12 June 2013

News from Zambia 12 June 2013

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.

For the last year I have been working with Fiwale Hills Mission Hospital (about 45 minutes from our home) trying to provide a safe and consistent water supply. We received word on Monday that the project is complete! We will be going to the hospital on Saturday morning and officially handing over the project to the hospital and Bible school across the road. Both institutions will be able to have access to the water and the doctors will have clean water in the hospital for the first time in over five years. Providing this water enables the doctors to treat patients physically and the church leaders to treat patients spiritually. Walking through open doors is incredibly exciting!

Finally… Sixty years ago today my parents were married. Today my Father celebrates that day alone, but the love he showed my Mother taught all four of his sons how to love their wives. His legacy lives on in the generations that follow him!

We deeply appreciate your prayers and support as we continue to walk through these open doors...

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

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.

A couple of weeks ago a local church youth worker came into the Christian Resource Centre and told Sherry that he was concerned about the young people in his church who were constantly bombarded by the immorality of various entertainment media in Zambia. (We have heard similar concerns from friends around the globe!) Sherry showed the youth leader some of the material from the "Source of Light" Bible correspondence curriculum that we have in the CRC entitles "Love: Dating and Marriage." They have planned a Youth Conference for Saturday, 8 June, at the CRC Conference Hall. The topics will include:
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"
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

So far there are over 40 registered participants for the day-long conference. Please pray for Sherry as she leads this vitally important meeting to reach out to teenagers who desperately need role models in their lives!

Two Sundays ago we travelled to the Kafubu Dam (where I go every Thursday afternoon) and I baptised 18 "new" believers just below the dam in the Kafubu River. This was originally planned for February, but the rains made the river a bit to swift for the people to get into the water. This was the first baptism for the church that meets at the dam for FOURTEEN years! Some of those baptised had come to know the Lord Jesus Christ as their Saviour several years ago, but they were waiting for "permission" to be baptised. It took me some time to convince them that baptism is not something for which believers need "permission" because Jesus commanded it in Matthew 28:19. The man who started the church in his home is actually a bit older and would have a difficult time physically baptising in rushing water so I was asked to do this. In so doing I also taught several of the men how to baptise new believers and told them that they did not need to wait until they had a crowd.

After explaining the process and interviewing each person who came to be be baptised, we walked 30 minutes along the river bank to a place that would allow us to baptise as well as allow the many spectators - some from neighbouring churches in Ndola - to witness this event. One of the men stood beside me to "help" - but to keep a watchful eye for snakes and crocodiles. As each person was baptised the congregation sang and applauded. After the baptism we walked back to the house where the church meets and celebrated their first communion service. The members of Mukolwe Chapel gave this congregation a wooden tray to hold the small plastic communion cups that I provided thanks to friends in the States. As we continue to travel to this rural area I will be teaching more about how to evangelise and administrate this local assembly of believers. Hopefully this baptism and communion service will encourage them to expand their outreach into the village around them. Please pray for the Kafubu Dam Chapel as they grow in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.

By the way, they have started to build their own chapel so they will be able to move from the house to their own meeting place when the rains begin later this year.

There is more to share, but this letter is limited in space. Thank you for your faithful prayer and financial support 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