Greetings from Luanshya!
This week there have been a number of young men coming into the Resource Centre asking specific questions about Mormonism. In the building next to our library several Mormon Missionaries are having meetings on Sunday as well as doctrine classes through the week. Mormonism teaches that Jesus was conceived by the physical sexual act of Adam and Mary, that Jesus is the brother of Lucifer, that he earned his own salvation and that he attained godship by being a good mormon. A vote was taken on the planet Kolob, where god and his many wives reside, as to who would be the saviour of the newly created planet Earth. After a lot of debate, a vote was taken 1/3 voted that the mormon Jesus would be the saviour, 1/3 voted that Lucifer would be the saviour and 1/3 remained neutral. Those who voted for the mormon Jesus were the physical inhabitants of earth. Those who followed Lucifer were demons and were denied physical bodies. Those who remained neutral were born with black skin. In 1978 the Mormon church changed the doctrine to allow blacks to become members of their religion. It astounds us that any thinking black person would even consider being a part of a religion that for their first 100 years considered them to be cursed by god then suddenly when it became politically correct in America, god "changed his mind". For this reason we are making it as clear as possible to those who come into the Resource Centre that there is a true God who loves all men regardless of their skin pigmentation-and He always has loved all mankind. Please pray for us as we open God's Word before these young people and share the "Way, the Truth and the Life."
On Sunday morning we had several visitors in the service. I preached a very clear message on salvation being the gift of God and not the purchase of man. Two people expressed their doubts about knowing that they had eternal life. One of them came to me at the close of the service and said he wanted to talk. I asked one of our men to spend a few moments with him and share the gospel with this young man. The young man comes from a church background that teaches that baptism is required for salvation. He has been baptized but did not fully understand why that was not enough. He could not stay very long and promised to return to talk some more. Please pray for him as he seeks to know the truth. Also pray for Mercy, the other person who expressed an interest in knowing more about The Gift of God.
We do have one very special prayer request concerning my mother. She tripped at home earlier this week and broke her ankle. She suffered a compound fracture and therefore quite serious. She turned 73 a few months ago and her bones are not going to heal quite as fast as Colin's. My father said that she has a number of plates and screws holding her ankle together and will not be able to walk on it for at least two months. She is currently admitted in a rehab centre in southern California. Please pray for her, the physiotherapists, the doctors and my dad. My folks have not been separated this long in their 51 years of marriage.
We are excited about what the Lord has allowed us to do in Luanshya. He has given us a location where we can be a shining light in the down town area of our small town. We appreciate the part you play in your prayers and support of this ministry as we continue...
In His Service,
Patrick and Sherry
Dr. Patrick and
Sherry Coleman
Luanshya, Zambia Africa