news from zambia

CHINGOLA
I received six Bible Basics printed in English and I have distributed them to my Brothers and Sisters, and we say thanks a lot for them. There are some books that I see from my Brothers who are in other ecclesias, but we do not have them in our ecclesia’s library. Please, we would like you to send us books for use in our library.
Bro. Pinoty Chimbele

CHINSALI
August, 2003. Four baptisms in Mandona’s village in Lubu River (interviewed by Bro. Glen Mitchell), now our Brothers: Edwin Mfule, Charles Kangwa, Jimmy Katongo, and Joel Mutale. Please send them copies of Gospel News (in total, six copies of GN are required.)
Bro. Ignatius Chilekwa

KABWE
"Let down the nets", based on Luke ch. 5. I feel there is something to learn considering the way Jesus and the fishermen became friends. It is simply teaching us to spend more time with God more than anything else in the world if we are to prosper in everything that we do. But again, we must bring more lost sheep to light in our various fields. I am trying to imagine how Simon Peter and the others responded when Jesus came by and started teaching the crowd from the boat. What we have to bear in mind is that they had worked hard all night and had caught nothing and here comes Jesus and the crowd. If I put myself in Simon Peter’s shoes I would likely have been rather irritated: Who is this man; he just walks here spreading the message. Shouldn’t he be where he ought to be – in a church – forgetting that the word of God is to be spoken and freely shared wherever people meet. May Almighty God continue to richly bless your work as you try to spread the gospel. I can only thank you for all that you do, but God will give you a perfect reward.
Bro. Lapulani Malata

KAFUE
Whilst stressing the need for persistence in prayer, Jesus narrated a parable (read Luke 18:2-8). Are we among those seeking to be avenged of an adversary? There is a way out. Hebrews 4:16 says, "Come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need." Obviously this is the time of need. Our much-needed help and succour is at the place of prayer – let us go there now.
Bro. Lotson Kayuni

KASAMA
We are glad to have this wonderful chance of writing to you. Here in Kasama we have a long list of Bible students who need to be visited by us. Some of them stay in very remote areas and feel neglected if they are not visited. The problem is that some areas do not have roads that can be used by vehicles. We are arranging for a fraternal gathering with our Brethren and Sisters in Chinsali, God willing. The number of our Sunday School youngsters is increasing, for which we are very thankful to our Heavenly Father and to their parents for allowing them to join with us.
Bro. Joshua Muchili

Photo: Right to left: Bre. Willis Simbowe, Nelson Bwalya and Joshua Muchili

We lack Sunday School teaching material here which is a big problem for us. The translating issue is also very important because some aspiring students of the Bible are Memba speakers and are missing most of the good news published in English.
Kasama Ecclesia

KAZEMBE
I thank you, in the Master’s Name, for the literature sent to me. Continue sending to me; I need them because they are so educative and informative. Is it possible for you to assist me with the Concise Oxford Dictionary? Even an old one. I also received a book entitled, ‘Why Are We Here?’
Bro. James M. Kanbobe

KITWE
I am sending you an application form for a student who wants to know the truth. I still have three copies of Bible Basics in French. God willing, I am planning to go to Congo, to a town near the border called Sakania, I will use my bicycle. God willing, it may be that He will open a door for the spreading of His word.
Bro. Robert M. Muwele

LUNDAZI
I love to travel to meet my family in Christ, I spent some days in Mzimba, Malawi. I only wish I could be there in UK to meet you all; I feel I know many of you already, but if the Lord wills it we will meet in his Kingdom.
Bro. John R. Chulu

LUSAKA
I would like to do journalism and work at Radio Christian Voice, but some people are not with me on this, some with very good reasons. I really want to know what your thoughts are. I would very much like to play gospel music and preach to a lot of people through the media. We formed the Youth League in September, but the attendance is terribly poor; at first it was between six and 13, but lately it’s between three and six. I prepare the Bible quiz and something for our ‘Health Corner’ and come up with topics for general discussion – it’s quite a task. Other activities include drama, games, choir, poems, but with that poor attendance all we do are the Bible readings and singing – and sweeping the hall. For nine weeks last year we were with Silas from Mufulira. However, he mentioned some problems the Youth League is facing there, which are exactly what we are facing. We can just pray and trust in God and His Son to help us in situations like these.
Sis. Bevelyn Tembo

I am a nephew to Bro. Herbert Tigerepasi and Sis. Luna is my aunt. I have been a Brother since 2000 and I am the one who sleeps at our ecclesial hall here in Lusaka since it was built.
Bro. Ephraim Mwamje Mambwe

Thank you for Gospel News and your letter. It’s wonderful to hear how the truth is being spread far and wide. I pray for God’s increase and blessings. I am 29 and have been a Christadelphian for about eight years now and I would love to continue feeding on God’s truth and increase my knowledge of Him.
Bro. Paul Chembe

MUFULIRA
I could have written before, but had to go to the farm where Dad and Mum wanted me to go. I spent a week there, came back for the Sunday service and the following Monday I had to go back to the farm. Again, I stayed for another six days and came back, and that is when the malaria started. The weather is not the same – the water there is not chlorinated (purified) in any way – straight from the well into the cup and you drink. Also, mosquitoes hit me badly. I am always praying for you and those involved in producing Gospel News. May the Lord always be your Guide, day after day, until His set day. I was very pleased to see the article in Gospel News entitled, ‘Doing Good’, which Sis. Bervelyn and I wrote. Not only that, there were (are) a lot of other articles which I enjoyed reading like the Christmas issue and the Pre-existence of Jesus. You are doing a tremendous job and I pray that the Lord will keep blessing you every passing day until His appointed time. Even so, come Lord soon!
Bro. Silas K. Chishimba

Thank you all for the good work you are doing in Christ. No one will remove us away from God our Father (Rom. 8:37). God is love (read Ex. 34:5-7). May our Lord open the way for you so that you may still go on to preach the gospel. "How shall they hear without a preacher? How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!" (Rom. 10:14-15).
Bro. Charles Daka

NAKONDE
I am the third born daughter of Bro. Zacchaeus and Sis. Eunice Muntete of Nakonde and was baptised in August 2001. I was really overwhelmed with joy to be born into this wonderful family of God. My hope and prayer is that our merciful Father will lead us all into His Kingdom. I have enjoyed reading articles by my Brethren and Sisters all over the world. It is amazing to see the way the true gospel is reaching ‘dark’ places – i.e. the Arab world – where people have been denied the opportunity of hearing the word of Life; indeed, nothing is impossible with God. "And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come" (Matt. 24:14). May Jesus come soon to reward all those who love his appearing.
Sis. Esther Muntete

NCHELENGE
I am out of profitable employment. I used to work as a financial accountant. I have a problem with my mitral valve, making the heart unable to carry out its functions properly. I am thus unable to walk over 50 metres; since 2002 I am confined to my yard. I wish to tell Brethren and Sisters around the globe about my state of health so that they can remember me in their prayers. May our walk to the Kingdom be shortened by the return of our Lord.
Bro. Chisela Mwaba

NDOLA
I lost my blood sister, called Orpa Mwanza, last year. May our Lord Jesus soon come, when he will judge this world in righteousness and when there will be no more death nor poverty and God’s will shall be done on earth as it is done in heaven. It is only the fool that says in his heart, There is no God (Ps. 53:1). May God bless you for the wonderful work you are doing.
Bro. James Mwanza

PEMBA
I have a friend who wanted to know more on the issue of the Holy Spirit. One question he asked is, If the Holy Spirit has been withdrawn, how could it have been left with us? You can send me any material on this subject. Muzoka is a small township; even our nearest Post Office is some 15km away and we are in between two bigger towns – Choma and Monze – about 45km both ways. I was happy to receive some book marks from the Brothers/Sisters in New Zealand. I am enclosing a photo taken during my graduation ceremony last December.
Bro. Wilfred Chibomba

SOLWEZI
I wish to thank the Brothers and Sisters in New Zealand for the hand-made book marks they sent via Bro. Marcus. I also thank you for other booklets and for the love shown. I know we have lost some beloved Brothers and Sisters from our ‘family’ in 2003. The Almighty God has been merciful to us, so that we can make up what is lacking in ourselves so that we can enter the Kingdom of God. I strongly urge my Brothers and Sisters that we should shed more light on those outside our Christadelphian family so that they become part of it. Although we are isolated from each other, we are together in prayers.
Bro. Joseph Kapimpa