Greetings from Luanshya!
The year is winding down, but the work does not seem to slow down. The Christian Resource Centre is busy every day. There have been a number of people asking questions as well as school children coming in to read during their summer holiday. Yesterday afternoon one young man came in specifically to watch the film "The Godmakers." Four other young men came in asking lots of questions about the Mormon religion. We answered their questions using quotes from Mormon literature and comparing it with the Bible. They had been given the automatic answers by the Mormon missionaries but when we began quoting the Mormon literature, especially quotes by Joseph Smith and Brigham Young, they were unable to respond. Sherry finally asked them, "Why are you here? Why are you talking to us about Mormonism?" They said they had come to talk to us because the LDS missionaries would not answer their questions. It is not our intention to spend hours and hours debating the heresy of the Book of Mormon, The Pearl of Great Price or other Mormon literature. Nevertheless, it is sometimes necessary to point out error when it has landed on your doorstep. Please pray for the young people in Zambia as they face this "new and exciting" threat.
As Christmas approaches, there are the "celebrations" that take place around town. One church had a Christmas carol sing that was so poorly attended that the organizers actually apologized to the members of the community who showed up. However, the bars are doing a booming business. One of our young believers came to our home at 1:30 a.m. on Tuesday saying that she had been "chased from the house" by her husband who had been at the bar for several hours before finally getting home at midnight. After spending over an hour talking to the family, (both husband and wife profess to be Christians), I finally got home some time after three. Please pray for R & R. The counselling will continue.
As Sherry and I are writing this note, some of the members of the chapel are working on the program for this coming Saturday morning. Christmas for us always includes a church service so this Christmas morning we will be celebrating, with the believers, the birth of the Saviour.
Saturday afternoon we will go and spend a few hours with the children at the Lighthouse Children's Home distributing gifts that have been sent to them by the Lord's people far and wide. We have seen such progress in the lives of these children for the last few years that it has amazed even members of the government office at Social Welfare. All of the children finished very well in school this year. We appreciate those who have had a special part in their lives and ask that you continue to pray for these youngsters as they continue to grow physically, academically and spiritually. Also pray for brother and Mrs. Chibumba as they oversee the day to day care of each child.
Sherry received some very good news. One of the women in the church, who happens to be a trained teacher, has volunteered to help in the Sunday School. Some of the teachers in the past have either relocated or have for personal reasons been unable to continue teaching. Thus, classes have had to be consolidated putting very young children in with the older children. This new teacher allows us to put the toddlers in their own class and will encourage parents to bring the little ones to Sunday School, again. Thank you for your prayers in this matter.
Finally, we would like to wish all of you the happiest of Christmas's and may God fill your new year with blessings and peace.
In His Service,
Patrick and Sherry
Dr. Patrick and
Sherry Coleman
Luanshya, Zambia Africa