Every Day Is a Fourth Day

I am grateful for the opportunity to share my Fourth Day experience with the worldwide Emmaus Ministries community. I attended The Walk to Emmaus in 1997. There I learned about commitment to discipleship and decided to join the Lay Preacher Development program. I was not sure if that is what God wanted me to do, but I was ready to be a follower of Christ and to do something for Christ.

Back then, I felt that my calling was to take a positive step and share God's word with others. I was filled with fear at the idea of speaking in my church because—by Swaziland standards—it is a large church. Nevertheless, with the help of my pastor, Rev. Moses Ngema, and his team, I began this new leg of my journey.

In 2003, I was blessed with a trip to the United States, where I worked—among other places—in South Bend, Indiana. There I met members of the local Emmaus Ministries Community who shared God’s love with me in various ways. During my time in the US, I also had opportunities to serve God’s people in Ithaca, New York and Palo Alto, California. These were wonderful opportunities.

I am now back in Eswatini (Swaziland) and settling into my calling. I am taking a Bible course and working under the guidance of our Emmaus Ministries leaders, who are leading by example and giving me opportunities to develop my speaking skills. Being a teacher—and someone who is used to proclaiming content—I thought this would be easy. However, I am learning of the importance of prayer and fasting for those who are called to be channels of God’s grace.

I am growing slowly in the calling and learning that every day is a Fourth Day. I understand that we discover the Christ we serve through the work we do together and as we invite him to live in us. I also understand that this is how others are able to see Christ in us and be drawn to him through us.

This year, I will begin my Lay Preacher’s studies through the Seth Mokitimi Methodist Seminary in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa. Among other things, I will study the history of the church. I look forward to this with much excitement.

I am not without fear as I move in this new direction. Fortunately, the book of Joshua brought me to realize that Joshua was also fearful, but God encouraged him with constant reminders of God’s presence.

My Fourth Day experience is under God’s guidance, and I hope to keep growing in the Lord. I am grateful for the guidance I have received from local church leaders and Emmaus leaders along the way, and I continue in prayer for my local church and for our ministries to the local community.

Sarah Mkhonza is a member of St. Paul's Methodist Church, Manzini, Eswatini (Swaziland). She attended Saint Michaels Manzini, Walk #4, table of Hannah.

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