NM forms (member form, skills & interests, tracking)

– Build communication capacity for HS, Presbyteries & Pastors – June 2011• Computer network – First at Synod office 3 desktops or laptops, router and printer• Date: depends on logistics of availability of PCs and transporting • Set-up to be done by HS (Lamiel), Next, 2 Presbytery offices and then pastors

• Evangelism– Continue Exchange of Delegations (ongoing)

• HS to MAPC in Spring 2011– Pastoral/Lay leader exchanges

• Share best practices re youth, women, men (e.g. PA System, etc.)

• Training of Pastors and Lay Leaders– TEEZ lay leadership training program in Zimbabwe

• GMF goes to Zimbabwe and conducts training of Elders at end of stint (Sept ’11)• MAPC connects HS and Director of TEEZ Zambia.

– Reorganize/revitalize Deacons • MAPC Deacons sends HS all materials on Recruiting / Training / Conducting programs• MAPC provides consultancy on Deacon ministry in Fall 2010• Engage Deacons in outreach (e.g. food, clothing pantry)

– Sponsorship of 2nd student at Justo Mwale (Jan 2011)04/19/23 19

Activities Identified by MAPC• Evangelism / Discipleship:

– Continue Exchange of Delegations (ongoing)• MAPC to HS in early October, 2010

– HS Pastor in Residence at MAPC• Sept. through Nov., 2011

– Engagement in all aspects of MAPC worship & programs– Lead worship, preach, teach, pastoral care

» Assist in small group development on prayer house model– Continuing Education at local theological institutions for workshops / mini-courses

– Pastoral/Lay leader exchanges• AP/Pastoral Care (& 1-2 other deacons) in July-August, 2011

– Intergenerational group from MAPC goes to HS – July/August 2012• Emphasis on youth and 20s / 30s, but older adults as well• Work project / Experience ,stay w/families or Rock Haven, participate in and conduct

worship, Bible study– Experience and begin to learn music

– Children/Teens’ pen pal program – start in October, 2010• Communication exchange with children/teens in HS• Start with S-mail, then use email.• Email to/from HS Sunday School children on Sundays from pastors’ home

– Post communications from both onto web site other web page– HS to supply list of congregations and names of children, ages, gender to match w/ours

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Appendix B

• Worksheets Taken from notes of working sessions

– History of Steps Taken– Strengths and Needs– Matching Strengths and Needs– Activities ID’d by HS & MAPC– List of potential first activities

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History of Steps Taken

• Trip #1 - February 2007– Locales: Lusaka and Kitwe, Zambia, and Harare, Zimbabwe – Participants: JC, FRA, Dawn Ravella, Sarah Badavas, Allison

MacEachron and Denise Welsh (Zambia only) – Activities:

• Exploring potential partners and projects

• “First learning” about the meaning of, and best practices of, “Partnership”

• Learning about the Church’s work in these two countries

• Observing PCUSA work, worship, culture, potential mission projects, TEEZ, and partnership workshop with Harare Synod led by Ted and Sue Wright, staying one night with hosts

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History of Steps Taken

• Trip #2: April 2008– Met w/delegation from Synod of Harare in Lusaka at Justo

Mwale for 3 days of conversation on potential for partnership.– Traveled to Lundazi, Zambia to explore partnership potential

with CCAP’s Lundazi Presbytery – Participants: Kekla Magoon, Allison MacEachron, Alice Alston,

Dick Iverson, Nancy Hobson, Kerry Land, Bill Welsh, JC Austin and Fred Anderson

– Activities: • Deepened relationships, visited potential sites for ministry

and support, and became more acquainted with the culture & church in SE Africa

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History of Steps Taken

• Trip #3: April 2009 – New York City

– MAPC received delegation from Harare Synod: • Joseph Juma, Alick Binga, Lamiel Phiri, Sophia Chalenga, Aubrey Silo

– Continued the mutual discovery process, this time in NY at MAPC• First visit by Harare Synod to MAPC

• Immersion for Harare visitors in MAPC life and ministry:

• Met with Session, congregation, saw MAPC outreach ministries, 20s-30s and Kids Club, and taught Adult Education hour

• Stayed with hosts

• Discovered the culture of NYC: – UN, NYSE, shopping, Central Park, Yankees, etc. – “Are we walking again?!”

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History of Steps Taken• Trip #4: November 2009

– MAPC contingent to Harare, Zimbabwe: A different kind of trip; designed to both deepen relationships and to move us toward a partnership agreement. 

– Participants: Kathy Hoffman, Alice Alston, Ruth Schroeder, Nancy Hobson, Dick Iverson; FRA, DBW

– Activities: – Deeper understanding of structure & ministries of Harare Synod– Visited several congregations and prayer houses– Day-long workship at Rock Haven (Synod conference center)– Participated in worship in a variety of Harare Presbytery

churches, Don, Fred and Nancy preaching.– Stayed in host homes for all but the last night, experiencing

Zimbabwean life and hospitality.

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Harare Strengths• Cultural pre-disposition to faith (unlike US)

– Church is at the center of people’s lives• Worship

– More flexible – accommodate more choirs, longer sermon– Indigenizing hymns – take words of popular hymn set to a tune

known by all in a culture.– Music / Dance

• Groups:– Women’s guild – encourage back-sliders, model for children,

pastor’s funds, visit sick and old, print and sell chitenges (fund-raising), annual conferences, confirm new members through “emblazoning”, grief visitation, - stay for 2-3 days following funeral

– Youth participation – strong and growing• Rock Haven Conference Center

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Harare Strengths, continued

• Evangelism – Preaching by Elders and Deacons, as well as pastors– Music/choirs (it’s own form of preaching – where people get the

Christian message), – Prayer houses – closer, develops lay leaders; – Each group has it’s own ways of evangelizing.

• E.g. Women’s guild, men’s guild, Youth • Specific youth pastors – specialize in those 45 and under.

– Evangelism Sunday – last Sunday of the month. • Rugare – go out for one hour during the service, come back anfter one hour

to share their experience. They evangelize to come to Christ – not to a particular church. Some members don’t want to do it , but others look forward to it. People tend to go where the choir is good (e.g. Mbare)

– Revivals– Warmth of the people

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MAPC Strengths• People Resources

– In-house expertise/skills; Free consultation of experts, database of members’ strengths

– Organizational / administrative skills – division of labor, accountability– Getting things done, task orientation, within diversity of skills

• Stewardship– Stewardship, not fund-raising but larger concept – time and talent,

innovative, all • Fellowship

– Community / supportive – good-hearted people • Openness to others / outsiders

– Diversity – different cultures, countries “rainbow congregation”– Educated – appreciate experiences of God in head and heart

• Worship – rich experience, “high church”, preaching that challenges and nurtures, communion

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MAPC Strengths, continued

• Outreach - MAPC is very good at proclaiming God’s word through action for social justice. – In-house – feeding programs, shelter– Thoughtfully supporting outside organizations with our time and

money.

• Communication infrastructure• Municipal infrastructure

– Ease of traveling to/from Church.

• Church house – one space, adaptable, and well utilized• Flat organizational / cultural structure:

– Lack of hierarchy within our structure – less hierarchical than in Harare, Faster decisions / smooth consultation

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Harare Synod Needs• Deacons: need to organize the deacons and mobilize themselves

to care for the rest of the congregation and into the community. • Music: leveraging the music program even more, among

congregations to use it as an Evangelism tool, too. Make CDs, Music Director, Choir festivals.

• Outreach: “compassion ministry” extend it to those outside the congregation, e.g. feeding programs. – Like Jesus – holistic ministry– Assist orphans, education – pre-school, feeding programs,

• Administrative Skills: technical, organizational, capacity development– Systems of documentation: Synod office

04/19/23 30

Harare Synod Needs, continued• Communication:

– whether it is personal, fax, email, or phone system – Introducing accountability to make sure that information is

shared, both within congregations and between congregations• Space-utilization – fully utilizing the church premises and others

– e.g. Rock Haven Lay Training Center, Synod office • Equipment: stationary, equipment, • Pastors – 21 congregations; 14 pastors (4 in seminary)• Evangelism• - Revival meetings – equipment / PA • Transport to remote areas• Worship as a means of evangelism /

– vitality of Christian life extended to other chuches / evangelism; Church becomes a place where we WANT to go (e.g. Mbare, Hwange)

• Lay training – esp. in outlying prayer houses and congregations without pastors (e.g. TEEZ)

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MAPC Needs• Evangelism: We do outreach well & we’re good at putting the gospel

into action, but not at talking about our faith in Jesus Christ. – We are reluctant to talk about our faith publicly.

• We fear that we don’t know enough, or other people will be offended if we talk about our faith.

– “We hide behind our programs” • A symptom of being too staff-dependent

– Need more Holistic discipleship: Whereas HS is very comfortable talking about Jesus, MAPC is far more comfortable doing things in Jesus’ name. Need to learn from each other.

• Happens in inter-personal relationships – Need to understand what evangelism really means – what does it

involve? What am I supposed to do.– Need to reclaim a positive idea of evangelism

• Self-imposed limitation based on assumption that we will offend (fear!)

– Worship as a means of evangelism – extend vibrancy of worship experience

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MAPC Needs, continued

• Intergenerational interaction – More broadly, need to be better at creating relationships that

cross differences of age, tenure, etc.• Connecting with new people • Includes better integration of new members;

• Time constraints– Time is so very precious– We are forced to work around people’s busy schedules

• Putting members gifts to work: – More intentional, prayerful matching of people’s gifts with work in

order to participate / serve.

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Matching Strengths & Needs

• Evangelism:– Harare is strong in being comfortable speaking about their

faith, and needs to grow in the area of putting their faith into action for social justice.   We are strong in putting our faith into action for social justice and need to grow in the area of becoming more comfortable articulating our faith.  

– Harare has a strength in creating prayer houses as a means of growing in both numbers and in the depth of their faith.   We have a need of growing in both numbers and in the depth of our faith through small groups (which are analogous to prayer houses in our context)

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Matches of Strengths and Needs, continued

• Administration– HS has a need to become better at administration, i.e. simply

getting things done.  We have a strength in that area.– HS has a need of better identifying people within the

congregation who have functional expertise in areas that the churches need and engaging them to give their skill. MAPC has a strength in resource mobilization. This includes new member expectations.

• Pastoral and Lay Leadership:– HS has a need of developing pastors and lay leadership in areas

where there are no pastors.  We are familiar with how to do that in the Zambian context through TEEZ and we have access to vast theological education resources.   

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Matches of Strengths and Needs, continued

• Pastoral and Lay Leadership, continued– HS has a need of strengthening the Deacons program of caring

for the congregation members and members of the community outside through outreach, with their own mission. MAPC has a strength in this area.

– HS has a strength in developing lay leaders who lead worship, preach, etc. functioning as pastors.  We have a need to develop lay leaders (staff-dependency issue), and Harare has a strength in lay leaders who lead worship, preach, etc.

• Youth– HS has a strength in engaging youth in the church.  MAPC has a

need to increase the involvement of youth in the life of our church.

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Activities Identified by Harare Synod• Infrastructure & Administrative Support

– Documents on staff structure & roles, programs and systems • How MAPC IDs members’ skills (new members and ongoing)• Staff / Session / Finance communications and systems• Officer training packet, NM forms (member form, skills & interests, tracking)

– Build communication capacity for HS, Presbyteries & Pastors – June 2011• Computer network – First at Synod office 3 desktops or laptops, router and printer• Date: depends on logistics of availability of PCs and transporting • Set-up to be done by HS (Lamiel), Next, 2 Presbytery offices and then pastors

• Evangelism– Continue Exchange of Delegations (ongoing)

• HS to MAPC in Spring 2011– Pastoral/Lay leader exchanges

• Share best practices re youth, women, men– e.g. PA System, etc.

• Training of Pastors and Lay Leaders– TEEZ in Zimbabwe

• GMF goes to Zimbabwe and conducts training of Elders at end of stint (Sept ’11)• MAPC connects HS and Director of TEEZ Zambia.

– Reorganize/revitalize Deacons • MAPC Deacons sends HS all materials on Recruiting / Training / Conducting programs• MAPC provides consultancy on Deacon ministry in Fall 2010• Engage Deacons in outreach (e.g. food, clothing pantry)

– Sponsorship of 2nd student at Justo Mwale (Jan 2011)04/19/23 37

Activities Identified by MAPC• Evangelism / Discipleship:

– Continue Exchange of Delegations (ongoing)• MAPC to HS in early October, 2010

– HS Pastor in Residence at MAPC• Sept. through Nov., 2011

– Engagement in all aspects of MAPC worship & programs– Lead worship, preach, teach, pastoral care

» Assist in small group development on prayer house model– Continuing Education at local theological institutions for workshops / mini-courses

– Pastoral/Lay leader exchanges• AP/Pastoral Care (& 1-2 other deacons) in July-August, 2011

– Intergenerational group from MAPC goes to HS – July/August 2012• Emphasis on youth and 20s / 30s, but older adults as well• Work project / Experience ,stay w/families or Rock Haven, participate in and conduct

worship, Bible study– Experience and begin to learn music

– Children/Teens’ pen pal program – start in October, 2010• Communication exchange with children/teens in HS• Start with S-mail, then use email.• Email to/from HS Sunday School children on Sundays from pastors’ home

– Post communications from both onto web site other web page– HS to supply list of congregations and names of children, ages, gender to match w/ours

04/19/23 38

Potential First Activities

• Evangelism & Lay Leadership– Continue exchange of delegations

• MAPC delegation comes to HS October 2010

– Travel to Gweru AND Harare Presbyteries– Include new faces as well as some familiar

ones– 2-phased itinerary:

» main group 1 week, smaller group 2 weeks.

• HS delegation comes to MAPC in April / May 2011

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Potential First Activities

Evangelism & Lay Leadership, cont. • Pastoral Exchange:

– HS sends a pastor to MAPC • For 2-3 months• HS Pastor engages in full scope of MAPC ministries

– Leads worship, preaches, teaches, participates in outreach, Deacons, etc.– Works w/Evangelism comm. & cong. to help us become more comfortable

talking about our faith / faith sharing

• Along with MAPC staff, helps train our:– Lay leaders in preaching, praying, conducting Bible study– Small group leaders– Start small group ministries – prayer house model

• Helps w/youth program– New ways to attract youth, (Note: engage youth in partnership

dialogue)

– Engages in continuing education at local seminary

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Potential First Activities

Evangelism & Lay Leadership, continued • Pastoral Exchange, cont.:

– MAPC sends a pastor/lay person to HS• Time: several months to a year (When?)• Immersion in all phases of HS ministries

– Visits churches, prayer houses, participates in worship leadership, etc.

– Sees first-hand HS programs (e.g. Evangelism, Outreach, Stewardship)

– Visits different areas within the Synod – both Presbyteries

• Consult re Deacons, Women’s Guild, men’s and youth ministries, outreach to share best practices:

– E.g. How our approach to Deacons, and Outreach might benefit HS– How HS youth programs might be adapted to benefit MAPC?

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First Activities, continued

• Revitalize Deacons in HS congregations– MAPC can consult w/HS in developing effective Board of

Deacons• Selection – review process of elections/appointment & terms, Roles

and responsibilities– MAPC provides template

• MAPC helps train those who will train Deacons across both Gweru and Harare Presbyteries

• Promote respect for Deacons (vis a vis Elders) and redefine their roles

– Hold own meetings– Provide outreach ministry:

» establish food pantry for congregation and larger community. Matching funds challenge from Rock Haven poultry

» Clothing closet for cong. And community– More than Elders-in-training

• As well as care for the congregation

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First Activities

• Resource Utilization for development– Synod resources

• Rock Haven• 152 Kwame Nkhruma at Synod office

– Micro-enterprise project • Poultry farming / Garden marketing (Rock Haven)

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First Activities

• Youth exchange– MAPC youth Participate in HS youth

fellowship camp• All-night prayers• Choirs• Ministries – intercessors, caring, finance• Conducting youth services

– 2 groups / alternate: Gweru and Harare

04/19/23 44

First Activities

• Infrastructure / Administrative– MAPC provides documents on staff structure,

function, programs & systems– HS takes and adapts what is applicable to their

context– Communications equipment – PCs, fax, phone, TV,

mobile PA, musical equipment, projectors, High-speed internet capacity

• Build communication capacity for HS, Presbyteries and pastors

• Source used equipment• Target Fall of 2010

– Transport – truck/SUV04/19/23 45