Blessed are the eyes which see the things that ye see:

Burundi update/request

I received an email from Leonard Bwalya - one of the men in Burundi. So far the two men have had the pleasure of leading around 10-15 people to Christ - they continue to teach basic Bible lessons with the hope of laying a foundation (Matt 7:24) that will stay secure when the rains come and the winds blow.

Leonard is asking us to prayer for some problems they are having with the immigration department. It appears the visas Michael and Leonard are using need to be validated and they are without the proper forms. I am unsure of all the details but these types of things are common in Africa.

Just to give you an idea of where they are - Leonard mentioned there is an open-pit close to the church that has over 1000 dead bodies. This nation has been riddled with war, corruption, and neglect for many years. The greatest need these people have is not the UN or outside help but rather heavenly help - if righteousness truly does exalt a nation - the only hope the nations of the world have is the transforming power of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Lift up your eyes

The fields appear to be white unto harvest - this year's Bible conference at Kafulafuta resulted in an amazing moving of the Holy Ghost:

1992 children registered for VBS
7942 adults registered for Bible conference
122 churches represented
348 adults making professions of faith
767 children making professions of faith
127 people baptized

Praise the Lord for His grace and mercy, love and kindness, redemption and sacrifice - To God be the Glory!!

Vacation Bible School

Every year in August, Kafulafuta Baptist Mission hosts a week long VBS/Bible Conference. This event draws as many as 2,000 children and sometimes more than 5,000 adults.

In 2007, there were just a little bit more than 1,900 children in attendance. I have received reports stating some 300 children received Christ and made a profession of faith. This is obviously a time of great excitement and rejoicing as our Lord brings about a true work of grace and salvation!

Please continue praying for the messages being preached, the worship being offered, and the presence of God being sought.

Burundi, Africa

Two friends and co-laborers will be departing August 15th for a short trip to Burundi, Africa. This trip will take them from Luanshya to Mpika, from Mpika to Mpulungu - from there the two men will board a ship. The ship will take them across Lake Tanganyika allowing them to surpass much of Tanzania and arrive directly on the shores of Burundi.

This is a nation that has experienced many difficulties politically in the last several years. The spiritual condition of this nation is compromised of a large group of Roman catholics, a large group of Indigenous believers, and a small group of Bible believers.

I ask you to pray for the following (2 Thes 3:1-2):
1 - Word of the Lord may have free course
2 - God's word not return void and allow Christ to be glorified
3 - These men would be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men
4 - Faith would abound as a result

The purpose of this trip is to begin a small church or preaching point. This visit will hopefully lead to the salvation of many as well as future trips that will in turn reach more and train more - for the Glory of our great God and King!

Old Testament Zambia

Old Testament Scripture speaks of stoning a person if:

• they "give any seed unto Molech" (Lev 20:2)
• have a familiar spirit or that is a wizard (Lev 20:27)
• they blaspheme the name of the LORD or curse (Lev 24:16)
• they break the Sabbath (Num 15:35)
• they entice others to fall away from the true God and serve idols (Deut 13:10)
• they serve other gods and worship either the sun, moon, or any host of heaven (Deut 17:3-5)
• they have a stubborn or rebellious son (Deut 21:18-21)
• they play the whore (Deut 22:21)

Of course, Scripture does say there should be two or three witnesses before someone can be put to death (Deut 17:6). The witnesses are to begin the stoning and the rest of the congregation must join in. [due process] In Zambia, this system of justice (although not officially ordained) continues to be upheld even for such "minor" crimes as that of stealing.

By Times Reporter (Aug 7, 2007)

AN instant justice mob in Lusaka’s Ng’ombe township on Tuesday night stoned to death a suspected thief after he allegedly attempted to steal from a house.
The mob stripped the suspect of his clothes before descending on him using big stones, killing him on the spot.
By the time police arrived at the scene, the man had already died and the mob almost vented their anger on officers for stopping them from stoning the suspect.
Eyewitnesses said the body of the deceased was later taken to the University Teaching Hospital (UTH) where it was confirmed dead.
Early last week, two people died after being stabbed to death by unknown people in the same township.
The recent Ng’ombe attacks are attributed to the absence of a police post in the area, which was destroyed by riotous residents after police killed two teenagers last year.
Meanwhile, in the continued effort to clamp down on criminals, police between Monday and yesterday morning arrested over 200 people for loitering from various townships.

deal thy bread to the hungry

Taken in the South Luangwa Valley last year as we visited the Bisa tribe for the second time - this little boy was sick and dealing with malnutrition. Not realizing his own health condition and likely never having traveled more than a few kilometers from home - this little boy remains quite happy despite the "unfair" circumstances of his life.
Isaiah speaks of dealing bread to the hungry and covering the naked (Isa 58:7) - I realize "social" helps are not the primary function of a missionary, but honestly - how dwelleth the love of God in me if I am not moved to action by such a child.