Ministry Update - 23 December 2025

Greetings From Luanshya!

The year 2025 is quickly coming to an end and what a year this has been!

We have been working diligently to get the Bible institute back on line with the local government

conditions. Restrictions of unexpected classroom expansion, tools for vocational training and the

failure of the national electrical system have not helped the situation. Our vocational training team is

ready to go as soon as we get the “go ahead” from the government office!

Our discipleship program has expanded with new believers seeking more learning about “what the

Bible says!” We are using both face-to-face classes as well as “WhatsApp” meetings for students

outside our local community.

Sherry’s ladies’ Bible studies are also still going strong – both the in-person classes and the virtual

classes via Zoom. She looks forward to sharing what God has taught her in her personal Bible study!

The year has brought challenges along the way. Satan has not taken time off. We have seen young

believers deal with painful family pressures in various forms, but we have been able to encourage

those going through these issues with a good attitude knowing that integrity is not “for sale” in their

lives. Your prayers are deeply appreciated.

Midway through the last year I entered my fifth decade in Africa! There wasn’t a celebration, but the

reality of a lifetime in the Lord’s service became a reality. I could not imagine spending over 40 years in

the heart of south-central Africa!

One of our current challenges was health insurance. After nearly 30 years, we received a notice that

our insurance carrier was no longer offering long-term coverage for expatriates living outside the USA.

Sherry began investigating potential insurance policies, but the premiums were from $36,000 to over

$45,000 – not within our financial capability. Please remember to pray with us concerning this

imminent need!

Let us end this year-end letter with a very loud THANK YOU for your prayers throughout 2025! We are

looking forward to the challenges and victories of 2026 as we continue to remain...

Together in His Service,

21 October 2025

Greetings From Luanshya!

We received an exceptional – and unexpected – blessing a few weeks ago. A church sent a special gift of $1,000 to celebrate my 40 th year in Africa. The Bible Institute has a vocational training element so students don’t just have Bible training, but leave school with a means to make a living. Most church leaders in Zambia are bi-vocational so having skills that enable them to put food on their table is vital! 

Because we have a vocational training centre we are required by the Zambian government to maintain a certain level of tools. The gift went directly to purchase the required tools for the bricklaying section and equipment for the tailoring classes. The bricklaying tools were purchased in a neighbouring city last weeks and delivered to the school.

We already had sewing machines so we needed cloth, needles, thread and other bits and pieces for the tailoring class. We were able to pick most of this up on Monday and the rest will be purchased later this week and delivered to the school on Friday. We are excited to get this program started and both the trainers and students are anticipating a great year. 

Sherry continues with her various Bible study groups, discipleship and youth programs. Over the last month she's been the commencement speaker at a number of graduations with the last one scheduled on 7 November. She takes every opportunity to share the Lord with young people and introduce them to the offerings at the Christian Resource Centre as they leave various institutions and begin their work lives. Pray for the thousands who have come through the ranks and completed their studies and Sherry's outreach to youth.

Abel, one of the young people from the College and Career group, recently returned to Luanshya following over a year of treatment at a special facility. He is looking forward to entering the discipleship program with me and re-applying to vocational training college to gain a skill. Abel's home life has been quite unstable over the years and the friends he had been keeping were not the best. Now, he is on the road of recovery and we pray that he may continue to have a stable lifestyle and walk with the Saviour.

A few weeks ago, Sherry and her team were able to award nearly 400 scholarships utilising government funds here in Zambia. Many of these young people will enter into various vocational skills programs right here in Luanshya, within reach of the Christian Resource Centre. Courses last anywhere from 6 months to 3 years. Pray with us that some of these young people may come to a saving knowledge of our Lord and Saviour, find good Bible believing and teaching churches and take advantage of the programs that we offer in town.

We would ask for special prayer regarding the young married couples in the local assemblies. The perversions of the world seep in, even here. Women leave their husbands, husbands cheat on their wives, families disintegrate from within due to the pervasive pressures to conform to society. This is not just a first world problem. It is a sin problem. We trust that, as the Lord leads, we will be able to counteract some of what is going on within our circle of influence and know when to take a step back and let the Lord, Himself, deal with those who have turned their face from Him.

This is exam season. Next week, the grade 7 students will be sitting national exams. These will determine whether they are promoted to the next level and whether some will be directed to either a skills level education or a college preparatory education. Similarly for the grade 9's and grade 12's. These next two and a half months are critical. It is also known as "suicide months". Join us in prayer as we try to intercede, where possible, before some young people take their own lives.

Your prayers are always valued as we seek to share the Word, build up the body of Christ and at times, serve as the ones who must rebuke those who are straying from God's path. Together in His Service,

Ministry Update - 18 September 2025

Greetings!

It feels like just yesterday that we shared an update about our work in Zambia, but upon reflection, I realize it’s already been several months! Time really does fly.

 

When I first considered coming to Africa 41 years ago, my goal was to train Africans to reach Africans for the Lord. Today, it brings me great joy to witness God’s work in the lives of local believers, in line with Paul’s admonition in 2 Timothy 2:2: “And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.”

This past month, we saw this principle come to life. One of the young men from our English-speaking congregation, Edgar, asked if he could preach on a Sunday morning. After presenting his notes, he was permitted to preach. He read from his notes—as we all do in our early days—and did a commendable job. We’ve known Edgar since his birth and have watched him grow both physically and spiritually for over 30 years. One of the blessings of being here for 40 years! Please join us in praying for Edgar as he continues to grow in his faith and service to the Lord.

 

In other news, two young ladies—sisters of one of the young mothers in our church—have been observing their sister, Emmelia, for some time. They realized that their faith in their denomination would not guarantee their salvation and, through God's grace, came to a saving knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ. They are now waiting to be baptized and have also expressed interest in teaching in Sunday School! In about a week, Sherry will begin discipleship with these young ladies, guiding them on their journey of faith. We’ve emphasized to them that our lives are the first "Bible" people read, and Emmelia is witnessing this firsthand. Please pray for these young women as they grow in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.

 

Two scholars are preparing for their final exams, which include both practical and theoretical components. Ethel has been studying General Hospitality, which will equip her for various roles in the hotel and restaurant industry following graduation. Katongo is in her third year of studying to become a lab technician. She recently completed her internship at a local company and received glowing feedback from both the company and her institution. Please pray for both of these young women as they prepare for mock exams in September, and then for their finals in November/December.

 

Mahlon has graduated from his course as a clinical officer in the health sector. He has completed his internships and is now working at one of the mine hospitals north of us. We praise the Lord for those who have sponsored these young people, enabling them to continue their education and deepen their walk with the Lord. Each of them has taken the opportunity to engage in college and career programs at their institutions, sharing the Gospel with classmates and fellow interns. It’s exciting to see the Word spread through the next generation.

 

Sherry will soon meet with the local Member of Parliament to discuss government sponsorship for young girls who are in difficult circumstances. Due to recent budget cuts by the U.S. government, many programs designed to help these girls have been shut down, leaving them destitute and without the skills needed to support themselves and their families, particularly in youth-led households. Please pray for Sherry as she and the Member of Parliament discuss ways to address both the physical and spiritual needs of these young women.

 

Finally, we ask for your prayers as the community school in the Kamuchanga Refugee Resettlement area comes to a close after nine years of serving the community. The Zambian government has implemented policy changes regarding these schools and we must comply with them. However, we are grateful that we can funnel the children into the public school system at no cost. We also pray that we will be able to repurpose the property into a local church for the deaf and offer skills training for those interested.

 

Thank you for your continued prayers and support.

 

In His Service,

Ministry update - August 2025

Greetings from Zambia where our "winter" is slowly giving way to a warm (hot) spring! Our nighttime temperatures are dipping into the low 50's while daytime temperatures are climbing to the lower 80's. I realise that this is not "winter" to many around the world, but after 4 decades in the tropics our definition of "cold" has been modified significantly.

This past month was one of discovery! I was able to access a shipping container that has been locked for several years. Inside the container were hundreds of Braille Bibles and songbooks in ciBemba – the primary language in our area. I loaded up as many copies as I could in my Jeep and delivered them to the Kang'onga Chapel last Sunday. The recipients were ecstatic as they clutched their new Bibles and songbooks.

 

Braille books are substantially larger than normal books. The songbooks held by Bro Mwenya include all the songs in our 125 page songbook. As you can see, it is divided into two volumes that are the size of a notebook and are over 1 inch thick. The book of John is larger still! Psalms is several books thick! One copy of the Bible takes nearly 100 books so this is no small library. The Bible you hold in your hand on Sunday morning would require several large suitcases to carry.

 

I have asked the Kang'onga Chapel to be the distribution centre for the Bibles and songbooks to blind believers in their region. They enthusiastically agreed. I will be collecting more Bibles from the container and delivering them in coming weeks.

In other news…

Sherry and I have electric bicycles. With fuel prices up to $6 per gallon, this helps us to commute locally more efficiently. As you might imagine, maintenance is a challenge. There are no other electrical bikes in town, so Sherry has been meticulously studying YouTube videos for the past weeks, and has a book on order to learn as much as possible. Thanks to a gift from a womens Bible study group in New Jersey, she was able to purchase tools that will help her keep our bikes in top form!

 

I marked my 40^th anniversary of arriving in Africa on July 31. No party or celebration, but I recalled the four decades of victories, challenges and lessons learned since arriving in my adopted home continent. God has blessed in more ways than one page can contain! Thank you for your prayers and faithful support as we continue…

 

In His Service,

Patrick and Sherry

Jeep loaded with Braille Bibles and books

Bro Mwenya with his hymnal

Sherry's bike tools

Ministry updates - July 2025

Greetings!

It feels like just yesterday that we shared an update about our work in Zambia, but upon reflection, I realize it's already been several months! Time really does fly.

 

When I first considered coming to Africa 41 years ago, my goal was to train Africans to reach Africans for the Lord. Today, it brings me great joy to witness God's work in the lives of local believers, in line with Paul's admonition in 2 Timothy 2:2: "And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also."

This past month, we saw this principle come to life. One of the young men from our English-speaking congregation, Edgar, asked if he could preach on a Sunday morning. After presenting his notes, he was permitted to preach. He read from his notes—as we all do in our early days—and did a commendable job. We've known Edgar since his birth and have watched him grow both physically and spiritually for over 30 years. One of the blessings of being here for 40 years! Please join us in praying for Edgar as he continues to grow in his faith and service to the Lord.

 

In other news, two young ladies—sisters of one of the young mothers in our church—have been observing their sister, Emmelia, for some time. They realized that their faith in their denomination would not guarantee their salvation and, through God's grace, came to a saving knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ. They are now waiting to be baptized and have also expressed interest in teaching in Sunday School! In about a week, Sherry will begin discipleship with these young ladies, guiding them on their journey of faith. We've emphasized to them that our lives are the first "Bible" people read, and Emmelia is witnessing this firsthand. Please pray for these young women as they grow in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.

 

Two scholars are preparing for their final exams, which include both practical and theoretical components. Ethel has been studying General Hospitality, which will equip her for various roles in the hotel and restaurant industry following graduation. Katongo is in her third year of studying to become a lab technician. She recently completed her internship at a local company and received glowing feedback from both the company and her institution. Please pray for both of these young women as they prepare for mock exams in September, and then for their finals in November/December.

 

Mahlon has graduated from his course as a clinical officer in the health sector. He has completed his internships and is now working at one of the mine hospitals north of us. We praise the Lord for those who have sponsored these young people, enabling them to continue their education and deepen their walk with the Lord. Each of them has taken the opportunity to engage in college and career programs at their institutions, sharing the Gospel with classmates and fellow interns. It's exciting to see the Word spread through the next generation.

 

Sherry will soon meet with the local Member of Parliament to discuss government sponsorship for young girls who are in difficult circumstances. Due to recent budget cuts by the U.S. government, many programs designed to help these girls have been shut down, leaving them destitute and without the skills needed to support themselves and their families, particularly in youth-led households. Please pray for Sherry as she and the Member of Parliament discuss ways to address both the physical and spiritual needs of these young women.

 

Finally, we ask for your prayers as the community school in the Kamuchanga Refugee Resettlement area comes to a close after nine years of serving the community. The Zambian government has implemented policy changes regarding these schools and we must comply with them. However, we are grateful that we can funnel the children into the public school system at no cost. We also pray that we will be able to repurpose the property into a local church for the deaf and offer skills training for those interested.

 

Thank you for your continued prayers and support.

 

In His Service,

Patrick & Sherry

March 19 2025

Greetings From Luanshya!

Greetings from an unusually sunny Wednesday afternoon!

The rains have been a tremendous blessing this year with downpours almost daily. In fact, this is the  first afternoon for several days without rain. There are clouds gathering so I expect a shower this evening.

This is good news! The water at the Kariba Dam and the powerplant there is filling meaning that the power outages should be fewer in the weeks ahead, or at least we are informed. We haven’t experienced any improvement yet but time will tell. It also means that farmers are anticipating a bumper harvest after a couple of years of drought conditions! This is truly an answer to prayer!

In my first meeting with the Luanshya United Football team I spoke from Hebrew 3:13 and admonished the players to encourage each other! Many of these young men (18-23 years-old) have little to no role models. Stepping into that role is both a challenge and an honour. The “boys” (as they are known) have responded well to my messages.

For the past few weeks I have been involved with the renovation of the Football Club house. This is where out-of-town players stay when they have games. The house was so dilapidated that just being there was an emotional disaster for players. It is hard to be a spiritual encouragement when young men are sleeping in a place with no water, electricity or proper toilets! I was able to get support from members of the community and repaint the building and restore the electrical power. (All of the cables and fixtures were stolen!) The players are encouraged by the fact that their emotional and spiritual care is being considered. This also provide me with an opportunity to share the Lord with local businessmen and passerby.

This past weekend I was at Chengelo School for the triannual Board of Governors’ meeting. We were encouraged by the restored emphasis on the spiritual care for students. At the meeting we announced the head of secondary as well as the installation of the chaplain. I would ask for your specific prayers for John Ngulube – our chaplain – as he counsels and leads the nearly 500 students and staff members from all over the African continent. As you might understand, many of these students come from homes that are not founded on Biblical truth. One of John’s challenges is to present the Gospel while the students are in class – hundreds of miles from their homes. Please remember John in your prayers!

Sherry’s various ladies meetings continue. Pray for her as she shares the Word of God and deals with the personal issues of each household represented. One of the women just learned that her youngest son has autism and ADHD, a bad combination. Pray for Lewasuka and Luka as they seek answers, a school that will accept their child, and balance in their home as they have three other children, one of whom just graduated grade 12 and is preparing for university.

Wednesday evenings, Sherry has her discipleship class, in the dark, using her phone and WhatsApp Conference. Pray for the class as they discover new truths from week to week. Additionally, her community service with the local Member of Parliament continues to bear fruit as she meets with dignitaries from around the country and lives her testimony of hope, faith and trust in the Saviour. Many questions have been asked and they are astounded by her integrity in dealing with community matters.

Finally, we were blessed to have our youngest biological child, Colin and his family, for a brief visit. Having grown up at Fellowship Chapel and one of the first children in the Sunday program, obviously, he was afforded the opportunity to preach to the current congregation. A few of those present were his contemporaries while others have only heard of him through us and in prayer. He spoke from Micah 6:8 with the question: “What does the Lord require of you?”

It was quite the challenge and encouragement. They were with us for only a week—far too short, but it was great to see Colin, Erin and the grandchildren. Pray for him as he continues his service in the US Air Force as a Senior Master Sergeant.

We deeply appreciate your prayers on our behalf as we remain…

Together in His Service,

Ministry Update January 9 2025

Greetings From Luanshya!

The year 2025 has arrived with storms and downpours which are much needed for the farms, gardens and water level in the Zambezi River – from which we receive our electricity. While the rains will not correct the low water at the electricity power plant for another 2 months, there is light (figuratively speaking) at the end of the tunnel.

With the storms come the winds. Several homes, schools and offices have had their roofs blown off. So far, our house, the Resource Centre and the chapel has not been damaged. We are prepared to help any of the believers with emergency repairs.

Sherry continues with her work with the area member of parliament in the community providing for projects and scholarships for deserving students. The MP joined us for dinner on Christmas Eve and told me how proud he was for her service to Luanshya. It is a blessing to show our community that we are a part of them. This opens more doors than many other means of evangelism.

She also continues with her Ladies’ Bible Studies both on Zoom to the USA east coast as well as the in-person meeting with local ladies. Many have heard about her teaching and have requested special sessions or study notes. The Source of Light Bible Correspondence School continues to provide free Biblical courses to the community and there have been a number of graduates of the program over the last few months. Please continue to pray for these ministries and lives changed for eternity.

I finished 2024 with a series of lessons on financial and budgeting principles. This was by request of several believers who are dealing with the crumbling economy here. Last night one of the young ladies said that this needed to be presented to a broader audience. I explained that the invitation was sent, but – as is often the case – those who want or need it most fail to attend.

This coming Sunday I will be at the Kang’onga Blind Centre. This is always an encouraging Sunday for me. Many of the members are the children and grandchildren of the original residents of the centre and they continue to take care of their senior citizens. I’ll be helping transport songbooks and Bibles for the congregation. Many of the members are taking courses through the Christian Resource Centre.

I recently taught a course on Effective Communication and Public Speaking through the Christian Resource Centre. The certificate will be used to enhance the resumé for students endeavouring to increase their academic credentials.

Football/soccer continues to be the most popular national sport in Zambia. Luanshya has its very own professional team, Luanshya United Football Club. The Chairman of the Club invited me to become the Chaplain of the team. Duties include prayer, Bible study, counselling and encouragement for players and staff. I am looking forward to having an impact on the lives of these young men and ultimately, young ladies when the women’s league is started later this year. Please pray for this opportunity in

ministry.

On a sad note, we heard from one of our Zambian children, Dickson, a few weeks back. He is in construction management having studied at the Christian vocational training college where we lecture. Dickson shared the sad news that his 16 month old son had passed away from complications due to malaria. Please pray for Dickson as he processes this loss. 

Finally, we had a visit from our youngest Zambian son, Andrew, who studied Mechanical Engineering in China. Today is working for a Greek company in Research and Development and was offered, just before the Christmas holiday, a managerial promotion. Andrew was with us here in Zambia for just over a week. He took care of us, did some electrical repairs and security upgrades around the house. He asks for special prayer regarding his friend, Holly (who is Chinese). She is not a believer BUT is asking

questions and seeking answers.

Thank you for your continued prayers as we remain…

Together in His Service,