Just Back From Kasuba

Well you have to be ready for changes here in Zambia. Leaving Friday turned out leaving Saturday morning, a leaders conference turned out to be a conference for all comers from nine churches in the Kasuba Zone. None the less it was a time of wonderful blessing. I embarked on this weekend feeling a bit ‘blue’ because I wasn’t well, but was immediately rebuked by the overwhelming welcome of singing and dance as we arrived. These people were excited to be together and the joy of the Lord radiated from their hearts.

My teaching sessions became general passages encouraging Christian living. The church was full of people with many spilled outside to listen from windows or wherever they could get close. We had three choirs sing two numbers each, prayers, announcements, preaching, three more choirs doing two songs each - three hours slips by pretty quickly!

The evening session became an outside event near where our tents were pitched and I was instructed this was to be a gospel message. I spoke from Luke 15 on the lost sons with John 3 tacked on as well. It was hard to see everyone there - we rigged up lights powered by a generator, but the crowd was lost in the darkness (looked like 300-400)! That evening a lady was counselled and received Christ, with 9 others also talked to regarding others issues. These were followed up on after Sundays service, with some understanding that they have never been Christ’s. Another lady was taken home by her husband on Saturday, but she came back on Sunday afternoon to talk about salvation. Please pray that God’s work in these hearts will grow and blossom in true fruit.

Sunday’s message was on the priority of God’s Word in our lives, looking at 2 Tim 3:16-17. Most of the people here did not have Bibles so we talked of the desire to get Bibles in their hands - this is a vital part of our ministry to these churches. We left some Bibles but the needs always overwhelm the supply.
There are two graduates from the Bible School working in these ch
urches, Davies and Evans (2003 & 2004). I cannot speak highly enough about the influence they have been on these churches. I witnessed a vibrant youth ministry in action with young people heavily involved in our services. I saw firsthand the Sunday School on Sunday morning, well taught and loving to sing about Jesus and his love. Since graduation Davies and Evans have been instrumental planting four churches in this zone to make up the current nine. What a blessing to see God at work, saving people, establishing churches! Davies wondered if we could get a tent and sleeping bags for their wide sweeping pastoral and evangelistic work.

These men are doing a worthy work and they are typical of the many graduates that are working hard in the spread of the gospel in this needy land. We travelled 96kms to this area - it is remote but there are people everywhere. Our home journey which was supposed to be shorter and on a better road was 112kms, was slower and much more rough. One section of 16kms took 1 hour to cover. The home journey was 3 ½ hours! Welcome to Africa!!

One area of need that was highlighted significantly to me this weekend, is the need of trained believers who can counsel people. Teacher Peter Chomba continues with his training with Dr Mack in Pretoria - this is vital for the Bible School to develop further counselling training that can help these needy churches. Many people are stalled in their Christian lives through basic issues of forgiveness, or issues of guilt over past sin... Some basic training will be able to make big inroads into helping brothers and sisters who need encouragement in Christ.

Some of the areas I have travelled through this weekend have been very beautiful - great lake areas, plenty of fishing for the locals, but away from the water everything is tinder dry. It is hard to know what to leave out. The lasting impression however is a people that love God, a people served by godly leaders - what a privilege that as a church we have been part of that blessing to these people through the ministry of Samfya Bible School.

This week I am teaching the students through 1 & 2 Timothy. I have a bit of a cough developed from my sinus infection - please pray that this will heal quickly. Thanks to for your prayers for sleep - for the first time I have hit the time zone without any issues!!