UNkulunkulu Wenza Ukuba Simthole

LAPHO iNkosi uDavide isilungele ukudlulisela ubukhosi endodaneni yayo uSolomoni, yayinikeza lesi seluleko: “Yazi uNkulunkulu kayihlo, umkhonze ngenhliziyo epheleleyo nangenhliziyo ethokozayo, ngokuba uJehova uhlola izinhliziyo zonke, uqonda zonke izizindlo zemicabango; uma umfuna, uyakufunyanwa nguye; kepha uma umshiya, uyakukulahla kuze kube-phakade.”—1 IziKronike 28:9.

Lokhu kwabanjalo kithi. Samfuna uNkulunkulu, futhi samthola—kodwa ngemva kokuphambukiselwa ezindleleni eziningi zamanga. Sicabanga ukuthi uJehova wayeyiqonda indlela imicabango yethu eyayigxile kakhulu ngayo kuye nasenkonzweni yakhe, futhi wenza ukuba simthole. Nansi indlela okwenzeka ngayo.

Sasingabafana abane, sakhulela eFlorida, e-U.S.A. Ubaba wayesebenza isikhathi eside njengompheki ukuze ondle umkhaya, umama wayengumnakekeli wekhaya, futhi thina bafana sobane sathola umsebenzi wokugunda utshani, ukudiliva amaphephandaba—noma yini eyayingangenisa imadlana emkhayeni. Umama wayengumKatolika, kanti ubaba wayengumBaptist. Sonke sasikholelwa kuNkulunkulu naseBhayibhelini kodwa sasingenzi lutho ngakho, futhi sasingavamile ukuya esontweni. Kwakusekuqaleni kwawo-1970, lapho ukuthula, obhogadi abavuleke ezansi, izihluthu, nomculo we-rock kwakushisa khona izikhotha. Konke lokhu kwaba nethonya ekuphileni kwethu.

Kwaze kwaba ngo-1982 lapho ababili kithi, uScott noSteve—abaneminyaka engu-24 nengu-17 ubudala—beba nesithakazelo esikhulu eBhayibhelini futhi bekhathazeka ngokuqhubekayo ngezimo zezwe eziwohlokayo. UScott wayenebhizinisi lokwakha. Lalihamba kahle, ngakho sobabili sathuthela kwenye indawo yokuhlala. Sase sikhathele ukuchitha isikhathi ezinkantini naleyo ndlela yokuphila futhi sasazi ukuthi kumelwe ukuba kunamadlelo aluhlaza ndawana-thile. Saqala ukulambela izinto ezingokomoya. Ukufunda kwethu njalo iBhayibheli kwasisiza ukuba silangazelele ulwazi nokuqonda okwengeziwe ngeZwi likaNkulunkulu.

Saqala ukuya emasontweni ahlukahlukene ngamaSonto. Kulawo esasiya kuwo eduze nasekhaya eLake Worth, eFlorida, imizuzu engu-25 yentshumayelo yangeSonto yayikhuluma ngokunikela ngemali. Njengoba ayeyame kuyi-podium umfundisi wayethi: “Yipha ngomusa, ngokusuka ekujuleni kwenhliziyo yakho.” Ngokuvamile babedlulisa ipuleti lenkongozelo kathathu emhlanganweni owodwa, okwakubangela ukuba abaningi bahambe bengasenalutho. Saya emasontweni amaningi, kodwa sathola kudluliswa amapuleti enkongozelo amaningi futhi kunemibuthano yokuzijabulisa.

Ukuxwayiswa NgoFakazi BakaJehova

Safundiswa esasicabanga ukuthi kwakuyizimfundiso eziyisisekelo zeBhayibheli, futhi sakwamukela ngoba othisha babeyizazi zemfundiso yenkolo ezingochwepheshe. Kwelinye lamakilasi kwakufundwa ngamahlelo aseMelika, futhi elaliphambili ohlwini kwakungoFakazi BakaJehova. Saxwayiswa ngokuthi babengakholelwa kuJesu, babeneBhayibheli labo, babengayi ezulwini, nangokuthi babekholelwa ukuthi asikho isihogo. Konke lokhu kwasenza saphetha ngokuthi oFakazi babengalungile.

Manje sase sinentshiseko enamandla kodwa hhayi ngokolwazi olunembile. (Roma 10:2) Sasikwazi okwashiwo uJesu kuMathewu 28:19, 20—kumelwe sishumayele izindaba ezinhle futhi senze abafundi. Ngaleso sikhathi sasiya esontweni elinamalungu angu-2000 okuthiwa iBible Town, lapho sasiyingxenye yeqembu lentsha engaba yikhulu ephakathi kweminyaka engu-17 nengu-30 ubudala. UScott wazama ukulenza lishumayele ngandlela-thile—kodwa kwaba nhlanga zimuka nomoya.

Ngakho saqala ukuphuma umkhankaso wethu wokushumayela. UScott weza necebo lokumisa amatafula endaweni yendali yamasekeni siphisane ngamapheshana namaBhayibheli. Ngakho yilokho esakwenza. Saya esitolo sendawo sezincwadi “zamaKristu” futhi sathenga inqwaba yamapheshana namaBhayibheli, saya endaweni yendali yamasekeni, samisa izingodo ezimbili, sabeka phezu kwazo uqwembe lwepulangwe, sabeka amapheshana namaBhayibheli ethu, sase sizama ukuba ‘abenzi bezwi, hhayi abalizwayo kuphela.’—Jakobe 1:22.

Njengoba kwakudlula isonto ngalinye, zanda izinkonzo zasendaweni yendali yamasekeni, sihambisa izincwadi zesiNgisi kanye nezeSpanishi. Futhi, sasinamaBhayibheli, izinhlobo ezingu-30 zamapheshana, ngisho nezipeleti zezigqoko ezazithi “UNkulunkulu uyakuthanda.” Ngokushesha ngemva kwalokho, uScott wathenga umshini wokunyathelisa izigijimi zeBhayibheli ezimfushane ezikibheni—ezinamazwi anjengathi: “Ingabe ulifundile iBhayibheli lakho namuhla?,” “Ingabe uyazibuza ukuthi kungani ngimomotheka? NginoJesu enhliziyweni,” nezinye eziningi. Esinye sasithi “IsAmbulo” sinomfanekiso wezinkweli zamahhashi ezine.

Sasicabanga ukuthi ngokufaka izikibha yonke indawo, sasinikeza ubufakazi buthule. Njalo ngoMgqibelo nangeSonto, kusukela ngo-8:00 ekuseni kuya ku-1:00 ntambama, kwakuba nezinkonzo kulendawo yendali yamasekeni. Uma wawuhamba endaweni yokupaka izimoto futhi ubone amapheshana ezimotweni—ayesuke ebekwe yithi. Zonke izincwadi zazitholakala ngomnikelo, nakuba incane kakhulu imali eyayitholakala. Ngomunye unyaka sahlanganisa izindleko zonyaka, futhi zafinyelela ngaphezu kuka-$10 000 (R15 000).

Sihlangana Nomunye WoFakazi BakaJehova

Ngesinye isikhathi, lapho sibhukuda kwelinye lamabhishi aseBonita Springs, ixhegu elithile leza kithi lathi libone izigqebhezana ezinanyatheliswe elolini lethu futhi laphawula nezikibha zethu. Laqala ukukhuluma ngeBhayibheli nokubonisana nathi ngemiBhalo. Laphakamisa iphuzu elikuzEnzo 2:31, libuza: “Ukuba bekunesihogo somlilo futhi kuya abantu ababi kuphela lapho, kungani-ke iBhayibheli lithi uJesu wayelapho?” Laqhubeka, lixoxa nangeminye imibhalo eminingi. Ekugcineni, uScott wathi: “Kumelwe ukuba ungomunye woFakazi BakaJehova.” Laphendula: “Yebo, nginguye.” Khona-ke uScott wathi: “Nina anikholelwa kuJesu.” Emizuzwini engu-20 eyalandela, loFakazi wakhuluma ngoJesu, kodwa ngandlela-thile akuzange kusho lutho kithi.

Saqhubeka nezinkonzo endaweni yendali yamasekeni ngezimpelasonto. Kwase kuyiminyaka emithathu senza lokhu—sonke lesi sikhathi sikholelwa ukuthi sasineqiniso futhi senza okulungile. Sasisaya emasontweni, sivakashela isonto elihlukile njalo ngeSonto ebusuku, futhi akukho nelilodwa elasanelisa kulawa esasiya kuwo. Sase siphelelwa amasonto esasizoya kuwo, ngakho ngobunye ubusuku sanquma ukuya kwelinye “lamasonto oFakazi BakaJehova,” njengoba sasisho kanjalo. Sasizobashumayeza ngoJesu. Sathola ikheli encwadini yezingcingo futhi saya lapho ngelinye iSonto kusihlwa. Lapho sithola ukuthi babengenamhlangano ngeSonto kusihlwa njengawo wonke amanye amasonto, saphetha ngokuthi ngempela babengakholelwa kuJesu. Ebhodini elibonisa izikhathi zemihlangano sabona ukuthi isifundo sencwadi sasingoMsombuluko ebusuku. Ngakho sabuya siphethe amaBhayibheli futhi sigqoke izikibha zethu. Sikhumbula kunzinyana ukunquma ukuthi yiziphi kulezi zikibha esasizozigqoka—isiphi esasizoba ubufakazi obuhle. Safika lapho ngaphambi kwesikhathi, futhi abazalwane abambalwa beza kithi. Babenomusa futhi benobungane. Zisuka amadaka nje sadingida isAmbulo ngokujulile. Basicela ukuba silinde umhlangano. Basinikeza incwadi ethi Ubunye Ekukhulekeleni, ngakho sahlala phansi.a Omunye umzalwane wavula isifundo ngomthandazo.

Salalelisisa. Ekuphetheni, wathi: “Egameni likaJesu. Amen.” Sabukana simangele. “Ingabe simuzwe kahle? Uthandaze egameni likaJesu!” Ngaleso sikhathi kwaba sengathi amehlo ethu ayavuleka futhi kwembuleka inkungu. Uma isimo sezinhliziyo zethu sasisihle, lesi kwakuyisikhathi sokulalela. Lomzalwane wasicela sonke ukuba sivule esahlukweni 21 sencwadi ethi Ubunye Ekukhulekeleni, esasikhuluma ngoJesu nangokungabi ingxenye yezwe. Kwakuyisifundo esihle kakhulu. Sasiphathelene nokuphila nenkonzo kaJesu, izinsuku zokugcina, nokungathathi-hlangothi. Sezwa abancane bekhulumela amaphuzu amaningi esasingawazi. Khona-ke, ekuphetheni umhlangano, lomzalwane waphinde wathandaza egameni likaJesu!

Sondliwa Ngokomoya

Sasingené ehholo somele iqiniso, futhi lalikhona, lingekude nakancane. Sahamba sazi ukuthi sasondliwe ngokomoya, futhi asiphindanga salubhada esontweni. Ngobusuku obulandelayo, lapho siwasha izingubo zethu elondolo, sabona inqwaba yomagazini be-Nqabayokulinda ne-Phaphama! ngasemshinini we-soda—okungenani abangu-150. Ngaphambili sasingeke sibafunde, kodwa manje sabathatha sinesithakazelo ezihlokweni eziningi.

Esinye sezihloko sasibuza, “Ingabe uyakholelwa kuZiqu-zintathu?” Esinye, “Ingabe isihogo sikhona ngempela?” Kuyi-Phaphama! kwakunesihloko esikhuluma ngezithombe. Ngalobo busuku uSteve wafunda esikhuluma ngoZiqu-zintathu, wacwaninga kakhulu, wafunda yonke imibhalo, wavusa uScott phakathi kwamabili ngenxa yalokho ayekufundile. Ngakusasa, ngoLwesithathu, ngemva komsebenzi, uSteve wafunda isihloko esikhuluma ngesihogo. Sasicabangela uJohane 11:11, lapho uJesu athi uLazaru wayelele. Lapho uSteve ebona uScott, wathi: “IBhayibheli lami alifundisi ukuthi kunesihogo somlilo.” Ngemva kokufunda i-Phaphama! ekhuluma ngezithombe nangezinhlobonhlobo zeziphambano, salahla ezethu elolini lemfucumfucu futhi saligqolozela laze layosithela. Sabhekana, sanikina amakhanda, sabe sesimomotheka. Sasazi ukuthi sasithole okuthile okukhethekile—iqiniso.

Ngemva kosuku kwafika amabhokisi amabili. Kuwo kwakunamapheshana angu-5000 ayethi uma ungaphenduki, uzoya esihogweni. Sase sazi ukuthi amaningi alamapheshana ayengaqinisile ngokwemfundiso yeBhayibheli. Sididekile, saphinde saya esifundweni sencwadi ngoMsombuluko ebusuku futhi saphatha amaningi alamapheshana ethu. Sabuza, “Ingabe leli lilungile?” Ngobunye ubusuku sawahlola wonke. Ngokushesha inqwaba yamapheshana yayigingqika phansi; akukho nelilodwa kuwo elalivumelana nemfundiso yeBhayibheli. Sawalahla wonke. Sasazi ukuthi ukholo lwethu olusha lwalusho ukuphila kwethu nokwalabo esasibashumayeza. Sasifuna ukuhamba ukuze sifunde iBhayibheli ngaphandle kokuphazamiseka.

Sathuthela e-Alaska. Emhlanganweni wokuqala esaba kuwo lapho, sabuza umdala othile ukuthi wayengafunda yini nathi nsuku zonke. Ngicabanga ukuthi bonke ababekhona basizwa. Sathuthuka kahle, saqeda incwadi ethi Ungaphila Phakade, futhi safuna ukubhapathizwa komunye wemihlangano yezinsuku ezimbili.* Kodwa kwadingeka silinde isikhashana. Umgomo wethu kwakuwukuphayona. Ngokungalindelekile, ubaba wagula, futhi kwadingeka sibuyele eFlorida ukuze sisize.

Sithuthukela Ekuvuthweni Ngokomoya

EFlorida sathuthuka kahle, saqeda incwadi ethi Ubunye Ekukhulekeleni, sabe sesibhapathizwa ngo-1987. Kwase kuyizinyanga ezingu-11 kusukela saqala ukufunda. Zisuka nje saba amaphayona asizayo izinyanga eziyisithupha sase siba amaphayona avamile. Onyakeni owodwa nengxenye kamuva, sobabili samiswa njengezinceku ezikhonzayo. Eminyakeni emibili ngemva kobhapathizo, sazithola sikhonza eBethel yaseBrooklyn, lapho uScott esakhonza khona namanje futhi sekuyiminyaka emibili efunda isiShayina. Manje uSteve ukhonza eMoscow, eRussia, njengephayona elivamile. Sobabili sathola ukuthi iqiniso nokuliphenya kunjengoba kuchaza izAga 2:1-5: “Ndodana yami, uma wamukela amazwi ami, uzibekelele imiyalo yami, ukuze ubeke indlebe yakho ekuhlakanipheni, uthobisele ekuqondeni inhliziyo yakho, yebo, uma ukhala ngengqondo, uzwakalisa izwi lakho ngokuqonda, uma ukufuna njengesiliva, ukuphenya njengamagugu afihliweyo, khona uyakuqonda ukumesaba uJehova, ufumane ukumazi uNkulunkulu.”

Indlela USteve Afika Ngayo EMoscow

Njengoba ngangihlala eNew York, lapho ukwazi olunye ulimi kwakungenza umsebenzi wokushumayela uthakazelise kakhudlwana—nokucabanga ukuthi mhlawumbe uJehova wayezovula amathuba ngokushesha eRussia—nganquma ukufunda isiRussia. Ngaleso sikhathi, ngisakhonza eBethel yaseBrooklyn, ngaqala ukuhlanganyela esifundweni sencwadi sesiRussia. Kwakuneqembu lesifundo sencwadi lesiRussia elilodwa vó elalihlangana ngoLwesihlanu. Ngokuhamba kwesikhathi, ngaqala ukuhileleka kakhudlwana eqenjini lesiRussia. Ngahlanganyela nalo emsebenzini wokushumayela, owawujabulisa kakhulu ngenxa yemfudumalo yabantu baseRussia. Ngabhalela uMnyango Wenkonzo ngicela ukushintshela eqenjini lesiRussia. Ngajabula lapho bevuma.

Ngolunye usuku ekukhulekeleni kwasekuseni eBethel, umongameli we-Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society, uMilton G. Henschel, watshela umkhaya ukuthi kwakuzoba nombiko okhethekile. Khona-ke wamemezela ukuthi oFakazi BakaJehova babeqashelwa ngokomthetho eRussia nokuthi abafowethu base bezojabulela inkululeko yokukhulekela. Ngicabanga ukuthi akekho eBethel oyoyikhohlwa injabulo esaba nayo ngalolo suku lapho sizwa izindaba ezinhle kanjalo. Ngaleso sikhathi ngacabanga ukuthi kwakuyoba ilungelo elikhulu ukuba ingxenye yaleyo nsimu entsha enkulu.

Ngaqala ukubhalelana nomzalwane waseRussia okuthiwa uVolodeya, ohlala eKrasnodar, eRussia. Wangimema ukuba ngivakashele eRussia. Ngakho ngo-June 1992, umthwalo waba sobhokweni futhi ngabhekisa amabombo eMoscow. Lapho ngifika, ngajabula kakhulu lapho ngibona uMfoweth’uVolodeya elinde esikhumulweni sezindiza. Ngahlala noMfoweth’uStephan Levinski—oneminyaka engu-45 eseqinisweni. WayenguFakazi wokuqala engahlangana naye eMoscow, futhi wayechithe iminyaka eminingi ejele ngenxa yokumela kwakhe iqiniso. Umoya wabazalwane wokungenisa izihambi wawumuhle ngempela.

Ngakho ngase ngiseMoscow, ngingalwazi nakahle lolu limi. Ngaleso sikhathi, kwakunamabandla amane kuphela, futhi kwabonakala sazana nabo bonke abazalwane. Kusukela ngaleso sikhathi, ngokuzama izindlela ezinhlobonhlobo, ngiye ngakwazi ukwandisa ama-visa ami. Ngiyakwazi ukusebenza ngezikhathi ezithile ukuze ngihlangabezane nezindleko zami. Ubunzima obukhulu enganginabo kwakuwukufunda isiRussia ngokwanele ukuze ngikhulume nabanye futhi ngondleke ngokomoya emihlanganweni. Ngathuthuka kancane kancane, futhi namanje ngisazikhandla.

Ngiye ngaba nelungelo lokuya emihlanganweni eminingi emikhulu nokubona ukwanda okumangalisayo namanani ababhapathizwayo ayingqopha-mlando. Ukubona intshiseko yangempela yabazalwane bethu lapha kuye kwaba okuhlangenwe nakho okuqinisa ukholo kakhulu. Ngeke ngikwenane ngalutho. Abazalwane nodade abaningi engahlangana nabo ababefundelwa noma ababesanda kubhapathizwa lapho ngifika manje bakhonza njengamaphayona esikhathi esigcwele noma njengezinceku ezikhonzayo noma njengezikhonzi zaseBethel eSolnechnoye, eduze naseSt. Petersburg, eRussia.

Ebandleni engihlanganyela kulo kugcwala abantu abangu-530 njalo ngeSonto, futhi zinyanga zonke siba nesilinganiso sabamemezeli abasha abangabhapathiziwe abangu-12. Inani elidlule labamemezeli lalingu-380, abadala abathathu, nezinceku ezikhonzayo ezingu-7. Ibandla lethu libika izifundo zeBhayibheli zasekhaya ezingaphezu kuka-486. Ngo-February 1995, ngaba nelungelo lokuvakashela amaqembu ethu esifundo sencwadi angu-29 ukuze nginikeze inkulumo yenkonzo. Ngavakashela amaqembu amane ngesonto. Futhi siba matasa kakhulu ngaphambi komhlangano ngamunye ngemibuzo yabazobhapathizwa. Ngo-May 1995, saba nomhlangano okhethekile wosuku olulodwa okwabhapathizwa kuwo abangu-30 basebandleni lethu. Sebebonke, ababhapathizwa babengu-607 kanti ababekhona babengaba ngu-10 000. Emhlanganweni wesigodi ehlobo, abangu-24 basebandleni lethu babephakathi kwabangu-877 ababhapathizwa! Sinamaphayona angu-13 ebandleni lethu namaphayona akhethekile amathathu. Abika izifundo ezingaba ngu-110! Okwamanje, sinabamemezeli abangabhapathiziwe abangu-132.

ESikhumbuzweni ngo-1995, kwakunabangu-1012! INhlangano isanda kuthumela ebandleni lethu umzalwane wasePoland, uMateysh. Wathola iziqu eSikoleni Sokuqeqeshela Inkonzo futhi uzoba usizo kakhulu. Manje sinabadala abathathu. Ngakho kuzomiswa elinye ibandla, futhi insimu yethu—enabantu abangaba isigidi—izohlukaniswa izingxenye ezimbili. Ngalinye lalamabandla amabili lizoba nabamemezeli abangaba ngu-200. Elinye ibandla lizoba nabadala ababili, kanti elinye libe nomdala oyedwa. Omunye umhlangano ususondele, ngakho njengamanje sibukeza imibuzo nabangu-44 abayobe sebelungele ukubhapathizwa ngaleso sikhathi. Kuzwakala kungakholeki! Ipharadesi elingokomoya ngempela! Kuyamangalisa! Ngempela kusebenza isandla sikaJehova. Inqola yakhe kubonakala sengathi ihamba ngesivinini esikhulu eRussia kulesi sikhathi. Kusukela ngo-October 1995, kunamabandla angaba ngu-40 eMoscow. Abengaphindeka kabili kalula ukuba bekunabadala abanele.

Zadlula kudala izinsuku zezinkonzo zethu zasendaweni yendali yamasekeni. UScott useBethel yaseBrooklyn, uSteve ukhonza njengomdala kwelinye lamabandla aseMoscow—sobabili sibonga kakhulu ngokuthi uNkulunkulu wenza ukuba simthole. Sithandazela ukuba ezinye izigidi zimfune nokuthi uNkulunkulu enze ukuba zimthole.—Njengoba ilandiswa uScott noSteve Davis.

[Imibhalo yaphansi]

[Isithombe ekhasini 12]

UScott

[Isithombe ekhasini 13]

USteve

[Isithombe ekhasini 14]

Ibandla elithile laseMoscow linabantu abangaphezu kuka-530 ababa khona njalo ngeSonto