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