News from Zambia - 29th December 2010 A

29^th December 2010

 

Greetings from Luanshya!

 

It seems like just a few weeks ago that we were welcoming 2010 and here we are wishing it good-bye. This year has been filled with blessings and challenges; victories and “near-misses” and fulfilled dreams as well as surprises.

 

In the past few weeks we have seen the Lord work in the lives of His children in amazing ways. One young man who demonstrated a rebellious attitude last year has done a complete about face and decided that “enough was enough” and he was tired of playing with God. He said that 2010 was his year of transformation. Not only did he follow the Lord in baptism last week on Christmas Eve, but he is involved in daily devotions with several young men here in town. At the age of 19 he is entering grade nine, but he has decided that his past is his incentive to give his life to Christ’s service. We are proud of Johnny’s new-found dedication and ask you to pray for him. Decisions like this always meet with opposition from the devil.

 

The atmosphere was almost electric last Sunday as we recognised the newly baptised believers at the church. At the close of the service two more people came to us and said they wanted to follow the Lord in baptism as well. On Tuesday another young man told me he wanted to be baptised. They will all be baptised on Friday – New Year’s Eve. As I talked about this at the mid-week Bible study in the rural church questions were asked about why some of the believers there had not been baptised. The more we talked, the more evident that there was a need to explain the “why’s and wherefore’s” of baptism. At the end of the class two of the participants said they “needed” to follow the Lord in baptism. On Sunday the church will walk the mile from the church to the river and baptise these two believers.

 

Why is this so important? Because when believers identify with the Lord Jesus Christ in believer’s baptism their testimony speaks volumes and presents more opportunities to share the Gospel. It also encourages them to get involved in discipleship and that strengthens both the individual Christian as well as the church family. We are looking forward to a great 2011 – Challenges and all!

 

We cannot end this year without mentioning the fantastic expansion of Sherry’s youth class. The young people have been inviting their friends to the recreation centre and Bible study. Some of them have found it difficult to come early for the games, but show up just in time for the Bible study. She doesn’t have to “guard the door” when the Bible study begins. Often she has to get more chairs. We are including a few pictures of last week’s class.

 

As we said, 2010 has flown by. God has continued to open doors and shower the work here with His blessings. We deeply appreciate your prayers on our behalf. As we start 2011 we look forward to what God has in store for us.

 

Together in His Service,

Patrick & Sherry

 

Dr. Patrick & Sherry Coleman

P.O. Box 90010

Luanshya, Zambia Africa

 

www.colemanministry.info

tel: (h) 260-21-2510033

(w) 260-21-2512359

(w) 260-21-2512539

(fax) 260-21-2510718

cell: (Sherry) 260-96-6780112

cell: (Patrick) 260-96-6780113

Skype: patrick.g.coleman / sherry.i.coleman

 

 

 

News from Zambia - 15th December 2010 F&F

15^th December 2010

 

Greetings from Luanshya!

 

Welcome Yvonne Banda into the family of God! This afternoon I was teaching at the Kafubu Block Chapel and a young lady came who had been coming to the Sunday services for a few weeks. We have been going studying personal evangelism and we have just finished the 6^th (and hopefully final) draft of the translation of the Evangelism Explosion Presentation of the Gospel into ciBemba (chee-BEM-bah) language. As we were coming to the end of the class one of the men introduced Yvonne to me. He said she had some questions about knowing she had eternal life and he told her that I had the answers. Right there in front of 12 members of the class I asked Yvonne if she had come to the place in her life where she knew that if she died today that she would go to heaven. She said she would. When I asked her what she would say if God asked her why He should allow her to enter into His heaven she told me what her denomination had told her: “I have been doing good things.” It was a great joy to let her know that heaven is a free gift and our good works will not get us into heaven. In just a few minutes Yvonne bowed her head with Bro Simwanza and prayed a simple prayer of repentance asking God to save her from sin’s penalty. The class burst into cheers – as the angels rejoiced in heaven! Pray for Yvonne as she grows in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.

 

Last Friday evening it was my pleasure to attend the end-of-year dinner with the Mobile Mission Maintenance Vocational Training Centre administration and staff. MMMVTC trains young men and women in practical life skills as well as bible training. When the school was handed over to local leadership by the missionaries 10 years ago they graduated 5-10 students per year. This past year they graduated 94 students and enrolment applications are multiplying for next year. Many of these young people will return to their homes in rural Zambia and not only be trained in building skills, but be able to spread the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ to those in their towns and villages. As a member of their board of directors I am proud of the director of the school, Leonard Mutono, for his vision for the future. This young Zambian preacher/teacher has a desire to see his nation become the Christian nation it was declared to be many years ago. He knows that declarations do not make it a reality; practical applications of God’s Word will. Please pray for MMMVTC and all who are involved in this ministry.

 

If you have been following our work for some time you will remember Johnny Banda. Johnny was one of our first wards in the Lighthouse Children’s Home in December 2000. When he reached his 18^th birthday he decided that the LCH rules were not to his liking and he left our care. It was not long before he realised that he had bitten off more than he could chew and found himself with no work, no food and no place to sleep. The director of the Encounter Evangelistic Ministry, Leonard Bwalya, was contacted and Johnny was invited to stay there – with the same rules that applied at the LCH. Johnny began coming to church again and even attending Bible studies with EEM. This past week Johnny asked to see Sherry. He admitted that he had made a grave error in judgement and said he knew that God had used the circumstances of the past year to get his attention. He had accepted Christ as his Saviour several years ago, but had resisted being baptised. He told Sherry that he needed to step back into God’s will and declare his faith publically. He will be baptised on Christmas Eve along with another young lady who made the same decision without so much “baggage.” We are sorry that it took Johnny so long to realise his rebellion would only hurt him, but we praise the Lord for Johnny’s growth in the past few months and for his decision to proclaim his repentance and dedication to the Lord.

 

The end of the year is not without it’s challenges, but we see God working in so many areas of our ministry that we are excited about what He has in store for us in the coming year!

 

Together in His Service,

Patrick & Sherry

 

Dr. Patrick & Sherry Coleman

P.O. Box 90010

Luanshya, Zambia Africa

 

www.colemanministry.info

tel: (h) 260-21-2510033

(w) 260-21-2512359

(w) 260-21-2512539

(fax) 260-21-2510718

cell: (Sherry) 260-96-6780112

cell: (Patrick) 260-96-6780113

Skype: patrick.g.coleman / sherry.i.coleman

 

News from Zambia - 15th December 2010 A

15^th December 2010

 

Greetings from Luanshya!

 

Welcome Yvonne Banda into the family of God! This afternoon I was teaching at the Kafubu Block Chapel and a young lady came who had been coming to the Sunday services for a few weeks. We have been going studying personal evangelism and we have just finished the 6^th (and hopefully final) draft of the translation of the Evangelism Explosion Presentation of the Gospel into ciBemba (chee-BEM-bah) language. As we were coming to the end of the class one of the men introduced Yvonne to me. He said she had some questions about knowing she had eternal life and he told her that I had the answers. Right there in front of 12 members of the class I asked Yvonne if she had come to the place in her life where she knew that if she died today that she would go to heaven. She said she would. When I asked her what she would say if God asked her why He should allow her to enter into His heaven she told me what her denomination had told her: “I have been doing good things.” It was a great joy to let her know that heaven is a free gift and our good works will not get us into heaven. In just a few minutes Yvonne bowed her head with Bro Simwanza and prayed a simple prayer of repentance asking God to save her from sin’s penalty. The class burst into cheers – as the angels rejoiced in heaven! Pray for Yvonne as she grows in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.

 

Last Friday evening it was my pleasure to attend the end-of-year dinner with the Mobile Mission Maintenance Vocational Training Centre administration and staff. MMMVTC trains young men and women in practical life skills as well as bible training. When the school was handed over to local leadership by the missionaries 10 years ago they graduated 5-10 students per year. This past year they graduated 94 students and enrolment applications are multiplying for next year. Many of these young people will return to their homes in rural Zambia and not only be trained in building skills, but be able to spread the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ to those in their towns and villages. As a member of their board of directors I am proud of the director of the school, Leonard Mutono, for his vision for the future. This young Zambian preacher/teacher has a desire to see his nation become the Christian nation it was declared to be many years ago. He knows that declarations do not make it a reality; practical applications of God’s Word will. Please pray for MMMVTC and all who are involved in this ministry.

 

If you have been following our work for some time you will remember Johnny Banda. Johnny was one of our first wards in the Lighthouse Children’s Home in December 2000. When he reached his 18^th birthday he decided that the LCH rules were not to his liking and he left our care. It was not long before he realised that he had bitten off more than he could chew and found himself with no work, no food and no place to sleep. The director of the Encounter Evangelistic Ministry, leonard Bwalya, was contacted and Johnny was invited to stay there – with the same rules that applied at the LCH. Johnny began coming to church again and even attending Bible studies with EEM. This past week Johnny asked to see Sherry. He admitted that he had made a grave error in judgement and said he knew that God had used the circumstances of the past year to get his attention. He had accepted Christ as his Saviour several years ago, but had resisted being baptised. He told Sherry that he needed to step back into God’s will and declare his faith publically. He will be baptised on Christmas Eve along with another young lady who made the same decision without so much “baggage.” We are sorry that it took Johnny so long to realise his rebellion would only hurt him, but we praise the Lord for Johnny’s growth in the past few months and for his decision to proclaim his repentance and dedication to the Lord.

 

The end of the year is not without it’s challenges, but we see God working in so many areas of our ministry that we are excited about what He has in store for us in the coming year!

 

Together in His Service,

Patrick & Sherry

 

Dr. Patrick & Sherry Coleman

P.O. Box 90010

Luanshya, Zambia Africa

 

www.colemanministry.info

tel: (h) 260-21-2510033

(w) 260-21-2512359

(w) 260-21-2512539

(fax) 260-21-2510718

cell: (Sherry) 260-96-6780112

cell: (Patrick) 260-96-6780113

Skype: patrick.g.coleman / sherry.i.coleman