NEWS FROM ZAMBIA

CHIPATA

I am praising God that I want to learn more of His word, and may God bless you so that you continue teaching us the good news through the `Gospel News' magazine. I have learnt a lot of things in this.

I am now confident that God is one, hence there is only one God. (Deut.6:4) The belief in demons is challenged by the Scriptures; see Deut. 32:17; Psa.106:37-38; 1 Cor. 8:4-6; 1 Cor. 10:20-28; Rev.9:20. The Bible says, `the truth shall set you free.' I am now a free woman ­ I have no fear of the unknown. I used to believe in the demonic forces which are just the works of men, and I don't regret leaving my former congregation, the Dutch Reformed Church, where my zeal for what I believed was so big. My thanks goes to Bro Steven Mwale who introduced me and my husband, Duncan Mbewe to the Truth. We are now a blessed couple: We were baptised in Nov.2006 and we assist each other in truth in the walk to the Kingdom of God (Amos 3:3). Brothers and Sisters, let's encourage each other in the walk to the Kingdom, which can be hard. May the Lord come and find us without spot. Praise be to the Lord.

--Sis. Esther Mbewe

KAFUE

Being a Friend of God is better than Being a Friend of Any Human

God never disappoints his loyal friends (Psalm 18:25). Being a friend of God is better than having riches. When a rich person dies, his money goes to others. However, those who enjoy friendship with God have a treasure that no-one can take away. (Matt.6:19-20).

--Bro. Lotson Kayuni

Greetings in the Hope of Israel in which we share. I am writing this note to acknowledge receipt of the Bible you sent me recently. Thank you very much for this.

--Bro. Kelly Simayunbula

KITWE

Before you sent us the New Testaments, only very few brothers and sisters had the complete Bibles which were presented to us by the Horley Christadelphian Ecclesia. These, however, have seen seasons come and go. Some pages are no longer in their proper places. Ten of the brothers and sisters who were not on the ecclesial register at the time when the presentations were made, did not have the Bibles.

The Kitwe Ecclesia register at one time had reached a good number of 38 brothers and sisters, not including the Sunday School. The meetings were very interesting then. But somewhere along the line of years it was decided to form satellite meeting places at Kitwe Main, Garnaton, Misaka and Lwanga. These were all under one Kitwe Ecclesial Committee and this is where we went wrong, because the Committee failed to manage and co- ordinate these satellites. At one time the Garnaton group thought they were mature enough to stand on their own as an ecclesia, but CBM Zambia was apparently reluctant to grant this request. A very influential brother from Garnaton did choose to undertake outreaches into the Northern province where he originates, neglecting the local group and consequently the attendance dropped.

The stories for the other groups, i.e. Kitwe Main, Lwanga and Misaka are that the attendances dwindled, meetings became no longer interesting. We have now sought to come back as one great team, as one only Kitwe Ecclesia. The register is not constant though, the average of thirty is attained at times. Paul's letter to the Ephesians (ch.4:29-32) is currently our motivation: `Let no corrupt speech proceed out of your mouth, but as the need arises, speak what is good for

encouragement, that it expresses grace to those that hear you. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by which you were sealed until the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamour and railing be put away from you, along with all malice. And be kind to each other, sensitive, forgiving each other, even as God in Christ also forgave you.' (N.E.V.)

Thanks again for these very handy, easy and light New Testaments to carry around, and we do hope that the full Bible will soon be out to our benefit, God willing. May the Lord, Yahweh of the heavenly realms grace the hands of all those who are undertaking the task. Regarding the Kiswahili Bible Basics, yes, I would like to get some copies to hand out to some of our contacts from the Tanzania and the Congo I.R. In fact, I possess a New Testament, `Good News for Modern Man,' Diaglot Edition which has a Kiswahili translation alongside English language. This was a legacy from my late son Evangelist Clarence Muntemba.

Life has not been quite easy sailing for me and my wife. The first problem that befell us was our mud bricked house built in 2,000 AD, which had been burrowed badly by the ants. It was very necessary that we build a much better and semi-permanent

Part of the Mafuta Ecclesia. Left to right: bro. Shardrick Zimba, Sis. Freda Mbewe, Sis. Polina Mwale, Sis. Stella Daka, Sis. Esther Mbewe.

Standing, left to right: Bro. Joshua Mbewe, Bro. Donald Mwale, Bro. John Phiri, Bro. Steven Mwale and Bro. Duncan Mbewe. house. So we started moulding bricks and burning them and worked extra hard to find money for cement to mould concrete blocks for the foundations. We now have a 14x8 meters house standing at roof level with a few materials left, like cement for plastering walls and ten roofing sheets. We were then upset by illness in the family.

The signs of the times are very exciting indeed as we see labourers in the field of Yahweh getting fewer and fewer. Many have fallen asleep, some have back-slided. In God's mercy, let us pray for labourers in the Lord's vineyard. We read in Matt:9:36-38: "But when he (Jesus) saw the crowds, he was moved with compassion for them, because they were distressed and scattered, as sheep not having a shepherd. Then said he to his disciples, `The harvest indeed is plentiful, but the labourers are few. Therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into his harvest.'" We are in this situation today and we have just to do what Jesus said.

I have been also assigned to translate some booklets from English into Tonga local language and I am also a local Tutor.

--Bro. Elvin Muntemba (Snr.)

MAZABUKA

Many thanks for your kind letter, your greetings and book `Studies in the Psalms,' by Cyril Tennant. It is always uplifting to read your letters, and words of encouragement, `God is with us.'

I can tell you from my own experience that God is with you, that is why you are with God ­ it's like walking towards a mirror, the closer you come, the closer the image in the mirror comes to you. Imagine the image is God, it moves towards you as you come closer. You may press your nose against the mirror, but you cannot merge with the image. I think this mirror image is a good analogy because we can go very close to the image, but we cannot merge with the image no matter how hard we press our noses against it. Why is that? because of our sinfulness. But the time will come when we will merge with God when we will be sinless, when God will be all in all through His grace, according to 1 Corinthians 15:28.

I was pleased and delighted to hear that the programme of complete Bibles is going ahead. May God bless you in this massive project and may He help and bless you as the need arises. The Bible says, `Ask and it shall be given you, seek and you are sure to find; knock and the door shall open, for God is good and kind.'

My leg is now cured ­ many thanks for your prayers and medication I received. May God be thanked for such a blessing of health again: as far as I am concerned good health is the greatest gift God has given to us for this present life.

It sometimes makes me stand in awe before our God for His beautiful creations which He created. He made all things ­ what God made is amazing, joyful, wonderful, marvellous, fabulous, phenomenal, astonishing and really true because it was through God's amazing handiwork that we see such beauty, and we praise the Lord for that.

I am interacting with whoever I can. I do meet a group of United Church of Zambia members at a nearby School for Bible Study every Wednesday. Their pastor was amazed at the level of understanding that I have. He later asked to know more about the Christadelphians and wants to do a Bible Course: I will pass on his name to C.B.M.

Also Bro. Mwale, Bro. Chrivions and I have started street preaching. We want to see what the Lord can do for us. I suggested we had a radio programme teaching once every week to teach our Faith. I emailed Bro. Andrew Walker about it and he said he would support me. He has sent 300 copies of the leaflet, `The Bible, the Most Important Message in the World.' These, together with the ones you have sent me are ideal for giving out in the streets.

--Bro. Gideon Hankomone

MUZOKA

I was very happy to receive the current Gospel News and to see the improvements which you have made to it. For the last eight months I have been taking TB treatment, and I thank God I am now feeling well.

I should be happy if you could send some New Testament Bibles to me and the family, including the contacts that I had recommended for these New Testament Bibles.

--Bro Joseph Mulawo

NDOLA

I am well, as the Lord is with me, but I am not able to get work.

Religion is a system of belief and worship of a Divine being. Judah's religion had deteriorated as they were worshipping false gods and consequently their religion was vain and useless, and unless they turned again to the Lord they would be severely punished as Jeremiah 7:3-7 says: "Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: `Amend your ways and your doings, and I will cause you to dwell in this place. Do not trust in these lying words, saying, "The temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord are these." `For if you thoroughly amend your ways and your doings, if you thoroughly execute judgment between a man and his neighbour, if you do not oppress the stranger, the fatherless and the widow, and do not shed innocent blood in this place, or walk after other gods to your hurt;

MICHELO

Michelo Sunday School then I will cause you to dwell in this place, in the land that I gave to your fathers for ever and ever.'

Following false religion is evil and we must ensure we ourselves are striving to serve the Lord and that our minds are always full of God's Word.

--Bro. Harris Mulongesha

Kneeling right, Bro. Harris, Bible student, Bro. Charles. Standing, right, Bro. Joseph, Bro. Oliver and some Bible students.

Bro. Nelson Bwalya, Bro. Oliver, Bro. Charles, student and Bro. Harris