From Lusaka to Manado

My time in Lusaka was a welcome respite. Meeting with Webster Nonde was a highlight. It was very encouraging to spend time with a successful businessman who has his heart set on the gospel and using God’s blessing of his life for the benefit of others. Webster’s role on the board will be a wonderful blessing - his training and background will provide an excellent support of the Bible School work.

On my flight to Johannesburg I sat with a young Muslim couple and their baby. They are from Zambia, however the husband is teaching at an Islamic University in Johannesburg. We were able to have a profitable discussion about “the prophet Jesus” and I endeavoured to challenge him with the exclusive claims of Jesus himself. The wife was wearing a full burqa and she talked about her own desire to wear this as an expression of her faith. It is sad to see the eyes of people blinded by Satan’s deception - pray that my conversation with them will sow the seed of the gospel that would bring liberation.

The flights to Singapore and Manado were uneventful. Simon was at the airport to meet me and we drove the 7 kms to the New tribes Mission sight. I thought I was back in Fiji - Hot, humid, coconut trees everywhere, bananas, pineapples, papaya... The people here are very friendly and this area has a heavy Dutch Reformed presence that has turned through the years to nominal faith. In many ways this city is an unreached people group because they are following tradition and not faith in Jesus. I am reminded of the older son in the story of the prodigal. He never left home, but he was just as lost as the younger son was - he needed the liberation of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Last night I went with Simon to a class run by a Baptist training school. The topic was church planting and the lecturer was endeavouring to have the students think about how they could strategise to move out into a new ministry area. Simon is doing this study and completing a degree - really he should be teaching this class as this is the very thing that New tribes Mission is doing with their own students. I was asked to address the students for the last 10-15 minutes of class - be ready in season and out!! It was a real blessing to encourage them through the Word of God to ensure that the challenge of the gospel is maintained throughout their lives in the ministry. At the end of my time, the class professor asked if I would be interested to come back and take a week long block course in the school. Simon has been working hard to see an influence of Biblical Counselling Training here and welcomes the opportunity to see further instruction that would add to this training ministry.

It has been a joy to meet many of the students here. They are all “Indonesians” however their racial backgrounds vary significantly from Melanesian (Papua) to Asian. Today I will get to meet more of them and tonight share the word with them as well as our mission work in Zambia.