WBS President’s Message – Update from the Road

The WBS President’s Update from the Road

Brian Rex Davis – August 7, 2025

It’s that time of year again, and Sondra and I are on the road visiting WBS Study Helpers, donors, and congregations.  This is one of our favorite times of the year as we get to visit with so many of you who “make WBS happen”!  Your hospitality and stories inspire us and help us ever improve WBS tools for sharing Jesus.  We see the impact of your efforts in every country through which we travel.  We hope that this little “Update” letter helps you experience the stories and the results that inspire us.  I will be sending this out regularly over the next few weeks.  If you see multiple letters in a row and strangely spelled words in this update, it’s because Sondra hit a bump in the road while I am typing in the back seat!

Let me begin with a story that started in July 2024.  But isn’t that old news?
Well, with WBS, discipling begins with sharing Jesus, but it continues through the whole process of the new birth, finding your place in the Body of Christ, and maturing into the fullness of Christ.  You may remember that Sondra and I (along with our youngest son, Bryson) were kidnapped by some very enthusiastic WBS Student recruiters (right) in the east of Zimbabwe.  We thought we were going to a meeting nearby for a couple of hours.  We were actually taken on a 12-hour trip to a remote area.  These evangelists were graduates that I had the pleasure to work with over the years at the Mutare School of Preaching.  Bro. Ignatious (middle) wanted us to accompany him to recruit Students for our emerging two-way scanning correspondence course program that we call Ocean Bridge.  This program is making it possible for churches to have fast returns for their lessons resulting in higher Student retention.  Currently we are working on custom software allowing us to automate the teacher/student correspondence which will improve the entire teaching experience including our follow-up opportunities – a known pressing concern for our Study Helpers!

From spending the day recruiting secondary Students for our Ocean Bridge program, an incredible story of teaching, follow-up, and church planting has emerged.  Ignatious sent the following messages through WhatsApp (entries edited for clarity):

Fri, February 28

Next week, on the 7th of March 2025, we’ll be together with the WBS volunteer team members:  Zuva Mucherera and Kudzai Kuzipa in the company of Auswich Mashabha (Gospel Chariots). We’ll go to the Bhuhera district, particularly the Machiragwama secondary school for the possible launching of a new congregation with our Ocean Bridge Students!

Fri, March 7

Machiragwama secondary school seminar was held on the 7th of March 2025. It is with much joy to report to you that God is faithful. 135 people were baptized. Among the group, 12 were adults. A female mathematical teacher was baptized. The rest are school students. This marks another new congregation planted. God is faithful brothers & sisters. Thanks for your faithful prayers.

Mon, March 10

First service at Machiragwama church of Christ. 60 attended and the community is very positive about the church.

Thurs, March 20

I went to that school which fed us last time when we visited them. The school called Masasi High. Very soon we will launch another new congregation using WBS materials. Tomorrow will be leaving Mutare for Bhuhera Machiragwama church of Christ to nurture them to grow.

Monday, June 16

Yesterday at the new congregation called Machiragwama church, 66 adults members attended, 22 Sunday schools also had a nice time. The giving was $4 USD dollars.

Mon, June 30

On the 20th of July 2025 we will be having official launch of the congregation in Bhuhera district. All members are invited to witness the event. Brother Washington (WBS Board Member) will officiate the event. We are expecting a good number from the community in which we want many to come to Christ!

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Sondra and I were already in Zambia with a team of 21 WBS Study Helpers conducting a Gospel Meeting when this last message came through.  In the advertisement that they published for the “Official Church Launch”, you see Bro. Ignatious, Bro. Marunga (the head of Mutare School of Preaching which is a Sunset International affiliate school), and Bro. Tanhera (a lecturer at Mutare School of Preaching).  Also present was the Gospel Chariot with Bro. Auswich Mashabha.  Bro. Ignatious also works closely with Healing Hands International and takes the opportunity to join evangelistic opportunities with brotherhood benevolent works.  WBS is honored to be able to work alongside our brotherhood schools and sister ministries.  Together, we see synergy far greater than what we can do alone!

Do you hear the excitement in these reports?  Do you feel the drive to keep expanding the borders of the Kingdom for our King?  Evangelism is hard work.  Lots of ground preparation is necessary.  Lots of seed sowing is necessary.  Lots of prayer and waiting on the Lord is necessary.  But the Lord of Harvest is not slack concerning His promises.  He will have His harvest!

My Prayer

Thank you, God, for letting us be kidnapped last year by some over-zealous WBS Student recruiters.  Help me to catch some of their zeal.  Thank you for the opportunity to sow seeds in your vineyard.  Thank you for good soil.  Thank you for patience.  Thank you for faithful evangelists.  Thank you for visionary & sacrificial WBS Board members.  Thank you for diligent Study Helpers.  Thank you for faithful congregations.  Thank you for our brotherhood schools and our sister ministries who work day-in and day-out with little fanfare.  Thank you for those who plant and those who water.  Thank you for fruit.  Please bring home the lambs that haven’t yet found their place in the Body. Thank you for the Harvest!  Thank you for Jesus!

Zuva, me, Terrence Muza (our WBS Coordinator for Zimbabwe), Kudzai, and Ignatious

These men are princes in the Kingdom–bearers of light!  I am proud to call them my brothers and to have played a small role in what God is doing through their faithful efforts and through your faithful efforts!