God At Work Through His Word

Greetings all - we are back in Samfya and about to begin the first of three days of training with the elders from the Samfya area churches. But first a quick update from the weekend - it was cold!! We have had a very cold weather front that has had wind and very cold temperatures and we don’t really have the clothes for this!! Oh well we have survived without difficulty and look forward to many hot days ahead.

The meeting with Chembe area churches was held at Kundamfumu and there were 13 churches represented with elders, deacons and deaconesses - totalling 120 people. We have again been able to work thought the teaching on Eldership, addressing many issues and problems that these churches face. The response was again humbling. It seems so many of these churches are ready to hear the truth about leadership issues after struggling with traditions for some time. They want and need to make changes and these visits seem to have been timed just right - God is certainly working.

I would say that the need for ongoing training and help is essential. It would be sad to see the momentum stall through lack of encouragement and assistance. This is not just our visits, but also the teaching of the Bible School staff - we need to fund them to get out on frequent visits to these churches. More Bibles are needed that help in this, more resources that can be place in the hands of these men & women.

We had the joy of meeting with seven graduates this weekend. We heard reports independently from the elders of their churches about the dedicated commitment that these graduates have to the church and the gospel ministry. Three churches have been planted including one in the Congo. They are active in training and many areas of ministry (women’s, youth, children, teaching, evangelism). Bicycles were a huge need, all but one had transport. Sleeping bags for ministry times... The stories are the same everywhere we are going. Gospel ministry is progressing but hampered through lack of resources. What a privilege we have to help these men & women.

Well back here in Samfya the day with the Samfya elders has turned out to be elders and deacons and deaconesses!! It started well and then we hit controversy over dress issues. It is a very difficult thing for a traditional culture to accept the changes that modern life is bringing. We got back on track and I have been blown away by the acceptance of teaching received as we dealt with eldership issues. Again it is as if God is opening the doors to the hearts of these people. They want to be men and women of the Word and they affirmed the teaching as we progressed through the scriptures together. At the end of the time I had one very old elder learn over and shake my hand to thank me for the day, a day which would have been difficult for him as we even addressed the need for some of the senior men to step aside and let the younger ones lead. What a blessing to have such open hearts. Please pray for the next two days together.