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|| Newsletter Archive ||
November 2006
Dear Partners In Ministry,
God doesn’t just bless us for showing up. No - we make plans. Planning is an imperative for effective ministry. We decide to go into “such and such a city…” (James), and all the while we acknowledge the God who is really there; the God who is in total control over all our efforts. It is always planning with the understanding - “If the Lord wills…”. Such is the planning I partook of this past week with some godly men in Joberg. We strategically are seeking to have God’s Word impact pastors and leaders in Baptist churches throughout Zambia, and this next year the effort looks like it will carry us into Malawi. Planning and godly partnerships - two of the key ingredients for effective and long term impact, not just in a foreign context, but anywhere. And at the end of the day it is God who is sovereignly working in us, through our wise planning to fulfill His purposes.
Another area of planning deals with the exposure of Bible college, missions-minded young adults to third world ministry in Mozambique. Again, another meeting with those we are partnering with at Christ Baptist Church of Polokwane. These godly men and women have been used of God to bring God’s Word into the remote villages where few would dare to go. I have said often that, if I were leading alone, there would be no survivors at the end of the dayJ What a sincere joy to have those we can partner with for meaningful ministry and who we really like being with. There is godly character and missional competency with these partners, but also - the chemistry is right!
We are also partnering stateside with three pastors of our supporting churches who are making definite plans to be out with us in 2007. Two will be impacting area pastors around our area of Onderstepoort, as well as preaching and teaching at the African Easter Conference. The other will be heading into Zambia with me to teach pastors and church leaders the book of I Timothy.
One church team of men is making plans to accompany us into Mozambique on a focused work project in one of the villages in August. And then we have friends and supporters who are making plans to be with us in March of 2007 and who will definitely be put into areas of ministry.
Should ministry for the King be this fun? Why not!!! Forget the burdens of the “sacrifice mentality” so often accompanying the term “missions”. There is no sacrifice emphasis with a truly biblical perspective - only privilege - and partnering and planning are two of those privileged ministry joys.
I must input one other ministry planning joy for you to pray with us about. For some time we have been encouraged by our area Baptist pastor friends to use our personal property for a camp ministry. God has given us property with outbuildings currently vacant and a large pole barn unused. The area camps are too expensive for the African Baptist church youth to attend in most cases. We are looking into the possibility of hosting small retreats a couple times a year during school holidays to help in our mission of strengthening area Baptist churches through impacting their youth for Christ. We have met with a lawyer regarding liability issues and are waiting on direction from EBM.
You may wonder if the Zaks are trying to be all things to all men - teaching ministry in southern Africa countries, starting an African church in Onderstepoort, thinking about a camping ministry for area Baptist youth, going into Mozambique with USA college students and teams for evangelism and discipleship - wow, it sounds like a lot! We are seeking to make sure all our endeavors are thought through in relation to our mission statement and also with counsel from godly mentors. Some of us are more geared for diversity and need the plethora of activity to keep the wind in our sails. The challenge is to be culturally relevant and ministry effective. And none of these ministries would be possible without effective, long term planning and the partnerships we are privileged to be a part of by the grace of God. Please pray with us that we use godly wisdom in the ministries we take on for the King, and that these ministries strategically enhance the mission of “…strengthening village Baptist churches in southern Africa“.
Prayer:
Teachers for our June 2007 trip to Zambian training centers teaching the book of I Timothy to Zambian Baptist pastors.
An open door to begin Bible training centers in Malawi.
Bible teachers for training centers in Mozambique that will begin July 2007.
Bible college students and church teams who are right now being put together for outreaches into Mozambique in July/August 2007.
Kopano Baptist Church - that we would continue to see growth and biblical practice in the people’s lives.
Wisdom in discerning God’s direction in pursuing a camping ministry for area African village Baptist churches.
Pray that we continue to use resources bridged to us in a wise way - not creating dependency and non-sustainability while at the same time being an encouragement to African believers from their brothers and sisters in Christ who have much and want to be a blessing.
Praise:
Many coming out to Kopano Baptist Church (average attendance:50).
Good strategic planning meetings for Zambia and Mozambique outreaches in 2007.
Open door into a government school for evangelism every Thursday morning.
Those teams and individuals and family who have committed to be with us in 2007.
Continued resources bridged to ministry areas from the States - books for church leaders, bikes for pastors, Samaritan Purse Christmas boxes, Christmas stockings for orphan children, Sunday School material, etc.
Serving the King with Gladness,
Kevin, Sarah, Benjamin, Nathan, Caleb, Luke, Cortney, Jacob, & Josiah
This volunteer team from Jubilee Hospital in Hammanskraal was delighted with the donation of about 250 wash clothes, bars of soap, and spoons from two of our supporting churches. Dr. Malan and his wife, Heidi are retired and now volunteer at the hospital to heal the spiritually sick patients that are in care. Their team is using the toiletry items as an outreach tool. Thank you so much for your generosity!
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African Churches Rooted and Built up in Him. - Col. 2:6,7
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