Miezi michache iliyopita tulianza safari na baadhi ya watu jasiri ambao walipaswa kutuongoza kwenye mabonde yenye kina kirefu, vinamasi, malisho yenye kinamasi, lakini pia kando ya mabonde mazuri ya maua na milima mizuri inayoinuka.
Wakati wa safari, hasira nyingi zilizuka na ndugu Chris, Tim, Steve na Marcus walijaribu kujibu maswali na kuweka msingi mzuri ambapo kulikuwa na shaka. Dada Miriam alipewa heshima hiyo wiki kadhaa zilizopita ili kuangalia kama watahiniwa wa ubatizo walikuwa tayari kukamilisha tendo lao la ajabu la kujisalimisha.
Leo ni siku. Ndugu Steve aliondoka mapema asubuhi ya leo kumchukua Ndugu Marcus ili aendeshe gari hadi Anderlecht pamoja. Siku ya Jumamosi, Ndugu Methode alikuwa tayari ametarajia kwamba bwawa la kuogelea lilikuwa limenunuliwa kwa ajili ya tukio hilo. Leo tunatarajia kuikuta imejaa maji ndani ya nyumba yake.
Leo, Mei 5, ni siku kuu. Eklesia yetu mpya kabisa itaweza kusalimia ubatizo wake wa kwanza baada ya saa chache. Ndugu na dada wenzetu watafuata ibada kutoka Newbury. Wanaweza kutumia Jumapili na ibada yao ya kawaida ya Jumapili saa 10 asubuhi kwa saa za Kiingereza (11 asubuhi hapa Ubelgiji.)
Saa 12 jioni, Ndugu Marko ataanza ibada ya ubatizo, kwanza akiangalia safari ya maswali na majibu mengi. Kisha tunashuhudia kwamba tunasadiki kwamba tunaweza kupata uzio katika Nyumba ya Mungu.
Wakati wa safari kila mtu alitambulishwa kwa mchungaji mwema ambaye alimtuma Mchungaji Mkuu kwenye ulimwengu huu na ambaye lango lake la kondoo wapya pia lilifunguliwa.
Baada ya kusomwa kutoka katika Maandiko kuhusu kile kilichotokea katika nyumba ya Kornelio, Ndugu Marko ataendelea na ubatizo wa Pascal, Michango na Méthode, ambaye atakubaliwa katika jumuiya yetu kama ndugu. Kwa mara ya kwanza katika maisha yao wataruhusiwa kuketi mezani kula mkate na divai kama ishara ya mwili wa Kristo.
Na kisha sherehe kubwa ya familia inaweza kuanza! Kuanzia wakati huo na kuendelea, ndugu hawa wapya wataruhusiwa kupata tendo la mfano katika siku zijazo na pia watatangaza Habari Njema kwa wengine ili kuwaalika kwenye meza ya Yesu Kristo.
A few months ago, we started a trek with some mums that was to lead us past deep valleys, swamps, marshy meadows, but also past beautiful flowering valleys and beautiful mountains rising upwards.
During the trek, many rants were raised and Brothers Chris, Tim, Steve and Marcus tried to answer the questions and present good ground where there was doubt. Sister Miriam was given the honour a few weeks ago to ascertain whether the baptismal candidates were ready to fulfil their beautiful act of surrender.
Today is the day. Brother Steve left early this morning to pick up Brother Marcus to drive to Anderlecht together. On Saturday, Brother Method had already provided the swimming pool for the occasion. Today we expect to find it in his house filled with water.
For today, 5 May, is the big day. Our brand-new ecclesia will be able to greet its first baptisms in a few hours. From Newbury, our fellow brothers and sisters will join us for the service. They may start Sunday with their usual Sunday service at 10 o’clock English time (11 in the morning here in Belgium).
At 12 o’clock, Brother Marcus then initiates the baptism service, with first a look at the journey of many questions and answers. Then we testify that we are convinced that we may find a place of refuge in God’s House.
During the trek, everyone was allowed to meet the good shepherd whom the Great Chief Shepherdsent to this world and whose gate for the new sheep has also been opened.
After the scripture reading about what happened in Cornelius’ house, Brother Marcus will proceed to baptise Pascal, Donatien and Méthode, who will then be welcomed into our community as brothers. For the first time in their lives, they will then be allowed to join the table to eat the bread and winesymbolising the body of Christ.
And then the great family feast may begin! From then on, these new brothers will be allowed to join in the symbolic act and further proclaim the Good News to others to invite them also to the table of Jesus Christ.
As we embarked on our trek, we met many people with questions.
They dared to join us and joined us on difficult trails.
They braved wildlife, deserts, canyons, waterfalls and wild currents, as well as dangerous swamps.
Darkness could not bother them, for they were sure that a shining star was that light they could follow in the darkness.
After days of difficulties, weeks of questioning, months of questions and answers,
they came so far that they did know where to go and which path to follow further.
They made their choice and no one could change them by it.
They were now sure of That One True God,
Who for them is the Figurehead, The Rock of Trust.
Completing the trek
they now dare to call on the Name of God
in full glory and with a loud voice.
Assured that God knows them by name,
written in indelible ink.
Lorsque nous avons commencé notre randonnée, nous avons rencontré beaucoup de gens avec des questions.
Ils ont osé nous rejoindre et ont suivi des chemins difficiles avec nous.
Ils ont bravé les animaux sauvages, les déserts, les ravins, les cascades et les courants sauvages, ainsi que les marécages dangereux.
L’obscurité ne pouvait pas les déranger, car ils étaient sûrs qu’une étoile brillante était la lumière qu’ils pouvaient suivre dans l’obscurité.
Après des jours de difficultés, des semaines de questionnements, des mois de questions et de réponses,
ils sont venus si loin qu’ils savaient où aller et quel chemin suivre.
Ils ont fait leur choix et personne ne pouvait les changer.
Ils étaient maintenant sûrs de ce seul vrai Dieu,
Qui est pour eux la figure de proue, Le Roc de confiance.
Terminer le trek
osent-ils appeler le nom de Dieu
appelant en pleine gloire et d’une voix forte.
Dieu les connaît par leur nom,
écrit à l’encre indélébile.
A few months ago, we embarked on a pilgrimage. During the trek, we faced many questions. We sought and got answers to our many questions. But we also came to know that we had to make certain choices. This was and is not always easy.
Persons around us tried to get us to go along with them. It was tempting to respond to their calls to us. But we also heard that voice from above. A voice that sounded from the darkness And gave us confidence. We chose to listen to that Voice from the heights of the heavens.
It is the Voice of Truth In Whom we may have confidence.
It is the Voice That led us to the possibility of life.
Thus we came to see the Bread of life Which came down from heaven like manna from God.
We allowed ourselves to be fed by that heavenly Bread that made an inner fire come to burn deep within us.
Thus on our journey we could emerge strengthened from a struggle between all kinds of thoughts that sometimes dared to torment us. But by listening to that Voice from the distant heights, we were led to the light that carried us across the waters and valleys. It brought us to faith, that will strengthen us further in our life to come, purified by the waters of God.
Lord God we are grateful to you for being willing to guide us on our trek.
We may still have a long way to go
to come to stand completely purified before Your throne?
But we ask You that You will be willing to continue with us,
in Jesus’ name.
On our trek, we were privileged to meet some fellow travellers who wanted to dedicate themselves to God. During the trek, they had many opportunities to compare and discuss their knowledge of the Bible. The time they went through during the pilgrimage also gave them the opportunity to grow in faith.
Together they set out with us, and this afternoon they underwent an interview to verify that they are ready to undergo baptism in the community of brothers and sistersin Christ.
With joy, we will now soon also be able to greet them as brothers after they are completely immersed in water.
La réussite des candidats au baptême à l’entretien nous rend heureux d’attendre un baptême imminent.
Lors de notre randonnée, nous avons eu le privilège de rencontrer des compagnons de voyage qui voulaient se consacrer à Dieu. Pendant le trek, ils ont eu de nombreuses occasions de comparer et de discuter de leur connaissance de la Bible. Le temps qu’ils ont passé pendant le pèlerinage leur a également donné l’occasion de grandir dans la foi.
Ils ont choisi de rejoindre la petite communauté de croyants qui souhaitait adhérer le plus étroitement aux enseignements bibliques. Pour cela, ils étaient prêts à laisser de côté les grandes églises traditionnelles, comme l’Église catholique romaine. Pour les membres de notre trek, il était plus important de suivre les enseignements, les valeurs et les normes de Dieu que les doctrines du monde.
Ils se sont mis en route avec nous et ont passé cet après-midi un entretien pour vérifier qu’ils sont prêts à recevoir le baptême dans la communauté des frères et sœurs en Christ.
C’est avec joie que nous pourrons bientôt les saluer comme des frères après leur immersion complète dans l’eau.
At the start of our trek or pilgrimage, we were convinced that the world is going wrong. Those who wished to join the pilgrims were also convinced that we should explore a different way of life.
All those who join the pilgrimage we undertake realise that it is better to ignore the world and prepare to continue on the right path.
For example, travellers will have to choose the right platform to get on the right train. As well, when they leave the station, they have to take the rightpath to step over the right fields and valleys. Here is a moment when travellers feel free to let the outside world know where they are going.
Then we will be able to see that the world is getting out of the way for the person who knows where he is going. For many will see the travellers as strangers and want to avoid them. Just like all the forefathers who wished to live according to the Laws of God. Like their days, our days on earth are like a shadow, and there is none to abide (1 Chronicles 29:15)
Even though our entire company is not the easiest, and we encounter many setbacks, we want to continue the journey in all circumstances. Those who further join are like us convinced that there is a higher party involved, who will act as a Master and will indeed continue to save us from everything harmful. Our faith in the sent of God gives us strength and confidence and makes us safe from his heavenly kingdom. To him be the glory during all future periods of time. (2 Timothy 4:18)
Many people have preceded us in faith. They all died in faith, without having received the promises. They were filled with faith and managed to persevere through it. Like many before us, we are looking for a promised land where peace will reign. Even though it may not be the first day, we still want to fully provide ourselves so that we will be ready to enter the narrow gate of that promised Kingdom at any time of the day or of our journey.
But all who participate in the trek will have to make a choice during the journey to indicate that they are partakers of Jesus Christ’s community of brothers and sisters. Then it comes down to indicating to those present that one recognises God’s position and authority. Jehovah is recognised as „the Supreme . . over all the earth”, the Creator and Universal Sovereign (Psalm 36:9; 83:18; 2 Kings 19:15). At some point during the journey one must proceed to accept Jehovah as Supreme, as Father, but also as his Judge, Legislator and King. (Isaiah 33:22; Psalm 119:102; Revelation 15:3, 4.)
But in addition, one must recognise Christ’’s position and authority and realise that he is the one through whom God has provided „ with a corresponding ransom” (1 Timothy 2:5, 6). In addition, one accepts Jesus as Jehovah’s „Loyal Witness and as the ”King of kings„. (Rev 1:5; 19:16.)
If one shows sufficient insight into the Biblical Truth, one must also dare to take the step of presenting oneself as a baptismal candidate and moving into the sealing of brotherhood in Christ, through complete immersionin water, as purification of sins or complete laundering with the ‘burial’ of old life and entering a ‘new life‘.
It is a symbolic act that one expects when the candidate is ripe enough to take such a step. Christian immersion in water therefore does not wash away sins. Not baptism, but the pouring out of Jesus’’s blood and the ‘calling of his name’ make forgiveness possible. (Hebrews 9:22; 1 John 1:7.)
22 Yes, according to the Law nearly all things are cleansed with blood,+ and unless blood is poured out no forgiveness takes place.+ (Hebrews 9:22)
7 By means of him we have the release by ransom through the blood of that one,+ yes, the forgiveness of our trespasses,+ according to the riches of his undeserved kindness. (Ephesians 1:7)
Symbolically, from the darkness of this world, we go through the wall of water, to come straight into the light of the world of Christ. In that light, we want to continue our journey together to be connected in Jesus’ name.
7 However, if we are walking in the light as he himself is in the light, we do have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.+ (1 John 1:7)
We will continue step by step, and as we take further paths we hope that several will join us and that candidates will also emerge who indicate that they want to continue through life as brothers or sisters in Christ.
Au début de notre trek ou pèlerinage, nous étions convaincus que le monde tourne mal. Ceux qui souhaitaient rejoindre les pèlerins étaient également convaincus qu’il fallait explorer un mode de vie différent.
Tous ceux qui se joignent au pèlerinage que nous entreprenons se rendent compte qu’il vaut mieux ignorer le monde et se préparer à continuer sur le bon chemin.
Par exemple, les voyageurs devront choisir le bon quai pour monter dans le bon train. De plus, lorsqu’ils quittent la gare, ils doivent prendre le bon chemin pour franchir les bons champs et vallées. Voici un moment où les voyageurs se sentent libres de faire savoir au monde extérieur où ils vont.
Ensuite, nous pourrons voir que le monde s’écarte pour la personne qui sait où il va. Car beaucoup verront les voyageurs comme des étrangers et voudront les éviter. Tout comme tous les ancêtres qui souhaitaient vivre selon les lois de Dieu. Comme leurs jours, nos jours sur terre sont comme une ombre, et il n’y a personne à demeurer (1 Chroniques 29 :15)
Même si toute notre entreprise n’est pas la plus facile, et que nous rencontrons de nombreux revers, nous voulons continuer le voyage en toutes circonstances. Ceux qui adhèrent davantage sont comme nous convaincus qu’il y a une partie supérieure impliquée, qui agira en tant que Maître et continuera en effet à nous sauver de tout ce qui est nuisible. Notre foi en l’envoyé de Dieu nous donne force et confiance et nous met à l’abri de son royaume céleste. A lui soit la gloire pendant toutes les périodes futures. (2 Timothée 4 :18)
Beaucoup de gens nous ont précédés dans la foi. Ils moururent tous dans la foi, sans avoir reçu les promesses. Ils ont été remplis de foi et ont réussi à persévérer à travers elle. Comme beaucoup avant nous, nous recherchons une terre promise où régnera la paix. Même si ce n’est peut-être pas le premier jour, nous voulons quand même nous pourvoir pleinement afin d’être prêts à entrer dans la porte étroite de ce Royaume promis à tout moment de la journée ou de notre voyage.
Mais tous ceux qui participeront au trek devront faire un choix pendant le voyage pour indiquer qu’ils participent à la communauté de frères et sœurs de Jésus-Christ. Ensuite, il s’agit d’indiquer aux personnes présentes que l’on reconnaît la position et l’autorité de Dieu. Jéhovah est reconnu comme „Suprême. (sur toute la terre), Créateur et Souverain Universel (Psaume 36 :9 ; 83 :18 ; 2 Rois 19 :15). À un moment donné du voyage, il faut accepter Jéhovah comme Suprême, comme Père, mais aussi comme Juge, Législateur et Roi. (Ésaïe 33 :22 ; Psaume 119 :102 ; Apocalypse 15 :3, 4.)
Mais en plus, il faut reconnaître la position et l’autorité de Christ’ et se rendre compte qu’il est celui par qui Dieu a pourvu „ d’un ransom” correspondant (1 Timothée 2 :5, 6). De plus, on accepte Jésus comme les „ Témoin loyaux de Jéhovah et comme le ”Roi de Kings„. (Apocalypse 1:5; 19:16.)
Si l’on montre un aperçu suffisant de la Vérité Biblique, il faut aussi oser franchir le pas de se présenter comme candidat au baptême et de passer au scellement de la fraternité dans le Christ, par une immersion complète dans l’eau, comme purification des péchés ou blanchiment complet avec l’« enterrement » de la vie ancienne et entrer dans une « nouvelle vie »’.
C’est un acte symbolique que l’on attend lorsque le candidat est suffisamment mûr pour franchir une telle étape. L’immersion chrétienne dans l’eau ne lave donc pas les péchés. Pas le baptême, mais le déversement du sang de Jesus’ et l’appel de son nom’ rendent le pardon possible. (Hébreux 9 :22 ; 1 Jean 1 :7.)
. 22 Oui, selon la Loi, presque toutes choses sont purifiées avec du sang+, et s’il n’y a pas de sang répandu, il n’y a pas de pardon+. (Hébreux 9 :22)
. 7 Par le moyen de celui-là, nous avons la libération par rançon grâce à son sang+, oui le pardon de nos fautes+, selon la richesse de la faveur imméritée de Dieu. (Éphésiens 1:7)
Symboliquement, des ténèbres de ce monde, nous traversons la paroi de l’eau, pour venir droit dans la lumière du monde du Christ. Dans cette optique, nous voulons continuer notre voyage ensemble pour être connectés au nom de Jésus.
7 Cependant, si nous marchons dans la lumière comme lui-même est dans la lumière, nous sommes en union les uns avec les autres, et le sang de Jésus son Fils nous purifie de tout péché+. (1 Jean 1 :7)
Nous continuerons pas à pas, et alors que nous empruntons d’autres chemins nous espérons que plusieurs nous rejoindront et que des candidats émergeront aussi qui indiquent qu’ils veulent continuer à travers la vie de frères ou de sœurs en Christ.
In the century that a lot was written about the evolution of the universe, animals and plants, man and the inner or soul of man, many people also started to think for themselves about the origins of everything, who or what was behind it, and where we mucked towards with our world.
It was also a time when a conflict arose between the technicians, economists and the different class of people.
The working class or proletariat did do most of the work or hardest labor, there were writers, such as Karl Marx who believed that workman would emerge victorious from the conflict, but for those workers victory was hard to find or bitterly sweet, unlike the possessing or capitalist class, the working class had no means of production of its own at all. In the past, carrying out paid work had been limited to cities, but companies also settled outside cities and farmers and livestock farmers also had to ensure that they earned sufficient money to cover the costs or to pay the resources that were now provided by the industry (such as clothing).
In the second half of the 19th century this seemed to many to be a hopeless process, in which they felt like slaves to society and wanted to free themselves. Society seemed very suffocating to some. Especially because in many villages or regions they were looking forward to everyone in the same boat, while not everyone felt like it. There were frictions here and there, especially on the faith front In Western Europe, ethnic nationalism grew.
Rumour spread over very large areas that things would be much better in the New World and that one would be completely free there, that freedom beckoned to many, from the far north to deep in the south people went out to port cities from which boats left for the alluring New World.
While Russia opens up the areas in the East and establishes the only ice-free Russian port on the Pacific Ocean (1858-1860), more and more ‘seekers’ are finding the money they have saved to set out on the Great Pool that separates them from the expected freedom.
Between 1820 and 1957, more than 4.5 million people emigrated from Britain to the United States. In the late 1800s, many people in many parts of the world decided to leave their homes to go on a trek in a world where they had already heard many positive things. had heard about.
Skibbereen, Ireland during the Great Famine, 1847 illustration by James Mahony for the Illustrated London News
For many, it was no longer doable in Europe, so they fled crop failures, shortages of land and jobs, rising taxes and famine, America seemed to them the land of their dreams, because it was seen as the land of economic opportunity.
Others came seeking personal freedom or relief from political and religious persecution, and nearly 12 million immigrants arrived in the United States between 1870 and 1900, During the 1870s and 1880s, the vast majority of these people were from Germany, Ireland, and England – the main sources of immigration for the Civil War. Yet, a relatively large group of Chinese emigrated to the United States between the start of the California gold rush in 1849 and 1882, when federal law stopped their immigration.
Immigrants entered the United States through various ports, but those who came from Europe usually entered America through East Coast facilities, while those from Asia generally entered through West Coast centres, the great place of arrival to start the new life was through New York City, which became known as the « Golden Door ». During the late 1800s, most immigrants in New York entered the Castle Garden depot near the tip of Manhattan. In 1892, the federal government opened a new immigration processing center on Ellis Island in New York Harbor.
It was in the period with the highest migration levels, during the 1860s, 70s and 80s, with almost 110 thousand people migrating in 1888 alone, that the British doctor John Thomas, also with one of the boats, took the crossing. On the ship that made the long crossing he had a lot of time to talk to all kinds of people about the Bible and faith. He noticed how different the teachings of those many believers were their denominations. In New York he also came into contact with many Jews, whom he tried to convince that Christianity did not replace the Law of Moses but rather fulfilled it. He believed that Christians, through faith and baptism, should become the « seed » (or, « offspring« ) of Abraham.
Through his thorough Bible study, more insight came to him over time, which he came to share during his tour. Others began to find his lectures revealing and realized that things in which their denomination had frightened them so much, such as the eternal torture in the eternally burning fire in hell, was completely unbiblical.
John Thomas’s supporters began to publish themselves as « Bible Students » or as Thomasites, a title that John Thomas did not appreciate at all, because one does not have to follow a person on earth, but one does have to go through life as a brother in Christ.
Faith spread across American lands and eventually there were also Bible students who returned to Europe to further proclaim faith in the Only True God.
Unfortunately, it was no different for that religious community than for others that divisions arose here and there or splinter groups occurred. Between 1864 and 1885 there were at least 6 divisions within the Christadelphian denomination, including the large divisions caused by the disfellowships of George Dowie in 1864, Edward Turney in 1873 and Robert Ashcroft in 1885.
But in the end, more unity grew over the years, and it can be said that even though there are still a few groups, the faith of those groups is almost identical.
Wakati wa safari, hasira nyingi zilizuka na ndugu Chris, Tim, Steve na Marcus walijaribu kujibu maswali na kuweka msingi mzuri ambapo kulikuwa na shaka. Dada Miriam alipewa heshima hiyo wiki kadhaa zilizopita ili kuangalia kama watahiniwa wa ubatizo walikuwa tayari kukamilisha tendo lao la ajabu la kujisalimisha.
Kanisa la Christadelphian huko Anderlecht 