27 November 2019

Dear Partner in Service,

As we pause for just a moment to reflect on the blessings that God has given to us, we wanted to share just a few with you.

This past week our youngest son, Colin, and his wife, Erin, presented us with our newest grandchild – Erica Alice Coleman. Colin said, “44 hours in continuous labor, with 4 hours and 10 minutes pushing at every contraction except 3 of them (even a warrior needs the occasional break). The doctor, who's been delivering babies for 30 years, and every nurse in the place was amazed that she was functional at the end, and still pushing strong. (The doctor even came by to check in this morning and was shocked she was doing so well.)”

We are as happy as grandparents can be and look forward to holding Erica someday!

Meanwhile, the students at the Bible Institute were also “labouring” through their final exam in the Bible classes. Sherry’s class had their exams a week earlier while mine took their exam last week. The students have showed a tremendous spiritual growth over the last year and most did very well in their final exam.

The students are not only learning Bible in the school, but learning construction skills as well. Sadly, because of the power outages in Zambia the electrical power has been cut to fewer that 12 hours a day. In order for the welding classes to be held the students must come to class at 11pm when the electricity comes on. They sleep on mattresses until 11 then work into the night to complete the classes! Their dedication to learning is simply incredible! We are also blessed with trainers who will come at that hour to teach! Please pray for the students and staff at the Mobile Mission Maintenance Vocational Training Centre.

There are so many other stories we could share with you about how God continues to bless the work here. Tomorrow Americans will stop and give thanks for the blessings of God in their lives. We are so thankful for YOUR part in sharing God’s love and blessings here in Zambia!

Because of you we can remain…

Together in His Service,

13 November 2019

Dear Partners in Service,

Last Sunday we invited the adult Sunday Bible Study to join the children’s Sunday School. The lesson was appropriate for both audiences. Receiving a child into your arms in the name of Jesus is a magnificent way of knowing the Lord more intimately. How we deal with children is a signal of our fellowship with God. Something is deeply wrong in the soul that does not love and hold a child.

Therefore, it may be good to call to mind the ways Jesus related to children. Think about these and let them stir in you the longings of Christ. What could be more significant than receiving Christ and receiving God the Creator in him? Amazingly, Jesus says we may do this in our ministry to children.

  1-Jesus was a child; Isaiah 9:6

  2-Jesus took children in his arms and blessed them; Mark 10:14-16

  3-Jesus healed a child of a foreign woman; Matthew 15:28

  4-Jesus cast a demon out of a child; Matthew 17:18

  5-Jesus raised a child from the dead; Mark 5:41-42

  6-Jesus used a child’s bread and fish to feed 5,000; John 6:9-10

  7-Jesus said you should become like a child; Matthew 18:3-4

  8-When Jesus came, children cried “Hosanna!” to the Son of David; Matthew 21:15

  9-Jesus predicted the terrible days when fathers would give their children up to death; Mark 13:12

10-Jesus said that if you receive a child in His name, you receive Him and the One who sent Him; Mark 9:37

We are coming to the end of term at the Bible Institute. At the beginning of the year students are often timid about speaking up during class. The students come from various church backgrounds all professing to be Christians, but many of them only know what their church leaders tell them. We have explained that the three most important words in our classes are “The Bible Says.” As they get into their Bibles and actually read what God has said in His Word, they become more animated in class discussions and more confident in their faith.

Sherry had a touching comment from one student’s final exam at the Bible Institute this past week:

“I have learned in this class to have genuine love towards my friends and others who God brings into my life and that my life’s focus should be on my God and what He has planned for me. I have learned to be obedient to that call and pray it may be true throughout my life. Thank you for teaching me to be that man who wants to walk with and please God.” 

His name is Lucky, but his comment is more than “Luck.” It is a blessing!

It is, indeed, a blessing to be used by God to make disciples and train them to reach the members of their communities with the Gospel of Jesus Christ! Thank you for your prayers and support as we continue…

Together in His Service,