29 February 2012

News from Zambia - 29 February 2012

29 February 2012

Greetings from Luanshya! It is rare that we get to send a letter with today's date. We could not pass up this opportunity!

We have had another incredibly exciting week! The rains continue with full force "helping" us to find the weak spots in the roof of the house and the Christian Resource Centre. My "honey do" list is growing for the end of the rainy season in May!

As you know, we have been working with the local Rotary Club on the "Water for Education Campaign" in our area. We arrange for wells and toilets to be placed at rural schools. We have been using two Christian organisations to do this: Seeds of Hope International Partnerships drill the wells and install the hand pumps. Mobile Mission Maintenance Vocational Training Centre build the toilets using students at the school as "on the job training." We network with Rotary Clubs around the world as well as individuals and churches who want to participate. Providing the water and sanitation is important to the school children and communities. Being a part of this project brings us closer to the people living in these communities.

This past week a well was drilled at Mushili Basic School, the school where the new congregation is meeting in Mukolwe - a village about 45 minutes from home. On Sunday the nurse from the local rural clinic came to see who we were, what we were teaching and why we were there. I had a lengthy conversation with her and gave her several booklets to read. She promised to come back next Thursday for the Bible Study. Just as the service started the son of the village headman walked in with his family. He said he wanted to come because he saw that we were not just there "for the money" but wanted to make a difference in that village. The old adage is true: "Nobody cares what you know until they know that you care." We never realised that a water well and a couple of toilets would open so many doors to present the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. By the way, three other communities in this rural district have asked us to start Bible studies at the schools there. All we need are more days in the week! Please pray for this ever-expanding ministry!

The Women's Bible Fellowship on Thursday's continues to meet. Sherry's series on 1 Peter has attracted attention, particularly with the primary title of "Hope Beyond...". She takes each chapter and identifies a major aspect which draws attention to the Christian and how they can "Hope Beyond..." the problems of life. This week the lesson is on "Hope Beyond Unfairness: Pressing On Even Though Ripped Off" from 1 Peter 2:13-25. Few dilemmas are more difficult to cope with than being done wrong after having done right. Our natural tendency is to resent such treatment, retaliate, and then hold a grudge. Strange as it may seem, God offers rare and wise counsel: instead of getting even...submit. In this portion of scripture believer's are exhorted to follow in the footsteps of their Lord. In a day when most sue or slug it out, submitting seems out of the question. Nevertheless, God's ways are always best. His instructions may not come naturally or easily, but they are effective. Nothing is more disarming to our enemies. As Christ modeled so beautifully, submission to the Father leads to remarkable results.

In other areas the Youth Centre continues to bring in young people from the various high schools on Friday afternoons. Sherry's series on the Old Testament (Ezra to Malachi) has opened the eyes of many as to the relevancy of these often forgotten books. This Friday the youth will be looking at Proverbs: Reliable Counsel For Right Living. The book of Proverbs offers a wealth of information to aid us in wise living. What the Psalms are to our devotional life, the book of Proverbs is to our practical life. 

This past week Zambia had a very high profile visitor. Ban Ki Moon, the Secretary General of the United Nations, made the first visit to Zambia by a SG. His speech to the nation started a firestorm! He began well by congratulating the Zambian National Football (soccer) team for their recent victory in the Africa Cup of Nations Tournament and congratulated the Zambian people for a peaceful transition of government in last year's elections. Then he began talking about human rights and went through all the catagories: Race, Religion, Ethnicity etc. Then the bomb shell. He mentioned "sexual orientation." Both the United States and the United Kingdom have warned Zambia that foreign aid will be affected by Zambia's stance on the rights of homosexuals. We have never heard so many people quote Leviticus 18:22 in their letters to the editor, on national television and on FACEBOOK. Ban Ki Moon's visit to Zambia has done as much to draw the people of Zambia together as the victory of the Chipolopolo Boys a few weeks ago. One report said "we don't want this American sin corrupting Zambian youth." The fact that Mr Moon is South Korean did not matter. The UN Headquarters is in New York so this was "from America."

Several times in the past few days people have asked me what I believed about homosexuality. I have explained that the Bible calls it an abomination, but we are not here to pinpoint any particular sinner. Our responsibility is to share the Gospel with everyone and that includes "all people" according to Mark 16:15. Please remember to pray for this situation. We do not want the believers here to get sidetracked in a single-focus issue. The Great Commission is to reach the lost - not to condemn them. When a person receives the Lord Jesus Christ as their Saviour the Holy Spirit convicts them of their sin. Our purpose is to reach them with the Gospel.

Thank you for your faithful prayers!

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


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