26th January 2011
Greetings from Luanshya!
What a week!
Baptism in the bush: The village church in Kafubu Block Farming Block held a special baptism service on Sunday. I arrived at the church just before 10, we walked an hour to the river, Bro Matanda baptised four believers, we walked back tot he church where we celebrated the Lord’s Supper and I preached. I returned home at 2:30 exhausted but excited! What a great Lord’s Day!
Youth meeting: All seating is taken. Purchase of additional chairs/benches implemented.
Life of Christ:
Two weeks ago the youth took a glimpse at how people viewed the person Jesus during his early ministry in Galilee. They looked at the centurion and his amazing faith that Jesus would and could heal his beloved servant without even paying a house call! They experienced the compassion of Christ as seen in His raising of Jairus' daughter from death (a child of 12 years) and the healing power of a "touch" captured by the woman with an issue of blood for 12 years. They further looked at John the Baptist's "bout of doubt" as to Jesus' identity while imprisoned followed by the beautiful scene during a meal at Simon the Pharisees home when a woman of questionable character (to Simon) displayed great love towards Jesus and cleansed the Lord's feet with perfume and her tears using her hair as a cloth. Lastly, the young people discerned who Jesus' true brothers and sisters are and to their astonishment, they are His brothers and sisters.
The point that Sherry wanted to get across was that Jesus Christ operates in relationships. Christ did not come to redeem the earth. He came to redeem people. In the week ahead, the class are taking a look at "The Christ of God". They'll watch Christ deal with everything from demons to the dead. They will stand close by as he entrusts some of His power and authority to the disciples. They will receive a reminder that His original disciples were privy to some of the same blunders that plague us. On the heels of Peter's bright and shining moment, he'll receive a reprimand that will make him want to hide behind the nearest bush. Thank goodness the disciples weren't perfect. Christ's willingness to use them anyway is hope for us!
Finally, today is my father’s 82nd birthday! Because of where we are and what we do, in the past 26 years I have only been able to spend two of my Dad’s birthdays with him in the past 35 years. This year is no exception, but every year we seem to draw closer together. My Dad grew up “rough” in south-central Texas. His father was not a great example of fatherhood. My Dad, however, raised four sons who love their wives, their children, their grandchildren and their Lord. Our Dad taught us that and we are eternally grateful for his example. He is our hero.
If you want to send him a birthday greeting click alecoleman@gmail.com and wish him a Happy 82nd Birthday!
Together in His Service,
Patrick & Sherry
Dr. Patrick & Sherry Coleman
P.O. Box 90010
Luanshya, Zambia Africa
tel: (h) 260-21-2510033
(w) 260-21-2512359
(w) 260-21-2512539
cell: (Sherry) 260-96-6780112
cell: (Patrick) 260-96-6780113
Skype: patrick.g.coleman / sherry.i.coleman
