Tunduma, Tanzania

Tunduma is a small border town of roughly 40,000 people. Although the town is larger than 40,000 - most are in transit. Tunduma is the Northern access from Nkonde, Zambia - and will eventually lead to Dar es Salaam. Steve Brown and I spent our 3 days in Tunduma preaching and teaching to between 10-12 lay leaders and pastors. Although our teaching was basic principles of discipleship - the pastors from Tanzania were hardly acquainted with such understanding. Many good questions surfaced as well as a renewed commitment to serve our Lord and live by faith. Praise the Lord for His work that continues in Tanzania. I continue to be impressed with our Lord's ability to take so little and make so much of it! (2 Cor 12:10).









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June - for the gospel's sake

June is going to be a busy month. Often we are confronted with how to best prioritize our world in order to maximize efficiencies as well as accomplish the greater good. My 'normal' schedule has me teaching on Tuesday and Thursday as well as preaching on Sunday and sometimes Wednesday. All that will change for June... even after June, the Foster's will be leaving for July, so I will take 2 additional classes! Bring it :)
The following serves both as my itinerary for June as well as my prayer list:
June 9-13 Trip to Tanzania to preach and teach
June 14-17 Crusade in Lusaka
June 18-21 Trip to Livingstone
June 22-25 Youth Conference at Kafulafuta

(Phil 1:20) According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death.

Hope of Glory

This last Sunday, preached at Mayben Mulenga's church. The drive was roughly 1.5 hours. Left the mission at 8 am, after singing, preaching, fellowship, and lunch - arrived back at the mission around 3:30. That makes for a long day. Mayben's church is called "Hope of Glory Bible Baptist Church". Quite a mouth full! Not quite as bad as a church we passed on the way called, "Upper Room New Jerusalem Apostolic Church of Zambia"... yikes - who thinks up this stuff??
Had a great time preaching - used the text from Matthew 7:13-29. Although this is a very familiar text, thought it was still appropriate to challenge the congregation [Facts of life; Fruit of Life; the False Life; the Floods of Life]. Maybin is a very charasmatic and loveable person. Even though he is young, he church is full of all walks of life, is growing, and seems to be bursting at the seems. For now, the church is located in a public school classroom, but if it continues as is, I can imagine Maybin will have quite a church that really does seek to worship the Lord is spirit and truth!
Here are some pics from the event...

Picture says a 1,000 words

Although Zambia is rugged and unforgiving, in many ways it is beautiful! Here are a couple pictures of land and people that show off some of her glory.
More of the real Africa

Zambia is more than a land but a people

II Timothy 2:9 the word of God is not bound

Zambia is a nation of diversities. Each tribe and province has its own culture, language, and customs. It is only the Scripture that crosses such diverse boundaries with little effort. After years of Bible study, it still amazes me how easy all subjects of the Scripture relate no matter what people group is hearing.
This last week has been filled with reminders of how God uses the Scripture to speak - it has nothing to do with the mouth piece, only to do with the words spoken. Tuesday, taught "advanced" theology to 28 Bible Institute men. Thursday, taught practical evangelism to 28 Institute men. Interesting how so often people come to class with preconceived ideas of theology and in fact, are often unable to 'learn' what truth is because of such ideas. Saturday, we went to Kitwe west to preach a youth conference - again, the teaching and preaching of God's word was not bound. Yet - in each of these cases, human nature fights against the working of the Spirit of God.