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|| Newsletter Archive ||
June, July - 2006
Dear Partners in Ministry,
Did you know you can buy a goat for 50,000 quacha? Now, to buy a sheep you are going to have to spend a lot more quacha ($1 = 3,200 quacha), but goat tastes just fine, especially if you get to eat the liver! The man we bought the goat from had seven wives and, as you can imagine, a few houses full of children. Kevin was in a village in northern Zambia teaching the book of Nehemiah to pastors, a ministry under the Baptist Union of South Africa. They decided to have a celebration meal with them as they ended their teaching noting the great celebration in Nehemiah‘s day when they dedicated the finished walls. In just 52 days the Jerusalem walls had been rebuilt, and the people saw how they were part of seeing God’s promises fulfilled. Imagine that, God used them to fulfill His promises, and they recognized it and celebrated. Their joy was not just a “head-joy”, reserved and unnoticed by others. Oh no - their God was too great! Choirs sang, cymbals crashed, gladness was demonstrated by singing and thanks giving, great sacrifices were made, women and children rejoiced - “and the joy of Jerusalem was heard far away (12:43).” When God makes a sunrise there is nothing reserved about it. When God made the fish in the seas He did so with passionate enthusiasm and joyful creativity, and when God causes His people to rejoice there is nothing small about their joy. “God made them rejoice with Great Joy(12:43).”
As our vision states, one of our objectives is to “develop church leadership in southern Africa through biblical training“. Dr. Casey, a Bible professor from Pillsbury Baptist Bible College (along with his son, Tim), participated this June in teaching the book of Nehemiah to Baptist pastors and church leaders in the village of Kafulafuta, Zambia. Several mission-minded young adults joined us in July in teaching, preaching, and compassion ministries through Baptist churches in Mozambique and South Africa. Rebeca Garayalde and Jason Smith - students at Pillsbury Baptist Bible College; Tracy Grewe, Rebeka Nelson, and Krista Smith - graduates of Pillsbury; Mike Havlik - a young adult from Prior Lake Baptist; Amy Nicewander - a student from Northwestern; and Candi Viancourt - a young lady from the Chisago Lakes area. Sarah and I thank God for these who encourage our hearts by their personal involvement in strengthening “the only game in town” - the church, Christ’s Bride. Our expanded vision for 2007 is to see a larger number of mission minded young adults participate in church ministry in Mozambique (seeing third world missions firsthand), and to also see the teaching of Baptist pastors developed further in Zambia, Mozambique, and our area of ministry in South Africa. We thank God for the partnering we have experienced with the leadership of Christ Baptist Church in Polokwane, South Africa, in seeing some of these objectives realized for God’s glory.
So, how is Kopano Baptist Church getting along? It is very much still in diapers and on milk, and God is very much at work in the lives of these dear people. This last Sunday it was fun to hear the pages of Bibles rustle as people struggled to find the text. They have not had the privilege of Sunday School training or Awana, and have no idea how to find passages, but they are trying and struggling and growing. One of the ladies shared with us how God’s grace had rescued her from a life as a witchdoctor. She told us how she took from the village people, preying on their fears and superstitions. As she spoke she cried, acknowledging God’s grace in her life and praying for His forgiveness. “And such were some of you, but you were washed…“ (I Corinthians 6:11). Please keep praying that this church will grow to be a light for God and His Truth in this area of Onderstepoort. It seems that if God can plant a church here - He can plant one anywhere.
A message from Kobi - our 4 month old black Labrador:
“OK - so I’m not really writing this, but I am glad for the Zak Pak who keep my food dish mostly filled. Last week, when Papa and Mama Zak left for Mozambique, a new girl named Krista seemed to run the house. They say she will be around here for quite a while assisting the Pak in ministry and helping the little Zaks with school. Yesterday, I almost got one of Luke’s socks when he ventured outside. It is starting to warm up now and nights aren’t so cold. The word is that I will soon get my own doghouse and be put outside to keep watch over things - especially at night. The Zak’s seem to have someone new living with them all the time, so if you want to come and visit them, it shouldn’t be a problem. I know that because I am now big enough to look into the windows.”
Prayer Requests:
Many of you have prayed for Candi Viancourt. She came over to be with us in ministry in Africa but flew home after hearing of her fiancé’s death in an ultralite airplane crash. They had plans to be married on September 2nd. Please continue to uphold her in prayer. Tracy Grewe was able to accompany her flight back and minister to her during this difficult time.
Pray for Jason, Krista, Mike, and Rebeca who are still serving in Mozambique. Safety, health, and wisdom in communicating God’s love to the village of Mabuzane. They return to South Africa on July 29th, 2006.
Pray for the team coming July 19th from Fourth Baptist of Minneapolis, MN. They will be helping us with different areas of ministry near our home in Onderstepoort, South Africa.
Pray for our family as we travel to Zambia in August. Kevin will be speaking at family camp hosted by the Chambers family in Choma. Krista and Amy will be traveling with us as well. We will be traveling through Botswana and hopefully will be able to stop by Victoria Falls (one of the seven wonders of the world) on the way. Pray specifically for vehicle safety and the souls of the families we will be ministering too.
We would thank you for your prayers in the lives of our children, love for the Lord and wanting Him to control their lives, mastery of their school subjects, Luke with conceptualizing the abstracts, Cortney with multiplication tables, Ben with Algebra, Nathan with spelling, Caleb with reading comprehension, Jacob with reading, and Josiah with being content in waiting until he is big enough to start school.
Serving the King with Gladness,
Kevin, Sarah, Ben, Nathan, Caleb, Luke, Cortney, Jacob, & Josiah
“It is often in the absence of ease, success, and prosperity that God most clearly demonstrates that He is the ultimate joy of life.” (Unknown source)
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African Churches Rooted and Built up in Him. - Col. 2:6,7
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