RELOCATION – Lusaka
to Mpika
Despite the delays we
encountered in Lusaka before our departure, nonetheless; we travelled
well despite the tire burst we experienced within Lusaka, which
delayed us further.
When on our way, after
driving for over 5hours; we had a near accident. The scenario was;
there were about 3 Trucks in front of us; and since our viewing range
was quite limited due to the trucks, there was a big stone right in
the middle of the road which we couldn’t see. Thus we drove on it.
We lost a bit of control on the vehicle, but finally managed to stop.
The Car’s tire developed a bump as a result of the impact. Inspite
of that, we managed to drive till Mpika. We arrived a little bit late
in the night, by 10:30Pm. Upon arrival, we were received by one of
the active member of our Church, and he took us to our lodging.
ACCOMMODATION &
WATER CHALLENGES
Our sending Church –
LBC arranged our temporal accommodation at a lodge were we were
supposed to live for 3months. This was done, to buy time for the
house under construction to get completed. And since the lodge was
expensive yet very small chalet was not spacious enough to contain
our property once it came. We therefore resolved to move into the
temporal house I showed or mentioned of during the time I gave a
report on Mpika and accommodation @ GCBC as well as GBC in Indiana (I
am sure Katryn has sent or uploaded some picture of Facebook Or check
Kat’s blog for details).
Despite all these
eventualities, we are settling in well. Though the water challenges
still lingers, although the need is being met twice per-week, because
the Church member is fetching water for us on Wednesdays &
Fridays.
MINISTRY RESUMPTIONS &
EQUIPPING
Besides that; the work of
ministry is up and running. Though there is much to work on and
organize. There are many dysfunctional ministries, uncommitted
members needing encouraging, the sick needing consolation and many
other Church related challenges needing my attention. But
nonetheless, we are excited to be a part of what God is doing and is
going to do thru our feeble efforts.
On the Lord’s day; I am
preaching thru the beatitudes morning services. I am doing a series I
have called: – “The necessary attitudes for Kingdom
citizenship” – from Matt. 5:3-12. Then the afternoon
services, we have continued our study thru Acts. 2:42-47 – on
“Orthodox Christianity”. Over and above, the response has
so far been quite encouraging.
I held the first meeting
with the deacons the other Saturday. I had an encouraging time with
these precious brothers – Mr. Laket Mulenga & Mr. Kenneth
Kapesa. Unfortunately, we could not finish going thru the agenda,
thus we had meet on Tuesday last week at 6:20pm to finish up the
remaining pointers. Of which we did. Besides that, I have commenced a
mentorship corner for the deacons. In that, I have assigned books to
each deacon to read about the Church and Leadership. And every time
we have staff meetings the last Saturday of every month, we will be
discussing each book’s chapter in response. The books are: “The
Trellis and the Vine” – by Tony Payne & “Exemplary
leadership” – by Jerry Wragg. I am also studying along thru Don
Fortner’s book called – ‘The Church of God”. My aim is to
develop and sustain the culture of reading with the leadership.
Last week Friday, Katryn
met with the ladies with a view of getting to know the ladies of the
church, and if possible plan for a ladies book study (Respectable
Sins by Jerry Bridges) for the days to come. Of which the
ladies have welcomed Kat’s proposal. Therefore she has already
prepared and given them (ladies) the hand-outs, and they are going to
be meeting next coming Friday [more updates from Kat concerning this]
Last Saturday, I also met
the leaders of various Church ministries. This was so essentially,
with the purpose of getting to know them, to encourage them for their
faithful services they rendered over the past years. As part of the
agenda, I hopped to assess if there are certain functional ministries
which can be resuscitated before this year ends. If not, then our
objective plan were to have all the ministries commenced by next year
January, and therefore, devote the time between now and December to
training up ministry leaders. But secondly, because the ministries
can only run properly once scheduled for, we want to come up with a
year calendar, since currently there hasn’t been none.
I also wanted to inquire
of the causes that have made the Church ministries to crumble to the
ground, the state of lifelessness; devoid of vitality (within the
Church and the community. I desired to establish the ultimate
reason/s that has led the Church on the path of downgrade. And by
identifying the deficiencies and concertedly as a Church, to look at
finding the way forward in establishing a health Church, though not
perfect. Thus to accomplish this agenda, I proposed to start doing a
book study on leadership by Al Mohler – ‘The Conviction to
lead’ – with the ministry leaders. And we later on resolved
that if we were to do a book study with not only the ministry leaders
but the Church membership at large, then; why not resume the Home
Fellowship Groups? And the idea was widely and hastily welcomed.
Thus, on Sunday I met
with men that have led the HFG before in their respectable homes. I
inquired of them if recommencing the HFG in their areas was such a
fine idea; and it was affirmative. And that is something my wife and
I are thankful to the Lord for.
So, the HFGs are resuming
next week Wednesday @ 5:30pm. We will be doing a series study on –
The Doctrine of God. The reason for this study, is to help the
Church awaken a sense of awe concerning God in the hearts, so that we
may be taken back to the first love, by developing a deeper knowledge
of Him; the knowledge that will find its expression by building a
well-founded Christian worldview around God; leading to effective
evangelism as well as improving our private and corporate worship.
This also is something you can be praying with us for.
There other exciting
thing again is; I will also be conducting a somewhat leadership
Mutual-mentorship with the HFG leaders, yet we will all be
participating in teaching/mentoring one another. This is purported
for the equipping of the leaders as well as creating a platform for
developing a culture of reading just as– “Iron
sharpens Iron, so a man sharpens another…” – Prov. 27:17.
This mutual-mentorship program begins on the 12th of
October, 2013; where I will give a somewhat keynote study of the
book. This program will be running middle-week of every month.
To
accomplish this task, we will each be taking turns, by reading a
chapter or two. And then whenever we meet, the leader for the
apportioned day would have read the portion of the book beforehand;
glean some lessons and study questions from the book to share with
the group. Therefore, for us to ensure the smooth running of this
program, I will draw up a schedule and a basic study guide for each
chapter for the leaders to use.
On the other flip side of
the coin, week before last Saturday morning, after our Church morning
prayer meeting; Katryn attended the literacy class. And there she
took noted some challenging needs the ministry is going thru, in
terms of staff and material for both the kids and the teachers. We
are trying thus to organize the necessary materials for the 1st
thru the 5th graders as the Lord leads.
CHURCH RELATIONS &
CHURCH CHEERS
Therefore, after all
these, where we are currently with respect to our settlement; Kat and
I are daring to build relational bridges with the church membership
and ease in in stabilizing the Church.
We are also thankful to
God, that the first Sunday thru to last week, we recorded a larger
attendance of about 50 people in our morning service. The other
Sunday and the Sunday that followed, we were about 35-46 in
attendance. And what that means is that; the chairs were just about
enough for the attendees, the Hymnals were a challenge also because
they are not enough.
The immediate need we are
currently facing is the completion of the sanctuary. As a Church,
beginning last year, we have raised half the money for the roofing.
And the rains are commencing by next month. And considering the
measure/size of the old sanctuary is growing smaller and smaller each
day that passes. And the fact that the HFGs are starting next week,
that will certainly encourage neighborhood evangelism, which will in
turn bring about many people into the Church. Please would you pray
with us in this vein.
We are thankful to the
Lord for the financial support we received from one our sister
Churches from Lusaka, given toward the building. You can rejoice with
us.
We also want to thank God
for the attempts we made last Sunday to preach in English/Bemba.
Though it was hard the dare, yet it was worth it. Continue praying
that the Lord may grant His servant who preaches to be simple and
clear in speech, that the gospel will continue being delivered
concisely thru the demonstration of the Spirit’s power to bring
about salvation.
But overall, we are so
grateful to God for entrusting us with this work of ministry. And in
all these things we have nothing to say but only to ascribe glory to
Him, and Him alone?
Lastly join in with us,
as Katryn and I stand indebted to Lusaka Baptist Church brethren and
the eldership for this rare opportunity they have granted to us to
serve the Lord here in Mpika, for the sanctification of the saints
and salvation of the sinners, all to His glory.
May He alone reward all
of you graciously – LBC; GCBC & GBC – abundantly as it seems
befitting to Him.
Prayer items:
- The Lord to calm our hearts (Kat and I) as we labor among these dear ones
- Pray for me, that I may be faithful in leading God’s flock
- Pray that the Lord would knit our hearts as a Church
- Remembers us as EBC with the meetings scheduled in this month as we strive to build a health and functional Christian community:
- Staff meeting
- My meetings with: HFG leaders for mentorship; each month with the deacons as we do book review that God would be honored in using our feeble efforts to build his Church; Church member needing husbandry counseling. In, thru all these strivings, the Lord God would give us wisdom even as we will be seeking to establish all the Church ministries.
- Pulpit ministry, that the preaching would be clear and convicting, leading to repentance those that sit under the charge of the gospel
- Pray for stability of the church
- For God’s wisdom on how to go about the Vernacular service as we have already attempted
- Pray for our accommodation that it would be ready by the proposed time (1st Dec. 2013)
- Pray for the Church building requiring financial support. We’ve raised half the money for the roof. But we desire to furnish the entire building soon if the Lord wills.
