Prayer Letter October 2015
The Bible says in 1 Corinthians 16:13, “Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong.” These are all words from the battlefield. Soldiers are watchful so that they are not ambushed. They stand firm, act like men, and are strong when they are attacked so that they are not defeated. The apostle Paul is saying this to the whole church. Those who do not heed this admonition become casualties of spiritual warfare. Where are you in this equation?
In a quest to improve the involvement of our new members in the life of the church, the new members classes have recommenced in earnest under our elder, Mr John Kumwenda. Currently, a class is taking place with almost 20 new members in attendance. Pray that this will result in a real commitment to biblical churchmanship by our new members
Next year, KBC clocks 30 years. The elders have decided to combine the 2016 missions conference with our anniversary celebrations under the theme: “The church—the glorious bride of Christ.” This will be a time of looking back in gratitude to God for his goodness to us as a church and looking forward in recommitment to the mission of the church on earth.
MINISTRIES
The Campus Outreach Ministry had a mission’s trip to Choma in July. They are expecting brethren from South Africa who want to partner with them in campus outreach. They are also praying for the safe arrival of their second “students in missions” bus. The Children’s Ministry thanks the Lord for the Vocational Bible School (VBS) they had in August. The theme was “Gideon” and the daily attendance was about 170 children.
Under the Magazine & Publishing Ministry we also have good news. Last time it was stated that after about two years, Reformation Zambia had gone to the printers. That issue came out in June. The next issue, for September to December, is also out and is being sold now. A new team has been brought together to manage this ministry with all its 30+ booklets authored by Pastor Mbewe. The Media Ministry is grateful to the Lord for the purchase of the new sound system. This has greatly improved the sound in the Church auditorium and the quality of the recording. They are thankful to the Lord for the successfully recording and uploading of the sermons online. Between June and August over 25,000 sermons were downloaded. Pray that God’s word might have effect in the lives of the listeners.
Our Senior Youth Ministry has continued its studies under the theme of “The Essence of what we believe in.” Mr Logan Nyasulu led them through a series of studies on “The Doctrine of Salvation.” In July, they hosted the Antioch Senior Youth Conference. The theme was “Swimming against the Tide.” Pray for fruit and also that God will sustain the commitment and desire shown this year.
MISSIONS
There have been new developments in our missions work. For instance in Bonaventure (missionary, Oswald Sichula) the church finally acquired a 2-acre plot of land in the Makeni area. Pray with them now that they might raise resources to enable them put up a permanent meeting place of worship. KBC started a new church in Chamba Valley (missionary, Kennedy Kawambale) on 22 July. The worship services are being conducted at Fairview College Chamba Valley campus. The attendance is 40 on average. Pray for conversions.
In Kabanana (missionary, Curtis Chirwa) a new elder by the name of Moses Mwansa has been ordained and so we are getting close to weaning off the church there. Similar progress is taking place in Nyimba (missionary, Charles Mwanza) where the church is praying towards setting apart one man for the work of being an elder. Pray for these churches as they work towards becoming independent.
Perhaps the biggest move that KBC has taken in its work of missions is the decision to start a church in Freetown, Sierra Leone (missionary elect, Emmanuel Komba). This will be our furthest church plant. Emmanuel Komba was with us as a pastoral intern across the year 2014. We sent him to work with Pastor Manasseh Kaonga in Kapiri Mposhi for eight months and are happy with what we heard concerning his commitment to God’s work there.
In our educational enterprises, the African Christian University received the long-awaited Voddie Baucham family. He will be leading in the establishment of the seminary. We continue to wait on the Zambian government for a licence so that we can start enrolling students. Pray for us! The faculty of the Lusaka Ministerial College satisfied the Reformed Baptist Seminary of the USA and hence got their endorsement as they graduated their first batch of students in August. The college also held another training session in Mongu through its Liseli Pastors Training Institute with Dr Donald Erickson from the USA giving lectures.
Most of you know that August is the month in which we, together with other churches in Lusaka, host the Zambia Annual Reformed Conferences. About 1,300 attendees came out for the week of meetings at Lusaka Baptist Church. Dr Steve Lawson and Dr Joel Beeke from America expounded on the theme “The Godward life” while a number of local pastors took seminars around the same theme. People came from eight African countries (including Zambia), and also from America, the United Kingdom, New Zealand, and India.
We have a prayer request related to our Deacons. Mr Ivor Chilufya, our church treasurer, has notified the elders of his desire to move to Bonaventure Baptist Church because they are now living closer to that place. Pray that we will find an adequate replacement for him in the diaconate and especially in the role of treasurer because KBC is a big financial enterprise.
CALENDAR
The church activities lined up between now and our next prayer letter in March 2016 are:
Date to be announced…………………
Monday 19 – Saturday 24 October 2015…………………… Prayer and Fasting Week
Saturday 7 November 2015……………………..
Saturday 28 November 2015……………………..
Thursday 10 – Monday 14 December 2015……………… Intermediate Youth Camp
Saturday 19 – Sunday 27 December 2015……………. Christmas Evangelistic Week
Monday 22 – Wednesday 24 February 2016…………. Missionaries Prayer Retreat
Wednesday 24 to Sunday 28 February 2016. Missions Conf. & 30th Anniversary
Friday 5 – Saturday 6 February 2016……………………..
Saturday 20 February 2016……………………..
The topic for the Day of Special Studies is “A Biblical Exposure of Today’s Deliverance Movement.” Judging from the number of lives being destroyed, this is a vital topic today.