17 September 2007

Greetings from Luanshya!

When we opened the doors of the Christian Resource Centre, ten years ago, we did not really know what kind of reception there would be in the community with regard to a Christian reading room and library. Our desire was to see books that had been a help to our ministry become available to help others in ministry would cannot afford to buy their own. As we look at the different people using the facility and the various subjects being studied, our goal has been accomplished.

This past week alone Mr. Kafunda was doing an in depth study on the Christian and ownership. He is looking this from the perspective of a national believer "inheriting" the ministry of a long time mission which is in the process of handing over a particular aspect of ministry to local leadership. This should be, of course, the ultimate goal of all missionaries. However, it is often difficult both to let go and to assume leadership and all that entails.

Mr. Silungwe, is a older brother in the Lord, who is doing detailed study of Psalm 23. He is interested in learning about true joy in the valleys of life. He suffers from high blood pressure and peptic ulcers. He has outlived all of his siblings and many of his nieces and nephews. He is considered to be the patriarch of his family and he sees many of the next generation ignoring the things of the Lord.

Mr. Muke is a local church leader. He is in the process of training new believers so is preparing lessons on the New Testament Church. Just the other day he was reviewing a book on the Lord's Supper and worship.

These three men are examples of the kind of people we see every day in the Christian Resource Centre. None of them could afford to buy the books they are able to use here and certainly none of them could afford to buy the laptop top computers from which they gather much of their material. This has all been made possible through our personal library, contributions to this library and those who have generously provided laptop computers for this ministry. We may never know in our life time the ultimate fruit of this labor but we do witness the gratitude shown by those who utilize these resources on a daily basis.

For those who have been praying specifically for Patrick's cancer review, the doctor has given a clean bill of health once again. The next appointment will be in March 2008. Please continue to pray for good health for both of us. We are a long way from acceptable medical services.

As always, we thank you for your support and prayers.

In His service,

Patrick & Sherry

29 August 2007

Greetings from Luanshya.

"Salaula" is the word used for used clothing here in Zambia. It has become a growing industry bringing both good and bad news for the people. The good news is that Zambians with limited incomes can buy good second-hand clothing for a fraction of the cost of buying new clothes .Some of the "salaula" is actually overruns from factories in the USA or Europe so the clothes are actually new, but sold as used.

The bad news is that the clothing manufacturing industry in Zambia has collapsed leaving thousands of Zambians without work and forcing the factory owners to drive their Mercedes Benz an extra year or so before buying a new one. (Pardon the sarcasm.) It also means that used clothing sent to us by friends overseas is often taxed when we receive it. It is assessed at the customs office and we are asked to pay customs duty on the value determined by the Zambian Revenue Agency (ZRA). The ZRA has targets to reach every year and so far they have been successful in reaching those goals.

Still, we have MORE good news. Because the "salaula" brings affordable clothing to our town we have been able to take advantage of this for the children at the Lighthouse Children's Home. Thanks to a very special gift from some dear friends in Florida, Sherry was able to give each of our wards a certain amount of money and has let them buy their own "trainers" (I still call them "tennis shoes" even though we don't play tennis in them.) They go into all the "salaula" shops in our small town (we have several) and bargain for the best price. After the shopping trips the children proudly display their new treasures. The shoes all look brand new and the children "promise to keep them like new" for years to come. (Parents have heard that promise time and time again.) We do have to beware of the Chinese rip offs like "NIKKE" or "ADIBAS" shoes. They look great in the box, but last about 20 minutes.

Still MORE good news! We received a box of "goodies" from a marvellous group of ladies in Florida who not only pray for us but remember those with physical needs as well. The box contained clothing for children as well as a few things for women. The ZRA man at the post office realised that this box was NOT to be sold and we were going to help Zambians by giving it all away.

We did! We were able to help a young family with clothes for their young children as well as something for the mother. They were overjoyed by the generosity of these strangers who shared. There was also something that three of the Lighthouse children could use.

These stories may seem minor in the scope of world events, but the lives touched are changed for eternity. The Lord Jesus told us to love our neighbour and these acts of unselfish generosity exemplify that love. The children who receive these shoes, shirts, dresses and trousers will one day be the leaders of Zambia. Having experienced the love of Christians, they know what it means to experience the love of God in their lives. When they come to us and thank us for taking care of them we know it is because of the love shown to them by people who may never actually see them, but who care for them because "He first loved us."

Thank you for allowing us to be your representatives.

Together in His Service,

Patrick & Sherry

16 May 2007

Greetings from Luanshya!

This past weekend I was invited to go to a conference in the Drachenberg Mountains in South Africa. Initially I was asked to speak twice, but when I arrived the convener of the meeting asked me if I would fill in two more "spaces" that were left open by speakers who were unable to come. I am always thrilled to speak and talk about the Lord so this was not a problem except that the early Sunday morning slot was at 6:30 a.m. Still it was an opportunity to share and I took advantage of that opportunity. After the service, one man came up to me and said that he did not know why he came to the conference because he was really too busy to be away for a weekend, but the message about Gideon and "every man standing in his place" was exactly what he needed to hear. Sometimes we do not know why God allows us, or pushes us, into certain circumstances. Yet, we know that God is sovereign and it is always exciting to see Him use what we allow Him to use in our lives.

Meanwhile, back in Luanshya, the youth on Friday began their new series on "Great Words from God's Word". Sherry began in Psalm 147:5 "I will speak of the glorious honor of thy majesty, and of thy wondrous works." The lesson focused on three personality traits of God: His Omnipresence, His Omnipotence and His Omniscience. The young people were astounded by the fact that there are "no secrets" with God. A lively discussion ensued. Next week they will look at "The Grace of God". Pray for the class and for Sherry.

This evening in our adult Bible study we studied the second half of 1 Peter 4. It was a continuation from last week's lesson on "Suffering". Suffering is a very difficult topic to discuss with people who really feel that they are suffering because of their poverty. In actuality, they do suffer than the average North American Christian but the suffering we are discussing is that which pertains to persecution for being a Christian. Ironically, Christians in Zambia are not persecuted for being Christians and this makes it almost too easy to proclaim faith in Christ. It is a very strange thing to say. However, Christian's who do not experience suffering, very often become complacent in their daily walk. I used the example of a church that was closed in Zaire because a government official did not get his "gift"

when the building was completed. That particular church grew because it meant something to be a Christian and there was a price to be paid for proclaiming Jesus Christ as Lord. The challenge here in Zambia is to go beyond the complacency and reignite the fire of the early church. Please pray for those in our Bible study that they might take the message to heart.

Thank you for having a part in our lives and ministry.

In His service,

Patrick & Sherry

9 May 2007

Greetings from Luanshya!

It has been yet another busy week with school resuming and the hustle and bustle of preparing school bags and materials, uniforms and shoes, school fees and the list goes on. The children from the Lighthouse Children's Home are set for the second term of classes. Half of the children are now in grade 6 and the other half are in grade 7 preparing for high school entrance exams. There is a lot of pressure to do well and be chosen for a place in a successful government school. Only a small percentage of grade 7 students manage to qualify for the next step in their education. Over half of these take the exam a second time an entire year later hoping that they will receive placement. The head teacher at one of the schools, where our children attend, has suggested strongly a boarding school for Nancy because she is doing so well in school. We are not financially in a position to do this for her but it is good to know that she will presumably find a place in one of the local high schools in Luanshya. The boys are struggling a bit but they are making every effort to pick their grades up. When we consider where they were when they came to us, speaking absolutely no English and having never attended an organized school, we are very proud. Please remember to pray for the children at the Lighthouse as they prepare for their school exams.

We were very pleased to receive a box of books from a dear friend in Ireland. Unfortunately, the box did not make it to us without "someone"

opening and taking inventory. The note we received from the missionary to ultimately forwarded the box to us stated that they had opened the box accidentally even though our name was on top of the box in one inch letters.

The reality of life is that not everyone has the scruples that a believer in Christ should have. Seven of the books are missing and we assume that they were sold. The good news is that we have 63 books for use in the Christian Resource Centre and even the seven books that were lost to us are presumably being used by their new owners. We are always excited when we have new study materials to share with the people of Luanshya.

We are seeing some progress at the church plot for Fellowship Chapel. Now that the rains have stopped, the prisoners locally will be fulfilling their community service by breaking down one of the 30 foot high ant hills (yes you read correctly) so that soil can be used to make bricks. The Mobile Missionary Maintenance team will be coming to make the bricks and to construct the building. Realizing that nothing works quickly in Zambia, the plan is to have the building completed by the end of November when the rains begin again. Pray for the building program and the involvement of the local believers.

The Friday youth class has completed their series on "Faith In Action". They will begin a new series this Friday on "Great Words from God's Word". The adult bible study on Wednesday's is moving methodically through 1 & 2 Peter.

This evening we will talk about "Suffering" (1 Peter 4). This is a subject easier studied than experienced. Suffering for most believers in the U.S. is the inconvenience of having to walk from their car to the front door of the church in the rain. Here, in Luanshya, it is more a matter of "will my employer pay me this month or will I need to forgo some meals in deference of my child's health?" This promises to be a spirited discussion.

We do what we do because you make it possible with your prayers and support.

You are appreciated more than we can fully express in words.

In His service,

Patrick & Sherry

25 April 2007

Greetings from Luanshya!

Half of the children at the Lighthouse Children's Home are in grade seven and are facing a pivotal exam at the end of this academic year (November).

After looking at their match scores, it is apparent that all three of them needed some additional help. During the school holiday, this month, I have been working with them for about an hour to an hour and a half a day in their math studies. These children are not stupid, but they are lacking in basic mathematical skills which should have been taught at their school.

Unfortunately, when there are 30 students in the classroom and their teacher also doubles as the school principal, a lot of things fall through the cracks. It is amazing to watch them light up when they grasp a concept. As I said, they are not stupid children; they just need to be taught. They are grasping many concepts while working with Sherry and myself, not only in math but in biblical truths. Please pray for them as they continue their studies both in school and in church.

Last Sunday Mr. Siwale stopped me after the service. I had preached from Matthew 6 and the message got a hold of his heart. He said, "Brother Coleman, I need to speak with you about being baptized." Later this afternoon he will be coming to the chapel early and we will go through the biblical teachings about assurance of salvation and baptism. Mr. Siwale is a university educated businessman. He is making his decisions slowly and carefully. Please pray for him as he makes this important step in the faith.

Over the last several weeks there has been a grade 12 student coming into the Resource Centre whenever he has a spare moment between school and home responsibilities. Sam was a student of the Source of Light Bible Correspondence School a few years ago but left to attend high school in a different town. He has been relocated back to Luanshya and has resumed his studies in the correspondence school. He also has an incredible thirst for biblical knowledge. Two weeks ago he began studying a book entitled "30 Days to Understanding The Bible". When he finished this, he began studying another book "The Bible in 12 Lessons". This afternoon he began a comparative study of Genesis and Acts.both books of beginnings. Yesterday he came into Sherry's office and said, "Aunty, I have a question from the Bible.my friends say.". Sherry immediately opened a Bible in front of her and together they found the answer. She then told Sam that our friends may say lots of things but the moment he said, "Question from the Bible", she reached for her Bible. Sam, like so many other young people, puts a lot of faith in what his "friends" say. Peer pressure is the same the world over.

Pray for Sam as he continues to seek truth.

This coming Sunday I will be returning to the Buntungwa Chapel. Brother Katandula and brother Chomba have asked me to begin a series of lessons on Evangelism. They were supposed to go to an evangelism conference in Northern Province but transportation is very expensive. When they came and told me about this particular conference, hoping I would pay for them to go, I asked them why they would spend the money to go all the way to Northern Province when I could come and teach all the church members how to tell others about the Lord Jesus Christ? They were quick to accept the offer and they have already begun to translate the outline into Bemba.

Because of your support of this ministry, we continue to share the good news of the Messiah.

In His service,

Patrick & Sherry

11 April 2007

Greetings from Luanshya!

Sherry has been thoroughly enjoying the discipleship lessons with Nancy.

This weeks' lesson on the fact that God does not set traps for His people.

Many new believers see God as a vindictive disciplinarian instead of a loving Father. They fear God in the sense that they are afraid when the Bible says we should fear Him with respect and awe. Having never really known love from an earthly father, this whole concept is foreign to her. The love that she has experienced has come from people who were not only strangers but foreigners. We have been able to use the analogy that just as we have taken on the guardianship by choice, so has God taken her into His family by His choice. Every day, Nancy has more questions and every day Sherry is able to give her answers from Gods' Word. Please keep praying for progress.

On Resurrection Sunday I was able to explain the difference between Easter and the day we celebrate the resurrection of Christ. The worlds' perception of Easter as bunnies, candy and Easter egg hunts is slowly creeping into Zambian society. The local grocery store-the only grocery store in town-was packed with chocolate bunnies and marshmallow chicks all imported from South Africa. The children and adults alike wanted to know what this had to do with the resurrection of Christ. I had to admit that I had no idea whatsoever. We celebrated the day talking about the empty tomb and the fact that almost nobody fully understood the implication of what had occurred.

Pilate was clueless. Herod thought he had a solution. The ladies were devastated at the death of Christ and the disciples were stunned with disbelief. It was only when Christ appeared to them that they began to realize the meaning of what He taught over the three year period. Sadly, many people in the world today still do not fully understand the implication of the death, burial and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ.

After the service, Mr. Siwale stopped me at the door and said, "Your teaching is not falling on deaf ears. I am listening, I am reading and absorbing." He has been coming to almost every service including the small group Bible studies and asking a lot of questions. When he makes a decision for Christ, it will be firm and it will be his. We are planting seeds and trusting God for the harvest.

A brief update on my father's heart condition, the angiogram is scheduled for Wednesday afternoon, California time. The doctor and the surgeon will confer and make a decision on when to perform the valve replacement. We will keep you updated with the latest information as we receive it. We have been able to communicate a lot better over the last few weeks using a program called "Skype" which allows us to have voice conversations through the computer.for free! This does, of course, depend entirely on our isp connection being clear and strong. We thank God for small miracles! We appreciate your prayers on our behalf.

In His service,

Patrick & Sherry

4 April 2007

Greetings from Luanshya.

The internet service is a bit dicey today so this may or may not go out on Wednesday.

Young Nancy who was baptized just a week and a half ago has been coming into the Christian Resource Centre almost every day this week to talk to Sherry about issues in her correspondence lessons and her Christian growth. School is out for the next few weeks so this is a wonderful opportunity for Nancy to get grounded in her discipleship program. Along with everything else she is doing, Sherry has her reading Elizabeth Elliot's book on her husband's experiences entitled Shadow of the Almighty. She is enthralled with the book and has constant questions for Sherry about various aspects about the Christian life. Please continue praying for Nancy.

Sunday, brother Chibumba preached an excellent message on the Triumphal Entry of the Lord Jesus as he entered Jerusalem. All over town there were people carrying palm fronds, which were blessed by priests then taken home for "good luck". Brother Chibumba talked about the fact that the Jews in Jerusalem were actually looking for a political or military hero to deliver them from the occupation by Rome. Many of these same people, a few days later, would be shouting, "crucify him". It was for these people, and the rest of us, that the Lord Jesus allowed himself to be placed in a situation where he knew he would be put to death. Pray with us that many of the visitor's lives will have been touched by the message and action taken upon the challenge to know Christ personally and understand the true meaning of His sacrifice.

Monday evening we celebrated the first night of Passover. Michael, a Peace Corp Volunteer stationed about 50 miles away from town center, happened to be in town and joined us for the Seder meal. We were able to explain, through the ceremony, not only the Jewish customs of Passover but also how Christ is present in the Passover celebration. He asked, for example, why there were three matzo on the plate and why only the center one was broken.

I explained that it was merely custom but in the picture of the Godhead Christ is the center figure and his body was broken for us. When half of that centerpiece was covered with a cloth and hidden away, until after the meal, this was a picture of the burial of the Lord Jesus Christ. Later on the one piece reappeared thus picturing the resurrection of Christ the Lord.

Michael had many questions and we enjoyed answering them and sharing with him what the Bible says about the Saviour. Please pray for him as he serves in the village and as we have an opportunity to share the gospel more frequently.

Our mid-week Bible study was very well attended. The lesson focused on 1 Peter 1:22-2:3 and dealt with the subject of hungering after the Word as a baby hungers after its food. Many of the newer attendees are not regular church members and have come with friends because the Youth Centre is open for an hour prior to the Bible study. They were all very attentive and we have invited them to join us on this coming Sunday when we speak about the resurrection of Jesus Christ and make a clear presentation of the gospel.

Pray for those who are coming to the Bible study and that they may find answers to their questions.

Sherry had a young man come in to the Christian Resource Centre this morning asking the question "why doesn't God make sense"? She led him immediately to Dr. James Dobson's book, "When God Doesn't Make Sense". We are privileged to be able to present answers to questions through the ministry here. Thank you for having a part in the lives of so many.

In His service,

Patrick & Sherry

28 March 2007

Greetings from Luanshya!

As we get closer to the celebration of the resurrection of Christ, more and more people are coming into the Christian Resource Centre specifically to study this particular topic. One of those, Mr. Muke, has been in almost every day for the last two weeks. He is very interested in the topic of the resurrection, but he has found "organized religion" to be something other than honest. Sadly, many of the churches in Zambia are simply political gatherings or social fellowships. He finds this unfulfilling and hypocritical. For this reason he has been enjoying his studies independently. Yesterday he initiated a conversation with Sherry about where we worship and explained his frustration. Please pray for Mr. Muke. He is looking for answers and we know where they are.

Last Sunday morning Nancy Chanda followed the Lord in scriptural baptism.

All of the orphans from the Lighthouse Home were present to witness her testimony as well as several visitors. Sherry has begun a series of discipleship lessons with Nancy. They will next study Elisabeth Elliot's book on "Let Me Be A Woman". The book speaks about the role that women play in the church, home and society. Nancy wants to learn everything possible.

Please pray for her as she grows physically, emotionally and spiritually.

After the service one of the visitors told Sherry "I find this very interesting and I have a number of questions. I will be back." He did return later that afternoon for the Bible study. Please pray for him and others who have been showing signs of interest in having a personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ.

Young Andrew, from the Lighthouse Home, entered his science project in the Provincial Inter-school Science Fair. He engineered a mechanized irrigation system using a plastic water jug, a straw, some pieces of thin copper wire, a small magnet and a size c battery. He built a little community complete with paper trees for the display. We will try to get pictures of it before it becomes firewood. He was awarded third place in Physical Sciences in the Junior School category. We are proud of our young engineer.

This evening in our mid-week Bible Institute we began studies in the First Epistle of Peter. I talked about "Genuine Hope." There were a number of young people present. As I talked about what real hope is, I also explained that genuine hope concerns our greatest need: salvation. I said, "Hope is a powerful concept. Without hope in he future, we have no power in the present. Hope may keep us alive, but without hope there is no reason to live. Life without Christ is a hopeless end, but life with Christ is an endless hope."

It is because of this hope we continue to serve.

In His service,

Patrick & Sherry

21 March 2007

Greetings from Luanshya!

We traveled to South Africa last week for my 18 month medical review following my cancer surgery last year. The oncologist gave me a clean bill of health and said that the chances of cancer recurring was minimal.

Nevertheless, he will be seeing me every six months for the next three and a half years. Then the appointments will be on an annual basis providing thee is no recurrence. He did change the medication and we were able to buy it in South Africa. We are very pleased with the news. Thank you for praying.

Upon returning to Luanshya we found that the Christian Resource Centre is incredibly busy with quite a few men studying topics in preparation for Passion Week. We are pleased that there is sufficient study material in the Resource Centre to meet everyone's need.

This coming Sunday Nancy Chanda, from the Lighthouse Children's Home, will follow the Lord in believer's baptism. She has been talking to Sherry for several weeks about taking this very important step in her spiritual life.

Nancy had broached the subject as a result of her Bible Correspondence lessons from the Resource Centre. Her lesson on "God's Great Salvation, Book 3" dealt with the subject of baptism and the Lord's Supper causing her to consider her stand in the Lord and the need to follow his two primary commands. Please pray for Nancy as she testifies of her faith through this action on Sunday.

We concluded our Wednesday evening study in the book of James this evening.

The small group has grown substantially. We have a number of the high school students from the Friday Youth Meeting and young adults now joining us. One young student has been inviting his high school friends because he is very concerned about their spiritual needs. After the lesson this evening, he came to Sherry very concerned about what he is being taught in his religious education class in school. It is policy to teach all religions equally yet there is a certain bias depending on who actually teaches the class. Pray for Aaron as he stands up for his faith in front of his friends.

More good news from the Lighthouse Children's Home. Stelia has been chosen to be on the inter-school Net Ball team. For those who do not know what net ball is.it's like basketball without the dribble or the backboard. Andrew has been asked to present his science project on Friday at the inter-school Science Fair. Both of the children are very excited and we are very proud.

Thank you for your prayers on their behalf.

God has been good and we are so thankful for His blessings. He has met every challenge in His time.

In His service,

Patrick & Sherry

7 March 2007

Greetings from Luanshya!

The horrible storms of last week have abated, however, we are still experiencing rain each and every day. The north part of the town has been cut off by swollen rivers and boats have been brought in from neighboring communities to ferry people back and forth for school and work. Just three weeks ago one of the men from Fellowship Chapel said, "I am glad the rains are over." He obviously is not a meteorologist.

Every year the rains bring interesting problems. Not only do we have swollen rivers and muddy roads but the red ants come out and swarm. Last Thursday evening the red ants infiltrated the Lighthouse Children's Home and covered the inside wall of the living room. These are the very same ants that consume flesh and have been known to strip a child down to the bone over night. You can be assured that we had the children moved from harm while the house was fumigated. Pray for the many in the community that do not have access to insecticides.

Last Sunday was great fun. It started off with the Sunday School children having a Sword Drill Tournament. Young Dickson, from the Lighthouse, has not ordinarily been enthusiastic about this particular event. He doesn't read well and sometimes it is difficult for him. He had been working all week long practicing for this last week's event. We are thrilled to say that not only did he participate but "won" the competition. All of the children were happy for him because he is known for being uncooperative. Please continue praying for all the children in the Sunday School program.

In the main service, Sunday, we glimpsed into the life of Esther. I did not know how well our little theatrics would go over, however not only did the children get involved in the telling of the story but the adults were enjoying themselves as well. Because of the audience participation, this service actually went 25 minutes over the regular time without a soul noticing. In the final analyses it was made clear that God can use us if we allow Him full access to our hearts and lives. God may often seem like He is in shadows, but in actual fact He is the conductor.

Sherry has reorganized the shelving and filing of the books in the Christian Resource Centre. She has incorporated the new books received from Northern Ireland and made it more user friendly. We are always pleased when Christians, young and old, make use of the resources. We are also very thankful for the World Book Deluxe Edition of the Encyclopedia sent to us by one of our supporting fellowships in Florida. This resource is on DVD and will thrill the young people who use the computers in the library.

Another great week and many blessings received.

In His service,

Patrick & Sherry

28th February 2007

Greetings from soggy Luanshya! (This is a day late due to interrupted Internet access.)

There was a cyclone off the eastern coast of Africa last week. It crossed Madagascar, continued into Mozambique and Zimbabwe. The strength of the storm diminished as is hit land, but the rain has continued for three days straight - 24-hours a day. Everything is wet. Roads are rivers. Houses have been washed away. Bridges are covered. There are parts of Luanshya District I have not been able to see because even a small four-wheel-drive vehicle cannot make it. A Peace Corps volunteer living in a rural village came into town this afternoon and immediately changed clothes because what he has on was mud-soaked. It is one of the wettest weeks in this rainy season. We will be making the "rounds" when possible to see what kind of damage has been done and to check on the homes and chapels of the Christians in the area. We will update you soon.

The good news is that the Bible Study on Wednesday was well attended. We even had a first-time visitor named Solomon who said he appreciated the study of James 4:1-7 and would be coming on Sunday morning. I have to admit that I was a bit skeptical at the possibility of anyone coming to the Bible study since almost everyone is on foot. Walking 3-5 miles in the rain is not conducive to high attendances for Bible studies - especially when the roads are 3-6 inches deep in mud. Still, we had a good study. Please pray for those who are making the effort to learn as well as those who need to be more concerned about their Biblical studies.

Last week we received two heavy boxes of books and Bible study materials from a dear friend in Northern Ireland. We have never met Mr. Law, but he heard about what we are doing with the Christian Resource Centre and has been collecting books, commentaries and Bibles for us. These particular boxes were sent months ago, but were "sidetracked" at another missionary's house. He forgot to tell us they had been received, but their arrival is a blessing indeed! Sherry and I go through the books first and enjoy pouring over the new treasures. Then the books are displayed in the CRC and placed on the shelves. Regular "clients" of the CRC spread the word and these books quickly become tools in the hands of preachers and teachers in local churches. Where there are several copies I take them to rural congregations so they can be used in places where daily trips to Luanshya town centre are not possible. We are so very thankful for those who send these "glad tidings of great joy!"

There is yet another student for the Bible Institute this past week. He occasionally comes into the CRC and looks at all the books. When he asked Sherry about a specific Bible study program she sent him to me. He is doing a class through his church, but he said the information was so elemental that it was like Sunday School. I showed him some of the lessons and he became excited about the possibility of going through an organised, systematic Bible study. Please pray for MS as he begins his study.

This coming Sunday is Purim - the celebration of Queen Esther's victory over Haman and his plot to destroy the Children of Israel. When the story is read in Jewish homes the children write Haman's name on the sole of their shoes and "stomp on him" when his name is mentioned in the story. I am going to use this illustration this week with the children at the English-speaking congregation. We are going to have some fun, but we are also going to see God's protection of His own. We have been talking about our responsibility to God for the past month. Now we are going to study God's promise to His children beginning with keeping His promise of protection. It is great to know that we serve a sovereign God.

As always, it has been a busy week. Cleaning up water and mud makes it all the more "interesting" around here, but we love what we do and where we are doing it. Your prayers and support are deeply appreciated!

In His Service,

Patrick & Sherry

21st February 2007

Greetings from Luanshya!

The rains have slowed substantially so the heat has increased accordingly.

This is not unusual, but it does cause mood swings n people here that are not healthy. Added to this is the fact that grade 9 exams were released last week and only about one/third of the students who took the exam have passed on to grade 10. Sadder still is the feeling that this is a "good" report because it is fractionally better than last year's results. Those who failed to pass have two choices: re-take the exam next year or drop out of school and try to find work in this depressed economy. The newspaper reported earlier this week that one young man who has failed the exam more than once decided to drink acid rather than face the shame of failing that exam. He is currently in the hospital in Lusaka, but the prognosis is not good.

Unfortunately, this is not the first time this has happened and it will not be the last. Grade twelve exam results are expected within a couple of weeks. Those students who took those exams are very anxious about the results. Please pray for the children in the churches with which we work.

They are under a lot of pressure from family and peers.

This afternoon we had a brief visit from a Peace Corp Volunteer. Over the last 20 years we have had an opportunity to meet many of these young people as they serve their two or three year stint overseas. Some are brilliant.

Some are less so. We have had a chance to talk with them about their lives and more importantly about the Lord Jesus. They don't all make a profession of Christ, but they all hear the story. This afternoon Mike simply said, "I am really glad you are here. You are the touch of home that I need every few weeks as I pass through Luanshya town. Please remember to pray for these young people who are scattered all around the world. These are "our" young people who are representing the United States in service. They are young, impressionable and often lonely. Our "little touch of home" is often the first time many of these young people have come into contact with Christians and have heard a clear presentation of the gospel.

The Bible study this evening was from James 3:1-18 on "Controlling the Tongue". After the lesson one of the young men asked about James 3:1 where James warns those who wish to be teachers that there is a stronger judgment on teachers than listeners. It was explained that God expects more from those who are called to present the Word of God and that such people are held to a higher standard. In illustrating this, I said imagine those people who make it possible for us to comfortably fly in an airplane. Someone washes the windows. Someone vacuums the carpet. Someone cleans the toilet.

Someone serves food and beverage. However, none of those people are qualified to fly the airplane. All of them are necessary, but the pilot is required to have a much higher standard of qualification in order for the plane to go up and down without losing the passengers in the process. In the same manner many people are involved in the operation of a local church. God holds those who teach to a much higher standard because of responsibilities the carry. Please pray for those who lead and teach in the local churches among which we serve. We pray that they will realize the responsibility they carry as they lead God's people.

We appreciate your prayers on our behalf.

In His service,

Patrick & Sherry

7 February 2007

Greetings from wetter than ever Luanshya. The rains this year have been harder than we can remember from any previous year and continues to play havoc with communication access. This will go out as soon as possible.

There has been a renewed interest in the Bible Institute. Yesterday the Director for Child Evangelism Fellowship, for Zambia, enrolled along with his wife. There may be others from the CEF community who will join as well.

They have come to realize that the more knowledge they have in Biblical disciplines, the better able they are to serve. Please pray for the student body as they move forward in their studies.

Earlier this week I had a meeting with several young members of a local family that has been visiting the English speaking church. The brother came to know the Lord several years ago and was baptized. His three sisters come from various educational and religious backgrounds, but they all came to know the Lord as Savior in the last few years. They have been "floating" in a number of churches but have not been led to a permanent church home. I explained to them salvation and baptism and they said, "Now it all makes sense." This coming Sunday the three young ladies will be baptized. Please for the Bwale family as they grow in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.

The Wednesday and Friday Bible classes continue with the various focus groups. Having the Recreation Centre behind the chapel is a real plus because people come early and fellowship before sitting down around the Word of God. This gives us a better rapport with those who come to learn because we can build a relationship in the informal sector. This week we studied James 2:1-13 concerning "The Sin of Favoritism". Poverty in Zambia is much different than poverty in most of North America. The line between the "haves" and "have not's" is very distinct. Showing deference to once class even in the church setting is a part of the culture. The concept of charity outside the family is foreign. It will take some time for this to ultimately sink in, but the message must be taught as it is presented as Bible truth.

We must take to heart the Lord's admonition to "love your neighbor as yourself".

The Christian Resource Centre and Reading Room has been very busy during the morning hours when school children are absent from the scene. There have been a number of church leaders spending time preparing their messages, whiles other clients have come to read and study for personal edification.

One young man has been coming in regularly poring over Chuck Swindoll's book "Living Above the Level of Mediocrity". He has practically copying the book word for word in his journal. Another young man came in specifically with questions about eternal life and has been reading "How To Be Born Again" by Billy Graham. Another young man asked us yesterday about a book concerning Jewish customs during the time of the Kings. We have the book and he is looking forward to coming in to study. We are thrilled that this opportunity is available to us to be a resource to the pastors, youth leaders and evangelists in our part of the world.

Last week we received a shipment of used study books from the mother of one of Sherry's former Bible College classmates. As soon as the books were put on the shelf, some of our regular visitors to the Resource Centre noticed them have begun perusing through the new arrivals. This is how the inventory grows, apart from our personal books. It grows because of such kind and practical contributions. We are careful about the kinds of books we make available. We do not want "junk" on our shelves but we appreciate sound, biblical study aids. If you or a friend happens to have a relatively modern encyclopedia set you no longer use, it would be a real asset to our inventory. The set we now have is 35 years old and most of the names of the African countries around us have changed.some more than once. The children from the Lighthouse Children's Home also utilize these helps as they do their school assignments. It would be an invaluable asset to have onsite.

Words cannot express our gratitude for your prayers and support of this ministry.

In His service,

Patrick & Sherry

31 January 2007

Greetings from Luanshya!

The first month of the year has passed so fast that we hardly know where the time has gone. The rains here have been torrential, interfering with both telephone and internet service. Many of the roads in the outlying areas are rapidly deteriorating and even the paved roads are taking a severe beating.

Last week I ordered the trusses for the Kafubu Block chapel. They were constructed by a group of students at a Christian vocational training center in Ndola (Mobile Missionary Maintenance). MMM was started many years ago by Baptist and Brethren missionaries from Australia who cooperated to first provide a practical support service for missionaries on the field, then to train young Zambian men in fields of bricklaying, carpentry and electronics as well as to prepare them for ministry in their local churches. Today, MMM, Zambia is completely managed by Zambian leaders and they continue in the spirit of those who founded the organization long ago.

After completing the trusses, one of the trainers from MMM arrived on site at the project along with three of his students In two days they placed the trusses, did all the support work and nailed the roofing sheets on the building. The men of the church were with the team from the beginning, treating the timber and handing the roofing sheets up to the carpenters. It was a real effort of partnership between the local church and MMM. I will be sending pictures to our website in the next few days so you can watch the raising of the roof and the final completion of the church building.

Our weekly Bible studies continue, in spite of the rain. Last Friday the rain literally poured all afternoon. When Sherry arrived for High School class, there was only one faithful attendee who was drenched to the bone. He had invited some of his friends to come to the Bible study and wanted to be sure he was there early in case they arrived. Sadly the storm kept them away. On Wednesday the Young Adult Bible study had several new faces and we were able to continue our study from the book of James-Faith In Action. One of the resource materials we are using is the Everyday Publication "Faith That Saves" by William Yuille. Pray that lives will be changed.

We had a very, very brief conversation with Colin, yesterday. He had a meeting with the Air Force Recruiter and was given a preliminary aptitude test. The test had 99 possible points. Colin scored 96. The recruiter was impressed, but we've come to expect this kind of excellence from our son.

Later this week he will be traveling to Los Angeles to take another pre-enlistment exam that will place him in his area of strength. Please continue to pray for him as he settles into his new life.

The children at the Lighthouse Home continue to grow and continue to act like children. Sometimes they are frustrating, sometimes they are blessings.

We are dealing with the behavioral problems with some of the children as they enter puberty with a "slam". We are dealing with dysfunctional children all in one small space. Occasionally it gets to be overwhelming. Please pray especially for Brother and Mrs. Chibumba as they work closely with us on rearing these boys and girls.

In spite of the rain, the trials and communication breakdowns, we are seeing God bless. Thank you for your prayers on our behalf.

In His service,

Patrick & Sherry

24th January 2007

Dear All,

"My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience." - (James 1:2-3)

Be really careful when suggesting to God that you might want more patience.

He will answer you!

On Saturday two major events took place.

We sent our 17-year-old son half way around the world by himself.

Our Internet "service" apparently also took off.

For the first issue we are able to report that Colin made it safely to my parents' house in Bellflower, California. He was scheduled to play golf with his grandpa on Tuesday and with his uncle & cousins later in the week.

Sometime in the next few days he will meet with an Air Force representative and make plans for his future beyond the golf course. We are proud of his success and look forward to hearing more from him.

Concerning the second issue, we are a bit frustrated particularly because we have not been able to communicate with Colin, or anyone else, due to the conflicts between ZAMNET and their suppliers including a satellite uplink in Norway and ZESCO (Zambia Electrical Supply Company).

Initially we were told that the storm in northern Europe had caused the satellite uplink in Norway to experience problems so the ZAMNET service was affected. Why a satellite uplink for an ISP in South-central Africa you ask?

I do not know, but that was repaired sometime on Sunday. Then the antennae in Luanshya shifted due to heavy winds during the persistent rains we have had here for the past three weeks. Tighter clamps might be a solution. It was readjusted. Then, apparently, an electrical sub-station "went down" (I do not know exactly what this technical term means, but it is not working) at the point where the ZAMNET antennae is located in Ndola (30 kms/20 miles from us). A temporary generator was installed, but it "burnt out" within a few hours. We were told that full service would be restored by 9:30 on Tuesday. It is now Wednesday morning and there is no sign of recovery.

This post is being queued for transmission as soon as there is a connection.

Hopefully that will not be too long, but.

Meanwhile, we continue.

In His Service,

Patrick & Sherry

17 January 2007

"My son, give attention to my words; incline your ear to my sayings. Do not let them out of your sight, keep them within your heart; for they are life to those who find them and health to a man's whole body." (Pr. 4:20-22)

The godly life is not lived passively. It is not random, and it is not a life of wandering. Those who wait for God's Word to change them will only find it so doing when they actively feed themselves with it. Those who expect the sermons they hear and the words they read to make them godly will be frustrated unless they are diligent in meditating on the truth and applying it to their lives. Simply sitting in a pew week after week will do nothing radical in a believer's life.

Wisdom is not gained by passive absorption. It must be consumed and savored.

It must become the focal point of our thinking. Those who hear words of wisdom and do not apply them are like the receivers of the seed in Jesus'

parable of the four soils (Mt. 13:20-22). They hear the truth. They understand it. They even agree with it. But it has no benefit for them. It is not real faith. James agrees (James 1:22-24): Hearing, understanding, and agreeing without application is a self-deceptive dynamic. It appears to be faith but it effects no change in the life of the hearer. Something more is needed-diligence and action. Faith in action is what we will be looking at over the next 13 weeks with the High School Youth Group. Please pray for the young people every Friday afternoon as they put "flesh on their faith".

The back-to-school frenzy has kept us very busy for the last couple of weeks. The school year starts in January instead of August/September. So, all the school prep comes right on the heels of the Christmas/New Year activities. Buying of school shoes, uniforms, book bags, notebooks, pens, pencils and, of course, school fees are the norm. It always takes us by surprise considering the weak dollar and the high inflation rates here in Zambia. Officially, the inflation rate is very low, but school fees and supplies have jumped 50% in the last year. We praise God that He has made it possible for us to take care of the children at the Lighthouse Home.

Two new students have begun studying at our Bible Institute. One is a young man just starting off in life and wants to prepare for whatever service God has for him. The other is a school teacher who is involved in teaching at his local church, as well. Both these men are excited about their studies and shocked at the grading scale since a passing grade in Zambia is 40% but a passing grade at the Institute is 65%. I look forward to watching their progress.

Finally, we are coming to a major milestone in our family. Colin is leaving home in just a few days and will, for the first time, be setting up residence in the USA. Actually, "residence" for him will be the United States Air Force. He will be enlisting immediately and will start the necessary preparation for his future in math and science. The USAF has a marvelous program to train young people in areas of engineering and other scientific fields. Colin excels in these areas and he is looking forward to serving his country at the same time. He has always been the only American in his schools. For the first time, he will be amongst Americans. Please pray for Colin as he enters this new arena in life. Pray for mom and dad as we adjust to the empty nest.

Thank you for your prayers on our behalf and that of the ministry.

In His service,

Patrick & Sherry

3 January 2007

Greetings from Luanshya!

Would you dare to believe that God, who called you to Himself and equipped you with His Spirit, could work mightily through you? Have you made the connection between the time and place in which you live and God's call upon you? World events never catch God by surprise. He placed you precisely where you are for a purpose. Are you allowing your surroundings to determine how you invest your life? Ask God to reveal His purposes for you and His will for your life today. (today's Bible reading: Daniel 1:8)

This last year in Zambia has been a tumultuous time what with Presidential elections, economic upheaval and civil disturbances. However, we thank the Lord that there was no bloodshed and the political arena has calmed down both here in Zambia and in some of our neighboring countries. Religious freedom continues in this land. Sometimes we wish the government were not as open as it is by allowing various cults and questionable groups into the country but we know that God has a plan in all this. Each group waves its social programs and offerings that, obviously, entice participation for the here and now but in the long run, provide no eternal value. Various issues at the Lighthouse Children's Home have been dealt with and the children seem to be coming around to the understanding that without hard work there is no success. Please pray for continued progress and serenity.

These last few weeks have found us busy making preparations for the New Year and evaluating programs of the past with plans for the future. Pat has been enrolling new students for the Bible Institute, visiting the Kafubu Block Chapel building project and looking after the Fellowship Chapel building project. He has also been busily gathering information and advancing training ideas as Chairman of the Board of Education for Luanshya District.

The Town Council has asked his assistance in some Youth Empowerment programs which opens yet another door to organizations and individuals who may not have been exposed to the Word of God. Pray for him as he prepares his 2007 schedule of activities and seeks God's will and purpose for the year ahead.

I have spent the last couple of weeks with the kids from the children's home providing some extra discipline, training and guidance. We've opened the Youth Centre to these children on weekday mornings to provide a safe, friendly environment. Some of the kids were hanging out at local pool halls, apartment complexes where unsavory characters reside and other less than acceptable sites. Colin has been assisting with oversight in the Youth Centre since he rather enjoys the many games himself.

The Source of Light Bible Correspondence School continues to have a place in the hearts of many. Our latest tally indicates that 340 lessons were distributed, 304 were corrected, 34 certificates of completion awarded and

26 new students enrolled. Things tend to pick up during the school holidays.

We are praying that as children return to school, they introduce their classmates to the lessons and the forward momentum is maintained.

Friday afternoon Youth Meetings have been maintained though a number have left town for the holiday. Lessons on the "Life Styles of the Not-So-Famous"

have struck a chord and caused some to take a step back and rethink their bible reading and character recognition. Noticing the small details has brought the lives of many bible personalities to the forefront and provides much food for thought. Our last character study was on Thomas. Of course we all think of "Doubting Thomas". Well, perhaps we ought to consider his desire to know the truth through questioning and doubting things when there is no "visible proof". Perhaps he had it right in some instances! Why don't you take a peek at John 11:1-16; 14:1-7; 20:24-29 and see if you have a new perspective from Thomas' point of view.

So, we enter 2007 with fresh ideas and many more prayers. We would like to invite you to join us as we venture forth into the fields to prepare the ground, sow the seed and possibly reap a harvest.

In His service,

Patrick & Sherry

13th December 2006

"And I, brethren, when I came to you, did not come with excellence of speech or of wisdom declaring to you the testimony of God. For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified." 1 Corinthians 2:1-2

In other words, when Paul first went to Corinth he didn't use lofty words and brilliant ideas to tell God's message. He decided to concentrate only on Jesus Christ and His death on the cross. It is amazing today just how "difficult" people make coming to Christ. It is even more amazing to notice that God has been pushed almost completely out of the holiday we have to celebrate the birth of the Messiah!

Christmas for us means going to church and spending the first hour of the day in the Lord's house. We sing and praise God for His gift, the Lord Jesus Christ, and for the means whereby we can - and must - be saved. This has pretty much been the norm for most Christians in Zambia.

Ah, how things have changed! The store is now cluttered with toys from Zambia's "new best friend" - China. Stuffed teddy bears crowd out the checkout counter, plastic toy trucks clutter the floor space and baby dolls are stacked in almost every aisle. It is hard to believe, but nobody seems to notice that all the dolls have yellow skin.

We can now go through the local grocery store (the only one in Luanshya) and hear Bing Crosby crooning "I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas" over the PA system. When I asked the store clerk what a "white Christmas" was she said it was one "like you bazungu celebrate: a tree in the house, presents for family and eating too much." ("Bazungu" is the Bemba word for - you guessed it - white people!)

Still, even with all the new commercialism in Zambia we still see God working in the hearts and lives of His children. Brother Zulu has been praying about doing a concentrated Bible study with me. I asked him to complete a commitment sheet and he delivered it yesterday. We will begin later this week. This is why Christ came into the world. This is why we celebrate the birth of our Lord and Saviour. This is why we are in Zambia!

We appreciate the part you have in making it possible for us to remain here.

Your prayers and support are more valuable than we can express in words.

In His Service,

Patrick & Sherry

29 November 2006

"Therefore be careful how you walk not as unwise men, but as wise." (Eph. 5:15)

The predominant theme over the last two weeks seems to have been "wisdom".

As we review our diaries, it never ceases to amaze us that as the Lord prepares our hearts to teach one lesson; the material becomes accessible for others who may come into our lives seeking guidance.

The Sunday School has been studying a series of lessons dealing with various forms of expressing wisdom through their life choices and attitudes. Walking in wisdom is an element of the worthy walk that Paul was describing in Ephesians 4-5. He covers the traits of being humble, united, unique, loving, illuminated and wise. The point we were attempting to get across to is that Christians are different from the world. The world can't be humble because everyone is fighting for his rights. The world can't be united because it celebrates and exalts differences. The world can't be unique because it's trapped in its own self-destruction. The world can't love because it doesn't' have the life of God-the source of real love. The world can't know light because it lies in the system of darkness. And the world can't be wise because the wisdom of God is hidden from the mind of man. We want the children to realize that being different from the world is an asset and not a hindrance. When others see you obeying Scripture-when they see you walking in wisdom-they'll notice you're not like them. That difference can create opportunities to tell them about their faith. Pray that the children will walk in wisdom and let others be attracted to the light of Christ.

The High School youth group continues to study the lives of "The Not-so-Famous" in Scripture. Two weeks ago they looked at the testimony of "The Unknown Man of God" from 1 Kings 13:1-32. The import of this lesson was commitment to total obedience. This unnamed man was sent by God to deliver a message and then depart. Unfortunately, when someone else came along and had conflicting information, he heeded that instead of the message he, himself, was to obey. This, ultimately, led to his death. The young people learned how to act wisely when they hear something that does not match what God has told them in His Word. They were reminded that there are many who go around wearing sheep's clothing but are, in fact, wolves waiting to devour them.

Cults and convincing life styles abound which are drawing our young people away from following the path of a more acceptable life. Please pray for the young people as they seek to make life choices.

The Christian Resource Centre has been well utilized lately by various young church leaders. One young man came in recently with a desire to look at "The Wisdom of God" and how that concept should be expressed through the life of His children. We were able to start him on his way and by the end of the day he had made copious notes on the subject. By the time he packed up, he stated that he was looking forward to the practical expression of the many lessons he had learned.

Many continue to apply themselves to the study of God's Word through the Source of Light correspondence lessons. We have now exceeded the 3,600 point with many young people expressing an interest in joining once the school holidays begin in a week's time. Pray for those who continue in their studies and for those considering enrollment.

Colin has completed his final year of school. He is now wrapping up his affairs and preparing for his eventual departure for the USA to begin his life and career with the US Air Force. Pray for him as he adjusts to a new life and personal responsibility.

Pray for the building work at Fellowship Chapel. The rainy season has begun so construction must come to a close only to resume in April or May. Pray for the building project out a Kafubu Block. We are ready to assist with the roof work. This will take place in the next week or two.

Thank you for pray for us and being a vital part of this ministry.

In His service,

Patrick & Sherry

8 November 2006

"For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin."

(Heb. 4:15)

Perhaps you have heard the joke, "I can resist anything but temptation!"

Unfortunately, that is all too often true in our lives. Learning how to successfully resist temptation is vitally important, for we sin only when we yield to temptation.

The overriding theme of the past week has been issues of giving in to temptation. Whether it be a child at the orphanage succumbing to taking something not his own or a married man coming in to the Christian Resource Centre to express his remorse for actions he took against his wife and the feeling of desperation that he has walked outside God's sphere of influence and love, to the Bible teacher who has been working on his Sunday sermon suddenly convicted, realizing that before he asks the people to walk "in His light" he must deal with issues at hand in his own life and clear his conscience .all have one thing in common, at some point they yielded to temptation and gave in to sin. The solace that one and all can have is the fact that Jesus Christ provides us with the perfect example of how to defeat temptation.

In the situations mentioned above, we were able to encourage each that there is a way to successfully resist temptation as modeled by our Lord Jesus Christ. We must first understand our enemy's plan of attack and, secondly, make use of our spiritual resources. Satan made a three-pronged assault on Jesus Christ-the same three ways he tempts us. First, he tempted Jesus to doubt God's goodness by commanding the stones to become bread (Mt. 4:3).

That implies that God did not care enough about Him to provide for His physical needs. Second, he tempted Jesus to doubt God's love, suggesting that He test that love by leaping from the pinnacle of the temple (Mt.

4:5-6). Finally, he tempted Jesus to compromise God's truth, promising Him the kingdom without the cross if Jesus would worship him (Mt. 4:8-9).

To each of Satan's temptations, Jesus replied, "It is written" (Mt. 4:4, 7, 10). He thereby showed us the resource for defeating temptation: the Word of God (Eph. 6:17). Pray for each of those who sought our help this week. Pray that they will sincerely turn to the Word and gain the help and strength necessary to overcome the temptations that cross their paths. Pray for us as we, too, seek to do the right thing and take to heart what we share with those who seek our help from day to day.

The building program out at the Kafubu Block (village) church is progressing. The men of the church are doing the labor and have asked me to come this Sunday to "inspect" the work and to provide a word from Scripture.

The rains will soon be upon us and we need to get the roof phase completed as soon as possible. Pray for that the work will continue until the job is finally done.

In His service,

Patrick & Sherry

1 November 2006

Adoption:

Natural: The giving to any one the name and place and privileges of a son who is not a son by birth.

Spiritual: An act of God's grace by which he brings men into the number of his redeemed family, and makes them partakers of all the blessings he has provided for them. Adoption represents the new relations into which the believer is introduced by justification, and the privileges connected therewith, viz., an interest in God's peculiar love. (John 17:23; Rom.

5:5-8)

To you and I the dual definitions for adoption may seem straightforward and clear. However, when a student in the Christian Resource Centre embarked on a study of the relationship one has with God when they accept Christ as Saviour, he just could not fathom the permanency of the relationship. You may ask, "Why on earth not?" Let us provide some background:

In Zambian culture family is community. Not only your immediate blood relatives but also extended family members and fellow villagers belong to that "family circle". Each, traditionally, took care of the other. For instance if a brother or sister passes away, their children become dependents of another family member or resident of the village. Nothing legal is documented. No one changes surnames. The children are simply passed on and integrated into the family unit. Unfortunately, that child never has a sense of "belonging" in most cases. Though the child has been integrated into the extended family, the same child is not afforded the rights and privileges of the birth child in the home to which they have been relegated.

There is always that sense of separation, inequality, instability. A situation may arise whereby a family member in another part of the clan may need a servant or caregiver to younger children and frequently that same orphaned child will be sent to another home to serve as opposed to becoming a member of the family.

When we understand this concept of integration in the Zambian setting yet no permanency or sense of belonging, it helps us to realize that what you and I take for granted as understood, is an entirely foreign idea in this culture.

We now know why so many of our Zambian believers think that their eternal life is conditional upon their behavior. To assist the student in his comprehension of adoption we are able to use the example of our son Colin and how he was made Sherry's son through adoption. She made the choice to make him a part of her life, relegating all the rights and privileges that would have been bestowed upon a child of birth, to him. He is loved, taught and disciplined as any other child would be that is loved by a parent.

Translating that into how God has chosen us, given us His name, His love, His gift of eternal life, a place with Him, blessings, an inheritance, discipline etc. the student was finally able to come to terms though he stated that it takes great faith to truly know that God will not "excommunicate" you or regret his decision and throw you back.

Adoption should not surprise God's people. Adoption in Christ is the way God chose to create His family even before He created the world (Eph. 1:4-5).

Adoption as God's act is an eternal process of His gracious love, for He "fore-ordained us unto adoption as sons through Jesus Christ unto himself, according to the good pleasure of his will"

Pray for our Zambian friends as they come to grips with the concept of adoption. Pray for us as we make clear the mysteries of God's Word.

In His service,

Patrick & Sherry

18 October 2006

"Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body that you should obey its lusts, and do not go on presenting the members of your body to sin as instruments of unrighteousness; but present yourselves to God as those alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God. For sin shall not be master over you, for you are not under law, but under grace." (Rom. 6:12-14)

Three key words in Romans 6 define the believer's relationship to sin:

"know" (vv 3,6,9) "consider" (v. 11), and "present" (v. 13). The first two speak of understanding and believing that we are dead to sin. The third demands of us active obedience in our lives based on that truth. Since we are truly dead to sin, we must not allow it to be the dominant force in our lives.

It is interesting to see God at work through the various services offered at the church throughout the week. Twice in a seven day span the same message was expressed. In Sunday School the children were taught "How to Know What's Right" and do it with their memory verse text from Psalm 143:10 "Teach me to do thy will; for thou art my God: thy spirit is good; lead me into the land of uprightness." Some of the children have found themselves in situations where they gave in to temptation and resorted to lying, cheating and stealing as a way out instead of turning to the Lord and wise counsel to avoid these actions. We later received phone calls from concerned parents that their children were in tears for misdeeds committed and the need to confess and make things right. Unfortunately, for some, this meant going around the community to identify those to whom stolen property had been stolen or sold and making amends. Pray for the children as they are convicted by the Word and act accordingly.

The other message preached at the church was on a similar note. Patrick spoke on verses from 1 John 1:8-9: "If we say we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and refusing to accept the truth. But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us and to cleanse us from every wrong. If we claim we have not sinned, we are calling God a liar and showing that his word has no place in our hearts." Some in the congregation looked down while others giggled in nervous apprehension. Pray that everyone's house will be put in order so they may be blessed by God and used of God.

The Friday afternoon youth meeting concluded their series of studies on "Facts About Christian's". The young people were exhorted to "walk worthy of the calling with which they were called." (Eph. 4:1). After being reminded that God's children are: blessed with every spiritual blessing, chosen before the world was ever created to be holy and blameless in God's eyes, predestined to be adopted as one of God's children and to receive a King's inheritance, that they were redeemed by Christ, bought out of their slavery to sin, sealed with the guarantee of the Holy Spirit and so much more, the closing focused on "Why did God do these thing and so what do we do now?"

The answer is that we are to glorify God through our lives (Eph. 3:20-21).

We are to be unified. Understanding these facts about adoption into God's family unites us in common belief and hope. (Eph. 4:4-6). We are now equipped for service. Understanding the blessings of salvation and the nature of being a new creation in Christ prepares us to do the will and work that the Father has ordained for us. (Eph. 4:7). Finally, we are empowered to live holy lives. The Apostle Paul instructed the Ephesians, and thus us, to put off the old sinful man (4:17-24); do not grieve the Holy Spirit through sin (4:25-32); walk in love for each other (5:2); walk in light (5:8); walk in wisdom (5:15); love your spouse (5:22-23); honor your parents (6:2); and be obedient and merciful in all situations (6:5-9). Pray for the youth meeting: that many may come to know Christ as Saviour and others grow in their faith through day to day living.

Thank you for praying for us and the many facets of this ministry. You are greatly appreciated!

In His service,

Patrick & Sherry

11 October 2006

"When we walk with the Lord in the light of His Word, what a glory He sheds on our way! While we do His good will He abides with us still, and with all who will trust and obey. Trust and obey, for there's no other way to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey."

The order in which we pick up items on our grocery list really doesn't matter. But the order is important when it comes to our Christian faith. Our obedience will never save us, nor will it enable us to trust. Instead, our vain attempts at obedience will only bring frustration. But when trust comes first, obedience follows out of love.

Early this week one of the young people from the Friday afternoon youth meeting came in to the library with a look of concern. She had a question for Sherry about one of the lessons recently taught on "Facts About Christians." This young lady has been faithfully attending church, youth meetings and is a member of Scripture Union at school and yet something wasn't quite right. She was frustrated with her life. When questioned further, Sherry learned that though she has been active in Christian programs much of her life, she had not put her trust in Christ and Him alone. She was desperately trying to fill her life but there was no vessel

(herself) to fill. Obedience to the Word was empty because trust was missing. Knowing about God and His expectations of those who call Him Lord was insufficient because she realized that she did not belong to Him. She had the head knowledge but lacked the heart commitment. By the conclusion of the session, this young lady made a commitment for Christ and can now go forward in her life with trust leading the way, obedience following and good works providing the active ingredient to faithful Christian living. Pray that many more lives will be affected through this vital youth ministry.

One of the greatest joys I have is talking to church leaders in and around Luanshya. It is not that these men have no problems that is so encouraging, but that they are willing to bring their problems to me so we can pray together. One of these men is brother Katandula. In the last three months he has been in hospital twice and has buried one of his daughters. When asked, "How are you doing?" he responds, "God is blessing." The church in which he is involved is slowly building a permanent structure. In spite of his grief and health situation, he continues to go out and do what he can to be a part of this building project. Brother Katandula is 72 years old. He is an example, to those of us who are younger, that life does not end at retirement. Please pray for brother Katandula and the Buntungwa church building project.

We have moved into the most pressured time of the year. Temperatures are soaring to well over 100 F every day and almost none of the homes have anything remotely resembling air conditioning. In fact, most of them have tin roofs which makes the inside of the house more like a solar oven. Add to that the fact that children in grade 7, 9 and 12 are preparing for end of the year exams which will determine whether they progress in their education or not. October is referred to as "suicide month" because of the high increase in self-inflicted deaths in our area. Please pray for our young people-including Colin-as they prepare for their final exams. Colin will be taking 13 hour long exams covering four subjects beginning next Monday and continuing through the end of November.

We appreciate, deeply, the fact that you are part of this ministry through your prayer and financial support.

In His service,

Patrick & Sherry

4 October 2006

Greetings from Luanshya!

"If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us." 1 John 1:10

Confession is the first step toward defeating sin. It is often true that the hardest part of dealing with a problem is admitting that you have one.

Beginning with Adam and Eve (Gen. 3:11-13), people have denied responsibility for their sins, and our generation is no exception. To acknowledge that one is a sinner, guilty of breaking God's holy law, is not popular. People call sin by a myriad of other names, futilely hoping to define it out of existence. They do so, motivated by their innate awareness that there is a moral law and that there are consequences for violating it (Rom. 1:32). But God's people have always recognized the necessity of confession.

This past week, before, the Sunday communion service, a young man came into the church with a letter for the leadership. In it he had written his confession for sins committed against us and the need for forgiveness by not only the two of us but also by the local church. He knew that his penitent heart was understood and accepted by the Lord but he also knew that it was necessary to confront those whom he had wronged and he did so, humbly and tearfully just before the fellowship took part in the communion service. It was a time of healing for this young man as well as a time of renewal for others as they contemplate their standing before God and man. May we be mindful of the need to maintain a clean heart.

Today we celebrate the 11th birthday of one of the children at the Lighthouse Children's Home. Andrew has now been with us for more than half his life! He does no recall much of what happened before but he does know where he is today and where he is headed tomorrow. While chatting with Sherry in the library this afternoon, he happened to mention some of the things he is learning at school on computers. Andrew is a gifted artist and now that he has access to a computer, it will be interesting to see how he develops this talent in another medium. This is a bright and talented little boy and we thank God for the privilege of bringing him up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. We your help and prayers he has a future. Thank you for remembering our children.

In other areas, the library has been relatively busy over the last week.

More and more adults have been taking advantage of the computers that have been donated. We have numerous Bible study helps on each unit making it possible for people to do in-depth Bible study without spreading books all along the tables. Having various resources available at their finger tips has been a real joy and created new excitement in their study habits. Thank you to those who have been so kind as to donate their old pc's to this task.

Zambian elections have come and gone. President Levi Mwanawasa has retained his post as leader of the country. There was some unrest in the capitol and larger towns but overall, the political stability of the nation was maintained. Not only were citizens voting for their President but also for Members of Parliament and local town councilors. Please continue to pray for the stability of Zambia as she continues to go through the growing stages of democracy.

We appreciate your prayers on our behalf. Without your support we would not be able to remain.

In His service,

Patrick & Sherry

27 September 2006

Psalm 10:11 "he has said in his heart, 'God has forgotten, He hides His face, He will never see.'"

James 4:3 "You ask and do not received, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasure."

We have had a busy couple of weeks inclusive of power outages, internet network problems, political rallies, disciplinary issues at the orphanage, shortage of materials at the various building projects and squeezed in between all that...If we did not know that the Lord is in control, the last couple of weeks would have been much more difficult and hopeless.

One of the bright spots was news from one of the young people we assisted in the past. He is doing well in his nursing studies and can't imagine having ever thought about doing anything else. He looks forward to the time when he will be working full time in the profession and be able to provide more than physical medicine but spiritual medicine to those in need. Another young person came in on Monday to check on one of his assignments from the Bible College program. He is keen to continue to the next module once he sits for review of the last assignment.

The youth meeting on Friday afternoons is progressing well. Two weeks ago the lesson was on the subject: "God Must Be Asleep" and last weeks lesson covered "Give Me, Fix Me, Restore Me, Bless Me". Many of our young people are going through trying circumstances and while going through those valleys they frequently wonder whether the Lord hears them as they cry out for help.

What they do not understand, and often we ourselves, is that God's purposes are at work in our lives even through those seemingly silent periods. God is not silent or busy or hiding His face. If they/we are experiencing the "cold shoulder" from God, and can't figure out why, we need to remember that God never changes (Mal. 3:6), we do. If God seems distant and impersonal, it's not because He has decided to ignore us; He hasn't gone anywhere. He doesn't go on vacation. He doesn't ignore us. He isn't busy somewhere cleaning His heavenly garage and forgot about us. We are not a "to do" item in His Daytimer that he has not gotten to yet (Mt. 6:25-34). There may be times He CHOOSES to be silent, or we may have distanced ourselves from God by our own choices. Truth be known, If God seems to be somewhere else, it's frequently because we have wandered off from Him. The youth were reminded that if they desire to hear God and experience His presence, then they have to give up something for it (Rom. 12:1). You can't have it all. You can't have the world and its pleasures, and the full measure of God's presence (Mt. 6:24).

Pray for our young people as they make some discoveries over the next few weeks.

The believers out at Kafubu Block Chapel came into town the other day to advise us of progress on their building and await our visit to see what they have done. They are so excited about finally having a permanent structure that will stand the test of time. Continue to pray for this small gathering of believers as they make the blocks and do the construction themselves and as they reach out to their neighbors with the words of Jesus Christ.

The construction work for Fellowship Chapel is slow, this being a town congregation and many more restrictions, regulations and that old paperwork needing to be filed. At every turn it's something else but at least we have made some progress. Not only that but the town council has demarcated some of the plots nearby for homes and we have noticed our new neighbors beginning to prepare their ground for digging foundations. Pray that when the church finally moves to the new location, these people will join us and come to a saving knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ. Please continue to pray for this project.

Thank you for your continued support and prayers on our behalf.

In His service,

Patrick & Sherry

6 September 2006

Greetings from Luanshya!  

This mornings Bible reading was from Hosea 14 where we are reminded that: Every man must do his own growing, no matter how tall his parents are. When it comes to growing a garden, there are usually two kinds of people: those with green thumbs who grow everything, and those who are all thumbs and grow nothing. To which group do you belong? It is not surprising that when Hosea searches for a suitable illustration to describe the potential of God’s restored people, he finds it in a picture drawn from nature: “the lily..roots…branches…olive tree..corn…vine…green fir tree…fruit” (Hosea 14:5-8). Nature silently but eloquently testifies to the fact that God is in the business of transforming seeds into trees if you will but entrust them to His loving hands. A little talent…a little money…a little time—each can become something great in God’s economy. “Little is much when God is in it.”

Some years ago we took on the care of a young, troubled boy named Chewe. We have mentioned him in prior newsletters but this time we have some additional, exciting news. After graduating from high school, with honors, he went to Lusaka , the capitol city of Zambia . He moved in with a distant relative while he sought a job and attended night school studying computer programming. Subsequently, he has graduated from that course of study, worked one year for a computer graphics company and is now setting up his own graphics company as of last month. Chewe’s next goal is to attend another course of study in the evenings and achieve a diploma in IT (Information Technology). Chewe visited us this week, sadly, to attend the funeral of his aunt. He stopped by the Christian Resource Centre to provide this update for our encouragement. His parting words this afternoon were, “Mama, thank you for believing in me and giving me a chance to succeed. Without your support, discipline, prayers and guidance, I do not know where I would be today. You’ve made a man out of me and I want to make you proud.” We wish to thank those who have prayed with us about the many young people that have passed through our care over the last 8 years. Investing in this young particular life has made all the heartaches worth it! Chewe returns to Lusaka this evening and will resume his work and continue in the youth leadership program at his local church.

Speaking of young people, Colin returned to school over the weekend. He has begun his mock exams and will complete his final exams in two months time. Please pray for him as he winds up his education in Zambia and prepares for a future back in the USA . The kids at the Lighthouse Children’s Home have also returned to school this week. We are back to paying school fees, picking up supplies, arranging for tutoring and the whole nine yards. Your prayers on behalf of our children is greatly valued. We will be making some tough decisions with regard to the education of our children in the next few months—some may be moved from the private school to the government schools come the new year.

The ministry at the Christian Resource Centre has been fruitful over the last couple of weeks. We were pleased to see one young man return…Happy Kafungwa. He brightly informed us that he was away for the last few weeks because he had “gotten married”. Happy is a young itinerant preacher here in Luanshya and makes good use of one of the computers donated to us in the library. Pray for Happy and his wife, Doreen, as they set up a home and ministry based on the Lord Jesus Christ.

As always, we greatly appreciate your prayers on our behalf. Yes, there is much to do but your support makes it possible for us to remain…

In His service,

Patrick & Sherry

30 August 2006

Greetings from Luanshya! 

We are in the final few days of the government school break. After several weeks of being out of classes, most children are looking forward to getting back to the routine of regular school schedule. Over the weekend Sherry will be making the new school term purchases including notebooks, pens, pencils, and a few pairs of shoes. It is amazing how fast children can wear out a $50 pair of shoes. On Monday everybody will be back in class and taking their preliminary final exams. This final term of the year is the most pressured period. In November the final exams will take place and their entire years’ grade rests on these few exams. Please pray for the children at the Lighthouse Children’s Home as they prepare.

A few weeks ago I began teaching the young men at the “Caddy Chapel” about baptism. Last week three young men completed the classes and asked to be baptized. Since there is no way they can be in church on Sunday, we are having a special baptism service this afternoon at 4 p.m. just before the regular midweek meeting. I have encouraged the young men to invite their friends and family as they testify to their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

Yesterday afternoon two young men came into the Resource Centre and were looking at one of the books on Mormonism. Both of them were reading the same book and discussing their findings in Bemba, one of the vernacular languages. Earlier in the afternoon, a group of young Mormon missionaries walked by the display window and counted all the books that spoke out against the movement. Sherry heard them say “why us?” What they did not notice were the many books that dealt with other cults as well. We are simply providing a resource so people are well informed about the different groups that preach a doctrine contrary to the Word of God. Many people here in Zambia have the impression that any religion coming out of America is the same as any other religion. We are often asked, as Americans, about some of the new religious cults. We, too, need to be well informed in order to guide people to the Light.

One final prayer request. As the cold time passes, malaria season begins to make a headway. The mosquitoes are already out and the incidence of malaria has greatly increased. International organizations have designated a large amount of funds for insecticide treated mosquito nets and pesticides. The biggest problem we see is getting the nets and pesticides where they will do the most good: in the houses and out of the storage rooms. Pray that during the next few weeks, government will take advantage of the opportunity to get the nets into the hands of the people before the situation becomes much worse.  

We are thankful that the election period has remained peaceful. All the political parties are stressing the fact that violence is not a solution. The police and military are being specially trained to handle large crowds without using brute force. People are talking about making informed choices for leaders. While we do not get involved in the political process of Zambia , we are encouraging Christian’s to make prayer a primary pat of their voting experience. We would ask you to pray especially on the 28^th of September as the Zambian population go to the polls.

We appreciate the part you play in this ministry which allows us to remain…  

In His service,

Patrick & Sherry

9 August 2006  

Greetings from Luanshya!  

School holidays have started. The children are enjoying their freedom. Very often the first week of the holiday shows a marked decrease in the library because the kids are just too tired to leave home. In the next few weeks we will see activity increase as children look for a place to read. This is also a time when many children travel to visit relatives in other parts of Zambia . There have already been incidents of overcrowded and overloaded vehicles being involved in accidents where several passengers have been killed. Please pray for the youngsters that occupy the Christian Resource Centre as they move from place to place.  

We will continue the Friday afternoon Youth Meetings. Those who have been attending have specifically requested that we not go on break as well. It is encouraging to know that the young people desire to know more and to have fun in the Youth Centre. New faces crop up from week to week alerting us to the fact that those who have been attending regularly are inviting their friends.  

Last Sunday I was in Buntungwa at one of the rural churches. The building program in this village continues to progress. They have made all the concrete blocks for their foundation while they meet in a temporary grass shelter. This fellowship has a full program of ministry through the week including two mid-week Bible studies and a separate ladies Bible study. Everything they do must be during daylight hours because there is absolutely no electricity in that region. The day starts at dawn and everything ends at sunset. Continue to pray for this group of believers as they reach their community for Christ.  

The building program at the English speaking chapel has reached slab level. Pictures are available on our website. We are meeting with the membership to determine the next step. There are several options open to us. There are two large ant hills on the property which can produce enough bricks to finish the building up to the roof level. Please pray as we make these decisions.

This evening several of the young men from the Sunday morning Caddy Chapel are planning to come and chat with me about baptism. As you may recall, these young men work on Sunday as caddies at the local golf course and are unable to attend Sunday morning services. I began going to the golf course early Sunday mornings to have a Bible study. Several of these young men have made professions of faith and are concerned that they cannot come to church to be baptized. I am going to teach them about baptism so they fully understand what it means and then we will arrange for a baptism service during a weekday. Please pray for these young men. This is a big step in their lives.

Sherry’s children’s meeting has been studying various family issues. A few weeks ago they discussed “Obedience”. This past week they focused on family problems and that all families have difficulty but work it out. Realizing that many of these children are orphans, they recognize all too well that families are different. Next weeks lesson will deal with the fact that there are problems in families and that we need to depend on the Lord to be our “very present help in trouble”. (Ps. 46:1) Pray for the programs that involve children. Their lives are so very unstable from home situations to school to friendships.  

We have another full week in the offing. I will be making a trip to Kafubu Block to assess the progress on that particular building project. We appreciate your partnership in this ministry.

In His service,

Patrick & Sherry

2 August 2006

Yesterday was a landmark day for the Coleman's. Twenty-one years ago, 1 August 1985, I first set foot on African soil when our family stepped off the plane in Kinshasa, Zaire. A lot has occurred since that day. I still remember the excitement and fear as someone grabbed my passport and disappeared into a crowd. Someone else grabbed our luggage and ran a different direction. There I was, with a wife and two small children and stumbling through high school French-a language spoken only in American high schools. Someone "Bon jour Paul. Comment va tu" did not come in very handy when running after complete strangers in a totally foreign atmosphere. Over two decades later I am a little more adept at handling foreign airports but the excitement still remains when I realize why we are here and what we are doing.

In addition, yesterday was the 9th anniversary of the day when Sherry and I were married. A lot has happened since that day, as well. There have been a lot of interesting events and situations and God has blessed tremendously.

We are currently in the midst of two building programs and numbers of people are utilizing the Christian Resource Centre. When we look back at what we were doing nine years ago and compare with what we are doing today, it is both amazing and thrilling to see what the Lord has done in our lives. I was told many years ago that God may not give us everything we envision but He would never give us more. That has been proven to be false because God has given us more than we ever dreamed possible.

The Source of Light Bible Correspondence School continues to grow steadily with twenty-three new students enrolling in the last few weeks. Two hundred and fifty four lessons were distributed, one hundred and ninety seven were corrected and twenty-three certificates of completion were awarded. One of our young men in the English speaking church, was transferred to Chipata, 13 hours away by road, and was unable to complete his discipleship series with me so I sent him the last three books and he will send them back to me one at a time for correction and comments.

The Equal Yet Different class has concluded. Questions still arise from the lessons and we are continuing to meet with those who are interested. One young pastor came in specifically asking questions on "pride, envy and jealousy" for use in his weekly small group bible studies. We have an outreach into congregations where we have not personally visited yet because of the scope of our ministry, we are having an influence.

This coming Sunday I will be preaching in Buntungwa Compound. This is another one of the young fellowships I helped to start with Zambian leaders.

They are in the process of rebuilding on their property. Two years ago they build a mud-brick structure and now they are using burnt bricks which were made onsite by members of the church. This is another example of churches in rural Zambia that are able to do things on their own with minimal missionary help.

Thank you for praying for Colin's surgery. This past weekend the steel plate was removed from his leg and he is healing well and walking without the aid of crutches. He should be back in action in another five weeks.

Please pray for our students in the various areas of ministry. Many are preparing for final exams later this year. Quite a few of them are spending as much time in private tutoring as they are in formal classes. Still, the Friday afternoon youth classes and the children are asking a multitude of questions about Heaven. We are able to be here because you make it possible through your prayers and support. Thank you for being a part of this ministry.

In His service,

Patrick & Sherry

19 July 2006

Greetings from Luanshya!

Several years ago I was asked what are the two most frustrating aspects about living in a 3^rd world country. My answer was two-fold, transportation and communication. God has blessed us with reliable vehicles that allow us to travel on the less than perfect rural paths with only minor problems like a muffler falling off or a tire being torn to shreds by the sharp edges of a pothole. We have learned to take these things in stride and simply prepare for the repairs.

Communication is another issue altogether. The situation is greatly improved since 21 years ago when I first set foot on the African continent. Back in those days it was not unusual for a First Class Airmail letter to take six to eight weeks to arrive at its final destination. Answers were also six to eight weeks in arriving. Telephone calls in and out of Zaire were incredibly expensive (US$10 per minute) when the phones worked. Back in those days, we often traveled the four hours into Zambia to make a phone call for “only US$6 per minute”. We have slowly become more accustomed to faster mail service, working telephones and more recently e-mail. It is probably a sign of the times that we are now frustrated when an e-mail letter takes two hours to upload but we are happy to announce that Zamnet has worked with us to improve service. For the first time in six months Sherry is actually typing this letter on her own computer since she can now send it via e-mail from the office. We’re catching up!

The work continues. Last Sunday brother Chibumba preached a very good message on “Obedience To God’s Command—Children, Honour Your Father and Mother”. In a place where there are more children than adults, this admonition is very timely. As I looked around the room, I realized that there were twice as many young people and children as there were adults. This is the case all over Zambia . We are very pleased that we have been able to have an outreach to the youth. Not only are they attending the youth meeting on Friday, but they are coming into the Resource Centre to read and study the things of the Lord. Their questions are often very pointed as they live situations that would frighten the average American teen. Please remember to pray for the various ministries that include our younger members of society in Zambia .  

We have begun the next phase of the building of the sanctuary for the English speaking work. Sand, stone and cement has been delivered. Workers will begin the forming of the concrete slab next week. At the Kafubu Block chapel, the pillars are being reinforced to support the new metal roof which will be completed, Lord willing, by the end of August. We will take pictures of the two projects and they will be posted on our website for viewing. We will keep you updated on the building progress.

God has been good to us and has blessed us in many ways. This includes, of course, the many friends and partners that we have who join us in prayer over this ministry.  

In His service,

Patrick & Sherry

12 July 2006

Greetings from Luanshya!

For some time we have been working with the Kafubu Block believers. A few years ago this local gathering faded almost into oblivion. Brother Katandula began encouraging them and I was invited to spend some time teaching the church leadership. Today they have an active Sunday School program, ladies ministry and outreach into the rural farming community. They built a permanent structure with burnt brick as opposed to the mud brick structure in which they had been meeting for some time. The roof project has started.

This includes making sure that the pillars line up and that there is a strong enough ring band around the structure to support a steel roof.

Members of the congregation have been bringing sand and stone for the last month, one bucket at a time to the work site. They had a special offering and managed to purchase cement. Every Wednesday there is a church-wide workday. The men are making more bricks and the women come and fix lunch and do whatever they can do to help out. It is exciting to watch this small group of believers take the initiative to build their own building. It will be even more exciting as we help them put the metal roof on the building in the next few weeks. Please pray as they continue in their labors as a testimony in their community.

The small group study on "Equal Yet Different-gender issues from a biblical perspective" continues. This evening we talked about the responsibility of husbands and wives as taught by Peter and Paul in the New Testament. The whole concept of submission has a negative connotation in today's society.

Yet when it is explained, biblically, it makes such perfect sense. The Bible commands a man to understand his wife and give himself for her as Christ gave Himself for the Church. The woman is told to submit and be the helper that God created Eve to be to Adam. So very often, in society here, men feel that they have the right to beat their wives into submission. This, of course, is ludicrous and the Bible in no terms condones this kind of activity. Part of the problem that we have is the extremism...if a little is good; a lot is better...so I will make my wife obey. Countermanding generations of tradition with biblical principles is not always an easy task, but we are seeing a break through in the lives of some.

Over the last year we have had a Canadian Youth Exchange student in Luanshya. She has stayed with several families in our community. Sherry and I have been her counselors while during her stay. For the last six weeks she has lived in our home and lived as our "daughter". Colin has actually enjoyed having a sister around for the last week. Yesterday morning we took her to the airport and said goodbye. She put the Bible we gave her 11 months ago into her back and said she would be reading it during the long voyage home. Please pray that our lives and the lives of our young people has had a positive impact on Courtney's life.

The youth meeting on Friday afternoons continues to be exciting. The children are showing up early and staying through the Bible study at the end. They are asking questions and responding to the lessons. Some of them are coming into the Christian Resource Centre through and reading various materials for themselves. We are thrilled to see the interest and to make ourselves available to answer their questions. The Youth Centre is getting good use as the teens invite their friends to participate in the various activities prior to each weeks' Bible lesson. Interesting enough, we have more boys coming to the meeting than girls. Please pray as this ministry continues to grow.

In His service,

Patrick & Sherry

21 June 2006

Greetings from Luanshya!

Maintenance is never an easy thing in Zambia. When the plumbing goes bad, it goes bad all over the place. Add to that the fact that the parts for repairs are never found in one place. We had to make a few "minor" alterations to the plumbing in our house. The young plumber told us it would take about five hours. Two weeks later, the job is completed with only a few "minor"

leaks. We'll sort that out later. The good thing about the plumbing job is that both the plumber and his helper began to ask questions about what we do and why we are here. After they finished the work, they came back to speak with me and I was able to lead both of them to the Lord. Please pray for these young men and their families as we work to see them grow in the Lord.

Mr. Mwanza was baptized last Sunday. We found in further discussions that Mr. and Mrs. Mwanza have some family issues with which they must deal. We will be spending time with them and ask that you pray for wisdom on our part and boldness on their part to sort out the situation.

One of the young people told us last week that she heard several people talking about the youth meeting. We did not know what to expect when we invited four young boys to come for a Bible study on Heaven. We were pleased to have over twenty young people show up for an hour and a half of games, music and Bible study. One of the young men came back on Sunday with a friend to hear more. Please pray for this youth work as Sherry and I team teach the boys and girls.

Yesterday afternoon a man came into the Resource Centre to study further on the subject of "The World, The Flesh and The Devil." He had a difficult time differentiating between the "world" that God loves and "the world" of which we are to be wary. He spent nearly an hour going through resource materials, reflecting on a correspondence lesson he did with us and referring each step of the way back to the scriptures. This is why we have the Resource Centre.

So many people who seek answers to their questions and here we are in the middle of town ready to assist with biblical answers. Pray for the many who utilize the facility.

We are pleased to be used in the Lord's service to help people find answers to their spiritual and emotional questions. Thank you for allowing us to represent you in Zambia.

In His service,

Patrick & Sherry

7 June 2006

Greetings from Luanshya!

A week of challenges and blessings. We have been struggling for the past several weeks with chaotic water supply. Fortunately, this has been rectified. There are a few problems that remain, but that should be solved by the weekend. On Sunday the entire country of Zambia was without electrical power for two hours and our Province was dark for nearly four.

This, too, has been rectified. However, we have received word from the electric company that there will be power outages from time to time over the next week while they run some maintenance checks and try to solve the problem that they discovered last weekend. With these problems we still had blessings.

Last Thursday four high school students stepped into the Resource Centre after reading some of the public notices we have displayed. The question asked is: Do you know you will go to heaven when you die? They came in and told Sherry that they did not know if Heaven even existed. They said that there are a lot of young people who have the same question. Instead of giving the answer to one or two people at a time, we suggested a youth bible study on the subject. So...on Friday afternoon, at 2 p.m., we will open the Youth Centre for those who want to come to play some games then we will delve into what the Word of God says about Heaven (where it is and how to get there). One young man came to the Resource Centre this afternoon to confirm that the meeting was still on. I assured him that it was and he is looking forward to being here. Please pray for these young people. Death is very real to them because they see it every day. To know the answer to the question "What happens after death?" will help them prepare for eternity.

This past Sunday the Sunday School completed their lessons "Living the Christian Life" and will commence with their Memory Verse Competition this coming weekend. The young people are keen to recite the last 13 weeks worth of scripture not only because this helps them to "hide God's Word in their heart" but also the incentive of receiving a bookmark and the accolades of their peers upon successfully completing the series. Pray for the young children as they grow through Sunday School.

In the afternoon I visited with Mr. and Mrs. Mwanza. They are new residents in Luanshya and have been visiting our services for the last several weeks.

They come from a mixed religious background. They came to know the Lord just a few months before moving to our small town. Mrs. Mwanza was baptized but Mr. Mwanza was recuperating from an automobile accident and could not be baptized at the same time as his wife. Therefore, this coming Sunday I will be baptizing Mr. Mwanza and both of them will join the fellowship at Fellowship Chapel.

This afternoon we are beginning a discussion series on "Equal Yet Different"

utilizing the book by Alexander Strauch. There has been a lot of debate in Zambia about gender roles and issues. The government has sponsored various seminars; the press has published numerous articles. We thought it was our turn to present God's perspective on gender roles. We will let you know how this unique presentation was received next week.

The Source of Light Bible Correspondence School has been quite active of late. Just yesterday Sherry enrolled a number of new students from various schools. We are pleased to see the continued interest in our material and praise the Lord for the many opportunities afforded to us. One young church leader in the Roan area requested if it was possible for him to send his leadership to us for enrollment. He has seen that their knowledge of the Word is limited. He is new to that local gathering and wishes to build God's Church.

It has been a very full week. We appreciate your prayers on our behalf.

In His service,

Patrick & Sherry

31 May 2006

Greetings from Luanshya!

One of the young men we have been working with over the years, Augustine, came back to visit us this week. Two years ago he moved to Livingstone, hoping to find work. He has had some small success at that, but he misses being with us. He mentioned that if there was any possibility of finding work in Luanshya he would immediately move back. Unfortunately, that is not the situation we find ourselves in this small town. It was an encouragement to, specifically, as he sat in her office for 30 minutes sharing his desires and dreams. He returns to Livingstone next Wednesday. We will be providing him with a number of books for his growing personal library. Please continue to pray for Augustine as he continues preparing for his life and ministry.

Last Saturday we had a very unusual experience. We were about to show the film, "The Bible vs. The Book of Mormon". We had advertised it at the Christian Resource Centre and a couple of schools in town. Three young people came in to the chapel and sat in the back row just about the time the film was to start. One of the young people has come into the library to ask questions about what the Mormon church really teaches. Suddenly one of the young people that the Mormon church is grooming for leadership walked into the room and forcefully tried to drag these young people out. When I confronted him he said, "we are leaving". I escorted him to the door and said, "you are quite welcome to leave but you are not going to force anyone else to do what they do not want to do." Unfortunately, the young people he came to retrieve were embarrassed and left with him. There were still 30 people in the room who remained to watch the film. Some of them were amazed at the obvious fabrications of Joseph Smith's imagination. A couple of the visitors asked if we were going to show it again so they can bring their friends. We will, of course, at a later date and we will advertise it as the film the Mormon's do not want you to watch. Please continue to pray for the young people of Zambia. They are drawn to anything new and especially those things that come from America, even the cults.

Last Sunday was fantastic. I was out at the Kafubu Block church. They had their "harvest offering" at the conclusion of the service. Families were bringing in bags of corn, peanuts, sweet potatoes, beans and one man even brought in a bag of charcoal. All these things will be sold to help with their building program. As a special gift to me, they gave me some of the sweet potatoes, peanuts and the bag of charcoal as a form of thank you for coming out to them to preach the Word of God. It is very humbling when people who have so little generously give. We will use this gift to help others in our community.

There are so many facets to this ministry. We feel blessed to be used of God in this manner. The Christian Resource Centre will be hosting a series on "Equal Yet Different---The Biblical Perspective on Gender Issues". We would appreciate your prayers as we embark on this politically sensitive discussion.

In His service,

Patrick & Sherry

24th May 2006

Greetings from Luanshya!

Sometimes God just sends somebody along to encourage us. This week I met Henry. He is a Zambian who teaches in a university in Texas. He married an American girl a few years ago and brought her to Luanshya to meet his family. They were walking by the front of the Christian Resource Centre and saw the window display. It says: Things You Will Not Find in Hell. In the window I have placed a number of items. There will be no light - it is called "outer darkness" in Matthew 8:12. There will be no water - even Lazarus could not dip his finger to comfort the rich man in Luke 16:24.

There will be no clock - it is everlasting punishment according to Matthew 25:46. There are another dozen items in the window that portray the emptiness of hell. We were closed that evening so Henry came by to see us the next day. He told me that he went to the United States to go to university and was hired to teach after he completed his masters degree.

Henry and his wife attend a small Baptist church in College Station, Texas, and he wanted to come in and see just what we were doing. It was an encouragement to see this young Zambian Christian come in and visit with me for over an hour. God has been using him both in his church and in his profession. He thanked me for sharing the Gospel with his countrymen and we prayed together that God would bless him in his life and ministry in the States. He did mention the fact that his wife had fallen in love with Zambia after only an few short weeks here on her first visit, so who knows what God has in store for this young couple. Lease pray for Henry and his wife (I cannot recall her name) as they continue to grow together in Christ.

This week we will be showing the documentary film: "The Bible Versus The Book of Mormon" at the Chapel. The film goes step-by-step through the proofs that the Bible is historically and archaeologically true while the Book of Mormon has not one shred of evidence that it is anything but a collection of fabricated stories. It is amazing that a book like this can be presented as "the most correct book on earth" (according to Joseph Smith) when it is literally filled with errors and unsubstantiated fiction. One example in the book of Mormon is that Joseph Smith says Jesus was born in Jerusalem instead of Bethlehem. The film is one-hour long and should help to initiate questions from the community about the fact that the Mormon church is simply a man-made cult. Please pray with us that people will come with open minds so we can show them the truth of the Bible and the one and only Word of God.

This coming Sunday I'll be returning to the Kafubu Block church 20 miles from Luanshya. The rains have stopped (though we did have a surprise shower on Monday) so we can remove the grass roof of the chapel there and put on the metal roof that has been so generously provided by a church in Southern California. I'll take pictures of the progress and send them in the weeks ahead. The congregation made their own bricks and built the chapel using their own resources, but the roof is out of their reach financially so we are going to help. This church had all but died a few years ago, but Bro Katandula has been working with them over the past year and a half and they have found a new energy and purpose in this rural community. Pray for the service on Sunday and for the labour as we begin this work.

It has been a great week and God has blessed in so many ways. We certainly appreciate your prayers on our behalf as we remain...

In His Service,

Patrick & Sherry

10 May 2006

Greetings from Luanshya!

It has been a few weeks since we had an opportunity to sit and jot our notes. This is due, in part, to the fact that our internet service has been absolutely awful and also to the fact that Sherry a few days away from home and drove down to visit friends in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe.

The work has continued to be challenging. During the school holidays there was an increase in the number of school children who attended the programs at the Christian Resource Centre. One young man stopped me today and apologized for not coming into the library to continue reading the book called "The Godmakers" (an expose of Latter Day Saints). He has recently found a job and does not get off work until 5 p.m. I suggested that he talk to his boss about either taking early or late lunch so he can continue reading the book. He thought that was a great idea and promised to try. It is encouraging to know that we are having an impact on the lives of not only children but young adults in Luanshya.

One of our young men, Moyo, has recently moved to Chipata. Chipata on the eastern border of Zambia which is 12 1/2 hours away from us over some very poorly paved roads. He phones me once a week just to see how we are doing.

He is continuing his discipleship course "by extension" because the distance is too far to sit with me on a regular basis. He is just about to finish the third book of seven and phoned last night to let me know that he is preparing to send it back for correction. While we are happy that he has found a vocation in which he can be of service, it is a loss to the local church to have this vibrant young man move so far away. Please pray for Moyo as he prepares for his life and service to the Lord.

Sarah Bwalya is expecting her second child any day now. Her husband, John, came in to tell us that she had just spent three days in hospital with a serious case of malaria. As we have mentioned before, malaria is the number one killer of children and pregnant women in Zambia. She is feeling better but is currently staying with her parents, here in town, until after the baby is born since the nearest health clinic near their village, where they teach, is 45 minutes away by bicycle. Not the best mode of transport for a woman in labor. Please pray for Sarah and John as they prepare for this newest member of the family. Also pray that John will have his request for a transfer back to Luanshya honored by the Ministry of Education. He really wants to be back with us in the English speaking work.

This coming Sunday I will have the opportunity to go to the village of Kasongo, about 16 miles from Luanshya through the bush (jungle). I have been looking forward to this meeting for two months. Witchcraft is prevalent in this village and we have been informed by reliable sources that it has even crept into the church. Please pray that God will give me wisdom and the right words to say and that the members of the church will be honest when confronted with the problem. I have personally dealt with witchdoctors in the past and if necessary will do so again.

Your prayers are always appreciated.

Together in His service,

Patrick & Sherry

5 April 2006

Greetings from Luanshya!

A couple weeks ago I was asked why we seldom mention our health and personal items in our weekly updates. To be honest, there is usually so much going on that we trim a lot of the personal issues out in deference to speaking about ministry items. Having said that, let me give you a brief update on my medical review for cancer in South Africa last week. The surgeon was very pleased with the progress and said that there does not appear to be any recurrence "at this time". He did, however, double my prescription for one of the medications but said it was a precautionary action and that I should not be overly concerned. Well, the phrase "overly concerned" always causes some concern, but the surgeon did not appear to be worried and said I did not need to see him for another six months. The biggest bother I have right now is the fact that I broke my foot seven weeks ago so I am hobbling around Luanshya (with a "moonboot) or being chauffeured by Sherry. My visits have been curtailed to outlying villages because of I cannot drive. This annoyance will last for another three weeks. I appreciate your prayers. Sherry and Colin are doing well. Colin may have his steel plate removed from his leg some time in August.

Rains are coming to a close for the season. The storms are fewer but very fierce when they do pass through the area. Church leaders from outlying villages are able to visit and we are now setting up a number of meetings beginning in May. Please pray for us during this upcoming dry season. There are a number of projects and meetings we wish to hold and the leaders of the churches are eager to have extra training "on site".

We recently learned of the home going of a very dear friend of Sherry. This senior has been a supporter of the ministry for over 16 years. She left Sherry a legacy for the work of the Lord which we will be directing towards the correspondence ministry as both she and her late husband were instrumental in guiding Sherry towards this ministry 20 years ago. We thank the Lord for those who consider leaving behind something that will last for eternity!

At the request of several people in town, we will be re-showing "The Passion of the Christ" during the Passion Week. This coming Sunday I will be talking about Christ's triumphant entry into Jerusalem on what we call Palm Sunday and the lessons he taught over the next few days leading up to his crucifixion and resurrection. Traditionally this is the time of year when people who never come to church will make a special effort. Please pray that the services in all the churches where we serve will be "fruitful".

Your part in our ministry is deeply appreciated.

Together in His service,

Patrick & Sherry

22 March 2006

Malaria is the biggest killer in Africa! Almost everyone who lives here will, at some point in his or her life, get it. Treatment is simple, take the medication and go to bed. On Monday, one of our wards at the Lighthouse, turned 14. He also came down with an acute case of malaria. We had him tested by our family physician who determined that he had stage 3 malaria. The doctor was concerned that it would move to his brain and cause cerebral malaria which is usually fatal and if not can cause brain damage.

We took Dickson to the hospital and the doctor there started him on an i.v. of quinine. Nothing is quite so heart rending as seeing an active child brought to his knees by such a debilitating disease. This afternoon when we went to visit our boy, we found that the i.v. tube had twisted and pinched close in three places meaning that the medicine was not moving into his blood stream. We alerted the nurse on duty who corrected the situation. Sadly, she should have noticed this much earlier in the day and we would have seen a marked improvement by the time of our visit. Please pray for Dickson and for those caring for him at the hospital. 

This morning we received four boxes of books for inclusion in the Christian Resource Centre. It is always exciting when these kinds of surprises arrive. We have begun sorting through the books to determine what goes where. A very special thank you to Judy in Florida for her gift of love.

This weekend I am traveling to South Africa for a review of my cancer surgery back in August 2005. There has been no noticeable change or additional growths, but the surgeon wants to take a look every few months just to make sure that there is a progressive recovery. We would appreciate your prayers for a safe trip down and back and an "all clear" from the oncologist.

Sherry has been keeping busy in the Resource Centre. A number of young people have been paying her visits, asking questions about various life issues as well as enrolling in the Source of Light correspondence program. Pray for the young people as they seek answers to issues that affect them in their daily walk. Pray also for the many temptations that face today's youth. Whether in the United States or Zambia, peer pressure and temptation is all the same. May we be able to provide a safe harbor for those who wish to keep on the straight and narrow.

We wish to thank you for your continued prayers. We greatly value your partnership.

In His service,

Patrick & Sherry

15 March 2006

Only two books in the Bible are named after a woman. One does not specifically mention the name of God, but both exemplify His redemptive grace. In Esther the existence of the people of Israel is preserved because of the courage of a young woman found in the right place at the right time with doing the right thing. In Ruth we see the courage of another woman who chose to leave her comfort and customs of her pagan nation to follow the ways of the Lord God and take His nation as Her nation.

The village of Kasongo is one that continues to be steeped in the practice and fear of witchcraft. Unfortunately, this transcends even to those in the Church. I have received an invitation to go to Kasongo in a couple of weeks to teach and preach in one of the small fellowships. It is their hope that my presence and testimony might be a means of strength to the believers. Please pray that hearts and minds might be prepared for my visit and that the people might turn from idols to the One True God.

In the English speaking work at Luanshya the Sunday School will be studying The Book That Last Forever. They will focus beyond the inspiration aspect to the preservation, translation and interpretation of God's Word through the centuries. We hope to see the children come to a broader realization that God's Word will never fade away (Mark 13:31). Pray for the Sunday School and for Sherry as she teaches them the truths of the Word.

Sherry received a phone call from a former student and user of the Christian Resource Centre. He lived in Luanshya several years ago until he was employed one of the international banks and was moved to Lusaka. He now manages one of the banking departments. Kayula simply wanted us to know that he missed his time in the Resource Centre and asked if he could visit us on one of the trips he makes to the Copperbelt Province. We are, of course, always to see one of our young people and to hear of their success and forward march in the Lord's service. We always find it interesting to note where our students go when they leave Luanshya. We have them scattered all over Zambia serving as lights to their local communities. Your support of the ministry makes this possible so your light shines further still.

We appreciate the part you have in our lives and ministry.

In His service,

Patrick & Sherry

1 March 2006

Joshua 1:18; 3 teaches us that God leads us to no waters He cannot part, no brink He cannot cross, no pain He cannot bear. Joshua was given very specific orders: "be strong," "go view," "cross over," "remember," and circumcise when he received his commendation to lead God's people into the Promised Land. This brought to mind a statement someone once made-"God specializes in dry sandals." He loves to start with an impossible situation in our lives...and then do the impossible.

When the nation of Israel approached the Jordan, God demanded a step of obedience before they could cross. The priests, like drum majors leading a three-million-member marching band, had to hike to the brink of the flood-swollen Jordan and take that first step into the water. Then-and only then-would God perform a miracle, roll back the waters, dry up the puddles, and send the people across kicking up dust at every step! Dry sandals followed trusting obedience. Where in your life is God waiting for you to take that first step of faith?

It was 8 years ago this month that we took our own leap of faith, ministry wise, by initiating a new Bible correspondence work. Having been involved with the distribution of Emmaus Bible courses for 14 years and serving as a Director, both in the USA and Zambia, we chose to try a new format and simpler yet more extensive curriculum by linking with the "Mailbox Club" also known as Source of Light Ministries based in Georgia, USA. Courses are distributed free of charge to young and old alike and we, ourselves, cover the cost as part of the agreement with Source of Light Ministries. Each student is met in person, interviewed and a relationship developed as every lesson is distributed to and collected by the student from the Christian Resource Centre which we opened also 8 years ago as a venue for the community of Christians for the purpose of personal Bible study and a venue for periodic Bible conferences and seminars.

We began the correspondence work with 25 copies of each title, not knowing how the new material would be received. To our utter amazement the stock ran out in two months time and we've never looked back! Today we have over 3,500 enrolled students in Luanshya alone, place quarterly orders for replacement and new lessons and grant Certificates of Completion on a monthly basis. Granted, some of our students have graduated, others have moved away and others have been promoted to Glory but the fact remains, in taking that step of faith, God has richly blessed His work and we have had a sense of fulfillment ever since. Many souls have either come to know Christ as their personal Saviour or grown in their faith through studying the lessons and making use of the materials in the Resource Centre. Eight years ago we began with with 95 separate lesson books. Today we offer more than 146 and expect to increase the curriculum in the next year, Lord willing, by another 12 books.

Praise the Lord with us, as we continue to "be strong" and courageous, as we "go view" where he asks us in preparation to, "cross over" to the next promise, as we "remember" all he has brought us through in order to rejoice in His goodness.

Thank you for your continued prayers on our behalf as we reach the lost, lift up the downhearted, train new leaders and serve the King.

In His service,

Patrick & Sherry

22 February 2006

After reading Deuteronomy 5-7 this week, we were reminded of the fairy tale about the goose that laid the golden egg. The story goes this way: A farmer, upon discovering a most remarkable golden-egg-laying goose got impatient about having to wait for the daily quota of eggs. He chopped off the goose's head to find the source of the eggs...and in a fit of impatience destroyed the very source of his prosperity.

"I want it all-and I want it now!" is the cry of the day, even among many Christians. But God is not limited by our impatient timetables. He gave the Israelites a principle for conquest which still applies today: "little by little" (Dt. 7:22). God's methods often take time. He could have given the land to Israel in a day, but instead He instructed them to move step by step, trusting Him each step of the way. God's way is not rush, rush, rush but little by little. Let us look for a small but significant step of growth to take today whether it is a verse to memorize, a command to obey, a promise to treasure.

Even as missionaries, we occasionally put the cart before the horse in our exuberance to expand a ministry, grow a church or train a new believer. Pray for us as we balance our personal lives, ministry and community outreach through the year. Impatience is a characteristic many of us lay claim to. May God deliver us from the "rush" and into his loving embrace. 

Over the past month we have been sharing news about one of our wards from the Lighthouse Children's Home. Andrew continues to spend his afternoons in the Resource Centre learning new things on the computer, creating documents for school and utilizing his new found knowledge. Last week Sherry walked by him and heard strange words coming out of his mouth and was taken aback when she noted that he was trying to listen to and imitate greetings from other languages using Encarta. He would listen to a statement four times and then repeat it as if it was his own tongue. It is amazing what children pickup! Just the other day he went through some Bible stories and prepared a brief devotional for his friends back at school. We must admit that it brought tears to our eyes that he would think of the eternal destiny of his classmates and take time out of his own schedule to present a message of hope and redemption to them. Praise the Lord with us for Andrew's current activities and interests. He is only 10 years old.

The Children's Church program has just begun a series on "The Word of God". This past Sunday Sherry taught a lesson on inspiration, the time frame involved in the writing and compilation of the scriptures, the uniformity of scripture and languages of the original scriptures. The children played that old game of "telephone" where one child starts off with a statement and it passes from one child to the next. By the time you get to the final person, the story resembles nothing of the actual initial statement. This exercise was to show the boys and girls why God wished to have His Word in written form as opposed to an oral format. Pray for the children as they learn more about how we came to possess the scriptures as we know them today and how God's Word has remained unchanged through thousands of years.

Thank you for your prayers on our behalf and those whom we serve. May you know God's richest blessing in the week ahead.

In His service,

Patrick & Sherry

8 February 2006

Greetings from Luanshya!

This mornings reading was from Psalm 145. We were reminded there is no such thing as the pursuit of happiness, there is only the discovery of joy. Let Psalm 145 serve as your prayer of celebration, honoring the God who gives you life and joy as you serve Him from day to the next.

We have had a busy week in the Resource Centre. A number of people have enrolled in the Source of Light correspondence series while others have come to either retrieve their lessons or utilize the resources in the library. One young man has been dealing with marital problems. He is working through one of Dr. James Dobson's books in an effort to understand his wife and how he can support her through some trying circumstances. Please pray for M as he searches for answers to strengthen his relationship with his spouse.

The Sunday School has completed their series on "Beginnings". This Sunday will be the quarterly memory verse competition where the children recite all 13 verses for games and prizes. It astounds us to see the participation rate in this exercise. Not a child misses the opportunity to share what they have learned and show they have hidden God's Word in their heart or at least their minds. Let us pray that as the children go about their daily lives, God's Word will return prompt them during tempting occasions and they refrain from ungodly activities.

One of the children from the Lighthouse Children's Home has been visiting with Sherry over the last week. He has been learning about computers and has been going through the Bible programs for children that have been placed on a computer donated to us last year for use in the Resource Centre. Yesterday he was using the Baker's Bible Dictionary for Children. "Aunty, I want to know more about Noah. Is there anything here that can help me?" So they embarked on a world of discovery. Please continue to remember our children as we bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.

A young couple visited the church last Sunday for the second time. After the service they asked some questions about the church background and doctrinal statement. We were pleased to be able to discuss these things with them and provide a pamphlet full of scripture concerning faith and practice at Fellowship Chapel. Later this week the couple will be coming to the Resource Centre to enroll in the correspondence series. Please pray for those passing through the local fellowship, that their hearts may be touched by the Word of God and convicted to make decision that will change their lives forever.

Thank you for your prayers on our behalf. We rejoice in your fellowship and labor of love.

In His service,

Patrick & Sherry

1 February 2006

Greetings from Luanshya!

Today we read about three Old Testament sacrifices prescribed for each Israelite (Lev. 1-3). But did you know that the New Testament describes at least three "sacrifices" prescribed for each believer-three ways for us to offer a sacrifice to God today?

Instead of a whole burnt offering, we can offer our body as "a living sacrifice...unto God" (Rom. 12:1). In place of a meal offering, we might offer from our material possessions "an acceptable sacrifice" by helping someone in financial need (like the Philippians did for Paul; Phil. 4:18). Instead of the peace offering, we could offer the "sacrifice of praise" to God (Heb. 13:15), a verbal expression of thanksgiving for His care and provision in our lives.

We were touched this past week by some of the children at the Lighthouse Children's Home when they arrived at the church, Sunday morning, holding plastic bags of shoes and clothing that no longer fit. Each felt compelled to offer to God something that could be used by another in need instead of hoarding the items "just in case". Often children from similar backgrounds tend to keep all and sundry for fear of having nothing. We are pleased with the children's spiritual maturity and desire to serve the Lord in practical ways. Thank you for remembering our wards in your prayers.

A young Bible teacher has been frequenting the Resource Centre lately in search of answers to many of life's questions. Last week he was asking questions and researching the topic of "commitment". This week he is concerned about believers and the need for setting goals in the realm of ones daily physical life and spiritual life. He has noted that many of the local Christians fail to take into consideration the need to set goals for their life and ministry simply living from day to day without a plan for success. We provided some resources for review as well as took the opportunity to sit and look at what God's Word has to say about such a subject. Please pray for this brother as he seeks to meet the spiritual needs of his brothers and sisters in Christ.

The Sunday early morning "Caddy Chapel" has been suspended until the rains have cleared a bit. We have experienced such torrential rains the last few weeks that driving out to the golf course during the early morning hours and finding few of the young men present becomes a bit frustrating but when we sit back and realize "we drive...they walk...in the rain," well you come to understand their situation. A couple of the men came to see us the other day and expressed their appreciation for the time and effort put into preparing specialized lessons for the group and look forward to the resumption of the program once the rains have calmed down a bit in a couple months time.

Please continue to pray for the caddies as they seek God's truth. The children's bell choir at the chapel is going well. Sherry just introduced the children to two-part harmony. They were having such a chuckle out of trying to time two different bells at once that you could hardly tell what was supposed to be played. We are glad to see the children learning a new skill and giving praise to the Lord through song, even when it's off key. Thank you for praying for the bell choir. They hope to have a small "concert" within the next month or so, depending on whether they get the harmony down or not. (smile).

Thank you for remembering us in your prayers.

In His service,

Patrick & Sherry

25 January 2006

"Being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace." (Eph. 4:3)

This Scripture spells out the goal of the worthy walk: the unity of the Spirit. Jesus prayed for Christian's "that they may all be one; even as Thou, Father, art in Me, and I in thee, that they also may be in Us; that the world may believe that Thou didst send Me" (Jn. 17:21). Our witness to the world depends on our unity as believers.

This weekend we had the opportunity to officiate at the burial of the wife of one of our deacons. She had been sick for some time and the doctors were unable to find the cause of her illness. It is particularly striking, since her husband is a surgical nurse and familiar with and has access to many of the test procedures and yet, nothing had been identified. In keeping with the verse of the week, we saw believers from all over the Luanshya District and beyond come for the funeral and to mourn with the family. The unity of the Body of Christ for the purpose of being with a brother and his family in loss was comforting. Not a moment went by over the last 6 days when our friend wasn't accompanied and supported by a brother or sister in Christ. At the graveside he reminded everyone that his wife is in a far better place and well now, worshipping and praising the Lord. Please pray for those who attended the services, that they may have seen the love of Christ and the unity of the brethren as they gathered around the family. Please pray, also, for the Chinoya family as they go through this period of loss, pick up the pieces of their lives and continue to witness of Christ and His love.

Early in the week Sherry met with one of the people who frequents the Christian Resource Centre. The friend had many questions about the role of the believer after one comes to a saving knowledge of the Lord Jesus. "If the lifestyle does not change rapidly, is there a problem?" "How about if some years have passed and that person is still unfamiliar with faith and works?" "What about the role of the Holy Spirit in that persons life?" "When should the church step in and discipline the believer?" Many of the questions tended to focus on the fact that the local churches are failing in the area of discipleship and a consistent mentoring program. People go out and evangelize, introduce the new convert to the church and abandon them. Sherry stated that there is much more to the Great Commission than "preaching the gospel". We are also commanded to teach, baptize and send these people out to fulfill the great commission as well. She went on to introduced the friend to some of the material we use at Fellowship Chapel and invited the friend to participate in some of the training seminars we run on Christian Growth. The plethora of study books in the library plus exposure to the bible correspondence aspect of the ministry should greatly help this searching soul. Please pray for those who seek to know the truth and grow in their faith.

Please pray for the unity of the brethren in each of the local churches. This being the rainy season, we find it difficult to get out to some of the more remote areas. Those church leaders who have been seeking advice and guidance are left to deal with some of their problems in seclusion. Pray that they make godly decisions as they lead their flocks. 

Please pray for those coming in to the Resource Centre. Many children are still returning from the Christmas holiday. Grade 9 and grade 12 exam results are due out in the next week or two so we expect activity to pick up once the children know what lies ahead.

Thank you for remembering us in your daily prayers. You are an invaluable member of this ministry team and we appreciate the time you spend upon your knees. May God bless!

In His service,

Patrick & Sherry

18 January 2006

Greetings from Luanshya! 

There is no way of knowing if this message will be going out tonight or any time this week. Zambia Telecommunications (ZAMTEL) cables in Luanshya are wet and the rains have been coming down consistently day in and day out. Internet access is intermittent at best and completely non-existent most of the day.

Last Sunday I preached the first half of a message on 'How To Live The Victorious Life." I had not planned to preach only the first half but as I began to speak I began to illustrate some of the points. The response from the congregation allowed me to go deeper into the illustrations. We love storytelling and there was a lot of that in this message. Next week will be the conclusion with the "Seven Steps for a Victorious Life." Please pray for hearts to be prepared and lives changed in service to the King. 

Sunday afternoon we made a number of visits to members of the church and their families who had been very very ill. When somebody here has "a long illness" it generally refers to HIV-AIDS. While very few people will openly admit that they have this malady, there are those who have realized that the first step in treating the illness is to admit that they have it. Part of the problem is the stigma attached to the disease. Since 99.9% of those infected in Zambia have either been promiscuous or is married to someone who is, the tendency is to judge an infected individual. That is not our job nor our right: and it is certainly not our responsibility. As we visited with our friends, we were able to encourage them to follow doctor's orders, eat well, rest and remember that we love them as brothers and sisters in Christ. This disease always ends with a funeral. We know it. We have realized it. We plan for it. But, we do not have to fear it. Please pray for our Christian brothers and sisters as they deal with the ultimate consequence of their actions. God has forgiven them and He loves them. We do, too.

Mr. Phiri has spent several days in the Resource Centre over the last week. He saw the books in the front window concerning Mormonism. He is not a Mormon but he has had them come to his home. He knew there was "something wrong" with what they were saying but did not know exactly what it was. We visited for several minutes one afternoon and he has been coming in almost every day to read the book "Mormonism Unmasked." He said today that he felt more prepared to answer their false teachings even though he has not yet finished the book. He thanked us for making the information available and said he was sharing it with some of his friends in church. It is difficult to understand how a religion that is so openly racist can make any kind of advance in a country where they claim the entire population is "cursed by God." Please pray for Mr. Phiri and for the others who are seeking the truth about this deadly cult.

Tomorrow, Thursday, is election day in the mining townships of Luanshya. There are nine candidates running for Member of Parliament, which is one seat. All week long there have been political rallies, bullhorns, banners and occasional altercations with the police. So far no one has been seriously hurt but the next 24 hours will be "interesting". In our English speaking church there are four parties represented, that we know of, and everyone is getting along just fine. In the rural areas that is not always the case. Please pray for peace during the election process.

God has been very good to us. We appreciate your prayers on our behalf.

Together in His service,

Patrick & Sherry

11 January 2006

Greetings from Luanshya!

As we write this week's letter, there is a monstrous storm heading our way. Wind has blown dust from the street higher than the buildings down town and people have run for cover. The raindrops have just now started beating on our metal roof. It looks like we may have a long, dark night. We rest in the assurance that there is no night so dark that the Master cannot see us.

Last Friday was the end of SCUBA-the Super Cool Undersea Bible Adventure. In spite of the rain we had about 30 children registered for that days program. At the conclusion of the lesson, all the children received prizes based on memory work, friends brought, attendance and carrying their Bible each day to SCUBA. Colin and John did very well in their participation in the program. Colin led the music and acted out the hand motions. John followed the lesson plan and taught every week. Sherry directed the program including games and crafts and our few volunteers filled in here and there. The children had a good time and said they learned a lot. Some have even attended our Sunday morning Sunday School. We also learned a few things as well, mainly conducting this kind of program during the rainy season greatly affects attendance. One of the questions asked by a child was "when are we doing it again?" Thank you for your prayers.

School began Monday! The children from the Lighthouse all came into the Resource Centre to cover their exercise books (jotters) as prescribed by their teachers. This gave Sherry an opportunity to ask them about their first couple of days and how they were liking their new teachers. Sherry spent several hours with the children both at the Resource Centre and the Home to check on their wardrobe and school materials. It is quite a challenge when there are six of them. There is always the "bits and pieces" to collect or purchase at the last minute. They are all in class and are all doing well...so far. We will keep you apprised of their progress during the year. Thank you for praying for these youngsters.

We have received a number of boxes of books from Ireland that will be integrated into the Library and Reading section of the Resource Centre. These are welcome additions to an already extensive collection of materials. Some of the books we gave to a few church leaders who will make good use of them.

Tonight we continue with the Creation to Christ lessons. This is, of course, anyone can make it in with the impending storm. This evening's lesson covers "The Arrival of Eve." The young men in the small group Bible study laugh when they thought about having a woman created just for them. We are enjoying our Bible study.

During the heaviest part of the rainy season it is very difficult for us to travel into the rural regions of Luanshya. Please pray for those church leaders who are living and working in these village areas as they continue to shepherd the flocks. These are dedicated men who have committed their lives to the Lord's service. Still, they face the same pressures and struggles that all leaders experience. We appreciate your remembering them.

Together in His service,

Patrick & Sherry

4 January 2006

Greetings from Luanshya!

We hope your 2005 ended well and your 2006 began well. We had a bit of excitement at the end of last week when the entire country of Zambia lost power for over an hour. Not just our province, not just our town but the entire country. There have been a number of reasons (excuses) given by the Zambia Electrical Supply Corporation, but all we customers were told was "there was a problem due to an electrical storm." Last night there was yet another nationwide hiccup. The lights were not out for an hour, but there was obviously some problem with the infrastructure in the electrical system around the country. We appreciate your prayers in this situation. The unstable electrical current has already cost us one freezer this past year and we hope not to lose any other major appliances in the coming months. The rains are still upon us for the next 3 1/2 months.

Last Wednesday we studied the creation of man in our Firm Foundations small group Bible study. Have you ever wondered about the color of the first man? This is often a question raised by Africans who have seen pictures of Adam and Eve in art books or in some cases pictures in their Bibles. Adam and Eve always seem to be pink. Everyone here knows that the best soil for your garden is black soil. So...was Adam made from the best soil? Where would God have found pink soil? It is an interesting questions and I have to admit that I just don't know. These are not always the kinds of questions you might hear in a Sunday School class in North America, but then again, we don't live in North America and our Zambian friends often ask questions that cause us to look outside our "North American box." Whatever color Adam was, we know that he is the physical father of all of us. Fortunately, the sins of the first Adam were washed away by the blood of the second Adam (Christ). This lesson won't be covered for several months, but we are stressing the fact that all men came from the first Adam in order to lay the foundation for full understanding of the work of the second Adam. Please pray for the young men in this small group Bible study and pray for me as I endeavor to find the answers to their questions using the Word of God. 

SCUBA comes to an end this coming Friday. The children that have been attending SCUBA were sitting in the second and third row of the main church service on Sunday. In the course of my introduction I made reference to the fact that we love God. The words "we love God" are key words in the lesson on Friday to which all the children shout "OK". The children forgot it was Sunday and not Friday and in the middle of the service three of them shouted "OK". The adults and older young people were a bit shocked but Sherry and I enjoyed knowing that our teaching was sinking in to their young minds and hearts. We are also encouraged that they are listening intently to the Sunday morning message. Pray for this final session and that the children will take their knew knowledge with them as they return to school next Monday.

Sherry and I spent a big part of today making preparations for the children from the Lighthouse to begin school next week. We spent US$241 so far just for notebooks, pens, pencils and backpacks. We still haven't finished paying for uniforms and haven't paid school fees. We appreciate, beyond our ability to express it, those who have assisted particularly in this ministry. The Lighthouse Children's Home is a major challenge for us because we are raising children whose foundation has been severely damaged. God is rebuilding that foundation one brick at a time. Please continue praying for these little ones and for those of us overseeing their upbringing.

Together in His service,

Patrick & Sherry

28 December 2005

Greetings from Luanshya! This will be the last of the weekly updates for 2005 and it seems like just last week we were just starting this year. Time flies when you're having fun!

People all over town are asking "How was your Christmas?" Usually in Africa that means: "Did you have enough food?" Our Christmas was, indeed, wonderful, but it was not just about the food on the table.

Our weekend began with S.C.U.B.A. - the Friday afternoon Bible Club for the children. Every week the group grows. We have two more weeks to go until school resumes on 9th January. We appreciate your prayers as we continue to teach the children the Bible truths they are learning on Friday afternoons.

On Saturday, Christmas Eve, Colin, Bro Chibumba and I visited the six veterans of World War Two that live in Luanshya. Most of these men are pretty feeble now. They fought in the "Northern Rhodesian" section of the British armed forces. One of them travelled as far away as Japan and Burma. We took food "hampers" supplied by eight different businesses here in Luanshya. These men were so touched by the fact that someone had remembered them that one of them actually hugged us - not common among men of this culture.

On Christmas Sunday morning I went to the golf course for my "Caddy Chapel". There were not many men there because of the rain, but we had a brief time of prayer and I shared a portion of Scripture. Some of these men have started coming to the Wednesday Bible study and the Friday film presentations.

We had one service on Sunday morning. Bro Chibumba preached a message on "Why Jesus Came." I have to admit that it was difficult to sit on a bench during the service, but one of the primary purposes for my being in Africa is to train others to do the work. I enjoyed the message and am very proud of Bro Chibumba's preaching.

After the service we went to the Lighthouse Children's Home and passed out goodies to the children including toys, clothes and books. The older children each received a small bottle of perfume/cologne. The whole house was filled with a "sweet aroma" for a few days. We remember the first Christmas there five years ago. We only had three children at that tie and they were petrified with fear. On that first Christmas the house was filled with the odour of medicine because all three children were being treated for cuts and abrasions from the physical abuse they had been enduring in the village. What a difference love makes!

Our Christmas blessing did not end on Sunday. One of our visitors asked me to come by and visit him at work on Tuesday. He is a teacher at Luanshya Boys High School. I took one of our young men with who is studying the "Evangelism Explosion" lessons me. We talked to Mr Kafuli for about 45 minutes and he accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as his personal Saviour.

Yes, we had a marvelous Christmas! God continues to bless. Our year has been filled with challenges and victories. We are looking forward to the coming year and deeply appreciate your prayer and support for this ministry.

Together in His Service,

Patrick & Sherry

14 December 2005

Greetings from Luanshya!

Last Friday was the first day of SCUBA, our Super Cool Undersea Bible Adventure for children. Forty-five minutes before the program was to begin the skies opened and we had two inches of rainfall in an hour. Sometimes you have to kind of wonder about why things happen the way they do. Then again, the program is called SCUBA. Three fourths of the children who eventually made it to the meeting were drenched. It looked like they had virtually swam to church. The attendance wasn't fantastic but the children had a great time and are looking forward to this Friday afternoons' program. Hopefully we will have a break in the weather. Please pray for this ongoing program for the next four weeks.

On Sunday the children discussed the "Beginning of Sin." The little ones had some rather interesting questions concerning the first sin. Did God know Adam and Eve were going to sin? Why did he make them if He knew they were going to blow it? These are the same questions that little ones have around the world. Most big people have the same questions. Sherry explained that God gave man the ability to choose. Those who choose to obey and come to Christ choose an eternity with the Father in heaven. Those who choose their own way choose death and eternal separation from God. Please pray for our children that they will make the right choices as they are being taught what the Bible says.

As mentioned earlier, the rains are here in full force. This brings a number of problems for the population. The roads are nasty and when people are walking to church they must decide if they are going to take a chance on getting drenched or simply staying home and remaining out of the weather. Houses in township areas are washed away every year and are being rebuilt with the same mud brick that washed away in the first place. Last week we were informed that there are several cases of cholera in our little town. One maternity clinic has been converted over completely into a cholera centre. People have been told not to shake hands (a complete breakdown of African culture) and not to attend funeral gatherings until further notice. A few years ago churches were forbidden from meeting because the outbreak was so severe. We have been informing people in the community and in the rural churches to be careful about their personal hygiene. The confirmation that cholera has, in fact, been discovered in our town is a very serious situation. Please pray for the people here as they come to terms with this life-threatening disease that has no cure. All the people can do is take the appropriate precautions and if they feel ill, rush immediately to the specific clinic for rehydration fluids and medical oversight.

This evening I will continue with the small group Bible study on Creation to Christ. Last week we discussed the creation of spirit beings (angels, demons etc.).I explained that God is the creator of all these beings and is therefore more powerful than they are. Most people here are petrified of the witch doctor and the threat of demon possession. When I explained that I had personally faced off a witch doctor in 1986 and was not afraid of these filthy people, members of the small group laughed nervously because they would not do that. Superstition and fear is taught from their earliest memory. Even church leaders get caught up in this foolishness. Pray for this Wednesday night group as we continue talking about the Creator and His creation.

Thank you for remembering us in your prayers as we remain...

In His service,

Patrick & Sherry

7 December 2005

Greetings from Luanshya!

Last week we spoke about the man out at Kafubu Block and the celebration of his life after his home call. Last Thursday there was another death in the community. What a contrast in lives between the Christian and the non-Christian. The woman who died last week had treated her parents, her husband and her children with disdain. She took money that the husband brought home for food and spent it on alcohol. She had a succession of " boyfriends" and had contracted AIDS through her various dalliances. When she fell ill, her parents wanted nothing to do with her. Her sisters chased her from their homes. Her children ignored her. Her husband, in spite of the fact that she had been unfaithful for a number of years, still loved her enough to take her to the hospital. Unfortunately, there was nothing the doctors to do and she died alone. The funeral was held last Saturday and there was absolutely no hope in the eyes of the mourners. This is a woman who had been given every opportunity to know the Lord Jesus Christ as her Saviour, but she blatantly refused His call. Please pray for the family as they go through this period of grief.

Exam time in local schools is over. The students are relaxing a bit and coming into the Christian Resource Centre. Last month we enrolled only enrolled 3 new students into the correspondence program. 115 courses were distributed, 101 were corrected and 4 certificates of completion were awarded. Pray for those taking lessons and those who will put them on the shelves for a bit as they relax during the school holidays.

This coming Friday we begin SCUBA, the children's afternoon Bible Club. The puppet stage has been moved into the main chapel hall, music has been rehearsed, our helpers have been alerted and we are as ready as we are going to be. We never know how many children will be involved in these programs. In the past we have had anywhere from 70 to 150 children. Please pray for this program and pray for both the children and the helpers (Crew).

We mentioned one of the girls from the Lighthouse Home was having some rather serious behavioral issues. This is an ongoing situation which does not seem to be getting any better. She is consistently lying, using foul language, and trying to cause conflict between the adults who are, in fact, in charge of her. What she has not figured out is that the adults are talking to each other. The other children have realized that this little girl is a divisive element in the family. Fortunately, for this little girl, we are not giving up on her. Please pray for us and for her. Pray for patience, wisdom and understanding on our part and for a transformation in the heart of our little girl.

Challenges are a part of life. God never said there would be no challenges. What He said was there would be victories. Thank you for sharing with us in both challenges and victories as we continue...

In His service,

Patrick & Sherry

30 November 2005

Greetings from Luanshya!

Last Thursday we were able to celebrate Thanksgiving with an actual turkey. I went to the local grocer, the only one in town, several weeks ago and asked him to order a turkey. I really didn't expect him to be successful but he called me on Wednesday to say that the bird had arrived. In years past turkey has been anywhere from 6 to 7 pounds which is more like a medium sized chicken in the States. This year the turkey was a full 11 pounds. This may not seem like a big turkey in North America but it was practically a monster in Zambia. We were able to enjoy our celebration with a Peace Corp Volunteer who came in from a village an hour away from us. We are thankful that we have the privilege of serving the Lord in the place where He called us.

There were also bittersweet moments this past week. One of the senior leaders of a rural church passed away. He was 71 years of age and had suffered from cancer for the last five years. I received word last Wednesday afternoon of his death and went out to the village to take his widow home and make sure there were people around to help her. I did not get home until 10 p.m. Saturday we had the funeral. There were well over 200 people packed into the small chapel. We celebrated his life and I preached in Swahili with the message being translated into Bemba. I declared that my friend had made it known that he was a child of God and that he had a concrete assurance that he would stand before the Lord when he died. He knew that the Lord Jesus Christ was preparing a place especially for him. I then challenged the mourners who were from several different church backgrounds that they too could have that same assurance as promised in 1 John 5:13. It is always sad to lose a friend but we celebrate the fact that our final greeting here on earth is not goodbye but "totonana"...we will see each other again.

We would ask you to pray for one of the children at the Lighthouse Children's Home. This particular child has been caught stealing, lying, and going to places that are strictly off limit. When she has been caught in these activities in the past, she produces crocodile tears and begs forgiveness. The other children have let it be known that this was all a game to her. She had declared that she could do anything she wanted and get away with it. The other children are afraid to say anything because they had believed this particular child, but the straw that broke the camels back was when she started blaming other children for her misdeeds. This evening the children witnessed the result of continual disobedience. School holidays begin but she will be doing extra chores every single day for the next five weeks. The other children need to understand that there is nobody above the rules of the house-even with big crocodile tears. One of the excuses given by the youngster is that she did not know any better because she is "only an orphan". That boat don't float! She has been a part of the Lighthouse Family for five years and she should have known better than to use that excuse. Please pray for our young wards as they learn the reality that disobedience has consequences. "Be sure your sin will find you out."

Finally, please pray for Colin as he makes a second attempt at the college entrance exams (SAT's). His last score was 1500 but this new exam encompasses essays and will be the one required for him when entering university in two years time.

We appreciate your faithfulness and prayers on our behalf. The victories we experience in Zambia are shared by you.

Together in His service,

Patrick & Sherry

16 November 2005

Yet another full week of activity and reflection.

Sherry has been occupied with preparing a team of workers for the upcoming Children's Bible Club on Friday afternoons once schools close for the holidays. The program is entitled "SCUBA" and stands for "Super Cool Undersea Bible Adventure." Our youth exchange student from Canada will be participating in the work team by teaching arts and crafts while Colin will run the music programs and I present the wrap-up "Finale" at the close of each day. Our "adopted" son John Bwalya and his wife have come forward to teach the Bible lessons and a few other young people have volunteered to assist in the puppetry. Pray for everyone involved. Pray for the preparation necessary to make this a successful program. Pray for the boys and girls who will be attending the sessions.

I have been meeting with one of the young men at the chapel for discipleship over the last few weeks. Joe has been keen to learn his role in the family of God as well as in the work of the local church. The transformation in his life has been made evident since accepting Christ as His Saviour. We are pleased with his progress and his willingness to learn.

Once or twice a week I have been meeting with two young men from the church training them in evangelism. We look forward to the day when these young people begin to bring new faces into the church and play a leading role in the outreach programs. Please pray for those going through these lessons.

We conclude our "End Time" movie series this Friday evening with "Left Behind II". Last week was a record number of attendees. Sherry made some correspondence lessons available to those interested in learning more about their "end times" and the decision that must be made now before it is too late. Pray for those who have been coming out and pray especially for this Friday's presentation.

The children in Sunday School have just had a session on "Angels". Sherry mentioned that the children had so many questions, preconceived ideas, false impressions that they were astonished when various scriptures were presented to them for research. They now know that there are varying ranks of angels, that some angels have no wings, others have six and yet others have four. Angels have certain roles to play in God's plan. They learned that sometimes angels take the form of humans and this is always in the appearance of a male. This had been one of the most participative lessons yet, according to Sherry's account. Pray for the boys and girls as they learn more about God and His kingdom. This coming Sunday the children will be learning about Satan and his demons.

Colin came home from school this Monday. His final exams have been completed and he feels rather satisfied with his performance. We now await the results and will discuss his options. We have signed Colin up for Form 6 part I which should bring him in equal standing to grade 12 in the American High School setting. He is convinced that this was his final year of school since so many of his friends have left and do not plan on completing the Form 6 years. Some of these will be heading towards college or temporary employment. Our decision is based upon Colin's maturity, age and a few other factors. We believe with the next two years under his belt in the Form 6 program, he will make a well adjusted college student in the future. Please pray for him and us as we look to the future.

Thank you for your continued prayers on our behalf. We love and appreciate you.

In His service,

Patrick & Sherry

9 November 2005

Greetings from Luanshya!

What a week! The wedding last Saturday went off without too much of a problem. The couple had their last counseling session the day before the wedding (after the final rehearsal) because the groom got stuck on the road between Lusaka and Luanshya, when the bus broke down every fifteen minutes. On the wedding day the bride was "only" forty-five minutes late. The groom and his attendants were thirty minutes early. Poor Claude was wondering where his bride was. At the end of the day Claude and Petronella Mulota were legally married and have started their new life together. Please pray for this young couple.

Last Friday's film night we showed the movie "The Judgment". There were over thirty in attendance. There were a number of questions asked about the Second Coming and life during the Tribulation period Obviously, no film can fully depict what the lives of those left behind will be, but the presentation did spark an interest and there are many people concerned about their eternal destiny. We appreciate your prayers for those who are seeking to know the answers.

Last Sunday I was asked to preach at one of the local churches about the Lord's Supper. I took fifty small communion cups to the church and presented them as a gift for their Remembrance Service. I stressed the fact that the Lord's Supper is a time of worship and remembrance. I also emphasized that the Lord requires us to examine ourselves before coming to His table. At the end of the message one of the ladies in the church came to the front and said that she needed to make an announcement. She said that she and another lady in the church had been having a very serious argument and had almost come to blows. In front of the church she apologized to that lady and the church fellowship for her ungodly behavior. Everybody in the building that knew the woman came up and either shook her hand or gave he a hug. It was a real time of healing which immediately preceded the Lord's Supper. It is a blessing to see Christians respond through scriptural teaching.

The last three days in the Christian Resource Centre have been incredibly busy. We have had questions concerning prophecy, church discipline, evangelism, discipleship, integrity and Christians in the business world. One young man, named Mwila, came in to ask specific questions about what we believe. He had visited a number of times in the chapel and we gave him a pamphlet on "What We Believe". His religious background is Jehovah's Witness. He was very confused about the concept of the Trinity. I spent nearly an hour with him. When he left, he said he needed to think about these things. Please pray for Mwila as he considers the truth of the gospel as seen in the Word of God as opposed to the corrupted version of the cults.

Finally, we received some sad news this morning. The wife of my childhood mentor suffered a massive stroke early Tuesday morning. The doctors have given no hope for recovery. She is currently being kept alive by a breathing tube which will be removed upon her daughter's arrival. Please pray for Dr. Frank Collins and his family as they walk through these troubled waters. 

Having you as a part of our ministry team through your prayers and financial support makes it possible for us to continue in the work of the Lord here in the heart of Africa. May God richly bless you.

In His service,

Patrick & Sherry

2 November 2005

Greetings from Luanshya!

Last Sunday morning was great! The children in the Sunday School recited their memory verses for the last 13 weeks. Most of the children had been very involved in studying for their end of year school exams, but still managed to be able to do very well on their recitation. Nancy, one of the girls from the Lighthouse Home, quoted every scripture without mistakes. We are very proud of her progress. As a result of one of the Sunday School lessons, she comes to the library almost every day to read a few pages of "Dropping Your Guard" by Chuck Swindoll. When we look back at her situation five years ago, she was a completely different individual from today and we are grateful to those who had a part in that particular ministry involving her transformation. Please continue to pray for Nancy and the other children at the Lighthouse.

Speaking of the library...

Most classes in the government schools have closed so the grade 9 and 12 students can be taking their final exams in silence. Students have been coming to the library every day. As we type this letter there are seven young people in the library reading. Every few minutes there are students coming in to retrieve a lesson that they had completed some time back and are only now finding time to pick up. With temperatures soaring well above 100 degrees, the library tends to heat up quickly especially with people moving around. Still, it is a comfortable place for young people to come and read and seek answers to questions that the average young person has. One question this morning from a young man concerned how does worship bring pleasure to God. I explained that any time we worship and praise the Lord it brings pleasure to the Father just as when our own children communicate with us. He seemed surprised that God would actually "feel" pleasure from His children until I assured him that God created us in His own image and thus the emotions we experience He can also experience apart from sin.

Last month in the Source of Light Bible Correspondence School we enrolled seven new students. We distributed 192 lessons, corrected 190 lessons and awarded 25 certificates of completion. We have begun to be very careful about the younger students coming in wanting to enroll. They see big brother and sister taking the courses. They come in hoping to come in and "join" Mailbox Club. Unfortunately, many the students here that are in grade 5 and 6 cannot read even the most simple of the booklets that are written for grade 1 students in the United States and Canada. Some of them have even memorized the first paragraph of the first book in an attempt to appear as if they could actually read the book. It is a shame that we cannot simply teach them all to read, but there are simply not enough hours in the day and we do not feel that it is feasible for us to close down one or two other ministries in order to start a reading program.

This coming Saturday is the big day for Claude and Petronella. Today is their final pre-marital counseling session. They will meet with us and discuss "Communication" and "Finances". They have already learned a lot of each other that they had known prior to our sessions together. In the last session Claude spoke about why he loved Petronella and that he respected her as a person. She had never heard him verbalize these thoughts. As they left our office hand in hand, it was wonderful to note that we are having a part in their future. Pray for them as they enter this wonderful state of matrimony.

Thank you for allowing us to represent you and have a part in the lives of so many people in Zambia.

In His service,

Patrick & Sherry

26 October 2005

Greetings from Luanshya!

Last Thursday two of the young men from chapel came to see me. They were specifically burdened about visiting in the homes of people who had come to visit in our services. They said, "Brother Coleman, we just don't know how to do it. Is there some training you can give us?" I gave each of them a copy of "The Purpose Driven Life" and set up an appointment to meet with them several times a week to discuss how to lead people to a saving knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ. Their first "session" was today and they soaked up the information. One of the young men said, "You mean we can really do this?" I assured him that not only could he lead someone to Christ but also it was the duty of every believer to faithfully share the gospel with the whole world (Mark 16:15). Please pray for these two young men and that others will follow their example.

Claude and Petronella are continuing with the pre-marital counseling. Last Saturday they had the first rehearsal in the chapel. There is just something about an African wedding that lifts your spirits. A few months ago Sherry and I had the privilege of attending my nephews wedding. It was a nice, calm service. At an African wedding the attendants do not simply walk down the aisle. They dance! It takes nearly 10 minutes for them to get into the church and a full 20 for them to exit. The attendees get into the spirit of things and the whole church will be joining in the celebration with their undulating cries and praises to the Lord. Please pray for Claude and Pet as they prepare for their lives together.

This coming Sunday, the children in the Sunday School will be completing their latest series of lessons with the "Memory Verse Competition". The little ones are very serious about this and work at saying all 13 verses word perfect. Our prayer is that it will be more than just words from their lips but a message hidden deep in their hearts and keep them from sin.

Last Sunday I was in a rural church in Kambilombilo. I spoke on the subject that "We Can Know That We Have Eternal Life" from the book of 1 John 5. After I finished the message one man immediately stood up and announced that he had accepted Christ "on the spot". It was refreshing to see that kind of enthusiasm. Obviously God had the fruit ready to be harvested. Please pray for  his rural church. They have a number of new believers preparing for baptism. That is also an exciting event in the life of a community. Kambilombilo is a refugee resettlement area near us where many former Congolese residents now live.

John Bwalya and his wife, Sarah, came all the way in from Masaiti District to be the Lord's messenger at the chapel on Sunday. John spoke on liberty and independence, as Monday was Zambia's 41st birthday. He spoke about the difference between physical independence and spiritual independence. He referred to scriptures ranging from Genesis 46 through the book of Exodus. This was a reminder that the children of Israel, though initially invited to live in Egypt, were eventually enslaved. One of the highlights of the message was Jacob's admonition to his sons that their home was not where they currently lived, but was elsewhere. As believers, we have the same admonition to accept the liberty offered through Jesus Christ and look forward to our heavenly home as we sojourn here on earth.

God has been good. We thank you for your faithfulness in prayer.

In His service,

Patrick & Sherry

19 October 2005

Greetings from Luanshya!

The College and Career Class have completed their studies in the book of Daniel. The class will resume in the new year since many of the students are going into year-end exams and returning to their home villages. This is a very stressful time for students both in high school and university level. Please pray specifically for the Christians as they study and prepare for these very important examinations.

We are considering holding a Bible Club program for ages 7-15 during the school break in December. This will be along the line of Vacation Bible School, but it would be weekly instead of daily. The series the children will work through is entitled "Dive Deep!" The usual singing, games, crafts, Bible lessons with an added facet of puppetry will enliven the day. We will keep you updated as plans for this event are solidified.

One of the students in the Bible Institute has just completed a module on Job. This is always an interesting book to work through. He learned a tremendous amount in not only examining Job's reaction to trials but also in examining Job's friends' reaction to Job's reaction. Very often people assume that suffering believers are suffering because of sin. Job, Daniel, Joseph and the apostle Paul demonstrate to us that this is not necessarily the case. Sometimes God allows suffering to make us stronger. Sometimes God allows suffering for us to be an example and comfort to other believers. Sometimes God allows suffering just to show Satan that God's children are faithful to the Lord. Whatever the reason for our suffering, we know that God is in control and will never allows us to endure more than we are able to endure. There is a tremendous comfort in that fact!

The last couple of weeks I have been visiting rural churches. This coming Sunday I will be back at Mwaiseni. This is a church I helped to start several years ago. Their average attendance is around 300 on Sunday morning. They have invited me to come back as their guest speaker. It is very exciting to see a church grow with local leadership at the helm. Another local church has requested me to visit in November to teach specifically about the Lord's Supper. I am looking forward to that occasion. Like the apostle Paul I sometimes find conflicts in the local churches and I am able to counsel without interfering in the autonomy of the local church. Please pray for our Zambian leaders as they seek to do the will of God.

Last Saturday evening I took Colin, Courtney (our Youth exchange student) and a Peace Corp Volunteer to watch a Hindu ceremony in Ndola so they might get an idea of yet another culture resident in Zambia. They were amazed to find people worshipping man made gods of stone, copper and gold. One of the leaders explained that one of the goddesses had a child whose head was cut off by a rival god so they grabbed the nearest thing they could find to put on the child's shoulders to keep it alive. They found the head of an elephant. The young people didn't say anything initially until they were alone with me and then the amazement of such a story was shocking to say the least. As the celebration continued, hundreds of Hindus walked in circles around what looked like a maypole in the middle of a courtyard. The whole scene reminded me of Elijah's experience with the 400 prophets of Baal. Drums were beaten, singers were crying out and the dancers were spinning back and forth trying to appease the "mother goddess". It magnified the need to share the gospel of Christ with the whole world. Many of these Hindu friends really believe that the dancing, the drums and the wailing will get them closer to some kind of paradise. I spoke to one man who was raised in that culture, who completely rejected the idea. Please pray for M. as we continue to dialogue about the truth as opposed to error.

Thank you for your continued prayers on our behalf.

In His service,

Patrick & Sherry

5 October 2005

Greetings from Luanshya!

September was a good month for the Source of Light Bible Correspondence School. We enrolled 18 new students, distributed 239 lessons, corrected 225 lessons and awarded 26 certificates of completion. Several of our older students have actually come to the end of the course material. We still see them coming into the library to read and study the books that are on the shelves. Mr. Mubanga, who is 64 years old, is the first to start the new series "Light From The Old Testament." Mr. Mubanga lives two hours away by foot in an area known as Mpongwe. He makes the trip twice a week to deliver his course and pick up his new one. He uses the lessons as source material for the messages he preaches in his rural church. Please continue to pray for brother Mubanga and over 3,500 other students registered with the SOL ministry.

The College and Career class will conclude the study of Daniel this coming Friday with chapter 12. They will be looking at the Great Tribulation and the Deliverance of Israel. The group will be taking a break after the conclusion of this series until January as many will be going to their family farms to prepare the ground for planting season while others return to their homes for the holidays. During the time slot where we ordinarily have this class, we will be showing a series of films on the Return of Christ.

One of the local churches here in Luanshya has asked me to consider coming to teach on "The Lord's Supper". There is often confusion and sometimes conflict over exactly what the Lord's Supper represents and how it is to be conducted. The Apostle Paul had the same situation in Corinth and he spent almost an entire chapter admonishing the believers on the proper attitude, mode and procedure for remembering the last supper that Christ had with His apostles. I look forward to the opportunity to teach about this command that the Lord left for His people.

The hot season is upon us. Temperatures during the daytime hours have climbed as high as 120 degrees. There have been a number of reported deaths in our town due to heat stroke. This is also the time when many people take their own lives because of weather conditions and young people have taken their lives from the pressure of school exams. October is known as "suicide month". It is for that reason that we spend so much time with our young people letting them know that there is someplace that they can come for refuge. Please pray for our community at this time.

Last week I had an opportunity to meet a pastor from a church in South Africa. He was talking with a group of church members and he asked the question, "Can We Be 100% Sure That We Have Eternal Life?" I smiled because I knew the answer. Sadly, he did not. He said, "While we have the assurance that the Lord loves us, we cannot have 100% assurance that we have eternal life." What hope can this church leader possibly give to his flock? After his talk, I spoke to a few of the members of the congregation and explained that I did have 100% assurance and shared with them John 10:27-28 and 1 John 5:13, along with many others. Some people have asked me if we are working with "unreached people" here in Africa. We do not know what the classification is for "unreached" may be, but we are reaching people who have been reached with the wrong message. Thank you for making this possible by your prayers and financial support.

In His service,

Patrick & Sherry

28 September 2005

"The next day, as gale-force winds continued to batter the ship, the crew began throwing the cargo overboard." (Acts 27:18)

During a storm at sea, the sailors had to lighten the overburdened ship. Many times we need to lighten our own ships so we don't go under! I have often applied that picture to my own life. God has made me quite a large cargo ship. I can carry a lot-but there is still a "waterline" I need to watch. If I'm not taking anything on for God, I will feel strangely light and unfulfilled. If, however, I say yes to everything, I'll soon be at the bottom of the sea! The Lord knows who we are, how big our hold is, and what he wants us carrying. The way to fulfillment lies in keeping close enough to hear his still small voice and in being obedient.

As we recollect what the Lord has done in the past week, we keep in mind the above verse and trust that we have not foundered along the way. 

Patrick had a rather busy Sunday. Early in the morning he went to the golf club to hold the weekly service for caddies. Interest in this time together continues to grow and many young men have turned their hearts to the Lord. Continue to pray for this special time. An hour later Patrick headed out to one of the rural villages where he spent a couple of hours sharing the Word and remembering the Lord in a Communion service. The believers appreciate his commitment to them. Soon it will be the rainy season and these monthly trips will not be possible. Pray for the churches in rural regions, that men will be raised up to preach the gospel and disciple those who wish to move forward in their Christian life. No sooner had he returned home then it was time to bring Colin back to school in Mkushi. (Colin came home for the weekend). For someone who doesn't enjoy driving, he sure does spend a lot of time on the "road".

Sunday School at the chapel continues to grow. The children have been learning new songs using bells and will soon be ready to hold their second concert. Pray for them as they add to their repertoire. Next Sunday the children will begin to look at the subject of "The Return of the Lord." The last few weeks have dealt with prayer, welcoming new people, gifts of the Holy Spirit and now we move forward to this newest topic. Pray for the children, that they may understand what the return of the Lord means for them and what it will mean to those left behind.

The College and Career Class continues to meet Friday evenings. The group increases by word of mouth and it's amazing how far some have been traveling in order to attend the sessions. Now that we are about to conclude the book of Daniel, the second half of Daniel chapter 11 and chapter 12 remain, new topics of interest have been mentioned. Pray for wisdom as we begin to consider the next series.

The Christian Resource Centre has been extremely busy over the last week. New students have enrolled and others have continued to submit their lessons for correction. Some of the students have been asking questions about church services while others have sat down with us to discuss spiritual issues. We praise the Lord for the many opportunities to listen to peoples problems and present them with God's answers for living. Pray for us as we minister to those in need and encourage others to continue in their faith.

As always, we appreciate your prayer support and remembrance of us. May the Lord richly bless you in the week ahead.

In His service,

Patrick & Sherry

21 September 2005

Greetings from Luanshya!

Last Friday the College and Career Class studied Daniel 10 dealing with spiritual warfare. Wars, terrorism, assassinations—so often world events seem out of control. We are frustrated and frightened because of our inability to do anything to stop them. The last of four great visions given to Daniel presents God’s perspective on world events. In the next few weeks the class will be comparing the prophecy with history. Students are beginning to realize just how real the Word of God is. Pray for them as they continue in their study.

On Sunday I went out to a rural village in Kafubu. Many of the people in this area are older and have actually retired from their work in town and gone “back” to farm. Most of them have not been on a farm their entire working career, but for some reason they feel drawn to the land and for their final days. I took a box of eyeglasses that was sent to us from Sunrise Church in Fresno, California and distributed them to the members in the church. The looks on their faces would have lightened anyone’s heart, as they were able to read their own Bibles without strain. One of the men showed me his previous pair of eyeglasses. They had been glued together multiple times and were literally falling apart in his hand. I gave him a pair of wire-framed bifocals and he was simply thrilled beyond words. This small gesture helps us to show that we care enough about these senior saints to do whatever it takes to help them in their Bible study. Special thanks to those who contributed to this need.

Visits to the Christian Resource Centre have become a family affair, in some instances. This afternoon a father came in with his 20 something year-old son so they could read and study together. The father is studying “The Five Love Languages” by Dr. Chapman. The young man is reading a book published by Focus on the Family. It is an adventure story that is aimed at high school students. The father wants his son to improve his reading so came in with him so they could spend some time together. It is very rare for a father to do this. We were thrilled to have the opportunity to make this a reality. There are quite a few mothers who come in with their daughters to do the correspondence lessons. Boys are bringing their brothers. Girls are bringing their sisters. Friends are bringing their friends. The library is busy every day. Please continue to pray for this ministry.

This coming Sunday I will be in another rural church. The believers have just completed molding the bricks for their building. They are in the process of building the kiln so they can burn the bricks before the rainy season begins. It is exciting to see God’s people stepping out by faith and constructing their own building. Pray for the Word and pray for lives to be changed.

Next week I go to South Africa for my first review with the oncologist following the removal of a malignant tumor on my tongue as well as the removal of lymph nodes in my neck. The last biopsy showed that there are no cancer cells remaining but a constant follow up regime must be maintained to ensure there is no recurrence. Please pray for the journey and for the doctors.

We appreciate the part you play in our ministry both in finances and prayer support. God has blessed your investment and our lives. 

In His service,

Patrick & Sherry

14 September 2005 

Greetings from Luanshya! 

August was a roller coaster month. Tumour on the tongue—surgery—biopsy—cancer—still more surgery—another biopsy—looong wait—final results—negative remaining cancer cells. We appreciate your prayers on our behalf during the past several weeks. Please continue to pray as I undergo the follow up regime by the doctors in South Africa. 

Two weeks ago after returning from the second surgery I went to the Caddy Chapel for the Sunday morning Bible study. My tongue was raw but these young men were looking forward to their early morning lesson and I did not want to disappoint them. What a surprise I found, upon my arrival, the local Anglican Church was having a fundraising golf tournament on Sunday morning and the caddy’s had all been asked to go out on the course. The Captain of the caddy’s was very apologetic and a little confused about how a church could have a fundraising event on a Sunday morning. Actually, so was I. Last Sunday we resumed our Bible study and many of the men apologized for not showing up the week before. Please continue praying for those who participate in this study. Several have come to a saving knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ and are reading some of the literature that we have been able to bring to them.

The Source of Light Bible Correspondence School continues to remain active. Fourteen new students were enrolled during the month of August. 279 lessons were distributed during the same period and 261 lessons were corrected and 27 certificates of completion were awarded. The Christian Resource Centre continues to be a beacon of light attracting souls for Christ. This afternoon one of the teachers from a local church came in looking for an expanded lesson on John 3:16. I was able to guide him to several books. He spent nearly two hours studying until the library closed this afternoon and said he would be back to continue later in the week. It was his first time in the library but he had heard about the facility from others in the community and was thrilled to have this resource available at his fingertips. We were thrilled to be able to offer it to him. We are also very thankful two brother Fergus Law in Ireland for the two boxes of books including several Bible dictionaries which will be a great addition to our current compliment of resource materials. We will also be able to provide some of these to the Bible Institute students as they get further into their studies.

Over the last two weeks the College and Career class has been studying Daniel chapter 9. The first week the discussion was focused on prayer and repentance as directed by Daniel on behalf of the people of Israel. The second week the focus was on 70 7’s—a prophetic view of “Things to come”. The young people are really getting into the discussion and have been diligently inviting their friends to attend. Every week, there are new people present. Please pray for the young people as they move into chapter 10 this Friday.  

The next two Sundays I will be speaking in rural churches around Luanshya. Brother Chibumba is taking more and more of the leadership responsibility in the English speaking church, as is our plan. English speaking ministry is always challenging because so many of the people who are educated enough to speak English as a primary language are also the ones who are promoted and transferred out of Luanshya into more developed locations of the country. We were looking at the list of people who have been saved, baptized and discipled in this particular church a few weeks ago. We realize that there are more people who have moved away from the community and fellowship in their new neighborhoods than remain here in Luanshya. The good news is the gospel is being spread through this diaspora. Please pray for brother Chibumba and for the leaders in the other churches with which we work.

On a final note, our Youth Exchange student, Courtney from Canada, was issued her Study Permit last week and has successfully integrated into the Luanshya Girls High School program. Every day she comes home with a new story, a new experience and new friends. Pray for her continual adjustment to Zambian life and her experiences here at Fellowship Chapel.

We appreciate your partnership and than God daily for your faithfulness.  

Together in His service,

Patrick & Sherry

31 August 2005

Greetings from Luanshya!

Last week's College and Career class was spectacular. The young people discussed Daniel 8-World Powers In Conflict. God gave Daniel the unique opportunity of looking into the future. That future became very personal. The first seven chapters stressed the destinies of the Gentile world powers. Chapters 8-12 emphasizes the destiny of Israel. The view of the Ram and the Goat were eye openers to the young people in retrospect to chapter 7 and chapter 2. As we prepare for chapter 9 (the 70 seven's) we look forward to much more enthusiasm in discussion. Pray for the group study. 

Sunday morning my young protégé, John, spoke again. Sherry and I are so proud of his development as a gifted preacher and his spiritual growth as a whole. His topic was "Your Dream Home". He described our mansion in heaven in comparison to our greatest expectation of a mansion here on earth. The congregation was enthralled as he presented the Word of God and encouraged those of us that are believers to remember that we are but pilgrims in this world awaiting our journey "home". He also presented a challenge to those who do not know Christ. They ought to prepare their souls to meet the Savior as time is too short to procrastinate.

We have concluded the school holiday movie festival at the Christian Resource Centre. The children who participated enjoyed the presentations and very often came into the library to read books or ask about the correspondence lessons. Colin, also, enjoyed spending time with children and serving as a guide to the Christian Resource Centre. If all works out well, perhaps we will see some of these children at the Vacation Bible School program in December.

Several months ago I (Patrick) bit my tongue while eating breakfast. This is not ordinarily a dangerous exercise, but the wound became irritated. Three weeks ago I noticed a white bump (for lack of an appropriate medical term) on my tongue and went to see our local doctor. He said I needed to see a maxilo facial surgeon, but there are none in Zambia. Therefore I had to go to South Africa. I made the appointment and left within days to see the surgeon in Johannesburg. His comment was that the lesion did "not seem sinister" but needed to be removed and a biopsy should be done. He did this in the hospital there.

The biopsy showed a carcinoma - bad news. He said it was very rare in non-smokers, but he said the initial wound had reacted with an older filling in my mouth. He also mentioned "acid reflux" in my stomach (evidenced by "heart burn") that probably added to the condition. He has sent me to yet another surgeon who did a CT scan of my mouth and neck. There did not appear to be a further problem with the tongue, but to make sure that all of the cancer cells are completely removed from my tongue a substantial amount of tissue was to be removed. Also, a few lymph nodes in my neck were enlarged so they were to be removed as well and a biopsy performed. This was done on Friday, 26th August. The second surgeon said everything "looked fine" and the swelling of the lymph nodes was probably due to the irritation caused by the first surgery. Still, the second biopsy results are not in yet. I'll know more on Thursday.

The four-inch scar on my neck looks pretty gruesome at the moment, but the surgeon said it would not be "too bad" after the swelling went down. If the laboratory finds "something" in the tissue from my neck, then I will be in South Africa for six weeks receiving radiation therapy. This is not likely (according to the surgeon), but possible. Please pray about this situation. We know who is in control and our ministry continues regardless of the outcome.

God has blessed and God allows the challenges in our lives sometimes to reach other people and sometimes to build our own character. Thank you for your prayers on our behalf.

Together in His service,

Patrick & Sherry

24 August 2005

Greetings from Luanshya!

Last Saturday Sherry had a very special experience. She was the guest speaker at a "kitchen party" (bridal shower) for one of the young women in the church. This event is different from our conventional shower in that it is often more widely attended than even the actual wedding ceremony. The young lady is "showered" with gifts but she is also given instruction on how to take care of her husband and home. Sherry's admonition was on marriage as a committed partnership and a cooperative effort between equal partners. The idea of equal partners in a marriage is a foreign concept in a society where men have the idea that it is okay to beat their wives into submission. All too often the wives will agree with that concept. Claude and Petronella have been sitting with us in premarital counseling and fully understand the biblical concept of loving and caring for each other. As Sherry spoke at the function, many of the older women had a hard time accepting what she was sharing from the Word of God. It was good to know that Petronella and her mother both agreed with Sherry. Pray for this young couple as they continue in their counseling in preparation for their wedding day.

The newest member of our family, Courtney from Canada, (our youth exchange student) has begun to fit in quite nicely into our home. Colin commented that it was nice to have someone his own age around the house. She has joined right in with the chores and is even learning to try out some of our local cuisine. She went with one of the young ladies to visit her school and is excited about the year ahead. Please pray for Courtney as this will be a life changing experience for her. Last Sunday she attended church with us and appeared to be comfortable in her surroundings.

Two of the students from the Men's Bible Institute turned in their answers to questions concerning their latest lessons. They have learned to give succinct, well-documented responses to the questions instead of talking in circles and trying to fill a page. The difference between their first assignment and this last one is truly amazing. As we move into the Poetic books, Job is going to be challenging in itself. Many issues that are often theoretical are going to be examined from a very practical manner. Pray for the students as they continue in their studies.

The College and Career class has grown substantially. Young people have begun to realize that they can actually obtain practical answers to everyday questions. The study on Daniel has brought them face to face with the concept of being faithful to the Lord even when it is not popular with their friends and colleagues. Please continue to pray for our young people. They face a myriad of obstacles. Next week they examine Daniel 8, which broaches the subject of World Powers In Conflict particularly in relation to the destiny of Israel.

We appreciate your prayers on our behalf. These weekly updates give you a brief glimpse at our lives and those affected by your concerted prayers.

In His service,

Patrick & Sherry

17 August 2005

Greetings from Luanshya!

Good news on the home front. Our son, Colin, went for his surgical review over the weekend and the surgeon found that his leg has been healing nicely. An x-ray was taken and it shows that scar tissue has grown along the desired regions as well as new bone growth around the break in his femur. If the healing process continues to progress as it has, the surgeon is willing to remove the steel plates next April which is six months earlier than expected. Pray for Colin as he continues to recuperate and for us as we warily watch our son become involved in more school activities. Please remember Colin as he takes his final exams over the next two months and prepares for his next step in advanced studies prior to attending college. His school year concludes this time in mid-November.

On the ministry side of things...

Patrick's' protégé, John Bwalya, returned to Luanshya over the weekend in order to lead the church service on Sunday. He presented a challenging message to the believers about the need to examine our motives as to why we do what we do and the need to worship the Lord on a daily basis. He challenged those who do not have a personal relationship with the Lord to consider their eternal state seriously and how to respond to the call of salvation. Pray for John as he continues to bring fresh insight and challenge.

College and Career met on Friday to discuss Daniel 6. Word has gotten around town about this dynamic group and as of last week three times as many young people were in attendance. The discussion of Daniel 6 led to issues such as obedience to local government, limitations, faithfulness to God in light of today's challenges, how our testimony affects those in authority over us and much more. Daniel in the lions' den is a story that we never get tired of hearing. Daniel was not thrown into the lion's den for being bad. He was thrown in for being godly! That is an important point to keep in mind. We usually expect that when we do wrong we ought to be punished, and when we do right we ought to be praised. That is certainly the ideal, but it doesn't always work out that way. Sometimes those who do wrong are rewarded, and those who do right are persecuted. This chapter demonstrates that godliness can be costly. How do we stand up in similar circumstances?

Progress has been made out at the church plot. The foundation is going up and should be completed any day now. Already those living in the vicinity of the new church site have been asking questions about when we see the project as being complete so they can attend. In the meantime, we are guiding these same inquisitors to our current venue so that they are exposed to the Word now and make the shift with us as the Lord leads. Pray for the ongoing work at the plot and our testimony in the community at large.

This evening Sherry will be driving out to the Ndola Airport to pick up our Youth Exchange student whom we will be hosting and counseling over the next eleven months. Her name is Courtney and she is sixteen years old. She hails from Canada and will be attending grade twelve here in the Luanshya Girls High School as part of a cultural exchange program. Colin is thrilled to have someone "his age" living in the house and who will be around for him to associate with when he is home on school breaks. Pray that his testimony before his soon to be friend is strong and that both gain from this opportunity and experience.

Sherry will be participating in a bridal program on Saturday. One of the young girls from the church is getting married in October/November and has requested Sherry to present not only a message on marriage but also one on Christ as the center of the believer's home. Courtney will attend the function with her so this will be her first opportunity to get a glimpse of Zambian life and practice in the marriage sphere as well as hear a clear gospel message. Please pray for this meeting and the many who will be attending.

As always, we appreciate your concerted prayers on our behalf. Not a day goes by when we do not thank the Lord for your support and partnership in His work. May you know His continued blessing in your life.

In His service,

Patrick & Sherry

3 August 2005

Greetings from Luanshya!

It has been a week of celebration around our house. On Monday we celebrated our 8th year of marriage. It was a national holiday in Zambia so there wasn't even a restaurant open for us to celebrate. Still, it has been a great eight years and we are looking forward to the next eighty.

Monday was also my 20th anniversary of first stepping foot on African soil. It has been a very eventful two decades. There have been wonderful victories and incredible challenges. Through the ups and downs of life in ministry since 1985, God has blessed and our team of faithful prayer and financial partners has stood with us at every turn. Thank you for being a part of our lives. Now...

Last Friday I traveled to Mkushi to collect Colin from school. His leg is healing nicely and academically he is doing very well. He finds English a challenge because, quite frankly, he doesn't like to write. He will have to get over this, of course, because university courses require that students are able to express themselves through the written word. He loves math and science but he has to be able to communicate mathematical and scientific formulae so that the novice is capable of understanding his theorems. Please pray for Colin as he spends the next four weeks in "mom and dad's special English course for the literary challenged".

The Source of Light Bible Correspondence School continued to grow during the month of July. Thirty-four new students were enrolled, 285 lessons were distributed, 229 lessons were corrected and 17 certificates of completion were awarded. We received some new curriculum to enlarge the children's section of the school. There was also a new series ordered for the adult curriculum entitled "Light From The Old Testament." The new courses have already been put into play.

On Sunday I was out in the rural village of Buntungwa. They have completed 2,700 bricks of the 4,000 needed for the construction of their new building. After completing the molding of the bricks, they will build a kiln, load it with firewood and burn it (the firewood) for five days. The mud bricks will harden with the heat and these will become permanent. Four men in the church are doing the work and the ladies are taking turns providing meals for them five days a week. They have taken real ownership of this project and are excited about the fact that they are doing it all themselves. The oldest man on the construction team is brother Mwape who is a retired tailor from one of the clothing manufacturers in town that went out of business. Pressing bricks isn't anything like pressing suits-especially when you're nearly sixty years old. I had lunch in his home following the Sunday service. We talked about life in rural Zambia. It was a blessing to share some time with this dedicated servant of the Lord. Please continue praying for this church as they go forward in their building program.

Last week we mentioned the teacher's strike in our part of Zambia. The union told all the teachers to go back to work, this is the last week of school for this term so it didn't really do much good to have the teachers report for classes when many of the students had already decided that they weren't coming and had unofficially begun their holiday. Our hope and prayer is that teachers and the government will come to some agreement prior to the beginning of next term (first week of September) so the exam schedule will not be jeopardized. Please continue praying for this situation.

Finally, pray for the College and Career class. A man named Various (yes, that's his real name) came in today asking if he could bring several friends with him on Friday. Of course we encouraged him to do so. We look forward to several visitors this coming Friday. 

We appreciate your prayers on our behalf.

In His service,

Patrick & Sherry

27 July 2005

Greetings from Luanshya!

It was very exciting last week to listen to the Sunday School children quote the memory verses from the last term. The "champion" was Nancy Chanda, the oldest of our Lighthouse Children's Home wards. She has come an incredible distance from when she first entered our lives. Not only is she growing physically and academically, but also growing spiritual and for that we are extremely grateful to all those who have had a part in the Lighthouse ministry! Please continue to pray for the Sunday School program and the children who attend.

Colin returns from school later this week. We are looking forward to a positive school report. We are also looking forward to having some time with our son during the month of August. Pray for Colin as he prepares for more final exams in the next term. Pray for continued healing of his leg. Pray for his future plans as he begins to examine lasting life choices. Friday evening the College and Career group will meet. They will be studying Daniel 5 and the events which led to the downfall of Babylon. Pray for lessons to be learned and prideful attitudes to be reconsidered.

This coming Sunday I will be in one of the rural vernacular churches to share the Word of God. Pray for those whom the Holy Spirit is preparing. Pray that souls may be saved and lives changed.

We have received several hundred lessons for the Source of Light Bible Correspondence School. This replenishes the stock that has been dealt out over the last three months. Once these boxes are opened, we will place the next order. Thank you for praying for the safe arrival of this shipment. We will be adding a couple new children's' series in the next month. Pray that the Lord of the Harvest will reap many young souls.

Finally, please pray for the situation with the ongoing teacher's strike in Luanshya. Exams begin in the government schools as early as October. Children have the month of August off as a school break meaning that they only have this week and the month of September to prepare. Many of the children are showing desperate signs of concern as failing this exam literally sets them back an entire year and some will never return to school because of this situation. These exams will affect the grade 7 and grade 9 students. Please pray!

We sincerely appreciate the part you play in this ministry both in prayer and finances.

In His service,

Patrick & Sherry

20 July 2005

Greetings from Luanshya!

Early this week we received a letter from one of the young men that we have helped over the last several years. He has now completed high school and is currently working in the capitol city, Lusaka, to save money for college. In his letter he thanked us not only for making it possible for him to complete school but for helping him in his spiritual life as well. He said, "I don't feel comfortable calling you Dr. & Mrs. Coleman after all you have done for me. I feel more like calling you mom and dad." Please pray for this young man and for the others that we are helping at the Lighthouse Children's Home.

Sunday morning I traveled to a rural church. I arrived just after 9 o'clock for the service that was to start at 9:30. Being a village church, the service started closer to 10:30. We still had a good meeting and I spoke on the free gift of salvation. Following the service one young man who had been attending the church for a few weeks came to know the Lord Jesus Christ as his personal saviour. Several others let it be known that they had to follow the Lord in Scriptural baptism. It was a great morning. I returned home tired but excited at the fruit God had harvested. Please pray for this rural church and for the young believers in the congregation.

The Christian Resource Centre has been busy all week. Some days children are waiting at the door nearly an hour before we open. Teachers in Luanshya and elsewhere in the country have gone on strike. This is almost an annual occurrence. While we sympathize with the plight of the teachers, we are very concerned that the students are not going to be sufficiently prepared for their year-end exams. The students are as frustrated about missing class as the teachers are at not receiving a livable wage. Please pray for the teachers and students as this issue is sorted out.

Sherry had a visit from the young lady who had been attacked and raped. The young lady is very confused. Both her parents are deceased and she is living with extended family members who seem to be less than sympathetic or helpful with her situation. Please pray especially for this sixteen-year-old girl and for Sherry as she continues to counsel her.

The Sunday School at Fellowship Chapel will be having their Memory Verse Competition this week. All the children are working feverishly at memorizing-or re-memorizing their verses from the last 13 weeks. Some of the children reported back to Sherry that they were sure God was working in their lives because the Holy Spirit had brought some of the verses back to their mind when talking with their friends at school. How exciting to see the youngsters using the lessons and scriptures in their daily lives! Pray for the children.

The fruit of the harvest here is possible because of the faithfulness of our partners who are praying for us. Thank you for remembering us!

In His service,

Patrick & Sherry

13 July 2005

Greetings from Luanshya!

Last Sunday morning, at the "Caddy Chapel", there were five new young men who attended the Bible study. Some of these men have not been to church in a long time and their work precludes them from attending any service on a Sunday. The opportunity to go to them, before they begin their work on Sunday morning, gives me access to men who would otherwise have limited gospel exposure at all. One of the men said that he had a lot of questions about the Bible and Abel, one of the first to attend several weeks ago, said, "Dr. Coleman can help you find the answers." Please pray for these men as we seek for answers from the Word of God.

The Sunday School lesson this past weekend dealt with "Everyone Is Important." The emphasis was on the need for the boys and girls not to discriminate as to with which they will or will not share the gospel in their daily lives. An example from scripture was Philip speaking with the Ethiopian eunuch after having shared the good news of Jesus Christ in Samaria, an undesirable group to the Jew. Pray for the next lesson which will deal with "All Are Important" focusing on the scriptures of Acts 10:1-48...when Peter is confronted by the Lord and embarks on a ministry to the Gentiles.

After the service on Sunday, I was stopped by a young man named Chileshe. He is a schoolteacher in one of the local government school in town. He has been attending the chapel off and on for the last couple of months. He had some questions about his spiritual condition. We met on Monday afternoon and after talking for nearly an hour, Chileshe said, "I've been to church, I've been baptized, but I have no idea that I would go to heaven if I died right now. Can you tell me how I can know?" It was my privilege to show him, from the Word of God, how he could receive eternal life. Today Chileshe is a brother in Christ. I will be speaking with his wife later this week. Please pray for this young family.

This afternoon we had a visit from John and Sarah. They were in from their village school in Masaiti for a medical checkup. It sounds like they are experiencing the joy of the Lord and are pleased to be in the center of His will at this point in time. I recently found a box of flannel graph figures and backgrounds that John will take back with them so he and Sarah can use them in their student Bible studies. In an age where most North American Sunday Schools are going to video and PowerPoint presentations, flannel graph is still modus operandi where there is no technology or electricity available. Continue to pray for John and Sarah as they serve the Lord in the harvest fields of Zambia.

Sherry had an opportunity to talk with the leader of the local Scripture Union Club of Luanshya Girls High School. Apparently a young girl, at the school, was raped some months back. She is now expecting a child. Sherry has been requested to avail herself to this young girl for spiritual and emotional counseling during the week. Please pray for her and this young lady.

The College and Career Class will be looking at Daniel 4 this Friday evening-"A Sovereign God Rules." We are not accustomed to our national leaders describe their sins in public. That is why Daniel 4 is such an unusual chapter. Nebuchadnezzar, the great, proud, power king of Babylon writes a letter to the world describing, in detail, how God humiliated him for seven years then graciously restored him. Pray for the young people as they look at this situation and apply it to their lives.

We appreciate your prayers on our behalf.

In His service,

Patrick & Sherry

1 June 2005

Greetings from Luanshya!

The last week has been a week of harvest. A few weeks ago I began a Bible study early on Sunday mornings for caddies at the local golf course. After three weeks of teaching, several of the young men expressed an interest in knowing how they can receive eternal life. I made appointments on Monday and Tuesday morning and went back to the golf course and spoke with each of those who were contemplating a decision. Eight young men called on the Lord and received Him as their personal Saviour. Due to their work schedule they cannot come on Sunday morning to church services so I have gone out to the highways and fairways to take the gospel to them. Please pray for spiritual growth. Pray also for those who are still considering Jesus Christ.

The Source of Light program did well during the month of May in spite of the fact that we ran out of initial courses in two series. We only had fifteen new students, but turned away several dozen and asked them to return late next month in the hope that new lessons arrive. Among our existing students we distributed 300 lessons, corrected 285 and awarded 42 certificates of completion. Currently, our oldest student, 65 years of age, is beginning his final series of lessons, Basic Bible Truths (doctrinal studies). Every time he comes in he asks for tracts to distribute on his way home. He has been using past lessons as a tool in evangelizing his farming community with the hope of planting a new church. Please pray for Pison Mubanga.

The Sunday Schools has just completed lessons on witnessing "Taking Risks". Very often when we share the Lord Jesus we are aware of perhaps people making fun of us. The children were encouraged to be brave, loving and kind as they share their faith with their friends and neighbors. One example given of witnessing was Peter and John. Another example was that of Stephen. Though we may face opposition in telling others of eternal life, there is blessing in being faithful.

Last week the College and Career Class discussed the great statue of Daniel 2. What was remarkable, besides the meaning of the statue, was the fact that Daniel had the courage to speak with the king, request time to seek God's wisdom, brought in fellow prayer warriors (Hannaniah, Azariah, Mishael), then praised God for answering their prayers. In an age where integrity is rare Sherry has encouraged these young people stand as Daniel in the face of the corrupting forces of the world. Please pray for this continuing ministry.

On a personal note, Monday Colin took his piano exam with the Royal London School of Music. We received word that he had achieved Merit status in his performance. We are thrilled at this news and proud of our son as he uses the talents God has given him.

Thank you for being a part of this ministry and our lives.

In His service,

Patrick & Sherry

25th May 2005

Greetings from Zambia!

Last Sunday I preached at the rural church in Buntungwa. The last time I was there was the last Sunday in March. At that time I carried notes in Swahili, but the interpreter only spoke English. This time I took notes in English, but the interpreter only spoke Swahili. I had a great time and three precious souls came to a saving knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ after the service. This is why we do what we do!

Two weeks ago I went to the Luanshya golf course and chased golf balls for an hour. (Claiming that I actually "golf" would be an exaggeration.) One of the caddies at the course said he would like to come to church, but Sunday was the busiest day and he had to be at the course if he was going to keep his job. I asked him if he thought other caddies would like to have a Sunday morning Bible study and he said yes so... I went to the golf course on Sunday morning at 7:45 - without my clubs. For two weeks I have had several young men at the "Caddy Shack Chapel". Please pray for these young men. They are asking a lot of questions about "why do I exist?"

Sherry has started a new series with the College & Career Class. The subject under discussion is Spiritual Living in a Secular World following the life of Daniel. Last week the young people learned about how, from the very first, Daniel maintained his testimony with regard to dietary restrictions as required by the Lord with respect to Jews. It is amazing how out of the many young Jewish men brought into the King's University of Babylon only four maintained their integrity. As a result, they experienced God's blessing and began to build their reputation before King and nation. At the end of their "training" period, each oft he young was found ten times wiser than their colleagues and promoted to high positions of service as advisers to the King. This week the class will be looking at chapter 2 and will learn the importance of consulting God in the challenges of life.

The long awaited courses for the Source of Light Correspondence Bible School have arrived, but we are already running short of the initial courses limiting new enrollees. A new order has been made. Please pray that this order arrives quickly.

We did have a very interesting visitor in the Christian Resource Centre last week. While I was talking with a couple from the Congo an Indian man with a turban walked into the library. He stood patiently at the door until I asked him what I could do for him. He handed me his laminated card which identified him as a "palmist" and asked me if he could read my palm. I declined his offer. It was the first time I had ever met a door-to-door palm reader. The occultists are here in Zambia along with many other false prophets and teachers. We have been asked if we are ministering to "unreached peoples" in Zambia. The fact is, we are ministering to people who have been "reached", but they have been "reached" by people with the wrong message.

We appreciate your prayers on our behalf as we continue...

In His Service,

Patrick & Sherry

11 May 2005

Greetings from Luanshya!

During the month of April the Source of Light program was incredibly fruitful. We distributed 429 lessons, corrected 404, issued 35 certificates of completion and enrolled 23 new students. The biggest problem we had is that we ran out of the first lesson in a number of the series and cannot enroll new students. Please pray for the quick arrival of these lessons so those who are seeking to enroll will have that opportunity. Also during the month of April there were 182 people utilizing the Christian Resource Centre. This does not include the very small children who come in to read the children's books either before or after school. We are excited about this aspect of the ministry as we reach into homes where we may not otherwise be welcome.

This coming Friday Sherry will end her series on "To Walk and Not Grow Weary" with the College and Career group. The final study is on "Barnabas-Encouraging Others". Once this series concludes the group will begin looking at the book of Daniel focusing on "Spiritual Living in a Secular World."

Monday afternoon I had a very interesting conversation with a young man who came into the office late in the day. He had a question about which he had not received what he perceived as an acceptable answer. He has met a girl...The pastor of his church has told him he needs to give the relationship more time and not rush into making a commitment. The young mans parents and the girl's parents agree with the pastor. The young man was coming to me looking for an alternate answer that he could take back to his parents and church leaders. He was very disheartened when I gave him the same admonition. He is 22 and the girl is 19. Neither has finished college and both want to go into a highly skilled profession. Young people here are like young people everywhere. Patience is not a priority, which is one of the reasons that we spend so much of our time with the youth. They are, in fact, the hope of this nation and ambassadors of the Lord Jesus. Please pray for A. He has a real desire to serve the Lord but he needs to coordinate his plans with the will of God and prepare for his sojourn here on earth.

This coming Sunday the children in the Sunday School will be studying Ananias and Saphira. Pretense vs. "For Real" is the emphasis of the lesson. When one chooses to serve God, motives must be pure. The children will see how these two characters were not quite "honest" in their stewardship. It will be interesting to hear the responses of the children when asked, "Why did God take the lives of these people? Didn't they give Him money?" The real question, of course, is integrity. Were they honest about their gift or were they just showing off?

We appreciate your prayers as we continue to serve.

In His service,

Patrick & Sherry

26 April 2005

Greetings from Luanshya!

Sometimes we find ourselves so involved in doing "things" we forget it is important just to spend time with each other and the Lord. The last few weeks have been really hectic. We have had to deal with broken limbs, exhaust systems, water tanks and tower, broken machinery and just the every day hassles of existing in Africa. On top of that we are both working on lessons and messages and doing other ministry/community service. Please pray for us as we refocus over the next few days and prioritize our lives and schedules.

Sherry's College and Career class continues to gain new faces every week. The lessons have included a study of Jeremiah-Success through Failure; The People of Israel-the Myth of Nostalgia-if we compare our present difficulties with our past circumstances, we may become fearful of the future and paralyzed in the present. This week the study is on "How to Handle Rejection"-using the Lord Jesus as a role model. A practical application of biblical examples has been priceless as we see God work in the hearts and lives of these young adults.

One of the biggest pressures in our ministry is the fact that we are caring for so many children and they rely entirely on us for food, clothing, housing and education. Every sick child is a new burden. We love them dearly but there is a lot of pressure. We were thrilled this week to receive two very large boxes from some very dear ladies in Boca Raton, Florida. The boxes were filled with hand-sewn dresses and clothing which will give each child something special. Not only does this exemplify the love of these believers for our children but it also reminds us of God's provision for the needs that we have assumed in the Lighthouse Ministry. When this ministry began, we had one major donor. When he moved on, the full responsibility fell directly on us. We deeply appreciate those who have made it possible to care for and love these youngsters.

Finally, Colin is showing steady improvement with his broken leg situation. The leg is healing nicely and he is becoming quite mobile on his crutches. He has been able to help Sherry in the library which has been a big help to her and has also helped to boost his confidence in working in the ministry area. While he has been home these last few weeks, he has been leading the music during Sunday services. He does this standing on one leg and occasionally looses his balance but he is learning where his spiritual gifts might lie. Thank you for praying for his recovery. Please continue! 

Knowing we have people praying for us makes it possible for us to continue. Heavy schedules and frustrating circumstances are made easier to bear because of your faithfulness.

In His service,

Patrick & Sherry

13 April 2005

Greetings from Luanshya!

We are pleased to give a positive report on Colin's leg situation. Last Thursday evening Dr. Mulla operated on Colin's leg and inserted a steel plate next to the lower portion of his femur. The plate is held in place by nine screws. Colin came through surgery very well and I stayed one night in Lusaka with him. I came home on the weekend to preach in Luanshya then returned on Monday morning to Lusaka. The doctor was pleased with Colin's progress and the condition of his surgery site and released him on Tuesday with a complete set of instructions on what not to do concerning his recuperation. The bone seems to be mending, according to the x-rays, and Colin is able to get around fairly well on crutches. We appreciate your prayers on his behalf. Please continue to pray as the leg heals. The plate will remain in place for approximately a year and a half. At that time the doctor will go back in and remove the plate.

The Lord had been blessing. One woman came into the Resource Centre last week and told Sherry that she was very pleased that her entire family, adults and children, are taking the Source of Light Lessons. In the evenings they sit around the living room and talk about what they have learned from their current lessons. Please pray for them and others as they continue to study God's Word through this ever-growing ministry. Several weeks ago we asked you to pray for John and Sarah Bwalya as they are teaching in a rural area. This morning John came in to see Sherry and told her he was using her program for youth meetings in their school. The local Superintendent of Schools for his District has given her blessing on this program. John and Sarah are working with both boys and girls using school facilities. This would not be possible in public schools in the United States, but God has left this door open here in Zambia. We are thrilled at the fact that this young couple are able to utilize the information that they have gathered over the years and sharing with other young people. John was also invited to speak in a local Baptist Church in a village near his school on more than one occasion. The seeds that we have planted in John's heart are being planted again in areas where neither Sherry nor I have ever visited. Please continue to pray for John and Sarah as they minister both in the schools and church in their rural village setting.

School holidays have begun for the month of April. The College and Career class is down slightly in the attendance yet there are still those who are working and living in the area that want to continue the series of lessons while their college friends return home for the holiday. So, Sherry has gladly obliged and will provide lessons on Christian living through the examples, both good and bad, of various Bible characters.

On Sunday we are in a series called "The New Testament Church". Last Sunday we spoke about Christ as the Head of the Church, Christ as the Cornerstone of the Church, Christ as the Bridegroom of the Church. This coming week we will answer the question, "How does someone get into the Church of Christ?" Brother Chibumba and I are sharing the speaking responsibilities in this series. He is doing an excellent presentation teaching and preaching concerning the organism of the New Testament Church. Even the children were enthralled with the lessons giving input from time to time.

We sincerely appreciate your prayers on our behalf, especially over the last two weeks concerning Colin's accident and the expenses involved in medical treatment and traveling back and forth. We are pleased that quality medical treatment could be found within Zambia thus avoiding expensive travel outside the country. God has provided every step of the way.

In His service,

Patrick & Sherry

6 April 2005

"The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul." (Psalm 23:1-3a)

It is one thing to read the above verses. It is yet another to put them into practice! After learning a week ago that our son, Colin-age 16, broke his femur just four inches above the knee during a rugby game at school, it's been a trying couple of days. I state equivocally that the "Lord is my Shepherd" and rest in the vital truth and state that where He leads I will go. However, in my motherly state...I want my sons leg to be better...NOW and that rather tarnishes the "I shall not want" portion of the verse! "He makes me to lie down in green pastures". Well, I'm lying down but I certainly do not see the "green pastures" at the moment. Everything looks a bit burnt and I feel rather wilted with all the phone calls going back and forth between home and the medical clinic where Colin has been until yesterday afternoon. An ambulance transported him to a private hospital in Lusaka (4 hours from home) so that a metal plate and pins can be put in place through surgical means tomorrow afternoon (Thursday). Patrick left for Lusaka this afternoon to be with Colin. "He leads me beside the still waters." My waters are more like giant waves that seem to be pushing me around. But, I know that with each passing day, the waves and billows will abate as God is in control of the situation and He will direct the orthopedic surgeons hands. "He restores my soul." Having re-read these verses and gotten my ranting out of the system, I feel better. Thank you for praying and continuing in prayer on behalf of Colin, Patrick & the surgeon as well as I.

Since Colin's "little" incident, Patrick has been traveling back and forth between home and the Mkushi Medical Clinic. While he's on the road, I've been pretty busy in the Christian Resource Centre listening to people's memory verses from lessons, collecting those same lessons, distributing new lessons and enrolling even more students. Looking back at the month of March as a whole: 526 lessons were corrected, 660 were distributed, 41 certificates of completion were issued and there were 121 new students enrolled. Needless to say, there has not been a lot of "quiet time" in the library these days. Don't get me wrong. It has been a pleasure meeting new people and listening to various spiritual problems and having the privilege to share God's truth with so many. Yesterday I may have sat down in the office a total of 5 minutes in two hours. The afternoon session was not any better!

A local church leader came to me last week asking for material on "Dating & Marriage". I showed him what was available and he devoured the information. We discussed a few details in depth pertaining to Zambian culture etc. and how scriptural principles could be applied to "boy-girl" relationships. I then encouraged him to obtain a list of seminar attendees (he was scheduled to speak to a group of young people on the weekend) so that those who attended the sessions could then come to Christian Resource Centre and enroll in the "Dating, Love & Marriage" courses that are available. This also will expose many more youths to the Word of God and His ultimate plan for their lives. Pray for the 35 young people who are set to meet with me some time in the next couple of days.

Two young Peace Corp Volunteers (both female), have been visiting with me regularly. They actually stayed at our home last week, in Patrick's absence. We enjoyed our time together and this provided opportunity for the girls to ask a number of questions concerning eternal issues. Both have been attending the Friday night College and Career sessions I moderate. Sometimes knowing the truth and applying the truth are two very different issues. The girls will be back on the weekend from their service site in the bush (jungle). One will head off to Lusaka for her annual medical exam. She will take time out to visit Colin in hospital, if he does not have to be medivaced to South Africa. I can trust him to carry on with sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ and His love during the visit. He pulls no punches in such conversations. The other young lady will stay at our home for the week thus exposing her further to what we do, how we live from day to day and another Friday evening with the College & Career group. Please pray for the volunteers as spend time with us and God's people at Fellowship Chapel and in the various Bible study groups.

Thank for your continued prayers for our family and ministry!

In His grace,

Sherry (& Patrick in absentia)

23 March 2005

Greetings from Luanshya!

Tawanga is a young lady taking courses in the Source of Light program. As she handed me her lesson on Monday, I glanced at the answer sheet and noticed that in her answer to the question: "Have you asked the Lord Jesus Christ to save you"? she wrote "Yes". The next line asked "when"? Her answer was "Yesterday". I said, "tell me about when you asked the Lord Jesus to save you". She told me that when she finished the lesson, she realized that she needed to ask Christ to be her Saviour. So, she did. This is why we are here, telling people about the Lord Jesus Christ, His love for them and what He sacrificed to pay for their eternal life in heaven. You will never meet Tawanga on this side of glory. But, for those who have had a part in this ministry when we all get to heaven she will be one of those saying thank you.

The College and Career class visited the life of Asaph last week. The name of the subject was "Looking to the World or Looking to Jesus-Where is Our Gaze Focused". This particular age group tends to look for approval in their circle of movement. Many seek connections with things not quite helpful in the believers life. By focusing our gaze upon the Lord, we can more easily discern what our goals and objectives in life out to be. This is especially true when we remind ourselves that we are but pilgrims on journey with a mission to tell the world of Jesus Christ and His love. Pray for the many who have been coming and those who will be attending in future.

On Saturday morning we had a very unusual ladies fellowship. Sherry was asked to lead the Bible study for a group of ladies from one of the rural villages. It was agreed that she would teach in English and one of the ladies would translate to Bemba. In this way those who worked in English would be able to enjoy hearing an English lesson. Those who did not understand English would be able to understand ciBemba. When the ladies arrived, Sherry discovered that none of the English speaking ladies had been able to come. Since her notes were all in English, we improvised. She taught in English. I translated to Swahili (about half of the women from this village are originally from Zaire/Congo) and one of the ladies would translate from Swahili to ciBemba. Mid-way through the lesson, two of the ladies from our church arrived who spoke both English and ciBemba. But, we did not interrupt the flow of things since Sherry was well into the lesson. We had a good time. The ladies appreciated hearing the lesson in many languages knowing that the Bible is the World of God regardless of the tongue spoken.

This coming Sunday I will be speaking in a rural church out in Buntungwa. The people there are good friends. I have been there several times. I am looking forward to the service and they have invited the entire village to be present to celebrate Resurrection Sunday together. Please pray for this service. It will also be multilingual (Swahili and ciBemba).

We have a praise and a prayer request. Last night brother Chibumba was driving back to the Lighthouse Children's Home after picking up some rice at one of the local shops. As he turned the corner off of the main road, he heard a loud bang and thought someone had thrown a stone at the minivan. He did not stop because this is often a way that vehicles are stolen. He continued driving all the way home. When he got out of the vehicle, he realized that the left side of the windscreen had been shattered by a bullet. When I looked at the damage this morning, praise the Lord that the bullet was not strong enough or aimed at the proper angle to go through the windscreen. I am also thankful that it was far enough away from brother Chibumba's side of the vehicle that he did not swerve and have an accident. Please pray for brother Chibumba. He is more than a little shaken by the experience. Also, pray for us. Replacement of the windshield will be just over $700. Obviously an unbudgeted expense.

Through the experiences of this week, we have had great victories, exciting services and harrowing adventures. Through it all God has been faithful and we continue to enjoy His blessings. Thank you again for being a part of our lives and ministry.

In His service,

Patrick & Sherry

16 March 2005

Greetings from Luanshya!

This has been one of the busiest weeks in the Christian Resource Centre that we can remember. We have enrolled nearly as many students in the Bible Correspondence School in the last five days as we did in the entire month of February. A number of the students are asking pretty penetrating questions. One man specifically wanted to know if there was any hope of salvation for the "mad" people that are wandering around the streets of Luanshya. I explained that we do not know the full circumstances of why they have lost control of their mental faculties. Some of them we know are a result of substance abuse. Others we really have no history. At least we know that there are people who are concerned for these individuals and are praying for them.

Sherry's College and Career Class continue on Friday. Last week they spoke about depression and the comfort of God and how the apostle Paul dealt with situations in his own life. One must experience suffering in order to truly know God's comfort. Paul had experienced trials, afflictions, sorrows and suffering and through it all he learned of God's great mercy and love. His experience in suffering did not make him bitter, but thankful for the experience that he would be able to share with real heartfelt understanding the experiences of others, and share also with them the "God of all comfort." Paul had drawn near to God in all his distress and times of tribulation, and God did not fail him. Please continue to pray for those who are participating.

The rain situation is becoming serious. Though we have had a lot of rain this season, the farms are concerned that the late season rains are insufficient. One of the families in our church who have a small farm have had to early harvest some of their crops because the field is getting dry. Last year Zambia boasted a bumper harvest. This year we may be struggling in some parts of the country. Please pray for our situation and the believers who will be affected. Almost every adult member in the churches where we serve has at least a few acres of farmland on the outskirts of town. 

This coming Saturday Sherry has a ladies meeting with women from several congregations. She will be teaching about Elijah and the fact that fatigue makes cowards of us all. Time management is a very necessary component in the life of any busy individual and Zambian women are incredibly busy with house, home, family and very often a business at the market place. Pray for those who plan to attend.

We appreciate the fact that you share in our ministry. We are here because you care.

In His service,

Patrick & Sherry

9 March 2005

Greetings from Luanshya!

This past week we received a very pleasant surprise. We received two very large boxes with gifts in them from Samaritan's Purse. The boxes in the boxes were prepared by children in the United States for distribution to children in more needy areas of the world. We heard about this program and have actually seen children in the USA bringing these shoebox sized packages to Sunday School to send overseas. However, we had never been the recipient of one of these special packages. Last week we were able to distribute "Christmas gifts" to all the children in our Sunday School program at Fellowship Chapel. The looks of amazement and sheer joy on the faces of the children cannot be explained. We wish to give a very special thank you to all the children who participated in this program. There is no way for us to know if any of the boys and girls we saw preparing boxes actually had their boxes sent to us, but somebody prepared and somebody received and the Lord will bless those who participated.

The Christian Resource Centre has been abuzz the last couple of weeks. In February we enrolled 50 new students, distributed 254 lessons, corrected 212 lessons and awarded 11 certificates of completion. Just in the last 9 days of this month we have already enrolled over 35 new students. The library has been busy from opening to closing every day. One interesting note concerning the Source of Light program...we always ask the students what church they attend. The purpose in this exercise is to help us during the marking of exams to understand why certain responses were given and how best we can go about correcting those Biblical errors and hopefully lead some to Christ. Almost every person claims to belong to one church or another even if they never attend. In the last couple of days we had two unusual responses when we asked about a home church. One little girl actually said "none" while another young lady said she went to the local mosque. Obviously the student from the mosque is not going to be coming to a Christian church but are thrilled that she is taking our lessons from the Christian Resource Centre. Please pray for her as she is introduced to the story of the One True God.

This past Sunday I enjoyed presenting the message in a unique manner. The text was "Man looks on the outward appearance; God looks upon the heart" from 2 Samuel. I used the illustration of an egg explaining that one can never know what is on the inside of an egg by simply looking on the outside. I boiled one egg, blew the yoke out of another and left the final one fresh.

Over the course of the message I tossed the empty egg to one of our young people while he held another object in his hand. He panicked (as I assumed he would) and dropped the empty egg on the ground. I explained that he was so careful to protect the non-fragile object in his hand that he failed to protect the fragile egg coming at him. I stressed that we often focus on things of little value and forget or neglect the things of eternal value. After the message one of the adults came to me and said she really appreciated the message because she has been struggling with focus in her life. She also said that her youngest daughter was enthralled with the illustration because she loves eggs. Nevertheless, she was very disappointed at the fact that we broke an egg and it was "empty".

Thank you for allowing us to focus on ministry and the lives of those whom God sent us to serve.

In His service,

Patrick & Sherry

23 February 2005

Greetings from Luanshya!

It has been said that nothing is fast in Africa. That isn't exactly true. Some things are very quick. Some time ago my windscreen was hit by a stone thrown by the tire of a vehicle ahead of me. It wasn't much of a problem until the weather got hot and the "star" began growing feet that scattered across my field of vision. What was a little problem became serious in a matter of weeks.

Earlier this week I had to go to Lusaka to get my windscreen replaced. It was supposed to take 24 hrs. Two days later I finally returned to Luanshya with a new windscreen, new timing belt and a new antennae and a bill for just under US$1,000. Bad things come quickly. Repairs take a while. Life is like that. We are working with several people who have, in various ways, messed up their lives. Their actions were in many cases avoidable simply by being faithful to the Lord and keeping the promises that they had made to Him. Nevertheless, now they find themselves on the road to recovery and in many instances finding out that sin has a much higher cost than previously anticipated. We cannot give the names of these people simply because it would not be proper for us to do so but we do ask you to pray for those who are hurting in Luanshya and that God would mend their spirits and in some cases their families.

The College and Career Class, led by Sherry, last week studied the life of someone whose life was turned upside down through absolutely no fault of his own. The lesson was entitled "When The Lights Go Out". Their character study was on the life of Job. People often remark Job's circumstances were unfair. It often seems "unfair" when bad things happen to good people. Often the larger picture is not seen. In Job's case God was making a point to Satan, the angels and even to some of Job's "friends" concerning faithfulness. Job also learned a lot about himself through this series of events. By the end of the lesson the young people had learned a lot about themselves as well as about the faithfulness and protection of God. Three of the young men who visited for the first time on Friday also visited the services on Sunday morning. Please pray for Luke, Felix and Danny. I will be visiting them in the next couple of days and inviting them to know more about having a personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ.

Finally, today we celebrate Colin's 16th birthday. Please pray that as he nears adulthood he will remain faithful to the promises he has made to the Lord and to his parents and that God will continue to bless him in his spiritual, academic and physical life. We are proud of him and his accomplishments and pleased with his life goals.

We count it a privilege to serve the Lord as your representatives in Zambia. Thank you for being a part of this service,

In His service,

Patrick & Sherry

16 February 2005

Greetings from Luanshya!

Today was a day of celebration. Brother Silungwe completed the Design for Discipleship program after two years of intensive study. When he first began the study, his answers were shallow and his voice was hesitant. The last book of the series is a verse-by-verse study of the book of 1 Thessalonians. His answers were succinct and his voice was clear as he shared his responses. I am very excited that he has completed this course and that he has determined to use the basic outline to examine other books in the Bible. He is looking forward to the opportunity to guide others through the Design for Discipleship course. By the way, brother Silungwe is 62 years old. Please pray for him and praise the Lord with us for this senior saint.

Last week Sherry's College and Career group studied the experiences of Jonah. One of the major points set before the group was that we need to do the will of God whether we appreciate His plans or not. Jonah most definitely was not keen on the idea of warning his nations enemies, Nineveh, of God's impending judgment. However, God in His mercy wished a message of repentance to be presented to a lost people. The fact that they did, indeed, repent was a miracle. Jonah rebelled at the immediate responsiveness of the Ninevites and actually wanted God to destroy them. It is not often that a preacher prays to be a failure. One of the most significant lessons in the whole book of Jonah was how God dealt with His own servant who was steeped in pride and self-pity.

Most people think of Sherry as being quiet and reserved. As she is telling the story of Jonah, she was becoming animated and actually acting out the parts of Jonah, the pagan sailors on the ship and the Ninevites when Jonah was vomited onto the beach and shouted out to the people "repent"! The class was getting into the story and participating with the practical applications from their own lives. They enjoyed themselves and learned something at the same time. Thank you for praying for this class. Please continue!

The Sunday School lessons last week and the next two weeks are focusing on Moses. It is interesting to see the story through the eyes of children who consider it grossly unfair that a little baby would be stuck in a basket and put in a crocodile infested river. As the story unfolds, it will be even more interesting to hear the impressions of the little ones as they walk through the life of Moses and learn that God has a plan and a time for everything that happens in our lives. We may not appreciate the circumstances that He brings us through but in the end we will come forth as gold. God uses our experiences both good and bad to bring glory to His name and souls to Himself.

Thank you for allowing us the privilege of being a part of God's plan in

Zambia.

In His service,

Patrick & Sherry

9 February 2005

Greetings from Luanshya!

The Resource Centre has been a hive of activity throughout the last week. Some days people are waiting at the door before we open and often we have to apologetically ask people to leave when we close the doors at the end of the day. The age span goes from early school children to retirees and every period of life in between. February is only one third over and we already have twice as many new students enrolled in the Source of Light program than we had in all of January. We are excited about this ongoing ministry and we continue to be thrilled with its effectiveness even as we near our 7th anniversary in operation. We currently have over 3,250 students and more are coming almost every day. If we had room to expand, we could buy more chairs but we don't so we can't. The owner of a private primary school in Luanshya asked me if he could bring his grade seven students to the library to read. Since he has nearly forty students, he will have to bring them in shifts since we only have room to seat 16 people at one time. Thank you for praying!

We covet your prayers for the need of Sunday School teachers. With John and Sarah so far away, we lost both Sunday School teachers at the same time. Sherry has stepped into the gap but the goal, obviously, is to have local church members stepping into this position of leadership. Please pray that this will become a reality soon.

There has been a lot of sickness in our small congregation. Things like the flu and malaria are common ailments that are usually treated with medication. Other ailments including meningitis are signals of a much more serious physical ailment. It is difficult to watch seemingly healthy people suddenly fail in their health, but this is the scenario in our part of the world. We continue warning our young people about the dangers of being promiscuous, but even watching their parents, aunts and uncles doesn't seem to slow down the spread of HIV/AIDS. We have spoken with several experts in this field in the past two weeks and many are discouraged about the situation. Behavioral change is the only answer in this dilemma and behavioral change can only be accomplished when the heart is regenerated by the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. Please pray for those who are preaching the gospel, that the message might be heard and lives transformed. We find it astounding that discussions of HIV/AIDS and sexual activity are being held in classes as young as grade four. Often these students are already aware of the "facts of life" because of the living conditions in which they find themselves. As discouraging as it seems, we have not given up and we continue to share the Word of God and to warn people-both in and outside the church that there is a price to pay for ignoring the Word of God. Please pray for this situation.

Life here is sometimes like a roller coaster. We have victories that excite us. We have challenges that startle us, but we know we are not alone. We appreciate your partnership in prayer on our behalf.

In His service,

Patrick & Sherry

2 February 2005

Greetings from Luanshya!

Several of our Lighthouse Children have recently enrolled in the Source of Light Bible Correspondence School. Within a day of starting the program themselves they have been inviting their friends at school to enroll. They are using the SOL courses as an evangelistic tool to get their friends interested in knowing the Lord Jesus Christ. The Lighthouse Ministry was not on our agenda when we came to Africa but we have seen God use this ministry in so very many ways to reach out into our community. We are so thankful for those who remember our children.

Sherry's College and Career class is growing leaps and bounds. She really didn't know how many would attend during the Friday evening time slot. This past week she had more students than handouts prepared. A couple of the young people actually showed up two hours early simply to take advantage of the Youth Centre behind the chapel. Last week they talked about Moses and "learning to let go". This weeks' study is on Jonah "Regression of Pride". Please pray for this new and exciting ministry.

Last Sunday morning I was in Buntungwa. My first meeting with that new congregation 22 months ago was under mango trees and we had five or six adults and a few children. Last Sunday there were 97 in the service and several others were at a funeral for a child of one of the church members. Working in a village ministry is very different from working in town. As I looked around the room, I noticed that the people were the poorest of the poor. One little girl was concentrating very hard on tying her shoelaces. The shoes themselves were so badly worn that it took a moment for me to realize that the backs were completely torn out. Nevertheless, she was happy that she had shoes on her feet, which made walking in the mud during the rainy season a lot easier on her feet. Please pray for brother Chomba as he leads this young congregation. This morning we provided several hundred tracts in Bemba. Their plan is to give one tract to every house in their township and invite people to attend services.

The month of January was not spectacular at the Correspondence School as many students were out of town visiting family in the villages as well as seeking their exam results from other schools. However, 72 courses were corrected while 83 were distributed, 9 certificates of completion were awarded and 15 new students were enrolled. The month of February has already been busy with new enrollees and those who were out of town have returned and are now retrieving marked lessons. Several of the new enrollees are those participating in Sherry's College and Career class.

I spent the last couple of days working on my office. Moisture from the rains has been seeping through the concrete walls and several of my books were getting water damaged. I've paneled all four walls of the office. This is made even more challenging by the fact that there is not one square corner in our house and the "paneling" is actually particleboard with a paper veneer. Nevertheless, I have finished the office except for the final trim which I will do this weekend. Hopefully, this will stop any further damage to the books-and it makes my office look like an office. There is something about the "look of wood" that makes an office look like an office.

We have had a great week. We have seen God bless in many ways. Thank you for remembering us in your prayers.

In His service,

Patrick & Sherry

26 January 2005

Greetings from Luanshya!

Good news, bad news. We have asked you to pray for John and Sarah Bwalya concerning their placement by the Ministry of Education. They have both been placed and moved on site today. The really good news is that they have been posted at the same school. The really bad news is they are 30 miles away. We do not know if they are going to be able to commute on the weekends, but it looks doubtful especially during the rainy season. We are excited about their new life. Nevertheless, this means they will not be able to teach in the Sunday School and that is a major blow for Sherry. Please pray for John and Sarah as they begin their teaching career. Please pray that God will provide more Sunday School teachers to take their places here in our church.

Brother Silungwe is thoroughly enjoying his discipleship lessons. It is always exciting to see a senior saint getting involved in Bible study. The other day he told brother Chibumba, "This is good stuff, this is really good stuff. I am enjoying my study." Another young man is showing interest in discipleship studies and we will be looking into that in the next few days to see when it will fit into both of our schedules. Pray for this ministry and for those who are endeavoring to grow in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.

Sherry's College and Career class studied the life of the prophet Elijah last week. The theme of the lesson was "Changing Our Schedule." The idea of being busy and keeping ourselves occupied 24/7 is a common mantra. This study focused on the need to prioritize and make sure that sufficient "quiet time" is programmed into our daily schedules. The example from Elijah's life is that he was so busy for the Lord, he failed to take time to rest. When the threats of Jezebel were made concerning his life, he ran in fear instead of taking a stand and resting on God's promises based upon previous experiences. Pray for the group as they look at the life of Moses this Friday and how he served as a leader among the people.

We would like to ask you to pray for Mark. He is one of our students in the correspondence school and has been for several years. He brought me a paper that he wrote having received a "vision". In his paper he states that Christ was the first creation of God. This is obviously heresy from any number of cults that are present in Zambia today. I made a few notes and gave him some scriptures to cross-reference. He came in and spoke with Sherry today, as I was out of the office. He does not go to any particular church but goes "where the spirit leads". He says that he is now an apostle. Mark's church background is Baptist but his current theology is rubbish. Please pray for him and for us as we talk with him concerning what the Bible says as opposed to what men say.

It has been a busy week. We enjoy busy weeks because we know we are having an impact on the people with whom we come into contact. Thank you for having a part in this ministry.

In His service,

Patrick and Sherry

19 January 2005

Greetings from Luanshya!

Last Thursday the Lighthouse Children's Home had a surprise visit from one of the representatives from the Social Welfare office. This was the first time any representative came unannounced. I was not informed of her visit until she was leaving. General comments about the Home were that we are, still, the model facility in the Luanshya District. She did comment that we had no blankets on the beds for the children. Every bed has sheets and light blankets and the temperatures right now range from 75 and 85 degrees so heavy blankets are really unnecessary at the moment. Nevertheless, in order to avoid an argument, I purchased 10 blankets and put one on each bed. There were a few other observations but she was extremely pleased with the condition of the Home and the well-being of the children. We appreciate those who have a part in this particular ministry.

On Friday Sherry had the first College and Career class. There were a number of young people from various church backgrounds. Sherry taught on "The Walk of Love" from 2 John 1:6. The hour-long class lasted a full ninety minutes with the young people saying that they planned to bring more friends next week. Please pray for this new outreach and Sherry as she prepares her lessons on the series "To Walk and Not Grow Weary".

Brother Chibumba preached from Luke 12 on Sunday morning. It had rained all day Saturday, all night Saturday and continued to rain on Sunday morning. When you live in a place where 99% of the people travel by foot or by bicycle, torrential rains are a major factor in going from place to place. The attendance was very low. Brother Chibumba was not discouraged and did an excellent job in delivering his message. That afternoon we showed a film and amazingly the sun came out and the afternoon wound up being very pleasant.

The Bible Institute continues. We studied the book of 2 Kings. This week we were studying the ministry of the prophet Elisha. The students are doing well and their questions are not run of the mill but unique. Since we hold classes in the Christian Resource Centre, I often tell the students "go grab that commentary" and give your answer to the class. We then spend time discussing the various issues. We are all enjoying the studies.

My father's e -mail has not been working so I do not know how my mother is doing at this point after breaking her ankle from a recent fall. She is currently in a rehab hospital receiving personalized attention and discipline. One of the church members sent me a note saying that my mother was enjoying hospital food. So I think she must have hit her head as well.

:) Just kidding, Mom!

As we finish writing this note, brother Silungwe is in the Christian Resource Centre working on his discipleship lesson for next Monday. He has not been well, due to the current weather conditions, but he wants to finish these lessons. Please pray for him and for others who are involved in this ministry.

Thank you for being a part of our lives.

In His service,

Patrick & Sherry

12 January 2005

Greetings from Luanshya!

Schools have opened for the 2005 school year. Children are walking back and forth to classes in their brand new, yet to be torn uniforms. Teachers are in class. Everything looks bright. All of our children from the Lighthouse Home are settling into their new classes. We anticipate a good year for them. Please pray for all of our children as they continue in their academic studies.

With the New Year we are starting a new ministry at the chapel. Sherry will begin a College and Career evening discussion group on Friday from 5:30 to 6:30. It will be a time of fellowship as well as a focused Bible study for young adults. One of the young ladies at the local grocery store stopped me a couple days ago and asked, "Can anybody come?" I said, "Certainly." She said that she would be there if she could get off. Sherry has had a big influence with the young people in Luanshya since she has been here a decade and a half. Many of the children that she taught during her first years in Zambia are now grown and have families of their own. Please pray for this new class and that Sherry will be able to continue to reach into the hearts and lives of the young people.

Many years ago an older man named Mr. Silungwe came to know Christ through our ministry. He was baptized and began discipleship classes with me. Brother Silungwe became very ill and was transported out of town by members of his family to a better hospital. He has been away for over a year. Just before Christmas he returned home to Luanshya looking quite fit especially for a man in his upper sixties who has had a relatively difficult life. The first Sunday he was here he said, "I really need to complete the discipleship course started so very long ago." Last Monday we began our concentrated study in 1 Thessalonians. It is always exciting to see an older adult get excited about Bible study. Please pray for Mr. Silungwe as he continues his studies. He may never be a preacher but he does want to know about his Lord and Saviour.

Last Sunday our puppet ministry team was back in action. The two stars of the day were Levi and Lily. The children always enjoy the puppet presentations especially now that we have puppets with dark brown skin thanks to a very generous church. We plan to have a puppet presentation the first Sunday of every month. We trust this will continue to draw more children into the Sunday School program. Pray for this ministry.

Bible Institute classes continue. It is somewhat more difficult with men who are working because their work schedules often take them out of town for several days and weeks at a time. I find myself teaching several classes that are just a few lessons away from each other as one student comes more often than others. Still, the men are keen to learn. Please pray that their work schedules and family responsibilities will not hinder their progress in their studies.

It has been a busy first week of the year. This month seems to be going faster but we cannot stop the calendar from flipping over. We appreciate your prayers on our behalf as we continue...

In His service,

Patrick & Sherry

5 January 2005

Greetings from Luanshya!

2004 has officially closed. There was no excitement in our little town. Everything was shut down and depressed. I spoke to three businessmen this week who are ready to "pack it in" and look for greener pastures. Still we see God working, especially in the lives of the people who utilize the Christian Resource Centre. In the Source of Light Bible Correspondence program we enrolled 29 new students, 280 lessons were distributed, 232 were corrected and 29 certificates of completion were awarded. Colin has been helping in the Resource Centre for the last few weeks while home from school. It has given him an appreciation of what happens in Luanshya during his absence. It has also helped him to realize that there are a lot of young people in our area who have a real hunger for the Word of God. He leaves to return to school this coming Sunday. Please pray for him as well as our students in the weeks to come.

One particular man, named Mr. Zulu, was reading our copy of "Active Spirituality" by Chuck Swindoll. He came into Sherry's office convicted about what he was reading. He requested extra time to review the book, read the Scriptures and pray over changes that needed to occur in his life. Please pray for Mr. Zulu. He is a professing Christian but his church is not in line with biblical doctrine. He is on the verge of making some changes in his life.

The week before Christmas we put together a box of duplicate books. When regular users of the Resource Centre came in, we gave each one the opportunity to choose two books for Christmas. The thrill of seeing their faces as they received their surprise is more than we can express. Being able to equip national believers for ministry is why we are here. Please pray that these tools will be utilized effectively.

Malaria and cholera are present in Luanshya in a very big way. On Sunday morning brother Chibumba sent word that he was unable to speak so I filled in for him. Yesterday afternoon we heard that several people have contracted cholera and at least four have died from this extremely contagious disease. We are boiling our water and have told the members of the churches with whom we work to do the same and to be extremely careful about letting their children play in dirty water. Nevertheless, children being children, this is always a dangerous time of the year. Please pray for the health and well-being of the believers. Most of these families do not have a consistent source of clean water. Many of them have to carry water in used oil jugs often up to three or four kilometers. We are blessed that the Lighthouse Children's Home has it's own well so our children are not drinking contaminated water.

For the next few weeks I will be doing a study from the 23rd Psalm on Wednesday evenings. The Sunday School is studying relationships focusing on jealousy this week. The younger children will be discussing temptation. On Sunday I will begin a series discussing the "Purposes" for Christ's suffering on the Cross. I am looking forward to this particular series as I have been studying it for the last few months.

All that we do is made possible because of your prayers and support on our behalf.

In His service,

Patrick & Sherry

22 December 2004

Greetings from Luanshya!

The year is winding down, but the work does not seem to slow down. The Christian Resource Centre is busy every day. There have been a number of people asking questions as well as school children coming in to read during their summer holiday. Yesterday afternoon one young man came in specifically to watch the film "The Godmakers." Four other young men came in asking lots of questions about the Mormon religion. We answered their questions using quotes from Mormon literature and comparing it with the Bible. They had been given the automatic answers by the Mormon missionaries but when we began quoting the Mormon literature, especially quotes by Joseph Smith and Brigham Young, they were unable to respond. Sherry finally asked them, "Why are you here? Why are you talking to us about Mormonism?" They said they had come to talk to us because the LDS missionaries would not answer their questions. It is not our intention to spend hours and hours debating the heresy of the Book of Mormon, The Pearl of Great Price or other Mormon literature. Nevertheless, it is sometimes necessary to point out error when it has landed on your doorstep. Please pray for the young people in Zambia as they face this "new and exciting" threat.

As Christmas approaches, there are the "celebrations" that take place around town. One church had a Christmas carol sing that was so poorly attended that the organizers actually apologized to the members of the community who showed up. However, the bars are doing a booming business. One of our young believers came to our home at 1:30 a.m. on Tuesday saying that she had been "chased from the house" by her husband who had been at the bar for several hours before finally getting home at midnight. After spending over an hour talking to the family, (both husband and wife profess to be Christians), I finally got home some time after three. Please pray for R & R. The counseling will continue.

As Sherry and I are writing this note, some of the members of the chapel are working on the program for this coming Saturday morning. Christmas for us always includes a church service so this Christmas morning we will be celebrating, with the believers, the birth of the Saviour.

Saturday afternoon we will go and spend a few hours with the children at the Lighthouse Children's Home distributing gifts that have been sent to them by the Lord's people far and wide. We have seen such progress in the lives of these children for the last few years that it has amazed even members of the government office at Social Welfare. All of the children finished very well in school this year. We appreciate those who have had a special part in their lives and ask that you continue to pray for these youngsters as they continue to grow physically, academically and spiritually. Also pray for brother and Mrs. Chibumba as they oversee the day to day care of each child.

Sherry received some very good news. One of the women in the church, who happens to be a trained teacher, has volunteered to help in the Sunday School. Some of the teachers in the past have either relocated or have for personal reasons been unable to continue teaching. Thus, classes have had to be consolidated putting very young children in with the older children. This new teacher allows us to put the toddlers in their own class and will encourage parents to bring the little ones to Sunday School, again. Thank you for your prayers in this matter.

Finally, we would like to wish all of you the happiest of Christmas' and may God fill your new year with blessings and peace.

In His service,

Patrick & Sherry

14 December 2004

Greetings from Luanshya!

This week there have been a number of young men coming into the Resource Centre asking specific questions about Mormonism. In the building next to our library several Mormon Missionaries are having meetings on Sunday as well as doctrine classes through the week. Mormonism teaches that Jesus was conceived by the physical sexual act of Adam and Mary, that Jesus is the brother of Lucifer, that he earned his own salvation and that he attained godship by being a good mormon. A vote was taken on the planet Kolob, where god and his many wives reside, as to who would be the saviour of the newly created planet Earth. After a lot of debate, a vote was taken 1/3 voted that the mormon Jesus would be the saviour, 1/3 voted that Lucifer would be the saviour and 1/3 remained neutral. Those who voted for the mormon Jesus were the physical inhabitants of earth. Those who followed Lucifer were demons and were denied physical bodies. Those who remained neutral were born with black skin. In 1978 the Mormon church changed the doctrine to allow blacks to become members of their religion. It astounds us that any thinking black person would even consider being a part of a religion that for their first 100 years considered them to be cursed by god then suddenly when it became politically correct in America, god "changed his mind". For this reason we are making it as clear as possible to those who come into the Resource Centre that there is a true God who loves all men regardless of their skin pigmentation-and He always has loved all mankind. Please pray for us as we open God's Word before these young people and share the "Way, the Truth and the Life."

On Sunday morning we had several visitors in the service. I preached a very clear message on salvation being the gift of God and not the purchase of man. Two people expressed their doubts about knowing that they had eternal life. One of them came to me at the close of the service and said he wanted to talk. I asked one of our men to spend a few moments with him and share the gospel with this young man. The young man comes from a church background that teaches that baptism is required for salvation. He has been baptized but did not fully understand why that was not enough. He could not stay very long and promised to return to talk some more. Please pray for him as he seeks to know the truth. Also pray for Mercy, the other person who expressed an interest in knowing more about The Gift of God.

We do have one very special prayer request concerning my mother. She tripped at home earlier this week and broke her ankle. She suffered a compound fracture and therefore quite serious. She turned 73 a few months ago and her bones are not going to heal quite as fast as Colin's. My father said that she has a number of plates and screws holding her ankle together and will not be able to walk on it for at least two months. She is currently admitted in a rehab centre in southern California. Please pray for her, the physiotherapists, the doctors and my dad. My folks have not been separated this long in their 51 years of marriage.

We are excited about what the Lord has allowed us to do in Luanshya. He has given us a location where we can be a shining light in the down town area of our small town. We appreciate the part you play in your prayers and support of this ministry as we continue...

In His service,

Patrick & Sherry

8 December 2004

Greetings from Luanshya!

Over the last year we have been asking you to pray for the teaching placement of John and Sarah Bwalya. The Senior Education Officer in Masaiti School District (which borders Luanshya) has submitted John and Sarah's names for placement in a school in her District. The Government had said that they were going to hire 7,000 teachers. The day after the placement was made, the Government announced that they were only going to hire 1,000 teachers. We do not know, at this time, if John and Sarah will be included in this drastically reduced number. They are very disappointed not to have heard by this time. They finished their education-including the practical aspect-a full year ago. They have been waiting patiently. But patience is running a little thin. Please continue to pray for John and Sarah as well as the other several thousand trained teachers who are waiting for the Government postings. We are pleased, however, that John has been able to secure a teaching post in a private school in the interim. He is making the equivalent of US$33 a month which is about one third the salary offered in a Government school.

Last Sunday morning brother Chibumba preached a message from John 4. This is the first Sunday in a long time where I did not preach on the Lord's day. It did feel rather unusual to be sitting in the congregation but I did enjoy listening to this man of God proclaim the gospel. Following the morning service, I baptized Rhoda Sakahundu and then she joined us at the Lord's Table for communion immediately following. The look on her face was enough to make it worth it all. She is secure in her salvation and she feels at home in our small Body of Christ. Please pray for Rhoda and her family as they continue to grow.

On Monday Sherry had an interesting conversation with a local Methodist Pastor. He had heard about the Christian Resource Centre from people in town and wanted to know what it was and how could he participate. He was surprised to learn that we do not charge anything for people to use our books or to enroll in the Source of Light Bible Correspondence School. Sherry enrolled him in the program and he was excited about the opportunity to study his bible in a systematic method. We are excited about the fact that we can help this older gentlemen better understand what the Bible says. Please pray for Chrispin Mwaba.

Sherry has begun working with some of the young people and Sunday School in preparation for our Christmas day program. We will be using drama and puppets over the holiday to present the gospel and share the love of Christ. This is always a very busy time of year for everybody and we are equally busy with the various programs and activities in the church and the surrounding townships. We look forward to sharing some of the blessings of the upcoming weeks with you as these events take place.

Thank you for being a part of our ministry and for taking the time to read this brief update.

In His service,

Patrick & Sherry

1 December 2004

Greetings once again from Luanshya!

We have just returned from a brief journey overseas on the Eastern seaboard of the United States. It was a blessing to be able to participate in a number of mission conferences and share what the Lord has been doing in our part of the world. We sincerely pray that many hearts will have been moved in such a way as to consider giving of themselves in full time missionary service, prayer, support work and practical help.

Last Sunday morning the title of my message was "Good News/Bad News". My text was Romans 10 beginning in verse 13. The good news is all who call on the Lord will definitely, without a doubt and without fear of His rejection receive eternal life. That is the good news that we hold so dear in our lives. That is the good news that we teach and preach both in Zambia and anywhere our ministry opportunities lead us. The bad news is that not everyone has called; not everyone has believed and not everyone has heard. This past week Sherry led Ruth, a young lady who has been coming to services for some time as she called on the name of the Lord and became His child. Rhoda, a middle aged woman who has been coming off and on for several months recommitted her life to the Lord and will be baptized this coming Sunday. I love sharing good news! I especially love sharing good news after being away for several weeks. Thank you for your faithfulness. Please add Ruth and Rhoda to your prayer list as they grow in the Lord.

The Sunday School concluded their series on "Treating People Right, Making Right Decisions and Keeping Right On With God." The children are looking forward to the next series of lessons and for the first time, every child will have their own workbook and take home paper. They're thrilled! John, their teacher, is looking forward to using the new books and setting up some new procedures for class participation. We will be putting together some exciting programs in the next few weeks. Thank you for praying on behalf of the children.

Other ministries have restarted with our return. The Bible Institute students have been working during our absence and are excited with their progress. The Christian Resource Centre has re-opened and word is out that the Coleman's are back in town. Students are again dropping off and retrieving lessons from the Source of Light Bible Correspondence School. It is good to be home!

It was wonderful to have an opportunity to see old friends and make new ones. It is especially encouraging when members of supporting churches ask us specific questions about particular ministries that have been mentioned in our weekly missives. This encourages us that people truly are praying and are intimately aware of what the Lord is doing in Zambia. Thank you for your prayers on our behalf.

In His service,

Patrick & Sherry

20 October 2004

Greetings from Luanshya!

This week we begin with good news. We have had rain a couple of times over the past few days and there are no more leaks in either the chapel or the Christian Resource Centre. Hopefully this will continue throughout the next five months when the rains really get heavy.

More good news. We received two boxes of books from a dear friend in Ireland with over 200 books as well as music tapes and CD's for children to listen to while in the library. Sherry has already completed the cataloguing of the new inventory and has placed them on the shelves in the Resource Centre. We appreciate this fantastic gift toward this ever-growing ministry.

This past Sunday I traveled to our newest baby church in the Buntungwa area. They have over 50 adults in the church and another 75 children and babies. The building was full and there were a number of visitors. When I arrived, I discovered that my interpreter for the day was a young Congolese man who had moved to the area a few months ago. We knew many of the same preachers from Lubumbashi so it was exciting to have that opportunity. After the service, three people expressed a desire to join the church. One of them will be counseled concerning her salvation. We are excited about this young church's growth.

Yesterday I had a very interesting visit from a young Anglican priest who is stationed in one of the townships around Luanshya. He was trying to express his thoughts on salvation and having a difficult time. He came back in the late afternoon when the Resource Centre was closed. We visited for about 45 minutes. He knows that he is born again because he remembers specifically repenting of his sins and asking the Lord Jesus to save him. He is finding it difficult to rationalize Anglican dogma and the Word of God since he has delved deeper into his studies at the Resource Centre. He has begun a series of lessons with us that should help him crystallize his thoughts and future actions. As he left he said, "I am glad there is someplace to come where I can get my questions answered. I am also glad that you are helping me answer these questions from the Word of God instead of a denominational text." I am glad, too!

Our children at the Lighthouse Children's Home are gearing up for final exams that will determine whether they are promoted to the next level or not. We have concerns only with one of the child who jumped a grade at the beginning of the year and has shown signs of struggle in recent months. Pray for our children as they buckle down and study.

Sherry met with her discipleship student yesterday. The topic of discussion was on Christian Fellowship-the advantage. Often believers do not realize the asset they have when they come into God's family. Suddenly there are caregivers all around availing themselves to provide information, encouragement and solace as we adjust to our new life in Christ.

Every week we touch many lives through the many ministries under our direction. Your prayer and support makes this possible. Thank you!

In His service,

Patrick & Sherry

13 October 2004

Greetings from Luanshya!

This past Thursday it was my privilege to participate in the installation of the Mayor of Luanshya. The invitation only arrived Wednesday afternoon, but that is pretty normal for this part of the world. When I arrived, the master of ceremonies informed me that I was on the program to say the opening prayer. It was an honor to participate in this event-especially as the only non-Zambian in the small hall where the event took place. When I returned to my seat, the former deputy mayor commented, "Very nice prayer". I told him it was not difficult when you have an ongoing relationship with the One who answers those prayers. Please pray for the community of Luanshya. Businesses here are struggling to get back on top of the economic situation after the re-opening of the copper mine.

Saturday evening we had our first light rain of the season. It has not rained here since April, so any moisture is considered good moisture. Unfortunately, on Sunday morning we realized that the newly repaired roof at the chapel and Resource Centre complex had one leak. Sunday afternoon Colin and I were up on the roof looking for the culprit. We have spent the last three mornings on the roof patching and painting. We are hoping and praying that we have caught the offending leak in time. The rains are not due to begin in earnest for a few more weeks. Please pray with us that the patch will hold.

Sunday morning brother Chibumba preached a very good message on salvation. Unfortunately, none of the visitors that had been invited through the week were in attendance. At the end of his message brother Chibumba encouraged the congregation to take this message to their friends, neighbors, workmates, etc. and to compel them to come in. We appreciate your prayers for the Chibumba family. They are a vital part of our ministry.

This afternoon we enrolled several new students in the Source of Light ministry. Four of them were children from Jehovah's Witness homes. These children would never be allowed by their parents to attend a single service at Fellowship Chapel. If they did attend, they would be publicly reprimanded and their parents would be shamed by others in their particular religion. Reaching into these homes via the Source of Light courses gives us an opportunity to reach them for the Lord Jesus Christ that they will not receive in the traditional invitation to church manner. Please pray for these youngsters and the many, many others who are participating in the Source of Light Bible Correspondence School. We sincerely appreciate those who are making this particular ministry a reality.

This coming Saturday Colin will be taking his PSAT at Chengelo. He has been studying every morning this week while he is at home. He has taken a number of sample tests which the school provided. He feels relatively confident that he will do well, but like every teenager that confidence can easily melt away when you walk into the examination hall. Please pray for Colin this Saturday. The exam begins at 7 a.m. which 10 p.m. (Friday). California time.

Thank you so much for allowing us to share our lives with you and for making it to remain...

In His service,

Patrick & Sherry

6 October 2004

Greetings from Luanshya!

It's really hard to believe that three fourths of the year are already over. I guess it's true what they say: "Time flies when you're having fun".

On Monday Sherry did the inventory for the Source of Light ministry. During the month of September we distributed 339 lessons, corrected 295 lessons, awarded 20 certificates of completion and enrolled 34 new students. In addition to this, because of the various school closings, we also had nearly 1,000 people in the Christian Resource Centre reading, studying and preparing messages. It has been a very busy month.

Last Sunday I spoke on the topic: "Who Really Killed Jesus." That afternoon we showed "The Passion of the Christ." After the film everybody was subdued. Sherry spoke to one of the ladies who came to view the film. She is a cashier at one of the local enterprises. She told Sherry that she did not realize just what Christ endured to purchase salvation for mankind. She also said that she did not know what to do. Sherry asked her to come to her office and speak with her later this week. Please pray for this young woman as well as the other 30 plus visitors that we had in the chapel.

The men in the Bible Institute are really excited about their studies. One of the men handed in his answer sheet for the twenty questions concerning 1 Samuel. It was over ninety pages long. Tomorrow evening we are going to talk about concise, specific answers. At least his answers were thorough, but quite wordy. Pray for these men as they continue their studies. We are thrilled to see them work so hard to prepare themselves for the ministry in which they serve.

For those of you who are interested, Sherry and I both cast our votes for the upcoming elections in November 2. We do not get any special awards for voting early but it is good to know that we can have a part in the process of electing our national and local leaders. Even from several thousand miles away.

We have one special prayer request concerning Colin's school. As we mentioned a few weeks ago, chicken pox is on the campus. We found out last week that there was also a case of typhoid fever. Yesterday Colin wrote to us and said that there was foot and mouth disease on the school farm. I go to collect Colin on Saturday morning for a short school break. Then, on the following Saturday he will take the PSAT (Practice Scholastic Aptitude Test). A week later he begins taking the final exams for school then in November he takes the SAT. He is a little stressed by all the examinations, but he has been preparing for them all year. His grades since starting at Chengelo School have jumped dramatically. He is first in his class in math, physics, French, design technology. We are really proud of him and feel that we have made the right decision in changing schools. Please continue praying for him.

You share every victory we have because of your faithfulness to pray for this ministry. We appreciate the part you play.

In His service,

Patrick & Sherry

29 September 2004

Greetings from Luanshya!

We have been incredibly busy in the Christian Resource Centre this past week. Even though the teacher's strike is officially over, many of the teachers are simply not coming to class. Students from the high school are coming to the CRC in their school uniforms. Some are reading while others are collecting or handing in their Source of Light courses. When I ask how their studies in preparation for exams are coming they simply shrug and say, "katwishi" (I don't know). It is really sad that these children are going to be sorely disappointed at not being prepared for these exams. On the other hand, many of these students are having an opportunity to read and study the Word of God. They are preparing for a higher exam. Several of these students have received Christ as their Lord and Saviour over the past few months. Because of their age, many are prohibited from attending Fellowship Chapel by their parents, but still they are receiving the Bible teaching. Thank you for your prayers and support in this particular ministry where we are reaching the unreached.

The pastor of one of the local churches came into the library yesterday. He had not been here before but had heard about the Resource Centre from his child who is one of our students. I showed him around the room. I showed him where the books, bibles and commentaries were situated. He exclaimed, "This is a gold mine. I will definitely be back to indulge myself in the riches of this library." Later in the afternoon another pastor came into the library. He was studying about the Tabernacle. He was so involved in his studies that he did not realize it was time to close. He said, "Please set these books aside so I can use them tomorrow." It is truly a privilege to have a part in the preparation of messages being preached around this town every week to congregations we may never see. Please pray for these Zambian preachers as they carry the light.

Tonight we conclude a short series from Leviticus on the five offerings. The final lesson from Leviticus chapter 5 is on the Trespass Offering. It is interesting to look at the order of these sacrifices as they are recorded in the Bible. God begins with the burnt offering-the complete consecration of His son in the work of redemption--and ends with the trespass offering. From man's point of view the order is reversed. First we see ourselves as having committed sins and realize that we are in debt to God and man. As the work of conviction continues, we realize that we are sinners-thus the sin offering. Then, the Spirit reveals Christ to us, the one who made peace through the blood of the cross-the peace offering. We then discover peace as we are accepted in the beloved-the meal offering. Finally, the result of all this must be our complete consecration to the Lord-the burnt offering. Of course, we praise God that we do not need a sacrifice today because of the completed work of Christ on the cross. How exciting!

On the personal front: A few weeks ago Sherry broke a tooth biting on a piece of toast. Amazingly, there is a dentist in Ndola who can reconstruct the tooth and build a bridge. Unfortunately, the actual bridge has been outsourced to a lab in Zimbabwe so it will take another few weeks but it is better than having to travel all the way to South Africa to get the work accomplished. Please pray for Sherry as she spends the next few weeks eating delicately.

We sincerely appreciate the part you have in this ministry. You share in our victories and the reward.

In His service,

Patrick & Sherry

22 September 2004

Greetings from Luanshya!

The Teacher's Strike is over! On Monday morning the newspaper announced that the Ministry of Education and the Teacher's Union had declared the teacher's strike illegal and had demanded that the teachers go back to class. It took a couple of days for the news to filter down to the individual teachers, but students are back in class and those who have end of year exams are happy for a little more input.

I had an opportunity to sit with a grade 3 student this week who desperately wanted to be able to read and participate in our correspondence program for the children. At the age of 9 and in 3rd grade she does not recognize simple words and did not know the sound of the letter "h", "a", "d" etc. I was surprised at her inability and as I spoke to her another one of our students (a man in his mid-40's) said that her situation was not unusual. It is truly sad that youngsters spend anywhere from six to eight hours a day at school and do not learn the basics or even the alphabet. The father of one of our other students thanked me yesterday for his daughter being allowed to participate in the programs of the Christian Resource Centre. He said it was comforting to know that his daughter could come to a "safe" place to read and learn about the Lord Jesus. As an added blessing, she was also improving her reading skills because of the program. Continue to pray for the many outreaches of the Christian Resource Centre.

A young man, C.M., came into the Resource Centre on Monday and said he needed to talk to somebody about problems in his life. We set up an appointment for 4 o'clock that afternoon and he was right on time. He had been to church his entire life and his uncle was a church leader in a neighboring town. However, after we spent 30 minutes talking he realized that he had never come to the place where he knew that he had eternal life. C.M. bowed his head and accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as his personal Saviour. He has begun personal Bible study as well as the correspondence bible lessons with us. Please pray for this new brother as he grows in the Lord. Also pray for his friends and family because they have no more assurance than he did prior to Monday afternoon. It is truly sad that so many people spend days, weeks, months and years going through the motions of religion without having the reality of a personal relationship with the Lord.

The Sunday School at Fellowship Chapel began a new series entitled "Treating People Right." The idea behind this series is to encourage the children to develop their personal relationship skills. This weeks lesson is about "Being Loyal" and the fact that friends are more than just fun. Please pray for the children as they progress in their relationships with one another, their friends and the Lord.

Colin is doing better and is back in class. We appreciate your prayers on his behalf. He is due to take exams any time now. Not only will he be involved with the end of year testing but also college entrance exams (PSAT & SAT). Pray that his study habits have not faultered during his illness.

We say this every week but we mean it...we do appreciate your part in this ministry through your prayers and support.

In His service,

Patrick & Sherry

15 September 2004

Greetings from Luanshya!

First big news of the week. We found out on Saturday that Colin has chicken pox-for the third time. It has been our understanding, according to medical experts, that you can only get chicken pox once. Colin is apparently not understanding this so he is now suffering from his third case. On Monday I went to his school and saw him. The pox are already drying up and the school nurse said that he would be quarantined for a few more days and would be back in class shortly thereafter. He was in good spirits and was reading his third novel in as many days. Please pray for Colin as he deals with this illness.

We were very pleased to learn on Sunday morning that one of the youngsters from the Lighthouse Children's Home, Dickson, has been named a prefect at his school. For those in the America's, a "prefect" is like a teachers helper in the classroom and school property. He helps students with assignments and leads the lines in and out of class and helps to maintain order on the playground. We are very pleased with his development remembering that Dickson was one of the troubled youngsters from the streets of Ndola.

We have asked in the past that you pray for John, one of our early wards. John has been promised a position teaching deaf children in a local government school but the paperwork has not come through from the Ministry of Education. Meanwhile, John is finding it difficult to make ends meet so he is substitute teaching at one of the small private primary schools in town. He is making K3,500 per day which comes to about US$0.73. That does not even cover the price of lunch. Please pray for this situation including John's ability to survive and the government's seriousness about taking care of the teachers they have promised to hire.

Another issue concerning education is the fact that teachers in our province have gone on strike. This morning I had sixteen ninth grade students in the Resource Centre during what would normally be school hours reading books. I asked them why they were not in school and they said, "Teachers did not show up." These students, along with the grade 7 and 12 students are all supposed to begin taking exams in the next six to eight weeks. If the grade 9 students do not pass the exam, they are not allowed to go on to grade 10. These students were all very discouraged because none of them are prepared to take the exams as the curriculum has yet to be completed even from last school term. When I asked them about what they would do about the exam they shrugged their shoulders and said, "The best we can." Please join with us in prayer for the youngsters in our community as they struggle with the political and academic confusion in their schools. We are fortunate to have found places for all our children at the Lighthouse Children's Home in private schools which are not affected by the strikes. The cost of tuition is substantially higher, but the quality of education is commensurate with the tuition.

The students in the Bible Institute are really taking hold of their studies. Most of them are coming in through the week to complete their lessons in preparation for class discussion. By the end of this week we will have completed our study of the book of 1 Samuel. Our lessons regularly run 30 to 45 minutes overtime because the students really do not want to quit until they have finished discussing and asking questions about the topic of the day. Thank you for your prayers on their behalf as they further their studies to prepare for ministry.

We sincerely appreciate your partnership in His work.

In His Service,

Patrick & Sherry

8 September 2004

Greetings from Luanshya!

This past week we have had conversations with a couple of church leaders who are students in the Source of Light program. Often when we talk about the SOL ministry, we emphasize the fact that we are working with a lot of children, but we have a number of preachers, teachers and church leaders who are also involved in this particular study. The two men with whom we had conversations thanked us for providing a systematic bible study which allowed them to be refreshed in the elemental principles as well as broadening their scope of study. The one man said that he had preached an entire series based on "New Life In Christ," one of our series for adults. We are excited when we realize that this ministry is reaching into congregations all around Luanshya and being translated into several vernacular languages. We appreciate, sincerely, those who are a part of this ministry both in prayer and in financial support. You are reaching lives! We are pleased that our latest shipment of replacement lessons arrived yesterday. Sherry has already sent another order as we have already used our surplus for new enrollees.

School began last Monday. Ordinarily, this results in a drop in the attendance in the Resource Centre. However, with the students going back to class, they are sharing with their schoolmates about the library and Mailbox Club Bible courses. The place is packed morning and afternoon with some students actually waiting to get in the door thirty minutes before we officially open. Sherry has over two inches of course exams to score just from today's intake. One of the new students is only in third grade. Ordinarily, we would not accept his enrollment because most third graders cannot read. He begged me to let him prove his ability. So, I took one of the courses off of the shelf and he proceeded to read the entire first page in impeccable English. What a thrill it is to see children excited to learn about the Lord Jesus Christ. Please continue to pray for this ever-expanding ministry.

Last night I was speaking with the headmaster of one of the larger high schools in Luanshya District. This particular high school is on the other side of the Mine area, about 30 minutes from us. I asked him if it would be possible for us to utilize the school hall to show a series of Christian films. He said, "Would you charge anything?" I told him we never charged admission fee for any of the films we showed and would appreciate free use of the hall. He said that he did not think it would be a problem and would try to find a way to get the room dark enough so both students and members of the community could actually see the film. The opportunity to show Christian films in public schools in North America no longer exists, but we have an open door in Zambia. Please pray for this possibility. It would be a wonderful chance to spread the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ to people who would never come to a church service.

Sherry had a meeting with the Zambian Red Cross (representing the International Federation of the Red Cross/Crescent in Geneva). They had heard about the distribution of insecticide treated mosquito nets that we implemented a few months ago. They were so impressed by the success that they have asked us to help the local Red Cross committee in Luanshya to distribute 4,000 nets. These nets will be specifically for children, pregnant women, and the chronically ill. This is yet another opportunity for us to show God's love in a concrete way.

It has been another full week. God has certainly blessed! Thank you for being a part of our lives and ministry.

In His service,

Patrick & Sherry

1 September 2004

Greetings from Luanshya!

We find it hard to believe this year is already two third completed. We don't know where the times goes. We have had a very busy month in the Christian Resource Centre and the Source of Light Bible Correspondence School. We enrolled 55 new students, distributed 312 lessons, corrected 253 lessons and awarded 19 certificates of completion in various levels of study.

Most of the children's lessons have a memory verse associated with the lesson content. Each child has to say the memory verse to either Sherry or myself before handing in the lesson. One little girl, named Dalitso, said her memory verse to me today, Romans 3:23 "For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God." Dalitso is twelve and does not read on a second grade level equivalent to the North American system. She is, however, in grade 5 here in Zambia. Most children do not know how to read and comprehend until grade 4 or 5 in Zambia. She is doing the absolute youngest program in our curriculum. As she said her memory verse, I asked her what the words meant. She did not know. She was learning the words, but had no idea what she was saying. I spent about ten minutes explaining the concept of "all have sinned" and what it meant to "come short of the glory of God". Sometimes people make the mistake of believing that because someone knows the right words they fully understand what they are saying. The more we work with the children and young people, here in Zambia, the more we realize that a fuller explanation is usually required to ensure complete understanding of the concepts that many Christians take for granted. We are planting seeds and watering the soil, praying that God will give a harvest. Please pray with us for Dalitso and her generation.

On the other hand we have some marvelous news concerning the six children in our care at the Lighthouse Children's Home. Johnnie is our precocious youngster. When he came to the Lighthouse, he was constantly getting into "stuff". For those of you have been receiving our update for some time, you will recall that it was Johnnie who stuck a wire in the wall socket and knocked himself across the room after being hit with 240 volts of electricity. This week we received Johnnie's school report and he is number one in is third grade class. All of our children are going to private schools where the standards are higher than government schools. Johnnie is able to read. His scores are nearly perfect in math, science, social studies, religious education, English and sports. His weak point is penmanship (maybe he will be a doctor). Our youngest child is Andrew. He is number two in his third grade class. Nancy is our oldest child and she is number four in her class. None of these children had ever been to school prior to being in our care and none of them had ever spoken one word of English. We are very proud of all of our children. The other three are having some challenges but their standing in class isn't bad. The Social Welfare officer commented that without our care none of these children would probably be alive today. Because of your love and concern they have a future both in the physical and in spiritual realm. Please continue to pray for our kids.

Sherry had her final youth class this week during the school break. She has been teaching the young people about "Full Joy" using the book of 1 John. This weeks' lesson was "Full Joy Through Knowing Him." The kids all head back to school next Monday and prepare for their final exams. We have a number of students who will be taking their grade twelve exams in 6 weeks time. There is an incredible amount of pressure placed on these youngsters. Every one of them is not only attending classes at school but also going to extra classes at night and on weekends-and this is only high school. Thank you for praying for them as they endure the pressure placed on them by society. This is their only chance into higher education.

It has been a good week and a good month. Thank you for remembering us in your prayers.

In His Service,

Patrick & Sherry

18 August 2004

Greetings from Luanshya!

Last Sunday John K. was baptized declaring his faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. John continues to receive a lot of pressure from his family concerning his decision. Sherry shared with him a bit of her testimony and how the Lord uses various circumstances in our lives to strengthen us and strengthen our resolve to follow Him. John has been in the library every day this week. A lot of the terminology is new to him and both Sherry and I are able to define terms and simplify some of the "religious" expressions in literature. Having been a Christian for over forty-six years, it is sometimes difficult to remember when "religious terminology" was not a part of my vocabulary. Watching John dive into Bible studies with the thirst as strong as his is indeed encouraging to both of us. Please continue to pray for John.

This past week we had an unusual situation. Don C. has been attending services at Fellowship Chapel for over two months. He comes from a very religious background and has sorted through a lot of the denominational baggage to come to the place where he received Christ as his Saviour a few years ago and was scripturally baptized. The church in which he was a member has been suffering from poor leadership and low scriptural integrity over the last couple of years. Don has been very uncomfortable attending a church in which he felt the Bible became the secondary authority and the opinions of men was taking precedent over the Word of God. When he first began attending services at the chapel he said it was like a breath of fresh air. Last Sunday he was welcomed into the fellowship of our local assembly and he participated with us in the Lord's Supper on Sunday morning. Please pray for Don and his family.

The Christian Resource Centre has been abuzz over the last week. Not only are the school children coming in at all hours because of the school break, but we have also had a number of preachers and teachers coming in every morning with specific topics of study for their Bible classes and churches. Two young men from the Mikomfwa Baptist Church have been here almost every day. One is studying the book of Matthew and the other the book of Mark. They are preparing a youth seminar in which they are speaking later this month. They have been pouring over the books, commentaries and Bible dictionaries as if they were studying for a final exam in Bible college. It has been exciting to watch them study and to be able to guide them to specific books on particular subjects in the gospels. We have also already enrolled 34 students in the Source of Light Bible Correspondence School and we are only mid-way through the month! Please continue to pray for this growing ministry.

Last week we were unable to show the film on Jeremiah because the local electric company was performing maintenance work on the lines in our area. A two-hour job lasted over six hours. This coming Sunday we will, Lord willing, be able to show the film. Please pray for this ministry as we endeavor to teach people about the Bible characters specifically in the Old Testament.

Every week we say that we appreciate your prayers for this varied ministry. Every week we mean it! Thank you for being a part of our lives.

In His service,

Patrick & Sherry

11 August 2004

Greetings from Luanshya!

Few things are more disappointing than when family members interfere with the spiritual growth of a new believer. The young man (age 24) who came to know Christ as His personal Saviour last week, has encountered a great deal of pressure from his family and friends. He grew up in a very strong denomination, which holds to the idea that the denomination saves. When he shared with his family that he had come to know the Lord Jesus Christ as his personal Saviour and knew for a fact that he had eternal life, they became incensed. He actually left his parents home and went to stay with a friend in Kitwe (40 miles away) over the weekend. Consequently, he could not be baptized on Sunday. This afternoon he came to see me and said that he really missed not only being in church on Sunday but also having a chance to read and study in the Resource Centre for the last few days. He said that being away from home gave him time and opportunity to consider whether or not he had made the right decision. He is more convinced than ever that he did, in fact, make the right decision and will follow the Lord in believers baptism this coming Sunday. Please pray for J. K. as he deals with the external pressures. That he will be able to withstand and continue to grow.

This morning a 39 year-old man came to see me concerning "emotional and spiritual problems" that he has been experiencing. D. C. is actively involved in another church in Luanshya, but he has serious questions about eternity. After going through the Source of Light Bible Correspondence School curriculum and comparing scripture with denominational dogma, I asked him if he knew that he had eternal life. His answer was, "Yes, I hope so." When I asked him what he would tell God if he were to face Him today, he said, "I have trusted in Jesus and I am obeying the 10 Commandments." I explained to him that mixing faith and works to obtain eternal life is like mixing flour and poison in order to make bread. It does not take a lot of poison to make the whole loaf poisonous. We went through the scriptures and I explained that a gift could not be earned or deserved. After about 45 minutes, he looked at me with watery eyes and said, "I need to know." At 10 o'clock this morning, D. C. became a child of God. He has a number of other issues with which he has to deal including a very severe health problem. Please pray for D.C., his wife, and three children.

Sherry continues discipleship with Mrs. Lukonde. This past week they discussed "Conversing with God." She struggles with the language that slows down her pace. It is also challenging to Sherry since Mrs. Lukonde cannot read or write Bemba but can speak it. The lessons take twice as long but by the conclusion of each session, they know something has been learned. The Bible Institute classes continue. Two of the students have finished the Book of Judges. One student is doing the final touch-up on his final paper. The students have written over fifty pages concerning the character of the Judges. This is an incredible amount of copy especially considering that it is all being done by hand. Please pray for our students a they continue in their studies.

The young people are out of school and Sherry has resumed the Youth meetings. As this letter is being typed, our puppeteers are working on this Sunday's presentation.

It has been a very full week and God has blessed tremendously even in the face of opposition. Thank you for being a part of our lives and ministry.

In His service,

Patrick & Sherry

4 August 2004

Greetings from Luanshya!

July was a very good month for the Source of Light Bible Correspondence School. We enrolled 40 new students, distributed 234 lessons, corrected 195 exams and presented 16 certificates of completion. Now that I am actually in the Resource Centre, five days a week and distributing these courses personally, it is a real joy to meet many of the students that were only names a month ago. It is especially exciting to meet the senior saints who, even at the age of 60 and 70, are continuing to grow in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. It is also fun to be able to work with the younger students in helping them pronounce the words in their lessons. Many of the things that a North American child would take for granted, a Zambian child has never seen. For example, a little red wagon. Please pray for this every growing ministry. We currently have over 3,115 registered students and more coming every day.

Another aspect of this ministry that is encouraging took place yesterday, Tuesday. One of the preachers in town brought in a member from his church that needed a pair of spectacles. I asked the man, just out of curiosity, how old he was. He laughed and said he wasn't sure but he knew that he was over 70. He needed a pair of spectacles so that he could read his Bible. He did not speak English but he was able to read Bemba, his mother tongue. We had just received a box of Bemba tracts so I was able to use one of these tracts to help gauge his ability to see. We went through about a dozen pair of eyeglasses before he found a pair that met his need. As he began to read the tract, his voice got stronger and his eyes began to water. For the first time in a decade he was able to read the Word of God. We thank all of those who have contributed their "extra" reading glasses and those who went to the effort of purchasing new reading glasses from their local pharmacist. On behalf of this senior saint, we want to say that you have changed his life. The tears in his eyes expressed the happiness in his heart. You've made a difference.

The next four weeks the young people will be on school break. Sherry will begin having her youth meetings every Monday evening. The focus of her lessons is "Finding Joy" based on the book of 1 John.

The weather has turned warm rather quickly and this means the mosquitoes are active again. Several members of the church have already become victims of malaria and the strain this year is very harsh. Please pray for the situation concerning the health and well being of especially the leadership not only in our church but also in churches throughout the community. Malaria is the number one killer in this part of the world.

Your prayers on our behalf are appreciated beyond our ability to express it fully. Please know that you are full partners with us in this ministry.

In His Service,

Patrick & Sherry

28 July 2004

Greetings from Luanshya!

One of the things that our visitor, Brenda Rains, noticed during her stay with us last week was that much of the activity that goes on around our house is not always mentioned in the weekly letters. We are very careful not to talk about sensitive issues-especially those things that deal with personal family situations among our church family. Often, our day may stretch into the late night hours. Though we do not mention all of the details, we certainly appreciate those who pray for us as we counsel and guide those with problems. George Mueller wrote in his autobiography "All believers are called upon, in the simple confidence of faith, to cast their burdens upon Him, to trust in Him for everything." It is this concept that we endeavour to teach to the believers with whom God has put us into contact.

Last week we had a very sad situation take place. An eighteen year-old member of Fellowship Chapel passed away after suffering for several months with meningitis. While we miss Cynthia, we are comforted by the fact that she knew the Lord Jesus Christ as her personal Saviour. Please pray for her family. Most of them do not have the assurance concerning their own personal stand with God.

This past Sunday was unusual for a number of reasons. First of all we had no electricity in the chapel during the morning service. Because of the placement of our building, we do not have windows near the pulpit. The only light was shining from the back of the building which made it rather difficult to see. Nevertheless, we had a good service and on Monday morning John Kasense came to the Resource Centre and received the Lord Jesus Christ as his personal Saviour. John has been raised in a religious home, has visited a number of religious meetings, and said that he still had an emptiness in his life when it came to spiritual matters. Last week he come into the Resource Centre and began reading Billy Graham's book "How To Be Born Again." After spending several days reading, questioning and hearing the gospel preached on Sunday, the emptiness was filled and he joined the family. Please pray for John. He has been in the Resource Centre every day this week studying his bible and reading about what it really means to be a Christian-not just religious.

Sunday continued with the postponement of our afternoon film presentation on the life of King Solomon. It is hard to show a film when there is no electricity. That night, however, we had another electrifying experience when the powerlines behind the Lighthouse Children's Home began to spark and the pole caught fire. I telephoned the electric company who came and shut down the power for the entire area before the fire reached the homes. The powerlines that lead to the house are very old and have been spliced, re-spliced and spliced again over the past decades. Workers have been working on the situation for the last three days. Hopefully, the problem will be solved soon. Meanwhile, the food is being cooked on charcoal and the children are having "an experience." Please pray for a quick resolution to the problem.

We praise God for His blessings. We thank you for your prayers as we remain...

In His Service,

Patrick & Sherry

14 July 2004

Greetings from Luanshya!

This week we have a special guest with us. Brenda Rains has been a friend of my family since the 1980's. She is currently teaching at Rift Valley Academy in Kijabe, Kenya. During the school break at RVA, she is visiting students in Zambia and has taken the opportunity to come by and see me and to meet Sherry. It is always good to have friends from "home" come to visit. Brenda's first words as she got in my car this morning were, "I never expected to visit you in Africa and now I am ministering here as a missionary." It is always exciting to see young people grow into the Lord's service. Please pray that Brenda will have a safe trip as she travels around Zambia as well as when she returns to school.

The Bible Institute classes have been going very well. Two other men have shown interest in joining us. The most enthusiastic student is the youngest one. He is learning the difference between just answering a question and giving a full answer to the question. My explanation to him is "if you cannot fully explain what the Bible says, then you need to go back and redo your research." He has written pages and pages and he said to me last Monday, "I am just about ready to begin this." Please pray for these men as they continue their preparation for meaningful ministry in the local churches.

The young people in our church (and across Zambia) have been doubling their efforts in school. The test results from last year in grades 9 and 12 were not marvelous. The government is stressing the need for students to study harder. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Education is stressing the need for teachers to actually show up in class and not rely extra tutoring sessions to supplement their income. Even still, it is not unusual for a high school student to leave home before 7 o'clock in the morning and not return until late in the evening. This seriously interferes with Sherry's youth class on Monday evenings but we fully understand the anxiety of the young people as they prepare for their exams. This week they are taking their mock exams so a lot of children are very stressed out at this particular time. Please pray for our young people as well as for the education system.

The Christian Resource Centre has been very busy with both children and adults. We have had several men coming in preparing for messages over the weekend and we have enrolled nearly twenty new students just this week in the Source of Light Bible Correspondence School. A number of these children come from homes where parents would never let them come to our Sunday School, yet they are excited about doing their bible courses which are, obviously, Bible based. We appreciate those who have kept this particular ministry in their prayers because this is a way for us to reach into the homes that would never allow us to present the gospel in any other fashion.

Finally, please remember our children at the Lighthouse Children's Home. They have all had their annual dental check up. "Most" are doing better but we have had a few problems with regular dental hygiene. While this may not seem like a very important issue to some, we are responsible for the complete care of these children and we know that oral hygiene can lead to more serious health issues in their lives. It is also important that we maintain the children's care because we have a testimony to protect in the eyes of the Social Welfare department of the government. Currently, the SWD is very pleased with the progress of the children. Brother Chibumba has even been asked to serve on the advisory board for one of the largest orphanages in Zambia. It is always nice to be trusted!

Again, please know that we thank you for your prayers on our behalf as you remember our ministry before the throne of Grace.

In His Service,

Patrick & Sherry

7 July 2004

Greetings from Luanshya!

June was a very good month for the Source of Light Bible Correspondence School. We had 25 new students enrolled in the program, 237 courses were distributed, 205 lessons were corrected and 25 certificates of completion were issued. I have begun to spend my afternoons in the Christian Resource Centre issuing courses and specifically chatting with students as they come in to drop off and collect their courses. The young man who was helping Sherry, as we mentioned last week, is now continuing his studies and does not have the time to be in the library. My presence here helps Sherry to continue her work and also gives me an opportunity to get to know our students a bit better. It is exciting to see the faces of those who have been taking the lessons for so long. Thank you for praying for this ever-expanding ministry.

All across America last Sunday people were celebrating the 4th of July. We also have a 4th of July in Zambia, it is called...the 4th of July. It's not a holiday and very few people even realize that it is a special day for American's. We were, however, able to celebrate the American Independence Day with our son, who was home from school. Sometimes American's take for granted the freedoms that they have. I spent a few days in a neighboring country over the weekend and it became instantly clear that the freedoms enjoyed in the USA (and other democratic nations) are not fully enjoyed around the globe. I would ask you to pray for several of the nations in our region who are experiencing the challenges of developing democracies. Whereas the USA has been an independent nation for 228 years, some countries in this part of the world are still struggling with the concept of democracy.

On Wednesday evenings we are continuing our study of the book of Exodus. The last few weeks we have been talking about the tabernacle. It is interesting to note the detailed instructions by the Lord for the building and assembling for the furniture in the tabernacle and the items outside. The strong acacia wood, which forms the core of much of the furniture, represents the humanity of Christ while the gold overlay represents his royalty and deity. In creating these word pictures for the congregation, I am able to use actual pictures to show them the "artists" rendition of these items. Last week I was able to illustrate the unity of the church in the unity of the tabernacle where every piece of the wall was set into another piece so that the final structure was perfect in measure and dimension. We are not perfect but God has placed us in His plan thus making us a part of His perfect plan. As I was explaining this, the people began to understand that they had a part in that perfect plan. Please pray for us as we continue in this study; that God would allow us, both Sherry and me, to demonstrate this unity in our teaching and daily lives.

One final request for prayer, there has been a number of cases of vandalism in our part of town. This is always a source of concern. We would ask you to pray that the situation would not worsen. We have a substantial investment in the Resource Centre and Youth Centre. While we realize that it is all the Lord's money, we also recognize the fact that we are to be good stewards of these resources. We do not want them lost due to increased crime in our area. We have taken specific steps for added security but the fact is we cannot stay awake 24hrs. a day, seven days a week. So, pray for protection of our facility down town and our home around the corner as well as the Lighthouse Children's Home across town.

Thank you for being a part of our ministry and remembering us in your prayers.

In His Service,

Patrick & Sherry

30 June 2004

Greetings from Luanshya!

This past Sunday Sharon Sikwebele followed the Lord Jesus Christ in baptism. Sharon has just finished grade 12 and begins college in a few weeks. She did not want to leave town without this "unfinished business" being completed. Her mother and sisters were very happy to see this event take place. Sharon's mother is one of Sherry's discipleship students. Please pray for Sharon as she continues to grow in the Lord.

A few weeks ago we mentioned "Noah's Ark" being built by the Sunday School children. The teacher is very slowly going through the story of Noah and the children are putting the ark together bit by bit. We are not sure who is having more fun-the teacher or the students. The children are learning about the promises and deliverance of the Lord as they work through their project. This past month the Sunday School attendance has increased substantially. Thank you for praying for this very important ministry.

One of our young wards is moving on in his life. We have been caring for him for the last several years and he has come to the place where he feels it is time to step out on his own. He told Sherry that the contributions we have made in his life have given him tools he needs to cross the next bridge in his life. We are excited about his progress, but we have also made it clear that he can come and chat with us whenever he feels the need. Please pray for this young man as he matures into adulthood.

This afternoon as I was waiting for some of our Lighthouse children to come out from school, a little girl walked up to me and asked, "Are you Stelia's uncle?" For those who have not seen our website, Stelia is one of our little girls. I answered, "Yes, I am." The little girl just stared at me for a few moments trying to figure out just how this worked. Then she said, "Okay." And went off to play. A few moments later she returned with half a dozen other children and introduced me to them as Stelia's uncle. I guess we are part of the family.

We have a special prayer request this week. A number of our young people, from the chapel, have been inconsistent in attending the weekly youth meeting. When we ask them why, they express a concern about their classes at school. Many of the teachers are not coming to regular classes during the day but are holding private tutoring sessions in the afternoons and evenings. In order for students to pass the exams at the end of the year they must attend these special "classes" though the teachers are being paid by the Ministry of Education to teach formal lessons in school. Some of the teachers even hold these special tutoring classes on Sunday mornings causing students to make tough decisions about being in church or being in class. Not passing an exam means a whole year repeated. Even though the children should be able to get proper studies during regular school hours, one of our students said that she had not had an English teacher in class since January. Please pray for this situation as it causes a lot of strain on our young people both academically and spiritually.

Finally, please pray for our health. The cold season is upon us and I have already experienced a very virulent strain of the flu. Thank you for being a part of our ministry.

In His service,

Patrick & Sherry

16 June 2004

Greetings from Luanshya!

It is always wonderful to share with you when God answers a specific prayer request. John, one of our wards who has finished Teacher's Training, has been praying that he would be posted by the Ministry of Education in the town of Luanshya. As you may recall, he did his practical training in a rural school separated from his new wife by over one hundred miles. This week he was interviewed by the Headmaster, Deputy Headmaster and Head Teacher of Ndelela Primary School. He started teaching the following afternoon. John asked us to thank you for praying for him. We are thrilled that this young man, in whom we have invested so much over the last several years, will be staying "home" in Luanshya.

This morning Sherry received a note from a male student named Joseph. He wrote thanking us for the courses provided through the Source of Light Bible Correspondence School. He listed the specific things for which he was appreciative. Some of the things he has learned and appreciates are: faith is based on God's facts and feelings will come at will; salvation comes through only by believing and accepting the Lord Jesus Christ. He tells us in the letter that he has received Christ as His Lord and Saviour. He also learned that believers should give to God as God gives to them and recognizes the fact that all believers will give account for their stewardship to the "Owner". We are thrilled Joseph has made this testimony known and Sherry will continue to answer his questions as they bring them to her.

Sherry also had two youngsters come into the library, this afternoon, who are deaf. They made it known that they would like to enroll in the bible correspondence program. Sherry will enroll them tomorrow. They are students at Luanshya Boys High School and attend a Baptist church situated in the industrial area of town that has services for the deaf. There is a large community of deaf people in the area. This may be an in road into that particular segment of our community. By the way, John (mentioned in the first paragraph) knows sign language. So, we may be able to use his talents in that area of ministry as well.

Sherry began discipleship sessions with Mrs. Lukonde. She has been a Christian for a little over a year but had been unable to start discipleship because of her schedule. She is a widow with two high school aged daughters. Please pray for Mrs. Lukonde as she endeavours to grow in the Lord.

This evening I start a small series on The Tabernacle from Exodus 25-27. This is a part of the series of lessons going through the book of Exodus. The goal is to take the abstract and put it in front of the believers and explain that the Tabernacle is a type of Christ. We are looking forward to an interesting study.

It has been a busy week. God has blessed. We thank you for being a part of our lives and ministry.

In His service,

Patrick & Sherry

9 June 2004

Greetings from Luanshya!

For those of you who have taken opportunity to look at our website, (www.colemanministry.org), you will have noticed a sixteen year-old Toyota pickup truck that we have been using at the Lighthouse Children's Home, since the Home opened 3 years ago. This truck has been very useful in transporting both children and materials, but it has begun to cost us substantially every week in repairs and maintenance. This past week we were able to purchase a brand new 14-seat mini-van for use at the Lighthouse. This has been a combined effort of several churches and individuals over the last year. Every seat has a seatbelt so every child will be securely strapped in as they travel back and forth between home, school, church or wherever they need to be taken. Attached to this letter is a picture of the van. It is not fancy but it is very functional. We appreciate, from the bottom of our hearts, all of those who have had a part in this very special project.

Repairs to the baptistery were completed this week. What I thought was going to be a two- hour job ended up taking more than a week. This coming Sunday morning we will baptize a young lady who has been waiting for this day for some time. Please pray for Sharon as she follows the Lord in scriptural baptism and takes her place in the family of Fellowship Chapel.

On Sunday Brother Chibumba preached an excellent message from Luke 19-The Story of Zacchaeus. He emphasized the fact that Zacchaeus made an effort to see Christ and Christ made an effort to see Zacchaeus. Salvation is not an accident! The Lord Jesus meets us where we are and takes us to where He wants us to go. Sunday evening we showed the first half of a film on the Life and Times of Abraham. The film not only shows the story from Bible text but also helps to explain some of the customs and traditions of Abraham's day. Pray for Fellowship Chapel as she continues to minister in the community of Luanshya.

Monday evening I met with a few men who are interested in starting an Evening Bible Institute at the chapel. These are men who are dedicated to serving the Lord and want to know more about His Word and how they can minister more effectively to the Body of Christ. We will be meeting three evenings a week, initially, until we find out if everyone's schedule will fit into that program. All these men are working and are taking time out of their evening to come to classes. Please pray for these men as they study for future ministry.

Sherry is preparing a lesson for her youth from Psalm 13:6-"Be Honest, Then Trust". The Psalm is a strong cry from King David at a very low time in his life. The question for the young people is: "How honest are you with God?" As believers we know that God already knows our deepest feelings. Sometimes we just need to call out to the Lord and express our frustration, disappointment and even our impatience to God. King David was called a "man after God's own heart." The Psalms are filled with examples of his cries to God. However, David's laments are followed by his acknowledgement and declaration that God was his source of hope and strength. Please pray for Sherry as she endeavors to get across to the young people that they can, indeed, be honest with God.

Not all of our ministry is centered in Luanshya. This past week we had a young preacher come in from Ndola (25 miles away) looking for help in a class he is teaching in his church. We provided him with several copies of "Never Turn Back" a study from Hebrews, to help him with his Bible study. We are happy to know that we are recognized throughout our Province as a place where people can come and obtain information.

We are also very happy to know that you are standing with us as we minister here in Zambia. We appreciate your prayers.

In His service,

Patrick & Sherry

2 June 2004

Greetings from Luanshya!

One of the joys of being a missionary for some years is seeing those with whom we have worked go forward in their lives. One young man with whom Sherry spent a great deal of time when he was a youngster telephoned her yesterday from England where he and his wife are now working. During his twenty minute telephone conversation he talked about the fact that people in the "developed world are so hardened by materialism that they do not have time for the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. Back home (Zambia) we did not have the distractions that the English have in their entertainment. The English have everything and do not think they need anything." This young Zambian man finds himself on a missionfield. Pray for V and his wife C as they share Christ before their colleagues in their new home.

Another one of the young people that we have been helping has come to the place where he is ready to step out on his own. He was one of the abandoned children who had slipped between the cracks of society. We led him to Christ, helped him finish his education, provided him with a skill, have given him a firm church foundation on which he can build a future not only to live but to serve the Lord Jesus Christ. We pray God's blessing on him as he ventures out into the world.

The Source of Light Bible Correspondence School continues to grow. Last month 12 new students were enrolled, 135 lessons were distributed and 117 were corrected and 9 certificates of completion were awarded. Sherry is about to place a new order for lessons. Please pray for the safe arrival of the shipment.

The children in Sunday School are going to build Noah's ark. Actually, they are going to build a scale model since we do not have room to build it in actual size. They have been gathering building supplies for the last two weeks and will start construction next Sunday morning. We are not sure how it will look but their teacher, Mr. Bwalya, is very excited about this object lesson. We will take some photographs and send them along in a few weeks time.

Sherry's youth lesson on Monday had a very unusual title: "Give Me, Fix Me, Restore Me, Bless Me" from James 4:3. Zambian young people are just like young people all over the world. They pray "give me, give me, give me" and expect God to pour out material blessings on them. When they have a problem they cry out, "Lord fix this" and expect an immediate remedy. Often Christian's believe that God will enjoy greater acceptance and popularity with mankind if he is seen as the source of a successful and victorious life. The question is: "What is success?" When Sherry asked the young people, definitions included: fame, fortune and acceptance-the same thing American kids want. She went on to explain that God is actually glorified in our trials. She used the examples of Joseph, Moses and other Old Testament figures and then led to the example of the Lord Jesus Christ whose suffering led to the greatest of all victories. The concept that God allows bad things to happen to good people to further His cause is pretty difficult to swallow, especially for young Christians. It's not too easy for those of us who have been Christian's for a few decades. Still, we see God moving in the hearts and lives of the young believers in the church. This, of course, is what we hope to see and we pray that there will be other victories as the ones mentioned earlier in this letter.

We appreciate your prayers and pray that God will continue to bless you.

In His Service,

Patrick & Sherry

12 May 2004

Greetings from Luanshya!

We did not manage to send a letter out last week because our Internet service provider froze the system. No e-mail address with a suffix other than "zm" was being recognized by the server. We both had several hundred e-mails bounce back at us. When we called Zamnet, they said, "We are having a bit of a problem." Finally, the problem was solved over the weekend. We are back online!

During the month of April, the Source of Light Bible Correspondence School enrolled 45 new students, 346 courses were distributed, 278 were corrected and 28 certificates of completion were issued. We continue to be pleased with this ongoing ministry.

We had a delegation from the church in Kafubu Block which came to thank us for our part in the distribution of insecticide treated mosquito nets in their area. The Kafubu area is one of the worst hit by the malaria parasite because of the proximity to the river. Every household has been affected with the disease at least three times in a year. The nets provide at least some protection from the mosquito. According to the International Federation of the Red Cross/Red Crescent use of the nets can reduce malaria incidence up to 25%. Much of the local churches resources are spent helping people who are sick and burying those who succumb to the illness, especially children. The small part we played in net distribution to this area will save hundreds of lives. The residents of the area recognize the fact that we care for their well being both physically and spiritually. This is yet one more opportunity to share the gospel in a practical way.

Last Sunday morning one of the newer believers taught Sunday School for the first time under the guiding eye of the regular class teacher. Brother Kazembe did well but he was very nervous sitting before a class filled with little children. It is amazing how an otherwise conversant adult can be brought to the point of trembling when faced with teacher a class of youngsters. Pray for teachers, pray for the seminars, pray for the children.

Yesterday afternoon we had another delegation of local church leaders from Mikomfwa who heard that Sherry had lost her father. They came and spent about 30 minutes with her sharing scripture and praying for her and for her family. It touched them that she would travel such a distance to see to the needs of family and still return to this part of the world.

Finally, Sherry is enjoying her lessons with the young people. This week the lesson was on "The Lazy Way" from Ecclesiastes 8:10. She admonished the young people that the bible has much to say about laziness and none of it is good. She defined laziness as "doing nothing when God would have you doing something." Dealing with laziness in our lives is hard work. Pray that our young people will avoid the temptation to do nothing when God says do something.

It has been a busy week, as always. We appreciate your prayers on our behalf.

In His service,

Patrick and Sherry

14 April 2004

Greetings from Luanshya!

Sometimes we do not realize the effect that our actions have on others. Over the past month Christians here have had an opportunity to watch us as we dealt with emergencies in our family: the loss of Sherry's father, Patrick's attack of amoebic dysentery and Colin falling and breaking his arm. In the Zambian culture a family would attribute these events as the result of witchcraft. Many staunch believers have had their faith weakened because of the inability to deal with family trauma. We know, because of our relationship with the Lord, that these events are simply a part of living in a cursed world. Death, sickness and suffering are a result of sin. We also know that the Lord Jesus Christ has promised never to leave us or forsake us. When we have situations arise in our family that bring suffering and pain, our first reaction is to call on our Heavenly Father and to put those situations in His hands.

This past week a number of believers from the Buntungwa church came to visit Sherry and pray with her concerning her loss. During their visit they sang a song, shared comforting words from Scripture and gave Sherry a gift to demonstrate their love and appreciation for her ministry to them. A day later another preacher came to visit Sherry just to let her know that he was praying for her. While we do not look forward to troublesome times, we are appreciative that God has given us friends and co-workers that pray for us and comfort us in our times of need. It is also rewarding for us to know that the example that we have been trying to set for nearly two decades of ministry in Africa are bearing fruit in the lives of those with whom we work.

There has been a lot in our local newspaper about the film, "The Passion of the Christ". We had thought about viewing the film in Lusaka before coming home after Sherry's arrival from the States. However, there was a three-day waiting list for tickets. This past week we have had a few people ask us when we were going to present the film locally. Obviously, this cannot be done until the film has been released on a DVD. We have explained that we will show the film as soon as we can but we are not able to dictate release dates. We will, however, use this opportunity to show the "Jesus". We also have several other films of the same nature that we will be able to show in the next few weeks. Please pray for those who will attend these film presentations: 1) prepared hearts; 2) souls saved.

There is a brief update on Colin's arm. We had another set of x-ray's taken. The bone has shifted slightly from the initial setting, but the doctor said that the bone is still straight and the knitting process has begun. The cast will be removed in about three weeks-just prior to his return to school. We have made it quite clear that he is not to go anywhere near the ropes course until further notice (like when he is 42). We will also suggest that a support brace be kept on his arm when he is doing anything physical for the next couple of months. Thank you for your continued prayers on his behalf.

We never take for granted the prayers of those who keep this ministry before the Throne of Grace. In all that has happened over the past few weeks we have been surrounded by your prayers and we appreciate your faithfulness.

In His Service,

Patrick & Sherry

16 March 2004 (Entered Into Eternity)

Dear Praying friends,

Thank you for your prayers on behalf of the family and myself regarding the rapid decline in my father's health. Last night the phone call came sharing the sad news that dad passed into eternity, peacefully and with the family around him. The first flight out of the country is Thursday so I begin the first leg of the trip this afternoon (Wednesday) and will arrive in the States Friday afternoon. Services are scheduled for Monday. I will remain in New Jersey for a couple of weeks to assist in the necessary, support the family and return to Zambia shortly thereafter.

Please pray for us as we mourn the loss of our loved one and care for those left behind.

In His arms,

Sherry

16 March 2004 (Emergency Trip)

Dear Praying friends,

Early this morning I (Sherry) received a phone call from my sister advising me that our father has been diagnosed with stage 4 lung and liver cancer. The doctors have given him two weeks to live. Forty minutes ago I received another phone call from my brother-in-law advising me that my father has been rushed to the hospital (Community Memorial Hospital-Toms River). He has lost all control of his faculties and bodily functions. The doctor now says it will not be long.

At this point in time we are trying to arrange for the earliest flight out of Zambia for me. Please pray that swift accommodation will be made by the airlines so I will be able to be with my family before long. None of the family are children of God which makes this an even more difficult experience. Please pray!

In His grace,

Sherry

3 March 2004

Greetings in our Saviour's lovely name!

This week Mrs. Chibumba called the Lighthouse Children's Home a hospital and she is "Nurse Mom". Four of the children had mild cases of malaria. Three of them had the flu. Johnnie was getting over his wasp sting and brother Chibumba had a serious case of malaria and spent two days in the hospital. After two days, it was decided that he would be better off at home where he could at least sleep under a mosquito net instead of sleeping in a hospital ward where there was not a single mosquito net on any of the sixteen beds and no screens in the windows. The mosquitoes were having a feast every night. There was a better chance of brother Chibumba re-contracting malaria if he stayed in hospital. We spent a great deal of time going back and forth between doctor, pharmacy and hospital and the Lighthouse. The good news is almost everyone is feeling better and brother Chibumba has gotten out of bed for the first day in five days. Please pray for our patients as they continue to recuperate.

During the month of February the Source of Light Bible Correspondence School distributed 126 lessons, corrected 120 lessons, awarded 12 certificates of completion but only enrolled two new students. Students are just now returning to classes after their year end holiday. We suspect that in the next few weeks' new enrollees will multiply. We had one young man who has had substantial bible training in his local church who expressed an interest in studying at the Resource Centre. He is looking for ministry opportunities as the Lord leads. He appreciated knowing that there were tools available for him to use in increasing his bible knowledge. Pray for Justin as he continues to grow in the Lord.

Sherry's discipleship student, Sarah, completed her last lesson in the Design for Discipleship program. She still has to turn in her research paper on "The Day of the Lord" then she will be finished with this course. The next step is for Sarah to put into practice all that she has learned over the last year, particularly issues of practical application. Pray for Sarah as she takes the next step.

After seven years of making ourselves available to a particular group of street kids, we have been able to place all of them in school, see that each has been fed and no longer termed as "street kids" as each now has a roof over their head and are secure. We have re-evaluated the focus of ministry towards the remaining projects under our direction. Another organization in town has promised to continue feeding the children and we are happy that this particular aspect will continue under another umbrella. We will, undoubtedly, have contact with these children from time to time and will be pleased to continue in the spiritual realm, but we have a greater influence on the specific orphans that God has given us through the Lighthouse Ministry.

Please continue to pray for the health of those in leadership and protection for us as we continue...

In His service,

Patrick & Sherry

25 February 2004

Greetings from Luanshya!

As we write this letter, every week, we consider a question of "tense". When we wrote the letter with an editorial "we", it was suggested that one of us should write the letter in the first person. We switched to a third person narrative and some people thought that was "cold". When "I" wrote the letter, as Patrick, some people were confused as to who the "I" was-especially when "I" talked about preaching. Some wanted to know if Sherry was actually preaching in various churches to a mixed congregation. As we sit to write the letter every week, I (Patrick) narrate to Sherry as she types yet we talk about the subject matter as it is being written on the screen. So, the letter is from both of us sharing the work that we, together, are doing here in Zambia.

Last Sunday Patrick spoke on the obstacles that David overcame to become the greatest king of Israel. His father saw no potential for him as king. His brother saw no potential for him as a war leader. King Saul saw no potential for him as a champion and Goliath saw no potential in him as an opponent. Nevertheless, God saw all these things in the shepherd boy and David became the "apple of God's eye." Very often we allow the opinions of others to keep us from our full potential. If we surrender ourselves to God and allow Him to use us without limit, then we are victorious in the battle and God receives the glory. Sometimes people with low incomes and poor education do not feel that God can use them because of these obstacles. Yet, most of the people that God used in His service, were of humble means very much like most of the people living in Zambia.

Sherry spent some time with Sarah this afternoon in discipleship. They completed the final breakdown of 1 Thessalonians 5 using the inductive Bible study method. Next week Sarah will review the work of the last seven weeks and put together a basic outline and thematic scheme of the book of 1 Thessalonians plus do a research paper on "The Day of the Lord". Pray for her as she completes this critical part of discipleship and finally "graduates" the course. Pray, also that she will have the courage to choose another young woman in the church to be her first discipleship student and thus multiply.

In some of the local high schools there is a club entitled "Scripture Union". It is in the club that many young people begin to take their first courageous steps into the world of being a "witness" for the Lord. Unfortunately, some of the lessons taught to the children are not true to the Word. One the young from the chapel has been coming to Sherry over the last two weeks with questions regarding various issues. Part of the problem is that statements are made, in the club, without any scriptural reference (in spite of the name Scripture Union). So much of what is stated, as fact does not have biblical reference. As questions arise, our young people are bringing them to us and we are able to clarify, from the Word of God, the answers they are seeking. It is an awesome responsibility knowing that young people are coming to us for answers to life's questions. We accept that responsibility with great humility leaning on the Lord for wisdom. Please pray for this ministry to the youth.

We have had a rash of illnesses at the Lighthouse Children's Home this last week. Some of the children have had cases of malaria while others have been suffering from the flu and today one of the boys was stung in the eyelid by a small - but powerful wasp. The children are growing spiritually, physically and academically. We are excited about their progress in school and being a part in their future. We appreciate your part as you pray for them.

Finally, please know that we thank God continually for the fact that you share with us in this ministry through your prayers and support.

In His Service,

Patrick & Sherry

18 February 2004

Greetings from Luanshya!

Part of our goal as missionaries is to train national leadership. There are some truly dedicated Christians with whom we work on a day-to-day basis. One of those men is Philip Chibumba. Brother Chibumba works side by side with me at the chapel and I consider him an equal in our leadership responsibilities. His desire is to serve God and he pours every moment of free time he has into preparing himself to minister to others. Our Bible studies over the next few weeks will center on the exodus of the children of Israel from 430 years of slavery in Egypt. A number of our young men will be leading the bible studies, but brother Chibumba will be leading the over all program. He has just begun computerized lessons on the book of Leviticus in the Resource Centre. Please pray for brother Chibumba as he continues in his spiritual growth.

We did receive some disturbing news this week. Last Wednesday night a body was discovered near the railroad station just 200 yards from the church. The deceased was a victim of a ritual killing. Teeth and several of the internal organs had been removed from the body. This has not happened in Luanshya for several years, but it has raised the awareness and concern for any young person or child traveling alone in the evening. We make sure that all of the children at the Lighthouse Home travel in groups of at least three when they go back and forth to school or church. Please pray for the family of this young person as well as for others in our community.

John has volunteered to teach a Sunday School class at the chapel. Sherry spent some time with him today going over the philosophy of teaching Sunday School. She stressed the need for personal development as well as student development in his teaching objectives, classroom goals and individual discipleship. John is young and enthusiastic. Sherry has encouraged him to be realistic in his goal setting as well as to make sure that his goals are measurable so that he can tell when he has succeeded. She also stressed the need to build a team spirit in his class so that the class becomes cohesive in their atmosphere. John is a teacher by trade so what we are giving him for Sunday School will help him in his vocation. Many of you have prayed for John over the years. We are seeing fruit from those prayers.

Sara continues in her discipleship with Sherry. Today she completed a word-by-word study of 1 Thessalonians 3. She has one more chapter to go and then the final summary write-up for the entire book. This has been an eye opening experience for Sara and she said as much during her most recent lesson. Sherry has observed outstanding growth and comprehension with every assignment. At times she is awestruck at some of the observations and practical applications. Sara is also required to write questions for entire passages of scripture. It is thrilling see her find the answers to her own questions and develop cross references for future study.

Our prayer request for this week is concerning a number of our older members who have become enamored with "prosperity theology". Late night Zambian television has a thirty-minute broadcast featuring a woman who preaches that God doesn't want anyone to be poor or sick. The broadcast originates from Texas and this woman has been telling Zambians "If you are poor, you are out of God's will." Unfortunately, some of the local churches are taking up this teaching as well and drawing large crowds. The ultimate end of this will be frustration and anger at God. Please pray that believers will not get sucked into this heresy.

Your prayers on our behalf are appreciated more than we could express in words.

In His service,

Patrick & Sherry

11th February 2004

Greetings from warm, wet, malaria-infested Luanshya. Having malaria is an occupational hazard, but it is not a happy time. Every climate has its drawbacks, but at least we do not have to worry about shovelling snow, scraping windscreens or getting frostbite! I am glad to leave those "pleasures" to people who live further away from the equator.

I spent most of last week either in bed or close to it. I only got up to go to the chapel on Wednesday to show the first half of the film on "Moses" and to write our weekly update. On Friday I had a blood test done after taking my last dose of medicine and the test was "clear", but the doctor said the headache might last a bit longer. It did. By Tuesday morning it was gone. I appreciate your prayers on my behalf.

Since the blood test was clear on Friday Sherry and I decided to go ahead with our project on Saturday to help distribute over 1,000 mosquito nets in the Buntungwa area just east of Luanshya. We were only supposed to be there for three hours, but three turned into nine and the job was not finished. On Monday Sherry and I returned to Buntungwa to continue the distribution. We are working with the Luanshya District Health Management Board, local clinical officers stationed in Buntungwa, a local community group like "neighbourhood watch", the local Rotary Club and the church in which I have preached in Buntungwa to put a mosquito net in every house in this township. In so doing we are showing that we really do care about our community. The Zambia National Broadcasting Company came to cover the distribution. They broadcast the story on Tuesday evening and we were apparently shown helping in the distribution. We were at a meeting and missed the broadcast, but a number of people in town recognised us this morning. The news clip was broadcast nationally! Please pray that this small act of kindness will open doors for us to present the Gospel in places where we have not already visited. While helping people avoid malaria is a good thing, our primary goal is to help them avoid hell!

On Sunday morning I continued the series on Giants from the Old Testament by preaching about the servant girl who worked for Naaman (2 Kings 5). She acted even though she was a slave, an outsider, very young and a female living in a male-dominated society. She acted even though she could not do anything big and she acted even though the risk was high - both to Naaman's reputation and to her life. In spite of all the limitations she acted. Sometimes we wonder what kind of impact we are having in this little town in this small country in the middle of this great big continent. Then I remember the story of this little girl whose name is not even mentioned in the Bible. Her faith was so strong that God included her story in His Word. It helps me to realise that nothing we can do is small in God's eyes.

We are grateful for your prayers for this ministry. God continues to open doors for us to minister in some very unusual ways and to show His love to the poor - and often forgotten - people in Zambia. Every one of them is special and important to God. We are glad that God has asked us to represent Him - and you - here.

In His Service,

Patrick & Sherry

4 February 2004

Greetings from Luanshya!

Last Sunday morning I got up well before dawn and drove to a small farming community called Mkushi. This little town is at the southern most tip of the part of the Congo that nearly cuts Zambia in half. (For those of you with a world atlas nearby). I had the privilege of speaking to the members of a relatively new congregation of believers. I spoke on the purpose of the church, why we exist and what we do. After the service there was a lot of enthusiasm. The leaders of the church were taking copious notes. I look forward to returning there in a couple of months to check on their progress. They are meeting in a rented room at the moment, but are looking for a small plot of ground on which to build a chapel. Please pray for the Mkushi church.

On Monday I developed an ugly case of malaria-there is no pretty case. Over the last three days I have been recuperating and Sherry has been forcing me to stay in bed. Nevertheless, I have occasionally been able to sneak out of the house and run a few errands, like buying milk for the orphanage. On the same day little Johnnie (from the Lighthouse Home) was diagnosed with a case of Mumps. He cried when he couldn't go to school, but the doctor said he needed to take a week off. It is pretty amazing that this little boy, who three years ago couldn't even speak English is today upset when he can't go to school. We are concerned that the rest of the children will come down with this same illness. Please pray for them and for the Chibumba's as they deal with sick children.

Sherry has been keeping herself very busy in the Resource Centre. She did her inventory this week as well as the records for courses. One hundred and sixty three lessons were distributed during the month of January, one hundred and fifty two were corrected, seventeen certificates were awarded and eleven new students were enrolled. Now that the schools are back in session, we expect to enroll many new students in the new month.

Discipleship classes continue with Sherry teaching Sarah. Today they finished 1 Thessalonians 2. Sarah is learning how to make observations, bring together cross-references, and make applications from each passage. Today most of her observation dealt with living a very visual Christian life so that those among whom we live can experience Christ's example through her lifestyle. Please continue to pray for Sarah.

This evening we show the first part in a series on the Life of Moses. This film precedes a series of lessons that brother Chibumba and I will be leading on the books of Exodus and Leviticus. This is a study that brother Chibumba has dearly loved and he is looking forward to leading this discussion. I am looking forward to watching him do just that. We see tremendous growth in this man both in his Bible knowledge and leadership skills. He is truly gifted and has a heart for the people in the chapel.

Sherry has completed her study on "Men and Women-Equal Yet Different". She has enjoyed the study and will enjoy sharing the lessons she has learned with ladies in the churches here as well as specially devised lessons for Teens. Pray for wisdom in presentation. Gender issues are a very hot topic in Zambia these days.

We appreciate your prayers on our behalf.

In His service,

Patrick & Sherry

28 January 2004

Greeting from Luanshya!

The big news in town this week is the visit by President Mwanawasa, the re-re-reopening of the copper mine. The people of Luanshya have suffered greatly because of the unethical (and perhaps illegal) practices of an investor who came in under the pretext of developing the Luanshya Mine, but after a few short years he vacated the premises having stripped most of the assets and left the miners wondering what had happened. The new owners of the Mine promise better things for the future. We pray that this is so as a number of the believers with whom we work are employed in the mine industry.

On Sunday I continued in the series "Running with Giants". This past weekend we studied the lives of Abraham and Moses and the fact that God will use insignificant people to do significant things when they simply obey God's command. We find that people without influence can do miraculous things when they allow themselves to be influenced by the Lord. This has been true of every "giant" that we have studied: obedience brings victory.

On Monday we celebrated a milestone in our family. My father celebrated his 75th birthday. We managed to get a phone call out and found that he was at church serving-where else would you want to be on your 75th birthday? This year will be filled with milestones-I turn 50, our oldest son turns 30 and I celebrate 20 years as a missionary in Africa.

Sherry has spent several days preparing lessons on the subject "Men and Women-Equal Yet Different". In today's society there is a general misunderstanding on the roles of men and women. Many people want to take societies "norms" and apply them to Christian service. What we are supposed to do is take biblical principles and apply them in the society in which we live. It is sin that has cause today's confusion. If sin had not entered the world, God's plan would never have been perverted and the existing chaos would be non-existent. Pray for her as she continues this preparation. Gender issues are a prevalent subject these days, even in Zambia.

Several months ago I was asked to consider starting a Bible Institute specifically for church leaders who were unable to come to "day time classes". I am putting together notes now so this program can begin in the next couple of weeks. The purpose of the Institute is not to take schoolboys and run them through a "preachers school," but to help men who are currently preaching and leading churches attain the tools they need to minister more effectively in their local assemblies. Please pray for our students since many of them do not speak English as a first language. Brother Chibumba will be working with me and taking classes at the same time. He will also help to explain English terminology to those who have a difficulty in that area.

We sincerely appreciate your prayers on our behalf.

In His Service

Patrick & Sherry

21 January 2004

Greetings from Luanshya!

In our services on Sunday, we have been "running with the giants" and learning lessons from Old Testament characters for New Testament Christians. Last Sunday we studied the life of Rebekah and the fact that she gave generously-not seeking reward. Because of her generosity, God richly rewarded her. The obvious lesson from her life is to give without seeking recompense and to give generously out of a sincere desire to serve.

One of the ways in which we express our concern for our community is by serving them, meeting the needs of the poorest of the poor. We have been asked to help with the logistics of distributing nearly 2,000 mosquito nets in the Buntungwa Compound area, southeast of Luanshya. Another organization purchased the nets and we are now awaiting deliver so they can be distributed in about two weeks time. We will mobilize members of our church in Buntungwa along with the local District Health Management Team. Please pray for this exercise as we reach out to those who have physical needs as well as spiritual needs.

Sherry has had a very good discipleship session with Sarah. Along with teaching the bible study method, Sherry is also been able to teach Sarah how to make an outline. This is apparently something not taught in local schools. Students are trained to write essays, but not trained specifically in how to put their thoughts into an organized and systematic outline. As we write this letter just now, Sarah is sitting in the library re-doing her homework. She is excited about being able to learn and, ultimately, teaching others what she has learned. We appreciate your continued prayers on her behalf.

We have done some investigation at the schools in which our Lighthouse children are attending. One of the schools has a 100% pass rate for the grade 7 exams. The other school has a 99% pass rate. We are pleased with these results, especially since our children are getting older and will be taking this very exam in a few short years. We know that the full time care for these children is expensive, but we feel that helping a few prepare for life is better than simply passing out food stuffs and not teaching children to prepare for their own future.

Upcoming events include speaking at a church in a small farming village in Mkushi and the beginning of a film series on the lives of prominent bible characters. Sherry will begin looking for next years Vacation Bible School material, which is supposed to be on the way. We just received notification of shipment for more correspondence Bible school curricula. Pray for a quick arrival.

As always, we thank you for your prayers and fellowship in the ministry.

In His Service,

Patrick & Sherry

14 January 2004

Greetings from Luanshya!

This morning a lecturer from Technical and Vocational Training College, in Luanshya, passed by the Christian Resource Centre and spoke with Sherry. He said that he had passed the building many times but had never ventured inside. He teaches English at the college and was interested in what the CRC had to offer him and his students. Sherry spent fifteen minutes showing him what was available by way of books and other resources that we have here. He is very interested in introducing his students to our ministry. Please pray that this will be another inroad into the hearts of the youth of our community.

As we mentioned last week, school has begun. All of our children from the Lighthouse are enrolled and attending classes daily. The other children in the community we assist are also in classes. This evening we spoke to the District Education Officer. She said she had been given an allocation of funds for new teachers because every school in the District has a shortfall in their staffing. This was exceptional news for John and Sarah Bwalya who are waiting to be placed in schools. Please pray for this ongoing need for both students and teachers.

Discipleship with Sarah continues. She has completed book six in the series and now starts a verse by verse-phrase by phrase-study of the book of 1 Thessalonians. She took one look at book seven and realized that the first six books were a piece of cake. Book seven is real Bible study. Pray for Sarah and for Sherry and they take an adventure.

As we look forward to this year, we see a lot of possibilities for expanding and maintaining the ministry. Pray for wisdom and open doors.

In His Service,

Patrick & Sherry

7 January 2004

Greetings from Luanshya!

This year started off at full run. On Thursday morning (New Year's Day) we had a breakfast for all the adults in the chapel. I cooked pancakes and eggs while brother Chibumba and Colin waited tables. Sherry, as usual, supervised. This was our second year having the New Year's breakfast. The new members were surprised to see me cook, especially when I flipped the eggs in the air. Everyone enjoyed the time of fellowship. After the meal I gave a short devotion and introduced the book "The Purpose Driven Life". We have several copies available for members of the church to take the forty-day journey to discovering their purpose in God's ministry. Pray for this challenge of commitment.

Last Sunday we began a series called "Running with the Giants." As most of our adults are in positions of leadership in their secular work, we are trying to challenge them to be leaders in their spiritual lives as well. Sunday morning the lesson was on Noah-One Man Who Made a Difference. Noah was not afraid to do what God told him to do even though he was completely alone doing something that had never been attempted. The lessons will continue over the next two months. Pray for maturity and a sincere desire to live a life of integrity in the work place.

Often we wonder if the things that we teach actually hit home to those who listen. This past This week we discovered, much to our excitement, that God is working in the hearts of at least one middle-aged family. Luanshya has been suffering economically for half a decade due to mismanagement and fraudulent practices at the local copper mine. Many who should have received their retirement benefits in 1999 are just now beginning to receive them bit by bit. The government had to step in after the company who bought the Mine literally ran away owing millions of dollars to employees and creditors. One of our men received partial payment this past week of K5,000,000 which is about $1,100. Sunday morning there was a note in an envelope in the offering basket from this couple which read "As God has kept us through our suffering, we wish to thank Him for His goodness and have enclosed our tithe for the last few years. Praise God with us!" In the envelope was K500,000. We praise God with this couple. Not only for His faithfulness to them, but for their faithfulness and obedience to Him. It is thrilling to see Christians grow and take God at His word.

This week Sherry has spent several hours with Sarah in discipleship. As you will recall, Sarah is one of the teachers who has been out of town doing her practical teachers training in a rural setting. She took several of the discipleship booklets with her and completed them in evenings. Now she is going through them one lesson at a time with Sherry as her mentor. Today they begin reviewing book five (of seven). Pray for Sarah as she continues to build on her knowledge and courage to share the gospel with those whom she comes into contact.

This next week school starts in Zambia. All of our children at the Lighthouse as well as those we are helping outside the Home will be going to school. School fees, uniforms, shoes, and school supplies are all going to be purchased in the next three days. We are glad to be able to help but it is a big bite at one time. Pray for the kids as the renew friendships and advance one more year in their education. The starting of school also means a new influx of students at the Source of Light Bible Correspondence School. New courses have arrived so we are as ready as we can be-with another order on the way.

As always, we appreciate your prayers on our behalf and look forward to another exciting year...

In His Service,

Patrick & Sherry

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths. (Proverbs 3:5-6)