Phil's ZMS Newsletter - November 2008

Sorry this newsletter should have been done in October as it’s mostly about the five weeks I had at Covenant College during September. I’ve just been in Lusaka for the past four weeks at OMF but didn’t get round to doing it!

Farming God's Way

During September I was at Covenant College where we continued to take every opportunity to teach FGW. A local farmers group called Chambale came to the college one Monday for a full days teaching both in the classroom and out in the fields. They were encouraging as they joined together to form the group with the sole purpose of seeking ways to make their small farms self sufficient. This is the only way out of poverty for Africans, waiting for 'hand-outs' does not make them faithful in the 'talents' God has given them in the form of land, rain, sunshine and the ability to work.

This is one of the main teachings within FGW so it's encouraging when we are asked to come and teach these principles. During the PTI Chipata conference in August I was asked to come back and teach FGW to the Pastors. So on Sept 20th 60 people gathered at Chipata Day school to hear the message and method.

FGW combines conservation farming, long term sustainability of the land and environmental awareness all with many Biblical applications.

One of the problems faced this year by all the farmers is the price of fertiliser, last year it was 120,000kw per bag and this year in Sept it reached 260,000kw per bag. This massive increase is the effect of influences from the West which has a direct and often devastating effect on the lives of poor people who haven’t a clue why suddenly the price they pay for food and fertiliser doubles in such a short time.

6th Graduation Ceremony

On the 3rd October the 6th Graduation ceremony at Covenant College took place. Seven more students had completed their three years of Pastoral training. This brings the number of CC graduates to 40 since it started 8 years ago.

The District Commissioner, David Tembo and his wife Nisi attended the ceremony and he spoke encouragingly to us of the help that CC brings to the community. They are good friends of ours, having come from Calvary Baptist Church in Chipata to take up the post of DC in Petauke. It’s a blessing to have a Christian in this local government position.

Covenant College

On 12th August Obed Cornelis Molenaar was born and in September a dedication service was held at a nearby church. Five other parents also joined Cees and Miriam in acknowledging the Lord’s goodness in the new lives and promising to bring them up in the ways of the Lord.

Christian Education Fund

I seem to have neglected to mention CEF for sometime but it continues to work with the Community schools in a better way than ever before. Marjanne has a regular programme with several of the schools to monitor and teach the teachers. This work takes time and patience and can only be done properly when individual teachers are given continuous ‘one to one’ classroom training.

During this year God bought to our attention a Zambian girl who has had three years training as a teacher for community schools at a Zambian mission station in the Copperbelt. Her name is Dorica and she has now joined CEF to work alongside Marjanne. This is so encouraging as it must be our aim to take on local people to carry on the work. It also means that twice as many teachers are being taught every week.

PRAYER POINTS

• Pray that those that learn about FGW are faithful in using the knowledge.
• Pray for the graduates that have now gone out into full time Ministry with the many challenges they will face.
• Pray for Dorica that she may be a great help to CEF both now and in the long term future.

Thank you for your continued support,

Love Phil