16 May 2012

News from Zambia - 16 May 2012

16 May 2012

Greetings from Luanshya!

It is not very often that I have an opportunity to sit and listen to someone else preach on a Sunday morning, but last Sunday was just such a day. John Bwalya (our adopted Zambian son) preached a sermon from Psalm 127 reminding us that unless the Lord builds the house the builders are working in vain. When John came to us several years ago to tell us that he and Sara wanted to get married we spent nine weeks in pre-marital counselling with them. We used the book Before We Say "I Do" by Marvin A. McMickle as our workbook and both John and Sara had homework assignments each week. As we listened to John preach building Christ-centered families we remembered those sessions with them a few years ago. We are so pleased to see his spiritual growth and his leadership skills both in his home and in the church.

On Friday, Sherry's youth class studied the book of Ezekiel - the Strong Man of God. A reader can't read the prophet Ezekiel's writings three minutes without encountering the strange, the phenomenal, the wonderful. In his own unpredictable manner, Ezekiel told his readers about the Lord; he genuinely desired that people understand who God is. How needed are his words in our own day! Ezekiel wrote, preached, dramatized, warned, and prophesied for more than two decades. With great enthusiasm and imagination, he vigorously declared God's message before an exiled generation of Jews--discouraged captives who needed a strong leader. Because modern minds see humanity as awesome and God as tiresome, a big dose of Ezekiel is long overdue. May God emerge and, in all His glory, eclipse humanity beneath His almighty shadow. A contemporary of Daniel and only a few years older, Ezekiel spent his ministry as a living illustration of God's relationship with His people Israel. The young people were left with four timeless principles we can all learn from Ezekiel: 1) Those who significantly impact others for God have God's hand on them, God's Word in them, and God's message speaking through them. 2) Truth gains authenticity when it is modeled. 3) Nothing is impossible with God. 4) There is always hope when we focus on God's glory. This week, Daniel--A Man of Integrity.

Yesterday we had two guests visit us in the Christian Resource Centre. Andrew and Grace Maina are missionaries from Kenya to Zambia focusing on youth. They saw the display window and stopped in to see what we had to offer. They were very excited about having access to reference books as well as reading books for their young son, Nathan. This afternoon I had an opportunity to spend about 30 minutes with Andrew talking about his dreams and goals for his ministry. Please pray for Andrew and Grace as they serve the Lord in Zambia.

Next week marks my 28th year as a missionary to Africa (Zaire then Zambia). It has been more "eventful" that expected and more fruitful than I could have imagined. I thank the Lord for His strength and guidance through the challenges of the past 28 years. I thank the Lord for protecting my children as they endured the challenges of being "MK's." I thank the Lord for bringing Sherry into my life to share our lives and ministries.

We also thank you for your prayers and support as we remain...

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

04 May 2012

News from Zambia - 14 March 2012 A

2 May 2012


Greetings from Luanshya, (Sorry for the slight delay... I was in Mozambique on Wednesday and away from a consistent Internet access)


With 50% 0f the Zambian population being 15 years of age or younger, it is no surprise that we spend much of our time ministering to and preparing leaders to work with young people. All last week Patrick lectured at the Gospel Literature Outreach Bible Institute (GLO) situated along the rural route between Ndola and Mufulira - about 40 minutes from our home. GLO was started by missionaries from New Zealand in 1985. Several years ago the administration of the school was placed in the capable hands of Felix Muchimba as administrative director and Simon Banda as financial director. The school has flourished under their direction. Five years ago Patrick was asked to lecture at the school in New Testament Survey and Biblical Stewardship classes. It is a great joy to see local ministries in the capable hands of Godly local servants. There were 31 students in his class this year ranging in age from 19 to 38. Please pray for these young people as they prepare to serve our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.


Last Friday Sherry's Youth Bible Study was packed with every seat in the room filled. The class is in the midst of a series on Old Testament Survey examining one book per week. Last week when they came to the end of the 30 minute lesson the young people said it was not long enough so they continued another 30 minutes bringing out not only Bible background notes and doctrinal truths but practical application for God's children today. During our Friday night "dinner and a film night" with the Lighthouse kids, the questions and discussion continued. One of the boys spoke on Sunday at the Lord's Supper and used some of what he had learned from Isaiah 53 as well as passages from Jeremiah. We are excited to see our young people so enthusiastic about Bible study! Please pray for "our kids" as they continue not only in their Bible studies, but as many of them prepare for their final grade 12 exams in November/December.


We learned the other day that some of our young people are in the process of cutting their first gospel cd. This group calls themselves "New Generations-Zambia". Your prayers for their endeavor to reach their classmates through music would be greatly appreciated. There is a big youth conference scheduled for this weekend where a couple hundred high school students will be exposed to the Word of God. Please pray as our young people reach out to the community.


In addition, at our last visit to Senior Chief Mushili of the Lamba People he gave us a very large parcel of property for the Mukolwe Chapel worship center and asked us to "do something to help development in the village."  After speaking to Leonard Mutono, Director of the Moblie Mission Maintenance Vocational Training Centre (another ministry started by missionaries and handed over to local leadership), about opening a "Mukolwe Branch" of MMMVTC. The suggestion was met with great enthusiasm by both the community and the school. We will be able to teach Bible classes as well as vocational skills including bricklaying, carpentry, tailoring and literacy classes. This is another example of what can happen when we work WITH local church leaders rather than working "over" them. The Lord continues to open doors for us to expand our outreach and empower young people to take the Gospel to their friends and neighbours. 


This is only a brief outline of our work for the past two weeks, but it gives you an idea of what God has allowed us to do as we continue...


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