27 July 2011

News from Zambia - 27 July 2011

27 July 2011

Greetings from Luanshya!

Nothing is more exciting than the birth of a new child! I can remember quite vividly the moment each of our children "appeared" on the scene. It was both exhilarating and terrifying. This new life was now a responsibility - MY responsibility!

The same is true of the "birth" of a new church. While the analogy is not exact, the first meeting of a new assembly is both exhilarating and terrifying. Last Sunday we met at a rural school in Mukolwe. Brother Simwanza had been to the village two days before and stopped at every house within 5 miles (8 kilometres) of the school inviting every resident to come. He had dozens of promises from village elders to women working in their fields. On Sunday morning we had 15 children and one man in addition to the four of us from the Kafubu Block Chapel who went in my vehicle. I watched Brother Simwanza for a reaction. He was not disappointed in the least. He excitedly said "We start with the youngsters and grow from there!"  After the Bible study led by Brother Nambili, we walked from the school to the road passing out over 200 tracts and invitation to come next week. Several of those who had promised to come earlier told Brother Simwanza that they were waiting to see if he was serious. He assured them that he was. It was exciting to me to watch this 70-year-old man walking door to door speaking to the residents of the village with the excitement of a new father inviting them to the Bible study on Thursday afternoon and Sunday morning. As we travelled toward Kafubu Block he asked me to stop at the village market on the side of the road where we all got out of the vehicle and passed out another 150 tracts to merchants and customers alike. Brother Simwanza's enthusiasm was contagious and he quickly passed from market stall to market stall sharing the news that a new church had been started. He said some of the children who were in the service had already run to the market where their parents were selling goods and told then about the story of the Good Samaritan that they had heard that morning. Please pray for this newest gathering. We are trusting the Lord for His blessing on this expansion of His Kingdom! Also please pray for Brother Simwanza. The leadership and discipleship of this new congregation will be his responsibility. I will be at his side, but he will take on the leadership role from the beginning.

Speaking of leadership roles, two of the young men with whom I am having discipleship classes have entered the final book of the series which involves a verse-by-verse, word-by-word study of the book of 1 Thessalonians. Aaron and Benjamin are working through Paul's letter to the church of the Thessalonians using the reference books, commentaries and even the dictionaries in the Christian Resource Centre. Meanwhile, John Bwalya has begun teaching another man from book one in the series. Seeing the next generation of leaders take responsibilities of leadership is a great encouragement to us! This is what MUST happen in order for the Gospel to reach every corner of Zambia and the world.

Sherry and the ladies of Fellowship Chapel will begin Bible Study designed especially for them next week. They will be meeting in the homes of the ladies in a relaxed atmosphere where they can invite their friends. This first meeting will be in the home of a retired school administrator who is looking forward to being used of the Lord to share the Gospel with her neighbours. Sherry will lead the group initially, but her goal is to have the ladies each take turns leading the Bible studies. Please pray for this new outreach.

We have entered the "mock examination" period in the academic year. Students are preparing for the examinations to see if they are ready for the EXAMINATIONS later this year. Sherry walked int the Lighthouse Children's Home yesterday and found the children scattered all over the place with books opened and worried looks on their faces. Later in the afternoon there were about 20 of their friends in the recreation room all talking about math, science, geography etc as they played the games in the centre. It is great to see "our kids" mixing with their friends in a safe environment. These same young people will be at Sherry's youth meeting on Friday so we see them all through the week. Please pray for these youngsters as they prepare for their future.

Expansion, training, preparation and new birth are all a part of what we are able to do here because of your faithful prayers and support. We thank the Lord often for your part in His work here.

Together in His Service,
Patrick & Sherry

Patrick & Sherry Coleman
P O Box 90010
Luanshya, 
Zambia

Off:   260 212 512359/512539
Res: 260 212 510033
Cell (P): 260 966 780113
Cell (S): 260 966 780112

13 July 2011

News from Zambia - 13 July 2011 F

13 July 2011

Greetings from Luanshya!

This past week Sherry lost one of her Bible Correspondence students to pneumonia. He was 33 years old and leaves a wife and four children - ages 1 to 13 years. He has been travelling around Zambia spraying houses for mosquitos. Nathaniel, the 13-year-old son, is in Sherry's youth class so she was talking to him. Another member of the class, Obed, lost his father several years ago and he has been helping Nathaniel through these past few days. Death is something that all too many Zambian children see up close and personally. Please pray for Nathaniel and the family at this time.

Because we open the Christian Resource Centre to everybody, we occasionally have church leaders coming and asking questions that are unusual. This past week a pastor from a Pentecostal church came in and wanted to know what the Bible said about "unforgiveness." (Even my spell check does not like that word.) Sherry said that the Bible talks about forgiveness, but not unforgiveness. She used the example when the disciples asked the Lord Jesus Christ how many times they should forgive someone and He answered "70 times 7." She then took him to the "Lord's Prayer" and explained that we should forgive those who hurt us as the Lord forgives us for hurting Him. He went away with excitement because he had a positive message of forgiveness as opposed to the frustrating feeling of anger, bitterness and self-indulgance. 

This afternoon I was visiting the site of a prospective church in Mukolwe - a village area about 15 miles from us. We visited a school with the possibility of using one of the classrooms. When I drove onto the property I noticed an old well. I asked the principal of the school about the well and he explained that if was a shallow well with very poor water. I asked him if I could help him source a decent well and hand pump - something we have done at several schools in the area - and he was very excited. After we talked "water" we talked classroom. He said it would be "no problem" and since he lived next to the school he would attend our first service on 24 July - even though he is a Jehovah's Witness. We have found that physical water is often the first step in providing spiritual water. Please pray for this new outreach!

Sherry's youth class will be studying Romans 7 this Friday. She will be talking about the "Portrait of a Struggling Christian." She will talk about Nathaniel's situation and other trials of the youth in Zambia. They struggle with the same challenges of youth all over the world, but have the added issues of death of parents and siblings. This past week a 16-year-old girl died from complications due to AIDS. The family is in shock, of course, because girls that young are not often diagnosed with AIDS. The family suspects abuse by another family member, but they cannot follow up on the investigation without the daughter. All too often teenagers have no place to turn when they need to talk. Sherry has become a sounding board and aunt to literally dozens of young people over the years. Please pray for "our kids" as they grow both physically and spiritually.

We are able to do what we do because you remember to pray for us. Thank you!

In His Service,
Patrick & Sherry

Patrick & Sherry Coleman
P O Box 90010
Luanshya
Zambia

Off:   260 212 512539
Res: 260 212 510033
Cell: 260 966 780113


07 July 2011

With the challenges come the victories and encouragement.

Greetings From Luanshya!

We realize that it has been 8 weeks since our last update - far too long! Part of the reason is that I gave my computer to the "technician" to have the screen repaired and while they were doing that they decided - without asking my permission - to "restore the operating system" which resulted in losing everything from the computer including notes, email, photos…everything! I sent the computer to Best Buy to see what the "Geek Squad" could do. They have recovered almost everything, but the hard drive is in Houston and we are in Zambia. Hopefully we will have that in a few weeks. Please pray for the safe arrival of the hard drive and the contents.

With the challenges come the victories and encouragement. A few weeks ago a young man contacted me through FACEBOOK and sent me the following note: "Hi Brother Patrick, This is Curtis Chirwa, a man you taught how to Evangelize and he is still a fishing for God. You would never realize the little things you did years ago how deep they had to go. I just wanted to say thank you and God bless you."

I remember Curtis as a high school student 18 years ago when I first came to Zambia. He was dedicated to the Lord and wanted to know how to reach his neighbours for Christ. He has shown that his enthusiasm for evangelism has not decreased and he is currently serving the Lord in Lusaka. It is always great to hear from those with whom we worked so long ago and to know that they are still in the Master's business. Yesterday I was told about four other young men I had the privilege of training several years ago who are now preaching and presenting the Gospel in their local churches. This was another great encouragement! Last week I was able to teach a module at the Bible institute on Biblical Stewardship to 16 young people from all parts of Zambia who are preparing now to serve the Lord with their Time, Talents and Treasures. The future is bright! Your prayers on our behalf have borne much fruit. Keep it up!

Sherry's youth class on Friday is another exciting aspect of the ministry here. All but two benches were full two weeks ago as the young people continued their lessons in Romans. This week the class will cover Romans 6:15-23—“Whose Slave Are You?” A number of the young people have been receiving counsel and guidance throughout the weeks and some are about to take a leap into public ministry either in teaching Sunday School, assisting in the youth programs or participating in the various services of the local church. Your prayers on behalf of the young men and women are greatly appreciated.

The kids remaining in our orphanage program are doing well. Andrew, the youngest, returned at 4 a.m. Wednesday morning after competing in a nation-wide sports competition representing his high school. His school came out on top and we are now awaiting words about the next phase in the competitions and whether Andrew will be one of those chosen to represent Zambia. Shadreck was recently chosen to represent Luanshya on the local rugby team. For a young man who required three surgeries to remove damaged muscle in his leg when he came to us eleven years ago, he’s quite the athlete. Dickson continues to excel in karate and will be representing his club in the next competition. Nancy is busy as ever participating in Red Cross and Interact Clubs at her all girl school. Pray for our kids as they prepare for their mid-term mock exams which should set them in good stead for final exams come the end of August.

Thank you for your continued prayers and support of this ministry.

Together in His Service, Patrick & Sherry