20th August 2025
Guest Entry from Derek Strauss, minister of the United Church of God based in Dallas, TX:
I was born in 1956, in Bulawayo, the second city of Zimbabwe (then Rhodesia). My early years were carefree and peaceful. When I was 8 years old the first shots of the Rhodesian bush war rang out. Things changed—a level of stress and uncertainty had crept into all of our lives. We lived with bombs going off in our cities. Unsafe to drive outside the city limits – had to go in a military convoy. However, Zimbabwe’s Beautiful, Patient people were still going about their lives in the same humble, happy way.
After I graduated from University, my family fled/emigrated to South Africa in 1978.
The armed military convoy and the feeling of relief when we crossed over the border into South Africa are feelings I will never forget. Relief that we were alive. Sadness at the end of an era. Uncertainty as to our future. Anger at the Political Leaders of England, Zimbabwe and the World. Many mixed emotions. Buried deep.
My parent’s life savings were frozen by the Zimbabwe government. We had to start from scratch in South Africa. My Dad was 60 years old and struggled to find work.
When Mugabe was deposed in 2017, I felt a surge of mixed emotions again, and I realized that I had been stuck in an attitude of “unforgiveness”.
We returned to my country of birth to keep the Feast of Tabernacles in Harare in 1994. Much had changed but much was the same. Zimbabwe’s Beautiful, Patient people were still going about their lives in the same humble, happy way.
Forward fast to today—our August 2025 trip to Zimbabwe. The last time I had seen our brethren in Zimbabwe was almost 9 years ago at the 2016 FOT at Victoria Falls. We had kept the Feast there in 2015 as well. Those were 2 of the most memorable Feasts we’ve experienced. Zimbabwe’s Beautiful, Patient people were still going about their lives in the same humble, happy way.
This current trip has been an unforgettable experience—so good to renew old friendships with Mabasa, Sydney, Paul, Vensen, Ocean, Zedias, Darious, Douglas, Mike and all their families, and to meet and fellowship with many more for the first time.
Zimbabwe’s Beautiful, Patient people are still going about their lives in the same humble, happy way. From the bottom of my heart, THANK YOU for your wonderful attitude—your example of perseverance is inspiring I’ve no idea how you do it so consistently. It is beautiful!
For me, my journey from a state of “unforgiveness” to a state of peace has been driven by the following verses:
Heb 12:14-15
“Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord: looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled.”
Luke 23:34
“Then Jesus said, ‘Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.’”
I also found support for my journey through reading a book, “Forgiving Forward” by Bruce and Toni Hebel, in which they articulate:
The 7 Protocols of Forgiveness
1. Thank God for forgiving you (and make sure you forgive yourself).
2. Ask God: “Who do I need to forgive?”
3. Repent of your sin of un-forgiveness
4. Forgive each offense from your heart
a. “God, I choose to forgive________ from my heart for_______”
b. “God, is there anything else I need to forgive_______ for?”
c. “I declare_________ is no longer in my debt”
5. Ask God to bless them and look for ways to bless them when possible
6. Commit to not remember the offense. When the memory comes….
a. Say: “I specifically remember forgiving that”
b. Praise God for the freedom forgiveness brought you
c. Bless the person you forgave again
d. Pray for reconciliation
7. Make pre-forgiveness a lifestyle
May we all learn to forgive, have patience with each other, and be happy, content and grateful in whatever situation we find ourselves.
Maita basa, Zimbabwe!
-Derek Strauss
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