Ephesians 6:12

I just received an email from a missionary friend of mine in Zambia. He is working to evangelize, train, and plant churches throughout parts of the Southern and Eastern Provinces of Zambia. Spiritual warfare can take on different meanings but in parts of Zambia... here is the reality.

Two ladies manifested demons, very violent confrontations. One kept screaming in perfect American dialect English, “ You’re nuts, you’re nuts, you are all nuts!” They were biting, head butting, and trying to punch anyone within reach.

The next day we had a testimony service. In preparation for this meeting, Clay cycled around organizing the meetings. A tree had fallen across the path, people were passing under the branches as Clay rode his bike under the tree branches a yellow snake dropped down upon him and wrapped around his shoulders. He froze and the bike coasted as the snake then slid down onto the back of the bike and dropped off on the trail. Clay was tempted to turn back, but continued his journey to Kataba to plan the meeting.

At Kataba, as the meeting started the demonic oppression was so thick you could feel it. I knew that something was wrong but didn’t know what. A witchdoctor has moved into the village from Zimbabwe, his name is Chimwaile. He had slipped into the service. Before long a demon manifested before the preaching could even begin. Milda, a young teen had been married for a year and was unable to conceive. She and her husband visited a witchdoctor and were using a fertility charm, and so she was controlled by evil spirits. After dealing with her, the service continued with another five manifesting. One man was crouching in submission, bound up by a spirit. The Lord worked and many turned to Christ and were set free. The next morning following the Sunday service, we walked a mile down to the water hole. Everything was going fine and then suddenly demons started manifesting all around us. More than six people were knocked down and began convulsing with demons. This was abnormal, and we looked around and noticed a man about two hundred yards away hiding beside a tree. When he was confronted, he admitted that he was a Zionist priest, and had put a curse on the crowd as he viewed us as competition. He agreed to sit at a later date and discuss the Bible. As soon as he left we prayed with the victims of his attack. One by one, they were set free, professed faith in Christ and were baptized in the water hole. I tried to document these strange events with a camera. When I arrived home, that section of the video had been erased from the camera.

We are planning a return meeting to follow up, teach, and encourage the people to follow Christ without wavering. With the increased level of spiritual warfare, your prayers are certainly needed.

Prov 22:6

Our pastors have a primary of goal of reaching their community with the gospel message and teaching believers to walk according to the Scripture. At the same time we encourage them to develop good relationships in their community and do their best (when possible) to advance educational and medical standards. Our pastor in the town of Nkonde (Robert Sichivula) is a great example of this. Pastor Sichivula has opened a small "community" school for all ages. He uses the church as a school room and is doing a wonderful job of helping to advance the enrolled students overall education. It is exciting to see the many children as well as their parents and family members coming back for the church services. Pastor Sichivula is doing a fine job of helping his community with education but more importantly he has found a great tool to reach his community with the saving message of Jesus Christ. 

Current NSBI Zambia students

One of our biggest goals in Zambia is to train Zambians to reach other Zambians. With a nation of such diversity of language - there is a goliath challenge in presenting the gospel to so many people groups. One of our solutions has been to train various Zambians in the Scripture and allow them to then reach into their own culture and language. Although not a perfect system - we have had many churches planted throughout  the Copperbelt and a sporadic sprinkling of churches in 6 of the other Provinces. 

We have another strong group of students attending our Bible Institute. I would simply ask you to spend a couple minutes praying for each of the following students according to the pray Paul gave us in the letter to the Colossians. 

(Col 1:9-10)  For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; {10} That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;

• Warsman Chisenga
• Christopher Matepa
• Prince Mutupa
• Paul Muyanda
• Moses Muchoko 
• Felix Kunda
• Cladius Mwansa
• Lastone Kapambwe
• Boas Katambwele
• Peter Bishonga
• Lawrence Chiyawa
• Emmanuel Kalwele 
• Gift Chabala 
• Elizabeth Mulenga

Collins Prayer Update

I had asked many of you to pray for Pastor Collins - he is a good friend to me and a long time pastor near to where I stay. He has been fighting some illness for the last many months with varying degrees of success. Last Sunday (12/13) he was hospitalized and needed immediate surgery. For the next couple days he really struggled and fought for his life. When I visited him on Tuesday, he was in a lot of pain, had shortness of breath, and was extremely weak. From what I now understand, he is doing much better - although still in the hospital, he is able to take nourishment and has gained much of his strength back. Praise the LORD - I believe our God has answered the prayers of His people. A very big "thank you" to all of you that stopped and prayed for a man you may have never met!

Malembeka Bible Church

December 13th I was invited by Pastor Gilbert to preach and visit his people. The pastor is doing a fine job trying to really build up his people in God's word. I preached a message from 2 Peter 3 concerning having "pure minds" and being reminded of true Christian focus. The Lord seemed to bless as one person came to the place of salvation and 6 others committed to make positive changes!

After the service, the pastor and I had some great fellowship over lunch. We discussed the ministry, the way forward, and Biblical application to our daily lives. Please be praying for Pastor Gilbert as he tries to focus his people and really reach his community for the gospel's sake.