news from zambia
CHAMBISHI
I write to let you know that it has been almost a year since I received any literature from the Christadelphians. I am pretty sure that you will take note of my plight. I don’t even have a Christadelphian calendar for this year. Even so my faith in Christ is still forcing me to share the good news with those who are eager for the word. As I preached about my Christadelphian faith, one day, thank God I came to meet a person who was hungry for the gospel. After some discussion he told me to go ahead and preach to him and at last he told me he wanted to start learning about the Bible with me. I went home not knowing what next. I was thinking about where to find the money for the postage and I prayed. Two days afterwards, I was searching through all the literature that I have. That is when I came to notice the only response payee envelope I had. I don’t have employment and in our country it is very difficult to acquire even a small amount of money. I am always in the field cultivating to keep my family and myself alive. Moreover, I have a small group of Sunday School children and I usually teach them using the Bible. I am sure someone can assist me with teaching material.
Bro. Willies Simbowe
Comment: Now we have your new address I trust you are now receiving our mailings regularly.
KABOMPO
Without counsel purposes are disappointed: but in the multitude of counsellors they are established. We may be walking in various ways, all that we need is advice from people. No one knows everything. Anyone who does not like advice from others ends in failure and disappointment. We need to listen to our friends for better advice. Brothers and Sisters in all ecclesias, we need to love one another to maintain the unity which we have through the Lord Jesus, our great example.
Our Linkman, Bro. David Nicholls, Sis Linda, Bro. Arnold Kunda and Bro. Harris Mulongesha arrived in Kabompo just as it was arranged by the messages received from them. We were praying for this as an ecclesia. We were pleased to receive them for the first time in Kabompo, except Bro. Mulongesha who had been here before. There was wonderful Bible study and one baptism took place – a new born baby in Kabompo ecclesia from Katendwa. May God bless the seed sown in good soil that it will yield good fruits. We are praying also that Charuma people will be visited to cultivate the hard land and plant the seed there for the sake of our Lord Jesus. North Western is a big region with seven districts. To plant the seed we need to be having big fraternals in future, starting in 2007 and onwards, for the seven districts. May the Lord bless us and we pray for the Kingdom to come on this earth, at present so full of hatred.
I want to study mechanics. If there is any brother who is able to send me a book about mechanics I will be very glad. I want to work hard for a career.
Bro. Amos Chikanda
I am very busy here as you know. We only have two months till the start of our rain season. Roll bricks have been made and I am now bringing them to the site for the shelter of my family. I have been cutting grass and poles for my house roof.
Bro. Charles and Sis Cecillia Muhupu
KAPIRIMPOSHI
When I received your letters I was more than delighted because of the issues you outlined. Honestly I have been out of the fellowship for some time now and the Linkman was not wrong at all by telling you to delete my name from your mailing list. I had a lot of problems to settle but God helped me and I am now settled and hope to mend my past mistakes and become in union with my Brothers and Sisters. I thank you a lot for encouraging me to get back into fellowship.
Bro. Mike Mweene
KASAMA
We are very busy with the Correspondence Course and are in contact with some of the students doing the 40 lesson course in Kasama. We would very much like a copy of Where Women Have No Doctor which could help many, as would the book Wrested Scriptures. We have also found Bible Basics for Moslems very informative and helpful. So far I have not received the tapes you sent me – sea mail at times takes very many months to arrive. It is true that the HIV problem here in Zambia seems enormous and it is also true that only Jesus Christ will solve this and other problems when he comes back to establish the glorious Kingdom here on earth.
Bro. Joshua Mushili
Photo: Bro Joshua Mushili
I received the Da Vinci Code Notes you sent on 25th August 2006 at my brother’s home, watching TV I had a quick glance through it and concluded immediately that it had nothing to do with my faith and hope in the Lord. To my surprise, coincidently there came up a programme on the TV called “Turning Point International” by the CBN. and surprisingly they still had Da Vinci to discuss. I know my God arranged this coincidence for me and really whatever is on this pamphlet came exactly and I learnt a lot from this programme in relation to what you sent me. I personally don’t see anything convincing enough as to challenge my faith in Jesus Christ, the divine Son of God. Only a desperate Christian with a shaky foundation of doctrines would be troubled by such meaningless attacks (1 John 2:22,23, 1 John 4:4-6, Isaiah 8:20).
Concerning the Gospel News magazine, I personally deeply appreciate it and your concern for our spiritual well being. May the Lord God bless you and your work of His message to His people. May He grant us wisdom as He did to Solomon that we may learn, understand his Word and apply it in our everyday life for the sake of Jesus Christ (Phil 2:10,11). I was baptized in Tanzania, witnessed by Bro. Geoff Dawe.
Bro. Boniface Simpanzye
LIVINGSTONE
Many thanks for Where there is no Doctor; it will upgrade my knowledge in my life and the community as well, identifying illnesses. Also very happy to have the book “How to Grow a Balanced Diet” and a dictionary. Please do not give up in getting me more knowledge. The news which I heard on the South Africa radio was that Jesus was married and he had children and Mary Magdalene was his wife. It is nice to hear news from both Israeli and Palestinian governments and what is happening in both Israel and Palestine. I think it is good to continue fighting the good fight of faith in order to be part of the promised Kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ for which we are all waiting. I hope to hear more from you.
Bro. Caphes Sikanyika
Comment: It is not true that Jesus was married. We have explained how this so called “Da Vinci Code” is false and most of you will have received the yellow notes on the subject by Bro. John Botten which gives ample evidence to refute this false claim. Further copies can be obtained if required from us. MH
LUNDAZI
The Word s of Comfort, “For all those things hath mine hand made and all those things have been, saith the Lord. But to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit and trembleth at my word.” (Isa 66:2). But are there not numerous passages in both the Old and New Testaments which testify to the real help and comfort which God will grant to his faithful? There are indeed too many by far to quote but here are a few: “Nothing in the world shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. For I am persuaded that neither death, nor life …” (Rom 8:38-39). “Blessed be God, the Father of mercies and the Lord of all comfort, who comforteth us in all our tribulation”
(2 Cor. 1:3). “My God shall supply all your need” (Phil 4:19). “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need” (Heb.4:16). “The God of all grace, who called you unto his eternal glory in Christ, after that ye have suffered a little while, shall himself perfect, stablish, strengthen you” (1 Pet.5:10). What are we to do with such passages? Why, heartily believe them of course. Bro John Chulu
NAKONDE
May God’s blessings be with you always, for the work that you are doing is great and may you continue for you will be richly rewarded. I thank you also for the book and leaflets you sent to me. I am also happy for your great help concerning the books that I asked for. Bro. and Sis. Webb have done a great job, they have sent me those books. Really I appreciate your concern. Now that we are living in the last days let us fix our hearts and minds on godly things so that when Christ is revealed he will find us doing what is right. Please pray for us so that we be not of those who shrink back and are destroyed.
Sis. Esther Muntete
NORTH WESTERN PROVINCE
Tour of North Western Province of Zambia, July 8-9
Bro. and Sis David Nicholls visited the above province for the first time,
accompanied by Brothers,. Arnold Bwalya Kunda from Lusaka and Harrison Mulongesha from Ndola. On July 11th I was told by Bro. Richard, who had a cellphone that I should meet the Brothers in Mufumbwe so I travelled there on July 12th to meet them. We had lessons with the students there and also questions, we left the same day for Kabompo where we spent a night in Kabompo. On July 13th we travelled to Zambezi as the programme indicated. In Zambezi lessons were given and questions from the students. On July 15th we came back to Kabompo where lessons were given and questions from students were answered correctly. In Kabompo there was the baptism of Bro. Goodson Kufuna, who is now joined to the family of God in Kabompo although he is in isolation, being 15km from the district. On July 19th we came again to Mufumbwe to meet the students and finish the tour, although my Brothers were continuing to other parts of the country. I learnt that people in the province are still behind with the following topics: Satan, Trinity and Holy Spirit work. If more material could be provided on these subjects, God willing, we will supply it to them. I pray that a Brother or ecclesia will help in contributing these materials which will be much appreciated. We only have two ecclesias in the province which are Solwezi and Kabompo and the remaining five districts have only students.
Bro. Charles Muhupu
Photo: Bro Harris Mulongesha
PEMBA
Loving greetings in the name of our Master, who will soon come. I hope that this letter will find you in good health, the Brothers and Sisters at Muzoka are doing very well. I had a bicycle accident after recovering from malaria which landed me in hospital because our local clinic could not attend to it. I had a dislocation of my left shoulder (collar) bone, so I had to sell one of my goats to meet my hospital expenses, x-ray as well as travel expenses and I was fortunate I was worked upon then back home. I have to do a bit of physio to keep both my muscles and my whole hand working. So pleased to receive your letter, that advice, also the news about the Middle East the booklets have been very useful during Bible study. I do appreciate these additional materials. Looking at what is happening all around us makes us know that it requires us to be united together, as we wait for his coming (Psalm 133:1). Also it requires us to be prepared.
There is no point, after knowing the truth of what is to come, to pretend to ignore this truth, it should keep us watchful, ready for his coming soon! We should take courage and leave fear (Luke 12:32) Our true basis for salvation lies in trust in Jesus as the one to redeem us (Phil.3:9). We should be able to see these events (Luke 12:54-56). I remember on TV/ BBC coverage over Middle East tensions, Israel’s army widening ground offensive; it is very sad to watch these things happening, but the time is near (Jer.30:3). When all these things end “Nation shall not lift up sword against nation…” (Is 2:4) “God will wipe away every tear” (Rev. 21:4).
I have just distributed agricultural notes to some Brothers and Sisters in Lusaka, Matero ecclesia, Chinsali after my distribution to Kafue, Kasaka ecclesias. Bro. Dennis Kombe, as a matter of concern, has written to me for detailed information on how to grow citrus fruits like oranges, apples, pawpaws and the type of fertilizer to use. Do you have any information on apples and pawpaws? I had a leaflet on oranges in my local language but I still have to look for it and translate it and then send it to him together with these others. As soon as I have it I shall let him have this material.
Bro. Wilfred Chibomba
Comment I have sent you and Bro. Dennis some information on growing fruit trees in Africa. Whilst it takes a few years before one gets fruit, once they start bearing one gets a crop for many years. They are a good long term investment and should the Lord remain away, will provide an income when one is too old to work the land. MH.
Greetings in the blessed Name of our Lord and Master, Jesus Christ. I write to let you know that my work of translation is being delayed as my own dictionary does not assist me in finding the correct meaning of some words in English. I shall be very pleased if you have an old dictionary if you could send it to me. I also wish to let you know that, from the information I got from “Where there is no Doctor” concerning Talc and other health care materials and equipment, I wrote to Hesperian (USA) Foundation to ask whether they could send me more detailed information on how to get or order these. These books are very helpful especially to us who live in rural areas.
Bro. Joseph Mulawo
NDOLA
I would like to continue receiving Gospel News because it is educative, informative and I learn a lot from the Brothers and sisters from other countries and ecclesias. Read Luke 9:23-26, where it tells us to take up our cross and follow Jesus. Jesus said, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily, and follow me. For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words, of him will the Son of man be ashamed, when he comes in his glory and the glory of my Father and of the holy angels.”
Bro. James Mwanza
