06 June 2007

"Two People Died"

Greetings from Luanshya!

Last Sunday morning I preached on the subject "Two People Died". In the previous week two people of note passed away with whom I was familiar. Both were very generous in their community. Both were known for acts of kindness. Both were known for loving their family. One was famous in her country. The other was well known in his community. This is where the similarity ends. Ethel Mutharika was the wife of the President of Malawi. She had a very strong testimony of her salvation and attended her church whenever State duties did not keep her away on Sunday. Mr. P. was a Hindu and believed in all the things that the Hindu gurus taught him. As we know, the Lord Jesus Christ said, "No one comes to the Father except through me." In spite of all the good works that both of these individuals accomplished in their lifetime, the question that God asks when we stand before Him is not, "What did you do in your community but what did you do with My Son?"

With that thought in mind: We continue to preach and teach about the Saviour to young and old. This coming Sunday the children in the Sunday School program will finish their series of lessons and will have their quarterly Sword drill and memory verse competition. Some of the children are really showing signs of growth. Others are still struggling with the pressures of childhood.

This Friday the young people will be talking about "The Grace of God" from Titus 2:11 which tells us that the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all mankind. There have been a number of new faces in the group and we are pleased that the youth are bringing their friends to the functions. Please continue to pray for the young people as they try to live out their faith at school, home and play.

This evening in the Adult Bible Study, we will conclude the book of 1 Peter where the believers are encouraged by the words of the apostle. He reminds us that glory always follows suffering if we submit to the Lord. We are told to be faithful, be humble and be watchful. One of the most humble men in our local church has recently completed the 24 discipleship lessons and has grown tremendously in the Lord as a result. He is now beginning a verse by verse study in the book of 1 Thessalonians.

Three weeks ago we mentioned the fact that we were going to have one of the ant hills on the church plot broken down in order to make brick for the new building. This afternoon we went by and saw that three fourths of the ant hill has been brought down so the work of making the bricks should begin in the next week or so. After the bricks are made and cured, the construction can start. Please pray for the process and workers.

We will be visiting a number of supporting churches over the next month. Our updates may be intermittent but we will appreciate your prayers as this work continues.

In His Service,

Patrick & Sherry