news from zambia
CHAMBISHI
Thank you for the book, Christendom Astray from the Bible, which has helped me to understand questions I find difficult to comprehend. I also understand who the Bible ‘Lucifer’ is. The pamphlets you sent help me to understand and grasp the explanations. I am happy that one of the friends that I preached the gospel to has received Bible lessons from you. I encouraged him to write to you and allowed him to use my address. I have delivered the gospel material you sent him which included Bible Basics and I am explaining some scriptures which he finds difficult to understand.
Bro. Christopher Mwewa
CHINSALI
I received your letter and the message it contained together with the Revised Version of the Holy Bible, ‘The Ways of Providence’, ‘Women in the Church’ and five copies of Bible Basics. I pray to God that He gives me time to go through them and get to understand the spiritual guidance they contain. I appreciate all you are doing as a very good example of Jesus’ instructions to his disciples in Mark 16:15, “Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.” Reading Gospel News reminds me of many things that we go through as believers in Jesus, but our stand should not be shaken by circumstances that come our way, but we should always remain united in the Lord and pray for one another as we wait for the Lord’s day.
The book ‘Women in the Church’ is very interesting to read and understand, more especially to us in Christadelphian communities. I wish I had material to translate into our local language. I have a lot of interest in spiritual books and if you have any other titles please send me some more, as I shall be very glad to receive them. “Even so, come Lord.”
Bro. Charles Kangwa
KABOMPO
I am grateful for the study materials, especially the book, ‘Questions on Daily Readings, April-June’. The book is an excellent study material and if there is another copy for July-December please send it to me for it will be useful with my preaching contacts in Kabompo or wherever I may be if it be God’s will. I informed the Kabompo ecclesia about the effect of bush fires in Australia on our brethren and thanked our Heavenly Father for protecting their lives so that they can give glory to the Lord our God and to his Son, Jesus Christ. Material loss is nothing in the sight of God for the Lord Jesus Christ came to save our lives from sin and death, not from loss of possessions of this world. The Lord also does all things good, or bad, for His purpose (Isa 45:5-7).
We are praying for the Christadelphian Advancement Trust work that you are doing, together with Bro. Duncan and other brethren and sisters in the U.K. I again forward names of other people who would like to receive and study the Bible Correspondence Courses.
Bro. Reuben Musole Kaambeu
The great assistance given for the fraternal was very much appreciated. This year, Bre. Arnold Kunda and Dennis Kombe were the speakers from C.B.M. (Z.) Committee.
Topics of discussion included:-
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Correct methods of recording the income and
Expenditure.
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Jesus and the Law of Moses.
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Jesus as our representative.
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Question and answer session.
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Ecclesial life.
I am requesting you to assist with books, leaflets and any other spiritual material if it is possible that may help the students. The rich blessing of our living God be with you until we meet in the Kingdom to come.
Bro. Charles Muhupu
KABWE
I am glad to inform you that Gospel News has arrived and also ‘God-Spell’. Please keep on sending me books as you know that it helps me a lot and especially nowadays when we are in the last days and we must read the Bible and other books about God. Here, in our country things are not good; we have many problems at this time, including employment, crime and prostitution. It is true that we have to be on our guard and study the Bible as things are changing every day. I want to encourage our brothers and sisters worldwide to be firm in the Word of God, especially at this time when the whole world has financial problems. False preachers will arise and deceive many, so please let us wake up, watch and let no one deceive us. Let us put on our helmet and fight back whatever will come our way because we are on a long journey, so let us not be like a vehicle which has a breakdown.
Bro. Greenwell Kunda
KAFUE
Greetings to you in the blessed name of Jesus Christ. Thank you for responding to my call for help and putting my letter in Gospel News. May God richly bless you. The nature of our problem as a family is actually shelter. The house we stay in, which was partially built for me by my late son, has just been partially roofed with asbestos sheets leaving the other rooms, where children sleep, open and exposed to all weather patterns that we have here in Zambia. This poses great danger to us, especially in the rainy season, when most times we are forced to spend nights in my bedroom to avoid being soaked. Because the type of roofing already on the house is that of asbestos sheets we are requesting that we be helped with the remaining 18 x 3m sheets.
Bro. Lotson Kayuni
KALOMO
We are all OK at Kalomo. We are halfway through building our ecclesial hall, using some poles, grass and muddy bricks; it is much better than our previous one. At present we are busy maintaining the surroundings where we have a small playground for soccer, mainly for our Sunday School, though we have no good ball. At the roadside, about 30 metres away from the ecclesial hall, we put a small box with C.B.M. literature for passers-by to read or take away to spread the gospel. If you have copies of English and Bemba Bible Basics, different types of leaflets, pamphlets etc. please send some to us and they will really help greatly in ministering the gospel to others. We have a programme to hold a one-day preaching session when we will invite the general public to attend. This will be the best time to distribute some pamphlets and you may have more cassettes for some choirs, or messages we could use on that day. Please do support us in any way possible for the gospel to go to every door of every house.
Bro. Harry Hambula
KAMUCHANGA
With the Global Financial Crisis of the world today, here in Zambia I am sure that we, the Zambians, are the people who have experienced everything – a) Job crisis and b) Global Financial Crisis. In particular, in Mufulira where I am staying, the job crisis took only two months from November to December 2008. Many companies in the mines sector were thrown out and many employees lost their employment. Just imagine, many employees got their loans from the banks and after spending their money on buying cars, renovating their homes, buying all they needed, their jobs were finished and their banks got everything from their last payment. Many people came back with nothing in their pockets. All businesses have gone down and many people have gone away from their own towns. Many people who bought cars, houses and anything for their homes sold them again at the cheapest price. This has happened to Mufulira Copper Mine and lastly to Chililabombwe K.C.M. Many have suffered and felt the pinch of the global problem. We see from the newsletter that our large countries have suffered in the same way and many will still suffer and I am also badly affected. Your letter collection from the world teaches us very much.
Bro. Katongo Mulenga
KASAMA
I write to find out how I can be helped with some books. I have been a Christadelphian student and I have finished the lessons from my two tutors. I am very grateful for what God has done for me through these two ladies, may God bless. I am hereby requesting a Bible with references, as here they are very expensive.
Binwell Musipi
Thanks a lot for the chemistry book which I received, and may Almighty God continue to protect you. I also received Gospel News, which I would like to continue to receive. As you know, I was at a College where I had been given a place to do Secondary teaching for three years (Diploma), but I have been transferred into a School for Civil Engineering, which will be a three and a half year diploma.
Willie Kanage
KAZEMBE
Last Sunday I was called to exhort in English and Bro. John Kasanda helped me tremendously to translate Bible language using the Bemba Bible. The brothers and sisters had no difficulty in understanding. I feel this is the right method of praising the Word of the Lord and to understand Glad Tidings magazines and Gospel News in English, which every member is receiving regularly. After all, each member has a son or daughter aspiring for a higher grade in secondary school, who can act as a translator at home.
I have three farm areas, one around my house, another 1 km away at the Old Pantaleo’s village and the last one where, bananas are found, sugar cane, etc., is at the shore 2 km away, where fish trapping is another hobby. I am sorry to hear of bush fires in Australia and I pray that the powerful arm of the Lord will stretch forward and quench them.
Bro. Vincent M. Mwense
LIVINGSTONE
I am truly with you, trying to serve the Lord as best I can. Despite all problems we stay firmly in Christ and see you as our loving brothers in Christ, for so many things you have done for us. We really appreciate your wonderful work, for I am always receiving spiritual food which is such a blessing for reading and teaching the community about the work of Christ and to prepare ourselves more for his return. I am now out of hospital but my health is very poor at the moment. I was very ill, in constant pain and I could not walk. I thank God that I am a bit better now and ask for your prayers in this situation.
The Livingstone Ecclesia are well. Thank you for sending me the Middle East News. Please continue encouraging us to spread this news worldwide. The Middle East conflict is a sign that the Lord Jesus will come soon to establish his Kingdom. I really feel grateful for your concern in sending me reading material, which is so important and encouraging to our hope, especially now, when we are walking through all our troubles. We must hold on to this hope because it is our only hope, to keep strong in our faith and pray to God always. Read 1 Sam. 8:10, 17-19. God in earlier times provided Israel with kings who were to deliver a good service to the nation but they failed to give the people clear direction and purpose, many became too concerned about their own position. This is what is happening in many countries today. Leaders are engaged in corrupt activities and are busy stealing public funds, building the best homes as part of their investment and other resources. They do not consider poor people; workers are going on strike due to poor salaries and some people are living like wild animals. The country now seems to be motivated more by personal gain. I urge all brothers and sisters, whatever difficulties we may face to hold on to that great and precious Hope before us and pray for God’s Kingdom to come so that bureaucratic behaviour and sorrows may be over. We all look forward to the return of our Lord.
Let us think of the court of the Gentiles. John 2:13-16.
The encroachment upon the Gentile court by the priest salesmen of sacrificial animals and birds is an indication of their degeneracy and also a symbol of how the whole religious service was debased. Instead of a house of prayer it had become a den of thieves. The object of the Jews’ desire was not righteousness but wickedness. The Jews are a type of our natural sinful life from Adam. Should we follow the bondage of the Law? The choice is ours brothers and sisters, to choose the path which leads to destruction or the path in the service of Almighty God and have the promise of God, everlasting life; the way of God or the way of man. No one makes us do wrong, we do so because we want to and we find sin pleasurable. The way is prepared for us, Jesus is God’s manifestation in the flesh, justified in Spirit and is the only Name given among men whereby we can be saved and inherit the coming Kingdom.
Bro. Caphes Sikanyika
Appeal for Carpentry Course notes –
N.B. Our Brother wishes to become a carpenter and would appreciate any do it yourself type of books with diagrams of how to do various jobs. M.H.
LUSAKA
Thank you very much for everything you have done and are doing for me. This gives me courage. I mentioned in my previous letter about a laptop. I know that you cannot help me with it at the moment but I am asking if you can manage to let me have a mobile phone, which is more advanced so that I could send my articles via your e.mail address.
Bro. Stephen Siamabi
MAZABUKA
It is because Jesus is our Mediator that we put all our prayer requests before our God through him who is our Saviour. It will be lovely when Jesus returns to set up God’s Kingdom. I feel and pray that his return is soon. The present severe problems with the world’s finances and Israel’s latest events are a sign that his arrival will be soon. Let us pray that when he comes we will have been faithful and by God’s abundant mercy be part of the Kingdom.
Thank you for sending more reading matter. It was kind of you to tell me that you had T.B. when you were young. Thank God that with the modern medicine we now have the possibility of quick recovery. I am a bit better with the help of medicine and am feeling the love of God’s healing each day. I do pray that all your work will be done by God’s grace.
I have written an article and hope it will be of help to you and for consideration for Gospel News. We are experiencing the hardest economy ever with meal meal prices rising as well as almost everything else, which makes the poor more destitute. We are one and the same in Christ and when need arises like hunger and illness we must do all we can to try and help out and carry each other’s burdens.
Bro. Gideon Hankomone
MICHELO
Michelo Ecclesia
MUZOKA
Muzoka Sunday School
NABOYE
In your letter you advised me to send a picture of the work in progress at our meeting hall so that you could put it in Gospel News. Enclosed is a picture of our meeting hall together with blocks, which I mentioned in my letter. I am second from the right. I have to praise God all the time and give thanks for everything we receive daily. Our way of life is the best way of preaching to most people around us. May the Lord continue to protect us in all the troubles that are upon the world.
Bro. Josiah Siame
Naboye Meeting Hall
NDOLA
I am happy with the books you sent to me – ‘The Man David’ and ’ Where it Happened’. I am reading them at present and hope that I will learn something from them.
Bro. Harris N. Mulongesha
The Sacrifice of Jesus Christ
Jesus was born to Mary of sinful nature. Read Luke 1:30, Heb. 2:14-18 and Romans 8:3. Because of our sins God sent Jesus. Read 1 Tim. 2:5. Jesus was born of our nature and tempted as we are also tempted. Animal sacrifice cannot take away sins, only Jesus Christ took away our sins. Read Heb.10:4 and Gal. 1:4. Jesus has power given to him by his Father to plead or speak on our behalf, as our Mediator. We are now in Jesus Christ, our Saviour. Jesus Christ died for our sins and the Old Testament sacrifices were a shadow of Christ’s sacrifice.
Bro. James Mwanza
PEMBA
Thank you for the encouraging literature received and especially for all the updates from around the world, which are such an interesting link to the world situation and Bible truths about the present day and we see that, God willing, the problems in our particular area will eventually come to an end. Bro. Kelly Simambula of Kafue visited us and spoke about this topic as well as other issues of concern. I trust that God will soon intervene in the world and we know that He is always in control, overruling every situation.
Thank you also for the books you have sent which equip our ecclesial library, we make good use of these. The financial situation has hindered us, to some extent, to share our literature with others, unless we meet at the Bible Camp. It is good to see people asking for Bible Basics locally. It is so important to try to look forward to the coming of Christ and it is comforting to see so many signs that the time is near when our Master will take over and bring the present world situation to an end.
Bro. Wilfred Chibomba
