“Those who wait on the Lord…”

I’m not very good at waiting. I’m American, for one thing, plus I’m a man, not to mention I’m an Amazon Prime member to boot! I’m accustomed to short lines, overnight mail, easy access to reservations, and even get frustrated when I have to wait too long in a line, any line. How about you?

Abby and I have been waiting since last fall to get back to Zambia. Having our dear friend and GTN colleague, Percy Muleba, here in January and February helped, but the cancellation of our May 12th trip to Zambia due to Covid-19 sure didn’t!

Providentially, we had already set aside March-April as a time for curriculum development so it wasn’t until May 1st that we began to long for Zambia and Namibia, to long for our students. Even now they are asking for us to come as soon as flights are available (August 5th is the latest update) and Zambia relaxes it’s 14 day quarantine (in an expensive hotel for all visitors at their own cost), but Zambia has not announced any news about this. So, we are waiting…

Biblically, waiting is sometimes a good thing. It is often connected to a sense of anticipation for what lies ahead. “Those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles…” (Isaiah 40:31). In this regard, waiting is not a passive thing, but rather an active trust in the Lord, a reasonable hope that the future will be filled with his strength and power because he is just that kind of God!

Biblically, waiting on the Lord does not suggest that we just sit around and do nothing, but rather that we engage fully in the life we have been given to live now, even as we await a future hope. By the grace of God, Abby and I have been engaged in this kind of waiting over the last few months. Oh, there have certainly been times of a passive, even a depressive, waiting….”When will this COVID-19 thing end?” “Is Zambia ever going to open up again?” That sort of thing.

But, mostly it hasn’t been like this. It’s been much more active. While we’ve waited, what have we been up to? Well, an awful lot, actually. The Lord has blessed us with mission right here at home.

Last month, Maria Furlough, Missions Director at Lake Forest Church (LFC), asked us to lead a small group for mission-minded members. We jumped at the chance and we are so glad we did. So far, we’ve met three times and the group has been amazing, open, and eager to grow. Abby and I have been using some of our Zambian curriculum, modified a bit for the U.S., and it’s worked very well. People are just people everywhere, after all!

We have also had numerous opportunities to connect personally with Zambian students (WhatsApp), mission-minded Christians (outdoor meetings, text, email, Zoom, and phone), GTN colleagues (Zoom), EPC colleagues (Zoom and in person), and our family (WhatsApp and in person). And, now that things have opened up, both Abby and I are each meeting regularly with someone for deeper mission conversations.

In addition, at Percy’s request, Abby and I have begun recording podcasts with overviews of six of our courses. Harrison Gillming, our church’s Director of Worship, has kindly taught us to use the LFC podcast studio and has edited our efforts!

I have preached by recording at Centre Evangelical Presbyterian Church (EPC) on May 24th and am scheduled to preach at Westminster EPC in Burlington on July 5th and possibly again at Centre on July 19th. Of course, Abby will be there to share mission highlights with these supporting churches.

So, when will we return to Zambia? We honestly don’t know. In the meanwhile, we are waiting on the Lord, and are very grateful that our waiting has been filled with ministry opportunities, friendship, and grace. Please pray for us as we do for you, and please keep Percy Muleba and his family in your prayers as they deal with COVID-19 in Zambia.

And, remember, whether we are here or in Africa, wherever we go, you go!

Our Zambian and Namibian students’ hunger for god’s word is insatiable.

A Viral Faith

I’m sitting on my deck, which Abby and I have been doing a lot of lately, and thinking about the COVID-19 pandemic. Social distancing, voluntary self-quarantines, working from home, on-line worship, closed borders, at-home school, and on and on it goes.

On the one hand, it’s a scary and strange time, especially for those of us in the USA who are generally free from the threat of widespread novel diseases, not to mention even small inconveniences of any kind.

(As a side note, I was talking to my dear Zambian friend, Percy Muleba, a couple of weeks ago when this whole thing was accelerating and, as a two-time tuberculosis survivor, he asked a simple question. “Is it worse than tuberculosis?” In a country with an anemic health care system, and which already deals with tuberculosis, malaria and HIV/AIDS on a daily basis, his question makes perfect sense. Zambians, like most around the world, are already well acquainted with severe medical hardship.)

On the other hand, it’s a time of opportunity, a time to reflect, to reconnect with our families, to evaluate our values and purpose, and even to share our faith. At times like this, people are perhaps more willing to talk about ultimate things.

It’s often been said, “Christianity is better caught than taught.” And throughout history Christianity has indeed spread virally, passing from one personal epicenter to another, multiplying through relationships across familial, racial, ethnic, cultural, and national lines. Today, Christianity is the most widespread, culturally diverse movement in the world, and it's continuing to multiply rapidly, especially across the Developing World.

Who knows, maybe there’s something to be learned from COVID-19, even as we pray and work for its end. Maybe it can remind us that the true and eternal healing we all yearn for also multiplies from one person to another, one relationship at a time.

So during this time of social distancing, let’s be open to the possibility of passing our faith, hope and love in Jesus to just one more person. Maybe it’s time to make that phone call, write that email or schedule that video chat. Who knows, maybe we’ll experience a new pandemic of the life that is truly life?

Even so, come Lord Jesus!

Update: As you might imagine, our May 12th trip to Zambia and Namibia is likely delayed. We’ll keep you posted as things unfold. Meanwhile, please pray for Percy and his family, and for our students who are facing stringent Covid-19 restrictions in the midst of an ongoing severe drought.

Remember when we used to hold hands?

“My people perish for lack of knowledge…” Hosea 4:6

Drought (noun): a prolonged or chronic shortage of something expected or desired.

When we hear the word drought, we usually think of dry, dusty land, of lost crops and a shortage of food, of hungry children, of starvation.

The drought in western Zambia is now in its fourth year. The last corn crop was completely lost. The fish spawning grounds in the Zambezi river are dry, and cattle are dying. People are starving, and some have been reduced to digging roots in the bush to survive. One man was arrested for trying to sell one of his children for a bag of meal. The desperation is real. Our friends in the bush villages are among the desperate.

Meanwhile, there’s another kind of drought in Zambia. And, it's not due to a lack of rain. It's a spiritual drought, a drought of knowledge about the Gospel of Jesus Christ. And people are starving and desperate for it, too!

Our dear Zambian friend and colleague, Percy Muleba recently recounted that he had just returned from his first trip to Shangombo late last year, a village deep in the Western Province of Zambia, a village where we will begin training in 2020. Eight churches and 80+ students gathered for three days of training in Biblical Worship. And, it went very, very well. But, the situation there is desperate. How desperate?

One morning, a student approached Percy to apologize for being late to class. The young man said, “I am sorry to have arrived late. My grandmother died of starvation this morning.”

And then according to Percy, he turned, sat down, and joined the class for the rest of the day, so desperate was he for solid biblical training.

This is what we find whenever we teach in Zambia. Hungry people. Hungry for food to be sure. Desperately hungry. But hungrier and even more desperate for the food of God's Word, both theological and practical. It's very humbling to teach them. It’s an eternal privilege. And we are grateful for it.

Please pray for western Zambia that the drought will end. Pray for rain, to be sure. But, pray also that God's desperate people will be fed God's Word.

If you would like to contribute financially to our mission, please click on “Give" at the top of the page (desktop) or under the Menu (mobile). Then simply follow the prompts. Any gift is deeply appreciated!

And, remember…When we go, you go!

Training under the tree in Nangweshi, Zambia

Catching Our Breath

Abby and I are sitting at the gate in Livingstone, Zambia awaiting our flight to Johannesburg, South Africa…

Wow! What an intense seven weeks! We’ve trained in Mongu, Nangweshi and Livingstone, Zambia, as well as in Katima Mulilo and Chetto, Namibia. We’ve trained youth leaders, pastors, elders, deacons, Sunday School directors, and more. As of tomorrow, we’ll have preached seven times between us in five different churches. And, perhaps more than on any of our other trips, we've had significant one-on-ones with former and current students.

It’ll take us some time to process this trip, especially our initial interaction with the Khwe people. Their needs run so deeply, and our opportunity to train them in the future will likely require a fresh approach.

Thank you for loving and supporting us, and for praying faithfully for us. We are so grateful!

And, never forget that when we go, you go!

Sunset on the zambezi river in Livingstone, Zambia

Sunset over a drought-stricken victoria falls