A lengthy newsletter this week! So buckle up and prayerfully digest...

  1. Letter form Kabwata Baptist Church (Lusaka, Zambia): The home-going of an elder
  2. The first Sola 5 pastor with a Blog site
  3. Important news from India: Need for 'solid biblical books' & Prayer letter, Pieter Swanepoel (accompanied by some info on Alethia Publications and Training Pvt. Ltd.)
  4. Letter from New Zealand: need for Bibles (request received there from Africa)
  5. Reformed Conference in Zambia 2008


1. Letter form Kabwata Baptist Church (Lusaka, Zambia): The home-going of an elder

Monday, August 4, 2008

Dr Simon Mphuka, one of the elders at Kabwata Baptist Church, went to be with the Lord at around 01.00 hours today after a sudden illness that took the whole church by surprise. Just before my departure for the USA, we had an elders' prayer meeting on Saturday 5th July which ended with breakfast. Simon shared about his recent failing health. He had been to see a doctor who found nothing wrong with him and sent him on a week's holiday. He returned feeling much better but not yet quite himself, he said, and asked for prayer. On Sunday 6th July, he participated in the prayer times we spend together as church officers before each service and even in the worship services. After that, on Thursday 10th July I left for the USA only to arrive on the other side of the Atlantic to find that, back home, Simon had been admitted in hospital with an excruciating headache. That was the beginning of the end. He was never to walk out of hospital again. One complication led to another until, having been evacuated to South Africa for further treatment, he entered the immediate presence of God early this morning. We are all still recovering from the shock!

Simon has been part of Kabwata Baptist Church for the better part of the church's life, having been part of the initial outreach efforts into the Kabwata residential area in the early 1980s when he was still single and a medical student. He was the fledgling-church's second librarian in the days when the entire church library used to be carried in a plastic bag as Simon walked from the Ridgeway campus of the university to church every Sunday. In 1986 he was chosen to serve the church in the office of deacon. He faithfully discharged his duties, until he left on attachment to a rural health institution in 1988. When Simon returned to Lusaka, he was very burdened about the Zambian Reformed Baptist churches' lack of appropriate response to the problem of AIDS in the country. This led him in 1996 to spearhead the formation of an HIV/AIDS counselling ministry in the church called "Hope for the Afflicted Ministry." This ministry put out adverts in one national newspaper inviting those who needed counsel to get in touch. Through this avenue this ministry counselled many people right across the country. In a book written to commemorate the first twenty years of Kabwata Baptist Church's existence, Simon eloquently testified to the great fulfilment he found in this ministry.

Throughout Simon's membership at Kabwata Baptist Church he played a teaching role in one form or another. He was either teaching a Bible study group on Sunday morning, or a mid-week Bible study in one of the home cell groups, or preaching during one of the Sunday services. He was also very supportive to the missions work of the church and spent a lot of his Sundays visiting or preaching at one church-plant or another. Missionaries benefited immensely from his generous heart because he never saw a financial need among them without wanting to meet it. The next major role that Simon played in the church was in 2003 when the church's eldership disintegrated. The church chose him to provide leadership during the phase in which a team was put together to help the church back on its two feet.

He played this role with great maturity and wisdom, and thus the church was able to begin rebuilding its eldership a year later. It was partly because of the leadership mettle that the church saw in him during this period that he was asked to join the eldership in 2006. Simon accepted this challenge, despite his very demanding job as the chief executive of the Churches Health Association of Zambia (CHAZ), which coordinates the activities of the medical institutions in the country run by churches. These medical institutions provide 60% of all health care in rural areas. (For Simon's national and international work related to CHAZ, just type in his name in any internet search engine and see for yourself). In the two years he was in the eldership, he carried out his oversight work with a great sense of conscientiousness.

From the time I first met Simon during my undergraduate days he remained a dear friend in the faith and so I have appreciated his friendship over the last twenty-five years. I had the privilege of conducting his wedding some eighteen years ago, and have seen God bless his marriage with children over the years. His life was marked by consistent humility, wisdom, generosity, hospitality, integrity, hard-work and love for the cause of Christ. He had no personal pocket agendas. He was outwardly what he was inwardly, and so what you saw was what you got. I valued his friendship because of all these traits, which commended the beauty of Christ's saving work to those around him.

Dr Simon Mphuka leaves behind a wife, Lillian, and three wonderful daughters - Wankumbu Veddrunna (16), Dhozinta Zewelanji (14) and Wankunda Venna (12).

– Posted by Conrad Mbewe


2. The first Sola 5 pastor with a Blog site

When a group of our church visited Zambia in 1997, I was employed by a very well-known South African industrial company. At the time we (the company employees) did not have access to e-mail so I was amazed to learn that one of the churches we were to visit, already was using the facility and had an e-mail address! Conrad Mbewe has done it again...

Please go to http://www.conradmbewe.com/ for a fruitful visit (that's apart form the sad news shared above).


3a. Important news from India: Need for 'solid biblical books'

7 August 2008

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

I though this article that appeared in the Indian times today, might give you some insight to the church and it's dilemma here in India. We have already seen the Catholic Church allowing Hindu priests coming into the church and performing their wedding ceremonies in the church with all their false idol worship. Now the Bible is going to be interpreted by the Hindu scriptures. This refers specifically to the catholic Church, but the church in general in India is no better off! Traditions and culture has been brought into the church and has overtaken the preaching of the true Word of God. Please pray that God will work through the true church in order to show the depravity of this "new bible".

I am more convinced than ever that we need to get more solid biblical books published in the local languages in order to show God's truth to the people. Please pray that we can make some difference in this regard through Alethia Publications and Training Pvt. Ltd. More labourers are needed in this very dark continent to show the Light to the world. Please continue to pray for India and its people. Pray that church leaders will be brought back to the truth of God's Word.

God bless.
Pieter Swanepoel

Romans 1:16-18
(16) For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.
(17) For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, "The righteous shall live by faith."
(18) For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth.


3b. Prayer letter, Pieter Swanepoel (accompanied by some info on Alethia Publications and Training Pvt. Ltd. )

4 August 2008

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

We are well into the Monsoon season here in India, yet we have seen very little rain. We have only had 15% of the rain that normally falls by this time of the year. This has obviously caused great problems for the farmers as some of them had planted their seeds, hoping to be able to plant them out by no later than the end of June. Needless to say that all those hopes were dashed and they have had a great financial loss. The farming community in the village of Lakha where we go to minister every second Wednesday have only had 5% of the normal rains and so have lost their seedlings and whatever crops they were looking forward to. They paid 450 Rupees (ZAR90-00) for 10 grams of tomato seeds. This might not seem to be much in your eyes, but if you think that they only realize 3000 to 5000 Rupees a year from their crops that they have to live off, you can understand their dilemma. Please continue to pray for the Gaikwad families. Pray that they will remain true to God and that they would desire to glorify God even through these difficulties.

We are in the process of trying to help them with some drip irrigation system, whereby they can save on the little water that they do have. The main problem now is that their wells are completely dry and so they have no water even to use for drip irrigation. They have to revert to getting water even for home use from water carts which ends up costing them even more. We are collecting 2 litre Coke bottles to use for the drip irrigation. We drill a small hole in the bottom and top of the bottle, tie the bottle to a stick that is stuck in next to the plant. This will allow water to drip from the bottle and so save the wastage of current flood irrigation that they use. This means that I have to drink a lot more Coke in order to get more bottles (a terrible burden for me – only joking).

I have still not been able to go to Gujurat as Jeberaj has been travelling to the south of India to try and get his son into a college. This is India and Lord willing, one day it will happen. Jeberaj is supposed to be in Nashik this week. Hopefully we can then arrange to go next week as I am going to Lakha again this week. Please pray for God’s will to be done and for wisdom and patience for me in this regard.

I mentioned some young ladies that have started coming to the church from one of the medical colleges just outside Nashik. They have returned from their end of year holidays and have asked Dianne and Vasantha to come and minister to them on Friday as they have gotten a group of students together in their hostel. They have started a prayer meeting and Bible study on a Friday night. Please pray that there will not be any problems with Dianne going as she does not look very Indian (being blonde). The authorities do not want any Christianity on the campus, but these ladies live in a hostel and the meeting will be held in their room. These two young ladies have been faithfully coming to church and have brought some of their friends with them. This week we had six from the college in church as well as four young ladies from one of the orphanages here in Nashik. God is really answering our prayers as we have prayed for young people to join the church. Pray for wisdom for Dianne and Vasantha as they minister to these ladies.

The Nashik Bible Church continues to grow in number as we see new people coming in every month. Please pray that we will also see spiritual growth within the church. We need to see the people get more involved in ministry, which at present is not happening. Please pray that God will revive the hearts of the people to truly desire to worship and serve Him in spirit and in truth.

We are in the process of looking for a hall where we can have a Marathi service on a Sunday evening. The hall where we are meeting at present is not available and most other halls are very expensive and not available on a continuous basis. Most halls are being used as wedding venues and as they make more money out of the weddings, the church gets second preference in these matters. Please pray that we will find one soon. The Marathi lessons are still continuing on, although very slowly. Sometimes it feels as if I will never get there and be able to preach in Marathi, but, I know that it is in God’s hands. I have to fulfil my responsibility in working as hard at it as possible.

As a family we were privileged to have Tammy and Kerry-Anne come and visit us at the end of June. It was great to have them here for my birthday. Although it was a very short visit, we thank God for His love, grace and mercy to us in allowing this. We had a great time together as a family, although it seemed harder to say goodbye to them once again. Both Tammy and Kerry-Anne did very well in their mid-year exams and we give God the glory for it. We also thank God for providing a home for my mother in a retirement village in Johannesburg. It has been our prayer for the past two years that she would get into this village as it will provide safety as well as fellowship for her as there are other ladies from Brackenhurst Baptist Church there as well. As we look back we stand in awe of God’s love, grace and mercy to us. How can we ever thank Him enough for such a great love, such a great sacrifice, such a great Saviour! Dianne’s headache has still not been healed and seems to be more severe in the mornings when she gets up. She has been struggling with biliousness together with the headaches in the past month. Please pray for her as she bears this burden. Brendon and David are doing well and are studying hard for the year-end exams.

Lord willing, we are hoping to return to SA for our furlough next year. We are planning to be back from end January to mid April. We would have been in India for three years by then, as incredible as that seems. We are hoping to see all who support and pray for us in that time if at all possible. I will be contacting those churches that support us in order to set a time to visit and report back on what the Lord is doing here in Nashik. We are also hoping to visit the many individuals that support and pray for us. Please pray that we will be able to get our exit permits as we still do not have our visa extensions.

Alethia Publications and Training Pvt Ltd (alethiapublications@gmail.com) has been registered and we are now able to operate as a company. Our bank account has still not been opened as we are still awaiting our tax registration card for the company. Lord willing, when we return next year, there will not be any problems with visas as we will apply for them through the company. I attach an introduction to what we desire and plan is with this company.

We thank you for your love, care and support for us. May God have mercy upon you, bless and keep you and make His face to shine upon you. 

The Swanepoel family
Making disciples of Jesus Christ in Nashik India

Download a PDF (100 kB) on Alethia Publication and Training Pvt. Ltd.


4. Letter from New Zealand: need for Bibles

6 August 2008

Susan and I have been praying about the accommodation issue for the conference and we trust that all will work out O.K.

I wonder if you could help us on another matter. Through our tract ministry we have come to know a dear brother in Nigeria who shared with us his testimony of God's grace. He was a Muslim and gloriously saved through reading a tract (not one of ours I must add). Through his testimony he has been reaching out to friends and family and a very good work appears to be going on here.

He has made a real plea to us for Bibles.....160 in all. I have been searching for Bibles for him and this has included trying the Bible Society in Nigeria. We have not been successful at all. I just wonder if at the conference this need can be made known. John (our Nigerian brother has said that he is not bothered if they are second hand Bibles so long has they are Bibles. He does not want just New Testaments but "complete Bibles").

I have just sent him a few Christian books at his request but I wonder if brothers and sisters in Africa could help here. Susan and I would love to hear if this need could be met through believers somewhere in Africa.

Every blessing in Christ. 
Trevor and Susan Keam
http://www.tracts4u.org


5. Reformed Conference in Zambia 2008

2 August 2008

Dear brethren

Herewith is information to update websites and assist with announcements in our churches.

  1. Dates: 25th - 29th August 2008
  2. Venue: Lusaka Baptist Church new site (on Nangwenya Road after International School if heading East)
  3. Theme: Apologetics – giving a reason for the hope we have
  4. Speakers: Dr Voddie Baucham and Professor James Grier, both from USA
  5. Fees: (a) ZMK 100, 000 for workers resident in Lusaka (b) ZMK 50, 000 for non-workers resident in Lusaka (c) ZMK K50, 000 for residents along the line of rail in Zambia (Copperbelt to Livingstone) (d) Free for all participants from outside Zambia and residents outside the line of rail in Zambia.

Accommodation

1. Camp/ Boarding will be at Chalo Trust School in Lusaka mainly for youths. There is a provisional number of 350 beds so this will be given on a “first come first served” basis. We need churches and individuals to register now by contacting charles Bota on +2601-0977-808431 cbota@shoprite.co.za or Colonel Moses Phiri on +2601-0977-788770 phirim20012001@yahoo.com or Chola Chakonta on +2601-0977-930923 minelandsagric04@gmail.com.

2. Brethren in the hosting churches in Lusaka must register their homes to host couple or singles from outside Lusaka. This will be the main accommodation for mainly non-youths. To plan for this we need those participants from outside needing accommodation to register NOW with the three brethren whose contacts are given above. This is imperative for planning!

Transport

1. There will be transport provided from the international airport and Intercity bus terminus as well as the Railway station on Monday and Tuesday only. Register to be picked up with the three contacts given above. Failure to do so will result in you having to find your own means to the venue and camp / boarding sites.

2. There will be transport everyday from camp / boarding site to conference venue as well as from homes.

Please pray for this important event!

Yours in Christ 
Charles Bota
Organizing Committee Chairperson
Cell: +26-0977-808431