EVERYTHING -"Z" TO "A"
March 2010
“He who has ears to hear…”
A few years ago the Hallmark Channel showed a movie entitled “What the Deaf Man Heard.” Although I am not “deaf” (nor was the “deaf man” in the movie), I don’t always hear all that the Lord intends. Let me share with you some of the things that I did hear this month.
At the church services, I heard….
A Tender Testimony of Love. A young man shared a testimony of how he and his wife came to be engaged on Valentine’s Day a few years ago. He told of how he had secretly purchased the engagement ring and how he had recruited a friend to set up a surprise “party” in which to make the proposal. It was a touching story of romance. But he also shared how the Lord had sustained their commitment to one another and how they had received His blessings through the years.
A Challenging Commitment to Consecration. One of the youth leaders explained that this month of February would be a time of emphasis in several youth groups on True Love Waits. He stood and proclaimed that in this month where so much is said about love, they wanted to make sure that they got out the message about the nature of “true love.”
A Passionate Plea for Help. The pastor made a plea for us to help the relief efforts in Haiti. It seemed odd to me at first to think of one of the world’s poorer countries wanting to help in Haiti. But such is the heart of the people of God. When our brothers and sisters are in need, we simply do what we can.
A Bold Proclamation of the Gospel.
At seminary I heard:
The laughter of children. Daily children come to the seminary “tap” to get water for their homes. As I heard them I first thought that they would not laugh so much if they knew more about this world that they live in. But then it came to me that they might say that I would not be so “grumpy” if I only worried less.
An exposition of Hebrews. At the seminary we have been blessed with the ministry of Pastor Andy Rice of Mineral Spring Baptist Church near Roanoke, Virginia. He has been at the seminary for the first eight weeks of this term teaching the Gospel of John and the book of Hebrews. I left my office door open and I could hear him “rightly dividing the Word of truth.”
An explanation of how to write term papers. This sound was coming from the other end of the classroom/office block (my office is somewhere in the middle). For some reason this class seems to terrify the students – but to a person they all agree that if you pay attention to the teacher you will indeed know how to correctly right a term paper.
A plea for Bibles. Almost daily seminary students and local pastors ask me about the availability of Bibles.
A Macedonian call. One of the pastors came by and asked if we could come and help at his church.
Some powerful testimonies. Each year as we receive new students we allow them the opportunity to share their testimony during the chapel time. Also, I ask some of them to write their testimony for me in one of the courses that I teach. Listen to these words: I got saved in 2001 and was serious in my Christianity…I remember having passed through so many critical situations in which I could have even lost my life…the biggest question was how shall I appreciate Him enough? I know that I am saved to worship, praise, and glorify His name, but it did not seem to be enough.” Another new student shared: “I first went to the Reformed Church in Zambia. I was in this church for a short period. I did not like the way the Bible was being taught. I then decided to move out. I tried the Catholic Church. I was not getting or learning anything. I again decided to stop the church. I joined the Anglican Church. I did not differentiate the doctrine of the Catholic and Anglican…So I stopped and stayed home …My friends who were Baptist members at my village did invite me to the Baptist Church. …I was convinced and accepted Jesus Christ as my personal Savior in the year 1980…The reason why I like the Baptist Church is the way the Bible is being translated, that people are able to understand the Word very correctly.”
At home I heard:
The grinding of repairs. There is a lot of work going on here at the Baptist Guesthouse. Workers have been around for a week or replacing worn out tiles in some of the rooms.
Fireworks. Since the firework display took place at midnight on the 13th of February I thought that it was some kind of a new Valentine’s Day celebration. Later I heard that it marked the beginning of the Chinese New Year.
Thunder and rain. In the month of February we have received an abundance of rain. Please continue to pray that we will receive the right amount of rain in the right places in the right time to bring a great harvest.
“Not long ago I heard a story about a young man and an old preacher. The young man had lost his job and didn't know which way to turn. So he went to see the old preacher.
Pacing about the preacher's study, the young man ranted about his problem. Finally he clenched his fist and shouted, "I've begged God to say something to help me, preacher, why doesn't God answer?"
The old preacher, who sat across the room, spoke something in reply, something so hushed it was indistinguishable. The young man stepped across the room. "What did you say?" he asked. The preacher repeated himself, but again in a tone as soft as a whisper. So the young man moved closer until he was leaning on the preacher's chair.
"Sorry," he said. "I still didn't hear you." With their heads bent together, the old preacher spoke once more. "God sometimes whispers," he said, "So we will move closer to hear him." This time the young man heard and he understood.”
I have heard so many things this past month. Some of the things that I have heard will soon be forgotten – and some of the things that I have heard have impacted my life (and will continue to do so for a long time). As the psalmist says, “Today, if you will hear His voice, do not harden your hearts (Psalm 95:8).” So just remember, “He who has ears, let him hear.” (In the Amplified Bible, Matthew 11:15 reads, “He who has ears to hear, let him be listening, and consider and perceive and comprehend by hearing.”)
PRAYER ITEMS
11-13 March – Leadership Training – Petauke. The chairman of the Baptist Fellowship of Zambia (Ebbie Musika) and I have been invited by the churches of the Petauke Association to come and preach/teach. The local association there is anticipating an attendance of at least 100 leaders. Pray for us as we make the trip and lead in the “conference.” Pray that the Lord will “loosen” my tongue so that I can teach freely in the vernacular (Chinyanja).
21 March – One of our December 2009 seminary graduates has invited me to come and preach at the church where he pastors. I asked him if I should speak in English or in Chinyanja. He shared that he normally preaches in English and someone translates for him. But he said that he thought that my Chinyanja was good enough to preach in Chinyanja and they would not use a translator. Pray that regardless of the language used the Lord Himself will speak to our hearts and that we will be obedient to Him.
30 March – 2 April – This is the Final Exam week for our seminary students. Pray for our students as they reach the end of this term. All of the assignments need to be completed by then – and as is typical of students everywhere, some of the students will wait until the last minute to complete some of the assignments. Also, pray for the students in their preparation for the final exams.
December 2009
MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!!
Greetings to you all! Mary and I do want to wish you each and every one a very merry Christmas!
A man sent his friend a cryptic Christmas card. It simply said:
A B C D E F G H I J K M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z.
The recipient puzzled over it for weeks, finally gave up and wrote asking for an explanation. And if you can’t figure out the explanation – make sure you read the newsletter closely.
Christmas in Kentucky
Mary and I have carefully managed our holidays – and family budget – and we will take a holiday in December in the States. We will spend most of our time at Van Martin’s house in Shelbyville – and intend to utilize a lot of “talk time” to Eric and Lisa in Oregon. I suspect as well that we will have a few days at our “old Kentucky home” to visit with family and friends in that area. Pray for our safety in travel and that we will have a healthy and happy “vacation.” Pray that this will be a time of His refreshing for us!
Lottie Moon Christmas Offering
These are challenging days for all of us in light of the year’s economic struggles. We have all had to learn how to “cut back” – and I suspect that there will need to be more “trimming” before things improve. But please don’t “cut back” in your praying – and in your giving to the cause of Christ. In spite of all of the world’s problems and so-called “issues,” from all that I read and observe firsthand, this is a day of unprecedented response to the Gospel.
I can promise you that we are being the very best stewards that we know how to be with all of the “tools” that your giving makes available to us. Your sacrificial giving has a greater impact for eternity than perhaps you will ever realize on this side of glory. “Cut off” the Evil One when he tries to tempt you to “cut back” on giving to missions – and “go forward” in faith and obedience to Him.
Seminary Day – Copperbelt Association
On the 7th and 8th of November eleven students and two seminary staff members (one of them being me) travelled to Kitwe, Zambia to participate in a “seminary day” in the Copperbelt Association. It was a wonderful experience for all of us involved!
We were observers on Saturday, the 7th, at the annual general meeting of the association. As the meeting reached its conclusion, the “host” churches picked up their seminary student. Then on Sunday morning the students (and seminary staff members) preached in thirteen different churches throughout the association. At each of those churches we shared the Gospel and encouraged the churches to support their seminary.
We thank the Lord for our safety in travel – Kitwe is about a five hour drive from Lusaka. We thank Him for the warm reception that we received from the Copperbelt churches. We thank Him for the wonderful fellowship that we shared in our journey
A Testimony
My “host pastor” in Kitwe has an interesting salvation testimony. Let me share it with you to the best of my recollection.
“I was a member of a ‘cult church.’ In fact, I was a choirmaster in this church. We were taught that we were the only ones saved and that everyone else was lost. One day when we were coming out of the church I saw someone handing out tracts. We were always told that we should not ever take one of these tracts. But on this day I secretly went back to the person handing out tracts and put one in my back pocket planning on reading it at another time.
That night I had a dream. I saw a pit/ditch and there was a piece of paper in the middle of it. I reached for the piece of paper and as I did so I started to fall into this pit. But there was no bottom. I fell and fell until I felt heat all around me. My body started burning and I realized that this was Hell. I was so afraid, and I felt such pain, that I started screaming. And then I woke up.
The next night I had another dream. In this dream I was on a beach. I saw someone coming down the beach leading a group of very happy people. This person was in brilliant white and His face was shining so brightly that I could not look upon it. I somehow knew that this was Jesus. I wanted to join the group but He told me that I could not be a part of this group because I had never received Him.
I felt His power lift me up and carry me to the lake – which I understood was the lake of fire. There were so many people there already and He told me that I was going to be thrown into this lake. I pleaded with Him to save me – and He told me that I must choose Him. At this point I woke up. Immediately I started pleading and pleading with Jesus to save me – and I was afraid to go back to sleep.
But then I did fall asleep and I had another dream. This time I was on top of a mountain with Jesus and a cloud came from Heaven and He opened my heart and this ‘cloud’ entered into my heart. I have never felt peace like this before in my life. When I woke up this time that same sense of peace was still in my heart. I had never known such joy and I knew that Jesus had truly saved me.
At this time I remembered the tract. I had not read it yet but I knew that I must find it. When I found the tract it was about Hell and Heaven and said that it was up to each person to choose to follow Jesus if they wanted to go to Heaven. What I had learned in my dreams was all there in this tract. From this day forward all I wanted to do was to tell other people that being a Christian is to have a personal relationship with Jesus.”
Isn’t it wonderful how God reaches out to us! I hope that you were inspired by this pastor’s testimony. It was a great encouragement to me. Share your salvation testimony with someone today. Someone might just need to hear “the joyful sound, ‘Jesus saves,’ ‘Jesus saves!’”
Youth Retreat
What comes to your mind when you think of a “youth retreat?” Depending on your age and involvement (and past experience) you might think of things like – fun and adventure, gossip, no sleep, jealousy, prayer and Bible study, camp, tension, joy, etc. But let me share with you about a “youth retreat” of a different sort.
On the 14th of November, 37 young people (including a seminary student as the coordinator for the event), from two “city” churches, left the city environment for an overnight stay at a Baptist church in a rural area. They were headed on their “youth retreat.” The objective for the retreat was to – encourage the youth living in rural areas, engage in personal evangelism, provide workshops on being disciples, and present True Love Waits. Now, how does that sound for a “youth camp” – actively engaging in ministry, serving others rather than being served, for the glory of God?
My role was to come and share a challenge to the youth in that area and to assist with the Jesus film. On this Saturday night, over 200 in that community saw the Jesus film and heard a strong presentation of the Gospel. Many responded to the invitation and it proved to be a truly glorious night.
Having seen the Jesus film so many times now, I usually find that I spend more time observing and listening to those in attendance than I do to the film. It amuses me when I see some of the older children so engrossed in the events in the life of Christ that they move to the edge of the crowd (and darkness) to relieve themselves – simply so they will not dare miss even one scene of the movie. Even the “drunks” who sat near me, and discussed every scene – sometimes a bit too loudly, were sober enough to sit in silence and a certain reverence when they saw the crucifixion scene. It all just seems so “simple” – and yet that is part of the wonderful plan of our Almighty Father – that the first step of salvation is a “simple” childlike faith!
It rained at our flat before I left Lusaka to go out to this “youth camp.” (I must admit that I had my doubts as to whether the weather would permit me to even show the film.) A few hours later, in the darkness, the movie is going and the people are engaged by the Gospel of Luke, and I watch the lightning in sky all around me. (Explanation for the cryptic Christmas card – “Eventually, he received this explanation on a postcard: "No L.")
In those moments the Lord reminds me that this is His event and it is for His glory. As I laugh to myself about those “bathroom boys,” He chastises me about my lack of “thrill and excitement” for His Word. I reflect on my past “youth retreats,” and the Lord says, “Isn’t this a better kind of camp? There is no retreat here – but a great advance for my Kingdom!!!!” And I say, “Yes, Lord!”
PRAYER ITEMS
--There will be Bible schools in session in December for Chongwe, Manenekela, & Luangwa. John Macpherson will coordinate those schools in my absence. Pray for health, safety, travel, learning, and teaching.
We can do nothing apart from Him. Thank you for praying continually for our ministry needs.
--Praise Him for the rain that has come thus far! Pray for a good rainy season and a great harvest in the months ahead
November 2009
Outreach – Ndapula
Recently, I participated in the efforts of one of our associations to plant a new church. Along with two seminary students, and representatives of three churches, we made our way to Ndapula to show the Jesus Film and to preach the Word of God.
There was a large crowd at the showing of the Jesus Film – a careful counting indicated as many as 275 people, mostly youth, were in attendance. We stopped the “movie” at the crucifixion scene to allow one of our local pastors to preach. With the image of the crucified Christ in the background, this pastor preached a powerful message of salvation. Nine people responded to the “good news” – six men and three young women. It was a glorious night!
Perhaps our expectations were too high for the next morning. Although there were forty in attendance at the morning worship service, most of these had come from neighboring churches. Nevertheless, we trust that if this in accordance with God’s will, He will bring it to “completion.”
In addition to seeing people respond to the Gospel in salvation, one other event inspired my heart. While we waited for sunset before showing the Jesus Film (both to have sufficient darkness and to allow people time to get in from the fields), we played worship music through the sound system. People danced!
This was not a dance of sin – but rather of sheer delight in the Lord! Picture the celebration of David as he danced before God. Here, before my very eyes, were people who simply expressed within their culture their heart of uninhibited joy! I am not very expressive of my feelings – I certainly wouldn’t be at the forefront of “clapping for Jesus” or the “lifting up of hands” – but I can honestly say my heart “danced” before the Lord with my brothers and sisters in Christ. Had we not started the film, I might have even joined the celebration with a dance step or two!
How is your walk with the Lord today? Is there the joy of the Lord in your life? How is His calling you to express that joy? “Rejoice in the Lord always, and again, I say REJOICE!”
Outreach – Makanda
On the 17th and 18th of October I was part of an outreach to the Makanda area. Once again we showed the Jesus film and preached the gospel – and the people responded. Twelve gave their hearts to Christ on Saturday evening. Then on Sunday morning we had a good “beginning” to a new church. There were fifty six of us packed into a local school classroom – and approximately twenty of those were from that very area (the rest of us were folks from neighboring Baptist churches that came together to help plant this church).
The two seminary students that I accompanied on this outreach did a wonderful ministry throughout the weekend. They conducted themselves as true men of God. As one of their teachers, I was proud of them.
Although Makanda was not far from Lusaka, it was certainly more difficult to get to than Ndapula. We went up and down, and twisted and turned, and bounced up and down and sideways. The journey was hard – but the reward was great.
Seminary Day
On Sunday, the 4th of October, the seminary enjoyed a “seminary day” with several churches in Lusaka. The purpose was to take students to various churches in Lusaka where they could preach and share about the ministry of the seminary. Different faculty members provided transport and encouragement for the students. I had the pleasure of taking students to four different churches. As I dropped off students at each of these churches, I stayed with the last student and worshipped with that particular church. Then we reversed the “dropping off” process and I picked up the students and took them back to the seminary.
I was especially inspired by the testimony that was shared by the student who I heard preach on the “seminary day” Sunday. In his sermon, he challenged each of us to make what we have available to God and allow God to work with it. To illustrate the importance of any gift offered in the name of Christ, he related an experience in his life before his mother died.
His mother had been admitted to the hospital (some distance from their home) and he did not have the means of going to visit her. However, he was able to purchase a very small amount of talk time so as to stay in communication with her. Before he was able to place his call, he met a woman in a very desperate situation. The woman’s husband was seriously ill and she was unable to get him to any clinic or hospital. If she could make a phone call to the husband’s work place then perhaps they could provide transport.
Our preacher said at that moment there was a battle within his heart. He had only a very little talk time with which to communicate to his mother – and yet here he was presented with a very urgent need. Reluctantly, he allowed the woman to use his talk time, and shortly the company did send transport quickly.
In the days ahead the preacher said that he had repeatedly tried to make contact with the family but had failed. Then one day, nearly a month after the initial plea for help, he himself was visited by the very man who had been ill and received a full follow up to the entire episode. Basically, the man reported that if his wife had not been allowed to use the phone to call for help on that very day, he would have died.
Our preacher then stated, “If I had not helped them on that day with the little that I had, I would not be here today. I could not have handled the guilt of that man’s life on my hands had I failed to share the talk time that I had with them. There are people all around you who have basic needs – food for this day, clothes, medical help, etc. – and God can do great things to help them through you, if you would just share what you have.”
The Holy Spirit prompted the worship leader to call for a special offering to help those in need – and the church came forward with their gifts, It was truly good to be in the house of the Lord!
Open Day
Our “Open Day” at the seminary was a bit disappointing – at least from the perspective of attendance. “Open Day” is an opportunity for representatives from the local churches and community to come and get acquainted with the Baptist Theological Seminary of Zambia. Unfortunately, very few took advantage of this opportunity.
On a positive note, it was inspiring to see how well the seminary staff and students were prepared for the day. Students made themselves available as “guides” for any visitors. Seminary wives displayed the various items that they had sewn in their sewing classes. There was a power point presentation on the history and ministry of the Baptist Theological Seminary of Zambia. Also, bananas from the seminary’s banana groves were made available for purchase.
“…Always be thankful, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.”
--I Thessalonians 5:18
PRAYER ITEMS
31 October-1 November
Travel to Nyimba, about 2 hrs east of Lusaka for a meeting to discuss a new Bible school. Pray for a unity in heart & mind.
7-8 November
Seminary emphasis in the Copperbelt Region, Kitwe. Seminary students and I are traveling to Kitwe to raise awareness of the vital ministry of the seminary & to encourage the churches in that region to help the seminary. Pray for safe travel, and boldness as we present the needs at the seminary.
23-25 November
Mission Prayer Retreat
27 November
The current TEE groups finish another book – New Testament Survey 2. Friday is our meeting day. Pray for safety, good health, and perseverance – for me and my “disciples.”
28 November
Seminary Graduation. Pray for these graduates & their families as the move into ministry throughout Zambia.
Sept. 2009
A GOLDEN ANNIVERSARY
This year (2009) marks 50 years of Southern Baptist missionary work in Zambia. Today there are approximately 1700 churches that are associated with the Baptist Fellowship of Zambia. How great is our God! Pray with us in giving thanks for what great things God has done! Pray with us as well as we look toward the next 50 years!
AGM – 2009
The annual general meeting of the Baptist Fellowship of Zambia took place on the 26th-29th of August. It was their fourteenth annual general meeting. I was thrilled to be given an opportunity to serve as the guest speaker for the meeting. The overall theme was “Building on the Foundation” and in my five messages I tried to challenge the messengers to be a people of “great faith” so that we really could “build on the foundation” (and not just talk about it). I lead the messengers through the book of James as we considered a mature faith, a working faith, a speaking faith, a growing faith, and a responsible faith. For me personally, it was one of the greatest highlights of my missionary service.
Reaching Out
As I write this I am in “recovery mode” from a church planting weekend. I worked with the evangelism team from a church in Lusaka to plant a “new” church just north of the city. It was a wonderful weekend!
I went out on Friday afternoon to set up our “camp” and to show the Jesus film. Then on Saturday half of the day was spent in personal evangelism – four teams of three people per team went throughout the surrounding villages to share the gospel. During a Saturday afternoon session we had a time of testimonies and a brief Bible study, and in the evening we showed the Jesus film once again.
On Sunday morning we had our “official” services as a new church. I taught the Sunday morning adult Bible study and one of the seminary students preached the Sunday morning sermon.
As a result of the preaching of God’s truth during the Jesus film and the sharing of gospel in personal evangelism, there were approximately 30 adults who gave their lives to Christ. Pray for the evangelism team as they follow up these who made a decision to trust in Christ as their personal Savior.
During the weekend I had the opportunity to spend a good deal of quality time with some of the seminary students that had come to join in the work. In those times of fellowship, eating, and informal discussion I had the wonderful blessing of being “teacher” to some of my “disciples.” We discussed all kinds of things related to God’s work – from how to do urban church planting, to the positive and negative aspects of using local schools as meeting places for churches, to the issue of demon possession and casting out demons.
Here is what thrilled me as a “teacher.” During the showing of the Jesus film on the second night, one man approached a seminary student with the very same question that I had addressed in the morning from the seminary students. I was close enough to eavesdrop on their discussion. I must admit I was just a little bit proud as I heard the seminary student answer the man with the same arguments and Scripture that I had just shared earlier in the day.
But I must admit I was also a bit challenged by what I had just experienced. In James 3:1 we are reminded that “not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly.” In those very few hours between Saturday morning and evening I saw up close and personal the great influence that a teacher has – and the great accountability that I have before God for my teaching. Pray for me that I might be that “workman…who correctly handles the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15).
GETTING TO KNOW YOU
One of my favorite experiences these days is in getting to know our Zambian brothers and sisters, to hear their “stories,” and to listen to them as they share about their walk with the Lord. More often than not this “getting to know you” experience comes about as we travel together. One of our dear brothers shared with me recently about his early primary school days. For at least the first few years of his primary school his journey to school was a walk of about 2 hours each way – morning and night. He recounted that as a young boy he made that journey with no sense of the fear that he now has as he looks back. Often during those journeys, he encountered wild animals, seeing leopards frequently. I started to describe my primary school days – like riding the school bus – but my stories seemed to pale in comparison to what he shared with me.
On another recent journey, those traveling with me talked about their days in secondary school (all of them had been in various boarding schools here in Zambia). One of them shared how his trip to boarding school usually took five days – a couple of days on a train, another couple of days by bus, and then a lengthy walk. They all laughed as they reminded one another that their very first pair of trousers was the school uniform that they wore in secondary school. Two of the four said that the first pair of shoes that they had ever worn was when they went to secondary school. All of them bemoaned the fact that modern day education didn’t seem quite as good as the education as they had received.
As I listened to these discussions, I wondered if the failure was not one of modern day attitudes rather than the sufficiency of educational systems. Here were four men who stuck to the task in spite of overwhelming obstacles, including extreme poverty, and were truly “educated.” (Certainly, if faced with similar circumstances, I am not sure that I would have continued on in school.) That same attitude of determination was claimed by Christ as they came to know Him as Savior and Lord. Today each one of them serves the Lord with a godly perseverance that honors Him – and I have been blessed to know them.
Today let me challenge you to “get to know” some of those within that fellowship of the saints where you serve the Lord. During a time of a census, one of the census takes arrived at a home which obviously included a lot of children. The census taker asked the house-wife/mother, “May I please know the number of your children?” She answered (correctly), “My children don’t have numbers. They all have names.” Get to know the names, and life stories, of some of the saints around you – and always be ready to share your spiritual pilgrimage.
GOOD NEWS – OR IS IT?
The advertisement of “Good News!” caught my attention as I was reading one of the local newspapers recently. The advertisement was about an “African doctor international” who was “doing incredible things, digging the roots and mixing herbs and God.” Among his areas of expertise, this doctor cited “fibroids, infertility, employment, court cases, low sperm count, and runaway husbands, wives and boyfriends.”
It is interesting to note the number of different ailments that these kinds of doctors purport to be able to treat/cure. However, there is only One who is able to deal with the most serious of all “ailments” – sin. He truly is the Great Physician. Within Him alone there is the really “Good News.”
I also find it interesting to notice how this doctor mixed “herbs and God.” Lest we be too critical of him, we might want to consider the number of things that we “mix” with God. God should be first and foremost in our hearts and lives. I like the story of the woman who was a hypochondriac and asked her pastor for some advice. She queried, “When I get sick, should I go to the drugstore first or to the Lord first?” With no hesitation the pastor replied, “Well, if you are living closer to the drugstore than you are to the Lord then you should probably go to the drugstore first.”
PRAYER ITEMS
1. TEE - I will start again on the 25th of September. Pray for safety in travel and that those in attendance will have receptive and obedient hearts.
2. Preaching opportunities - On the 27th of September I will preach at Mathero Baptist. On the 29th of September I preach in chapel at the seminary. Pray for a good, clear delivery of His truth - and that we who have ears to hear will indeed hear what the Lord is saying to His Church.
3. Outreach – Pray for two weekend outreach activities--10th and 11th of October at Ntapula and 17th and 18th at Makanda. Pray for good support from churches in Canaan Association as they choose the right "team" to be a part of these outreach activities.
4. BTSZ observes “open house” on 3rd of October. Sunday, 4 October is "seminary day" in Lusaka churches.
Pray that there will be a renewed interest in this important ministry.
5. “Christian Ceremonies” is the course I am teaching at BTSZ this term. My desire is that I can continue the emphasis on the practicality of this course as it has been done in the past. Pray that I can assist the students to develop skills in various areas of ministry.
6. LC Office - Pray for houses and cars. With the blessing of new families comes the need for houses & cars.
June, 2009
Frantic Fridays
I am in full swing in doing theological education by extension. On most every Friday I meet with four different local groups of church leaders. Together we are working through a book called “New Testament Survey 1” – basically it is a study of the Gospels and Acts.
Since, I have done four or five books with several of these folks, I really thought that our participation would start to drop off. Was I ever mistaken! There are more registered now that I have had in the previous two years of this training program. In the four groups combined I work with over 50 local leaders. We sing together, pray together, discuss together, and, hopefully, grow together.
BBS Graduation – Number 1
On Saturday, 29th May 2009 the local Bible School at Chipata had its very first graduation. I can vividly remember the beginnings of this school.
Along with Pastor Z, I had met with the “founding fathers” of the school a little over two years ago in the home of Brother M. Several in the association had a desire (really a vision) for Bible school training, but they were meeting with considerable opposition from some of their fellow church leaders. Pastor Z and I had traveled to Chipata to encourage them and to help them get organized – and God blessed their faithfulness.
On the 29th there were nine graduates of this school (next year they expect an additional 20 graduates). They had asked me to come and deliver the graduation message. Their guest of honor was the district education officer. Yes, even the “opponents” were there. (I couldn’t help but remember the words “You prepare a table for me in the presence of my enemies.”)
There are currently 34 students enrolled in this school. The local principal predicts that there will be a huge intake now as a result of the graduation ceremony – perhaps including a few of the past “skeptics.”
Our New Student
We have one new student this term at seminary. Each new intake normally begins with the first term of the school year, but S. was not able to attend that first term and was allowed to join us this term. During a recent chapel service he was asked to share his testimony so that we could get to know him better.
S. said that he was the son of a polygamist and that his father was a witchdoctor. All of his life his family had been very religious – worshiping their ancestors. At a tent meeting he first heard about Jesus and asked his mother if he could worship Jesus. She told him that if he did so then the spirits of the ancestors could not come on him and that he would likely be killed by the ancestors. He chose to follow the Jesus way.
Not long after that he married. Sadly his wife had a miscarriage with their first pregnancy. Some (including his mother) said that this was because he had turned his back on the ancestors. Others said that he had sacrificed the child so as to have powerful magic to protect his land. Some said that someone had bewitched him out of jealousy. All of that pressure led him to start visiting various witchdoctors for help – charms, medicines, etc. After trying various witchdoctors (twelve of them in total), he declared that this was all useless – and burned all of the “items” that he had gathered over the years from the witchdoctors. He came to find true peace in that personal relationship with Jesus.
Home!!!!!
L. and F. came to me immediately after class. These friends were asking permission to travel with me to Chipata – a part of Zambia that they had never seen. In fact neither of them had been further east than Chongwe (around 45 kilometers to the east of Lusaka) – and Chipata is another 550 kilometers to the east (right on the Malawi border). What intrigued me is that F. considers Chipata to be his home area. His family is from a village very close to Chipata – but he has never been there himself. So when I introduced him to the church leaders that I had gone to Chipata to visit, I said, “This is F. M., one of my seminary students. He said that he wanted to visit his home – but he has never been here before.” (I don’t think that they found that nearly as humorous as I did. However, for us within the family of faith, we are headed to a “home” where we have never been. We are “pilgrims” here – and we are on our way home!)
“Elderly”
Last month I was asked by one of the seminary students to come and speak to the youth at the International Baptist Church. (When we are in Lusaka this is the church that Mary and I regularly attend.) Since the youth meeting takes place immediately following the morning worship, one of the youth leaders made an announcement during the worship time so as to encourage the youth to attend. Mary was quite amused when the young man said, “All of you youth should be sure to come this afternoon. We have invited some of the “elderly” to come and speak to us and to share their life story.”
Other than being labeled as one of the “elderly,” I must admit that it was a wonderful experience. Within one of the tribal cultures, it is a traditional practice for the youth to meet with some of the “elderly” so as to learn how to live and to benefit from their wisdom. I was quite in awe of the 30 or so young people who gathered in a circle to listen to three of us “old” folks share our testimony. Their display of respect and the depth of their questions certainly blessed my heart.
PRAYER ITEMS:
We have reached the mid-term of this current term of seminary classes. Pray for the students to maintain their zeal and enthusiasm. Pray that the Lord will continue to help me to rightly divide the Word of truth.
There are already a couple of dates on the calendar for me to preach in the month of June. Both of those preaching opportunities will be in Chinyanja speaking churches. Pray that I will have the “fluency of tongue” to proclaim His truth with boldness and clarity.
We are thankful that the order for the home school materials has arrived – twenty one boxes of materials. Pray for Mary as she supervises the process of putting the right materials together for the right families – and then for the timely distribution of the materials to families in this region.
April, 2009
PATIENCE – THE HARD WAY
For several years I have kept a journal of various events, activities, feelings, etc. that go on in my life. Here is the entry for Wednesday, 11 March, 2009. I think that the Lord is trying to teach me patience – the hard way.
“It has been an ordeal for us today. … We thought it would be good to have a local bank account for our mission expenditures. Well, it has taken a week and it has been quite an adventure. I thought that we would just go into the branch where the mission has its main account and that within a couple of hours all of the paper work would be done and we would be up and rolling. Boy was I wrong! On the first visit (a week ago) we got a handful of forms and were told to fill them and bring them back. We did that - and then we were told that we had, in actual fact, only filled out an application requesting an account and that it would be two or three days before there would be an account - but they would contact us. They complained about my using the Zambia driving license (instead of the national registration card) as my photo id but they did say that they would go ahead and process the account. We did eventually (after two or three days) get a text message saying that they had agreed to open an account for us. Mary and I went back in today (Wednesday, 11 March) to get our check book and our ATM cards - or so we thought. We had to fill in another form applying for a check book. We took it to a desk in this same branch - he stamped the form - and said that we should have a check book - in about 10 working days. We also had to fill out a form to get a deposit slip so that we could deposit money into the account. Then came the big hurdle - they were all out of their ATM cards at this branch so they sent us to another branch. It was packed with people. After about two hours we got to the right desk, and the man told me that I was not actually on the new account because I had opened it with my driver's license rather than the national registration card. So I told him that the branch had opened the account with my driver's license as an id and that no one from there said that we had to have the registration card. He said that he was telling me this now and that they would process Mom's card and that she would have access to the account - but they needed me to fill out another form, bring a copy of my registration card, and a passport photo. The bank's motto is "excellence in customer service is our culture" - and so I made it pretty clear to the guy behind the desk that for this "customer" their motto was not quite right. So far, I had not seen or experienced any excellence at all. Mary and I came home filled in the form (which indicated that for your photo id you could use your national registration card, your passport, or your driver’s license), made the photocopies, returned to the branch - and the guy that we dealt with was on lunch. Mary left the stuff and got a phone number to call on another day. By the way - the ATM cards won't work until five working days have ended.”
TRUE LOVE WAITS
This ministry targets youth people particularly with the message that we should keep ourselves “pure” for the life partner that God chooses for us. It is basically a message emphasizing abstinence until marriage.
Recently I travelled with two of our seminary students who led in a presentation at a “high school” about 4-5 hours east of Lusaka. The meeting started around 2:00 on a Saturday afternoon – and for three hours the 300-400 students (and me as well) were captivated and challenged by the presentation of these two young men. They led in worship, explained the principles of “True Love Waits,” gave their own testimony of faithfulness, and called for a commitment to moral purity and to a personal walk with the Lord. My heart was touched when I saw the overwhelming response. There were 170 young people who indicated that they had received Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior, in addition to making the commitment to abstinence until marriage. What a great and glorious day!
But I also saw the other side of life – and one of the struggles facing these teenagers. While we were at this boarding school I met two of their teachers. Sadly, both of them gave evidence of being very much under the influence of alcohol. When one of the two was invited to attend the meeting with us, his first question was, “Will there be any drinks?” I pondered in my heart – where will students at this school find their role models, their mentors? Pray for all teachers – they have an awesome responsibility!!!!!
He is risen. He is risen indeed!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Most major religions of the world adore some great but dead leader or philosopher. Christianity alone declares its faith in a living, resurrected Savior. A missionary was explaining this truth to some people. He said, "I am traveling and have reached a place where the road branches off in two directions. I look for a guide and find two men: One is dead and the other alive. Which of the two should I ask for directions, the dead or the living?" The people responded, "The living." "Why then," said the missionary, "do you follow a leader who is dead instead of Christ, who is alive?" If we believe in the actual, physical resurrection of Jesus Christ, then we will have no difficulty in believing anything else in God's Word. If we reject this central doctrine, we may as well throw away the entire Bible. If Christ has not risen, He has broken His promises, failed in His prophecies, and we are still in our sins.
I love the story of the little girl who lived near a cemetery and often had to walk through it after dark. When someone asked, "Are you ever afraid?" she said, "Oh, no. My home is just beyond." So, too, let us not be afraid of the grave – for our “heavenly home” is just beyond.
“Prayer puts one in touch with a planet. I can as really be touching hearts for God in far away India or China through prayer as though I were there. A man may go aside today, and shut his door, and as really spend a half hour in India for God as though he were there in person.” (S. D. Gordon)
I would hasten to add that you can touch hearts for God right here in Zambia through prayer as though you were here! May God challenge your hearts with these words from Paul: “Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. 3And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ… (Col. 4:2-3).”
PRAYER MATTERS
BBS (Baptist Bible Schools) – There are three of them in the month of April within the area of our Eastern Harvest Team. Two of them will be in session during the week of the 13th-18th and the other one takes place during the 20th-25th. As always, pray for safety in travel, faithfulness in teaching, health for teachers and students, and obedience. Pray that all of us will be ready to apply what God teaches us.
The 28th of April is the first day of classes for the second term at the seminary. In this second term I have been asked to teach two courses – one focuses on biblical interpretation and the other is on the “Minor Prophets.” Pray for me as I prepare these lessons. Pray that the students may be challenged by the lessons and that they might make appropriate application to their ministry contexts.
March, 2009
BUCKETS OF BLESSINGS
You all have heard of “showers of blessings” but I want you to know as well about the “buckets of blessings.” These “buckets” that I am referring to are a part of a vital ministry coordinated by Baptist Global Response (BGR). Here is how BGR describes this ministry:
“Last year, Baptist Global Response conducted a pilot project with Southern
Baptist churches in three states to test our new In-Home Care Kits, five-gallon plastic buckets that contain a wide range of everyday supplies needed by someone who is caring for a terminally ill person - from lotions, toothbrushes and vitamins to bedding, soap and socks. Almost 1,400 kits were delivered to Zambia and South Africa, providing a physical and spiritual touch to people in Sub-Saharan Africa who are dying from AIDS and other illnesses.”
Some of you might have been involved in “packing” the buckets without realizing just where they were going – or what was going to happen when they got to our part of the world. So, please allow me to give a follow up report/testimony on the “buckets of blessings.”
Our Eastern Harvest Team was involved in the distribution of 80 buckets. We had an eye witness look at what the buckets meant to the recipients – and there were experiences that will forever be a part of my life. Here is a notation that I made in my “personal journal:”
“I am convinced that people who were in need were ministered to. Also, I am convinced that we improved the quality of life for some sufferers – albeit for a short time. We did plant a positive witness in the minds of the Catholic people in that area. We also helped to dissuade the opinion that we are “Satanists.” In every case we did have a time of prayer for the families. There were some heart-wrenching stories and experiences – particularly at the hospice. There were 14 patients in the hospice – virtually all of them with Aids. One woman was totally unaware of our presence. One little boy was in a bed on the porch – but there was a mosquito net over his bed. He was propped up on a couple of pillows – but his breathing was still labored. We saw the young and the old, male and female, and the poor and the poorer.”
I will remember the eight year old little girl who looked more like an eighty year old woman. (She has just been diagnosed with Aids and her caregivers are in hopes that she will soon receive ARVs.) I will remember the 15 year old young lady whose parents both died of Aids – and now lives with her grandmother. (The grandmother sometimes goes without food so that the grand-daughter can have the necessary food to take with her medications.)
I will remember the three generations in the one family that all suffer with Aids – the mother and father, their daughter, and their grand-daughter. I will remember the three Baptist ladies – all from the same small local church. I will try to remember them all before the Father’s throne.
I also will remember their thankfulness to you for your help. I will remember the unbridled joy expressed by some of the “sufferers.” Like the lady who said that she had dreamed that she would receive a new bed sheet – but just could not see how it would be possible. She is more convinced than ever before that God is the God of the “impossible.” Then there was the joy of another lady as she “tried on” (on top of her clothes) the towel in the bucket – and was thrilled that it was just the right fit.
It truly is more “blessed to give than to receive” (and being the channel for your “giving” is a pretty wonderful experience as well).
Matthew 25:40
"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'
THE INN-KEEPER
One of the most unlikeable characters in the Scriptures – the inn-keeper – is not even in the Bible. (The text simply says “she wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.”) But traditionally, inn-keepers have a “bad name.” Mary is now an “inn-keeper.”
Our guesthouse director and his family needed to return to the States before their term of service was finished. While we are anxiously anticipating the appointment of another guesthouse manager, Mary has assumed the role of “inn-keeper.” Even though our mission is trying to strictly limit the access to the guesthouse, there is still a lot of additional responsibility placed on Mary.
Pray that she might have wisdom as she tries to make the right fit for the rooms available and the families that need accommodation. Pray that we might both have more patience. (My patience just about reached its limit last night when someone arrived at 11:00 looking for a place to stay. Since they awakened me from a very sound sleep, I was ready to tell them where to go – but thankfully Mary responded appropriately to their need.)
“SMALL STUFF – BIG DIFFERENCE”
The Cook family arranged to have three blackboards made for our three Bible schools with special gift money provided by one of their supporting churches. In the next six weeks we will distribute all of the blackboards. What a big difference they will make to our schools – and to our students! I am tired of writing on cracked, painted cement walls – or scavenging to find something else to write on so that at least part of what I write will be discernible.
I have asked to serve as the “cluster prayer advocate” for the Greater Zambia Cluster. Praying – now that seems like really “small stuff.” After all, even a child can learn to pray. But do we pray? F. B. Meyer reminded us, "The greatest tragedy of life is not unanswered prayer, but unoffered prayer." In Jeremiah 33:3 there is the admonition to - 'Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.' These “unsearchable things” ("mighty things") literally are "things that are hidden, inaccessible, fenced in." Prayer knocks down the fences. Prayer may seem like “small stuff” – but He makes a “big difference.”
PRAYER ITEMS
Preaching – I am preaching a series of sermons on stewardship at the International Baptist Church. On 1 March the theme is the stewardship of time, and that is followed by the stewardship of talents on the 8th of March, and will conclude with the stewardship of treasures on the 15th of March. Pray that I will communicate clearly and that we will obey fully.
Serenje Baptist Bible School – This school will have 18 graduates for their graduation ceremony on the 14th of March. I will be traveling to this graduation ceremony just to give a word of encouragement to the graduates. Pray for safety in travel, good fellowship with my fellow travelers, and an inspiring graduation.
Mary travels to Johannesburg, South Africa during the last week of March. She will be meeting with other treasurers in sub-Saharan Africa to discuss how to meet the needs of local missionaries and provide the very best support in these days of organizational changes.
Feb. 2009
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!!
Are you sick of hearing that phrase yet? I am sorry to add to your “sickness” by repeating it just one more time – but this is our first newsletter of this year 2009. Isn’t it exciting just to ponder in your heart all that God may have in store for us and His Kingdom in this year!
Just this very morning in my daily reading from the Word I was challenged by this verse from Luke’s Gospel – "Be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning…” (Luke 12:35). Whatever happens, may the Lord finds each of us “ready for service.”
Have you already broken those New Year’s Resolutions? Perhaps you didn’t feel the need to make any. Maybe you can identify with one or the other of the two people in the following story.
Two friends met for a meal at the beginning of the New Year. One had made a list of New Year's resolutions - be nicer to people; eat nutritious food; be more giving to my friends; cut down on sweets and fats; be less critical of others. During their conversation she showed her friend the list, and this friend was quite impressed. In fact, she had to admit they were indeed great goals. "But," she asked her, "Do you think you'll be able to meet all of them?" "Why should I?" she answered. "This list is for you!"
I don’t know whether you have been the “writer” or the “receiver” of a list of resolutions, but I would want to challenge each of you to be “ready for service.” Here is verse for you that speaks of a “service” that any believer can do. In Colossians 4:2 we read - “Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.”
In this year of 2009, brothers and sisters, I would plead with you to:
- be more prayerful
- be more watchful
- be more thankful
HOW TO HAVE A HAPPY NEW YEAR
H-old fast (Hebrews 10:23; 1 Thessalonians 5:21)
A-ssemble (Hebrews 10:25)
P-ress on (Philippians 3:13-14)
P-ray (1 Timothy 2:1-2; 1 Thessalonians 5:17)
Y-ield not to temptation (James 1:12-13; Romans 6:16)
N-eglect not (Hebrews 2:3)
E-xamine yourself (2 Corinthians 13:5)
W-alk worthy (Ephesians 4:1; 1 Thessalonians 2:1-2)
Y-ield yourself to God (Romans 6:13)
E-nvy not (Galatians 5:21, Galatians 5:26; Proverbs 14:30)
A-bstain from all appearance of evil (1 Thessalonians 5:22); from fleshly lusts (1 Peter 2:11)
R-eject not God's Word (John 12:48; 2 Thessalonians 1:7-9)
New Students
One of the most exciting prospects of a “new” year is “new” students at seminary. The Baptist Theological Seminary of Zambia just received six new students – four men and two women. It is a joy to get to know them, and I would ask you to pray for them. It is a time of great transition for them and their families – as most of them are coming from a rural area and are now in the “big city.”
One of the ladies is obviously “expecting.” Although I was in the delivery room for the birth of our two sons, I have no desire to be a “mid-wife.” So as you pray for me and the new students, please pray that the delivery will not be between 2:00 and 4:00 on a Tuesday afternoon.
Once, when the people of God had become careless in their relationship with Him, the Lord rebuked them through the prophet Haggai. “Consider your ways!” (Haggai 1:5) he declared, urging them to reflect on some of the things happening to them and to evaluate their slipshod spirituality in light of what God had told them. The beginning of a new year is an ideal time to stop, look up and get our bearings. For starters, here are some questions (written by Don Whitney in Baptist Press) to ask prayerfully in the presence of God:
1. What's one thing you could do this year to increase your enjoyment of God?
2. What's the most humanly impossible thing you will ask God to do this year?
3. What's the single most important thing you could do to improve the quality of your family life this year?
4. In which spiritual discipline do you most want to make progress this year, and what will you do about it?
5. What is the single biggest time-waster in your life, and what will you do about it this year?
6. What is the most helpful new way you could strengthen your church?
7. For whose salvation will you pray most fervently this year?
8. What's the most important way you will, by God's grace, try to make this year different from last year?
9. What one thing could you do to improve your prayer life this year?
Have a great year – in the Lord!!!!!!!!!!!!!
PRAYER ITEMS
Seminary Course – Throughout February and March I will be teaching a course at the seminary entitled “Baptist Beliefs and Practices.” Pray that I will clearly communicate what Baptists believe and what they practice. Pray that the students will develop personal convictions on what they believe and that they will live accordingly.
Looking Ahead:
Baptist Bible Schools – We hope to have three in session during the month of April. There is a lot of preparation that needs to take place between now and then. Pray that we might be well-organized, that we might have God’s choices as the teachers for each school, and that those who have been called of God to participate might be obedient to that call.
Annual Missionary Training Meeting – This significant event takes place the 3rd through the 8th of April. It is not too early to start praying for this meeting – especially that each missionary have a prepared heart for worship, fellowship, and training.
Dec. 2008
MERRY CHRISTMAS
A famous organist was to give several concerts using an old-fashioned pump organ. (Some of you in my generation might have to explain that concept to some of this modern generation.) The bellows of the organ had to be pumped by hand, so the organist hired a boy to stand behind the organ and pump while he played. After one concert, the boy said to the organist "we played good tonight." "What do you mean, 'we,'?" I was the one who played, not you," replied the organist. When the organist sat down to begin the next concert, no sound came out of the organ. Then it dawned on him that there was no air in the bellows. The organist whispered to the boy behind the organ, "Pump!" The boy responded in a whisper, "Say, 'we'!"
My dear friends, we have served well in this last year. We have planted churches, distributed Bibles, trained leaders, torn down strongholds, and fought the good fight. We have proclaimed the Gospel with boldness and defended the faith with courage.
Mary and I might be the ones who are living and serving in Zambia, but this is a “we” (not Wii) size task. Thank you for your praying and your giving. We will continue to be “more than conquerors through Him who loved us.”
Daily, Mary and I are reminded of your “partnership in the Gospel.” Our apartment flat is provided by your giving. Mary works in an office building built through your gifts. Those TEE books that I utilize on Fridays, those Bibles that are the answer to prayer for so many Zambians, the salaries for national workers and guards, our support – you had your part in all of those things. Hunger relief, Aids education, and True Love Waits – we did all that too.
We have an opportunity during this time of year to make sure that His work continues to go forward to the very ends of the earthy. Please give generously, joyously, and sacrificially to the Lottie Moon Christmas offering.
“I cannot tell it all…what the Lord has done for me!”
As we come to the close of the seminary year, there is a “principal’s tea” for all of the graduates. It is a lovely time of fellowship, food, and testimonies.
After our “snacks,” each graduate is asked to present a testimony about his seminary experience. One young graduate (who is single) shared that his parents were of a different denomination and were not pleased when he came to the Baptist seminary. He added that they were not very encouraging or supportive of him – but now they are changed in their heart and are so excited about graduation day.
Another student recounted that he had been a miner and had never dreamed of such a possibility as to graduate from seminary. He emphasized that God had done a miracle in his life and that now this simple ordinary miner can now minister to people from all walks of life.
One of the graduates is a refugee from one of the French speaking African countries. When he began his seminary studies he could not speak in English at all. He joyfully expounded (in English) the patience and mercies of God for getting him through to the very end.
When the final graduate shared his “testimony,” the group of graduates started singing the lovely chorus – “I cannot tell it all, what the Lord has done for me…I will sing, ‘alleluia,’ I will shout, ‘alleluia,’ I will sing ‘praise the Lord’"
Walira mvula walira matope.
Roughly this proverb can be translated – “He who asked for the rain also asked for mud.” The meaning is that we should accept the consequences of our wishes. So, for those of us who were asking for rain so as to cool things down, we should not complain about the resulting muddy roads.
I had been “asking” for some relief from the oppressive heat, and, thankfully, we had been receiving some widely scattered rain showers. So as I traveled to a TEE center I shouldn’t have been surprised about the “muddy road.”
Truthfully I didn’t complain (much) until I came upon (twice) pigs wallowing and relaxing in a huge “mud-hole” – which just happened to be the center of my road. With a little more rain, my 4x4 might just be “wallowing” in that same mud hole.
Buildings Damaged – The Body Determined
On a recent trip to meet with my TEE groups, I discovered that three of our church buildings had been damaged in a powerful wind and rain storm. Two of the buildings received only minor damage. The other building was completely flattened (as was the case with a few other buildings in that particular village). I had the opportunity to meet with leaders of all of these churches. Truthfully they were all discouraged. In this impoverished area, to repair and re-build must seem like a nearly impossible task.
In Paul’s personal testimony of 2 Corinthians 4:7-12, he speaks of being “struck down, but not destroyed.” So, too, these bodies of believers have been “struck down” but they are not “destroyed.” To a leader, each one affirmed the determination of his “church” to re-build. As they do so, they will join the ranks of those who show that “this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.”
PRAYER ITEMS
Baptist Bible Schools – As always, pray for safety in travel for teachers and students; for good health for all involved during the training time; for clear minds and obedient hearts. There are three schools running consecutively during December:
1-6 Dec. – Luangwa
8-13 Dec. – Manenekela
15-20 Dec. – Chongwe
The Luangwa and Man
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