Few thing are more exciting than seeing a seed begin to grow. I remember as a boy when everyone in my first-grade class was given a seed and a cup of soil then told to plant that seed. We watered... and waited... and watered... and waited. A few days later one of the girls in the class exclaimed that her cup of soil had changed. It wasn't the soil that had changed, but the seed in the soil. Within a few days all of the tiny, green shoots of bean stalk had begun to rise above the soil. We had succeeded as tiny farmers in the midst of the suburbs of Los Angeles. I am not sure if anyone in that class went on to become a professional farmer, but I never forgot the excitement of seeing that plant begin to grow.
Two weeks ago Mr Mbewe came to see me. He had been struggling to find a church home. He and his wife have been in several "mainline" denominations over the years, but the more they studied their Bibles the more convinced they were that "denominational religion" was more man's creation than God's. He was sharing his frustration with a friend in Luanshya and his friend said, "If you are looking for Bible answers, then go see Patrick & Sherry Coleman. They are known to teach three words: The Bible Says." (It is good to have that kind of reputation.) Mr Mbewe came to see me, but he was ready for an argument. He would ask a question, then immediately counter whatever I said with: "But this church says..." or "That church teaches..." I must admit that I am often amazed at what intelligent people will believe just because it is stated with authority by someone with a religious title.
I finally stopped him and said, "Mr Mbewe, I am not interested in arguing about the different dogmas and doctrines of particular churches. I believe our conversation is over. When you want to talk about what God says in His Word, then come back to see me and we can continue." He was a bit surprised at my reaction, but I didn't have the time to argue with someone who wanted to argue for the sake of arguing. We prayed and I asked God to open his heart and mind to what God wanted him to have. Mr Mbewe came back last week while I was away at a Bible Conference and told Sherry he desperately needed to see me. When we met yesterday he said the moment he walked out of the Christian Resource Centre he realised that he had made a mistake. He had used the very arguments he had rejected to counter the answers I had presented from the Bible. He said he "kicked himself" all the way home for being so stubborn, but he knew he needed to hear more. We talked for an hour and a half. The more he opened up his heart the more I realised that the seed planted two weeks ago had taken root.
Please pray for Mr & Mrs Mbewe as they continue to grow in God's grace. Mrs Mbewe has not been well since she miscarried a child a few years ago. The doctors are not sure what the problem is and their treatments have been counterproductive, so please pray for her health as well.
As we plant seeds of hope, we see God bringing forth the fruit "in His season." Thank you for making it possible for us to remain in His harvest field.
In His Service,
