04 December 2013
News from Zambia - 4 December 2013
This morning on my Facebook page I wrote the following:
"A missionary's mission is not to build a kingdom. It is to build people and to empower them to build God's Kingdom. Today I am taking food to three ex-servicemen then travelling to three different villages to teach and train people to reach out to their neighbours taking the Good News that Jesus Christ, the Messiah and Saviour of the world, DID come, DID die, DID rise again and WILL return for His followers."
I then turned off my computer and delivered the food and visited the rural churches. In the evening we went to Fellowship Chapel for the Bible study. I began sharing the victory of the last meeting in the afternoon.
The new congregation in Mwewa Village is meeting in the unfinished home of Mr Mulenga. The members sit on the floor, boxes and the floor. As is my custom, I begin teaching new congregations the "basics" of the Gospel. This week the lesson was on baptism. At the end of the lesson I asked for question. Mr Kalaba said "I have a question. You said that only believers can be baptised. How can I become a believer?" It was my pleasure to explain God's simple plan of salvation and witness his new-found faith.
After I told the story Andrew Silungwe (our last Lighthouse Ward) said he wanted to share what God had done with him. He has set up a small computer repair shop with a friend in the building behind our house. His friend began asking him about his lifestyle. Andrew turned the conversation to the Lord. His friend is asking lots of questions and Andrew is sharing his faith with him daily. Please pray for Andrew as he speaks to his friend.
Then Sarah Bwalya shared that she had been accepted into Secondary School Teachers' College. She is a "senior teacher" at a local primary school and will be taking two weeks of classes during her regular school breaks. The rest will be done by extension. She will be home on the weekends so her Sunday school responsibilities will not be interrupted. She is very excited about this, but said that another teacher in her school is very jealous. We encouraged her and said that successful people are always the target of jealous people. Please pray for Sarah as she advances in her education.
Finally Sherry talked about a lady who has been coming into the Christian Resource Centre for the last several days. Today her husband came in looking for her. He said he wanted to know about "this place" where his wife spends so much time. Sherry showed him around the reading room and explained the books, tapes, videos and Bible Correspondence School. As he walked out with his wife he said, "This is a wonderful place. We need to come back here often." We hope they do and we pray that they will find what they need spiritually.
It has been a great week! Thank you for your prayers and support as we remain…
In His Service,
Patrick & Sherry
Photo is of the Mwewa Chapel congregation in front of Mr Mulenga's house (White shirt in back row)
28 November 2013
News from Zambia - 27 November 2013
27 November 2013
Greetings from the Coleman's!
Sherry shared this with me tonight:
***
At 4:33 the sun set over the city of Jerusalem. It was now time for the lighting of the Hanukkah candles and the saying of the prayers. Sadly, the Rabbi was late. The service was postponed until 5. Then 5:15.
Eventually, the Rabbi arrived, opened his Siddur and recited the prayers and lit the candles. He then led the traditional song reminding us of the great miracle that happened so many years ago when God preserved the oil that was enough for one night for seven more. One would have thought that the Teacher would take time to share the story of the great miracle and the events that led up to it. Unfortunately, he did not.
As the crowd disbursed, some of the visitors and onlookers asked one another "what does this celebration represent?" Standing alone and hearing the question, Sherry called the people together who wanted to hear. She stood before them and told the ancient story of the Maccabees, their battle against evil and those who wished to inhibit the worship of the One true God.
A few moments later a teenaged boy had overheard a part of the story and wanted to hear from the beginning. So, she started again. When finished, the young man expressed his appreciation and thanked her for the time spent in revealing the miracle of Hanukkah.
Shortly afterwards, Sherry walked by another group of people who had watched the service from a distance but heard little and understood less. She heard them ask those she had told, and thus the story passed to yet another group who learned what God had done to preserve His people and a way of life that lives on even until today.
***
Sometimes, as we go about the practice of "doing church" we may forget that people outside our sphere may not fully understand what we are doing or why we are doing it. We assume – as the Rabbi did in Sherry's account above – that everyone understands the true meaning of Christmas. For many "Santa Claus" and the "Charlie Brown Christmas" are all they have every known. Their Christmas film collection is the "Miracle on 34th Street," "Rudolf the Red-Nosed Reindeer" and "It's a Wonderful Life." To assume that people connect the most incredible miracle of God becoming flesh and living among us with "Christmas" is as far removed from them as lighting a Chanukah candle was for a group of tourists.
As we tell this story of God's provision for His people we also share His provision for our salvation. Take time this Christmas to share the story of he birth of the Christ child with someone new. It may be the first time they have ever heard it!
In His Service,
Patrick & Sherry
Patrick & Sherry Coleman
06 November 2013
News from Zambia - 6 November 2013
17 July 2013
News from Zambia - 17 July 2013
Patrick & Sherry Coleman
12 June 2013
News from Zambia 12 June 2013
Greetings from Zambia!
We spoke about the Youth Seminar in our last update. Sherry began the lessons, but realised quickly that the information was generating more questions than she thought. "Dating" in the Zambian culture is not common. The term "girl friend" or "boy friend" usually implies a relationship that is much more intense than simply having dinner and holding hands. She was able to finish the first three lessons:
1 - What is Love; The Three Kinds of Love
2 - Ten Reasons Why You Should Wait; Understanding the Sex Drive
3 - Dating; How To Say "No!"
However, the next three chapters will have to wait for the follow-up conference. The young people were given lesson sheets and homework. Sherry will have the second session in July after the young people have an opportunity to absorb what they learned in the first session. So, in a few weeks she will present the following lessons:
4 - Love is More Than a Beautiful Feeling; Ten Pitfalls and How to Avoid Them
5 - How to Experience God's Love; Parts 1 and 2
6 - How Can I Tell If It Is Real Love?; Choosing Wisely
Mrs Jere lives in a rural centre for physically challenged and vulnerable children. She is also wheelchair-bound. Several years ago she received a wheelchair. Because of where she lives and the poor conditions of the roads, that wheelchair has quite literally begun to fall apart. Thankfully we were able to meet her need for a new wheelchair thanks to a gift from a ladies' ministry in California and a contact with Rotarians in the United Kingdom. This afternoon I went out to Mukolwe and delivered her new wheelchair. Her husband had gone to town, but her father and children were there with her. Her niece and nephew showed up when I arrived and, of course, everyone wanted to be in the photo! It was such a thrill to be able to make it possible for her to be mobile - especially as she works with so many children.
In His Service,
Patrick & Sherry
Patrick & Sherry Coleman
06 June 2013
News from Zambia 29 May 2013
29 May 2013
Greetings from Zambia!
God continues to bless and open new doors for service.
03 April 2013
News from Zambia - 3 April 2013
13 March 2013
News from Zambia - 13 March 2013
06 March 2013
News from Zambia - 6 March 2013
Patrick & Sherry Coleman