Mobilizing the Church in Africa - March 2009
News Update from Tove and John, for March 2009
”…But the people who know their God will firmly resist him (the desecrator of the Holy Place)… Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever.” (Daniel 11:32 and 12:3)
”…But the people who know their God will firmly resist him (the desecrator of the Holy Place)… Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever.” (Daniel 11:32 and 12:3)
ISOM IN BEMBA
On Monday, March 2, we started on an exciting project:
- The translation of ISOM from English to Bemba, the big, Zambian language.
We have wished to do this for a long time, since the Bemba language is spoken by about 15 million people, who are spread over the most of Zambia, and beyond its borders into South and East Congo, as well as the Northern part of Mozambique.
International School Of Ministry (ISOM) is a video-based teaching program which covers more than 159 lessons of about one hour’s length each. It is available in more than 60 languages, and presently there are about 100,000 students who live all over the world. In Africa we have the translations English-Zulu, English-Tswana, English-Portuguese, English-French, English-Afrikaans, and English-Swahili.
The curriculum is well balanced; - each semester presents training in knowledge, character and spiritual gifts. The teaching is given by renowned teachers of high integrity in each their area of expertise. The program aims at training leaders who have not yet achieved any formal Bible training. It has been compiled with the aim of providing in-service training for already
serving church leaders in order to better equip them for their task. By completing the course, the students can attain a diploma in Ministry.
On Monday, March 2, we started on an exciting project:
- The translation of ISOM from English to Bemba, the big, Zambian language.
We have wished to do this for a long time, since the Bemba language is spoken by about 15 million people, who are spread over the most of Zambia, and beyond its borders into South and East Congo, as well as the Northern part of Mozambique.
International School Of Ministry (ISOM) is a video-based teaching program which covers more than 159 lessons of about one hour’s length each. It is available in more than 60 languages, and presently there are about 100,000 students who live all over the world. In Africa we have the translations English-Zulu, English-Tswana, English-Portuguese, English-French, English-Afrikaans, and English-Swahili.
The curriculum is well balanced; - each semester presents training in knowledge, character and spiritual gifts. The teaching is given by renowned teachers of high integrity in each their area of expertise. The program aims at training leaders who have not yet achieved any formal Bible training. It has been compiled with the aim of providing in-service training for already
serving church leaders in order to better equip them for their task. By completing the course, the students can attain a diploma in Ministry.
Pastor Max Lubinda translating
During the first two weeks of March we were able to finish the translation of the 31 sessions of the first semester. The voice translation was done by a good, old friend from Zambia, Max Lubinda.
Just at his arrival in Pretoria, Max first joined us in the last two days of an evangelistic crusade. This took place in a poverty stricken township outside Pretoria, and his preaching was straightforward and powerful; many received faith in Christ through it
Very intense work
When the crusade was over, we focused on the big task of the
Bemba translation. The work was very intense, of completing the translation of a full semester’s teaching. What kept us going was the goal, of making the teaching available for hundreds of church leaders among Bemba-speaking people groups.
Only God can stop the war
As we worked through the curriculum, we were truly excited. Max was mainly together with our media expert, Dan Erickson, and I joined them as much as possible in order to learn how to manage the technical part of the work. One day Max exclaimed: “This teaching is going to change the lives of many people. We just have to bring it in to the Eastern part of Congo, where there is so much war. The only thing that can stop the war is God’s word!”
The two weeks of Max’s visit passed quickly. He made some good friendships with several of the AFnet team members while he was here. The team is made up of people from diverse backgrounds, but he soon settled into the fellowship with us.
Max standing with Chris and Elsabe on his right, and Willem, John and Dan on his left.
Max standing with Chris and Elsabe on his right, and Willem, John and Dan on his left.Four semesters still need to be translated
From the outset Max volunteered for the translation-work because of his personal observations of the many people who are converted to faith in Jesus. Through evangelical crusades all over Zambia and in neighboring countries, he sees thousands of people receive faith.
However they often lack leaders among them, who can help them grow in their new Christian faith. This is where ISOM comes into the picture, with its effective training for Christian leaders. A further four semesters of the ISOM-curriculum must be translated to Bemba, and we aim at getting this done during 2009 and 2010. Please pray that we may succeed.
From the outset Max volunteered for the translation-work because of his personal observations of the many people who are converted to faith in Jesus. Through evangelical crusades all over Zambia and in neighboring countries, he sees thousands of people receive faith.
However they often lack leaders among them, who can help them grow in their new Christian faith. This is where ISOM comes into the picture, with its effective training for Christian leaders. A further four semesters of the ISOM-curriculum must be translated to Bemba, and we aim at getting this done during 2009 and 2010. Please pray that we may succeed.
HIV/AIDS projects in Zambia
In the week of march 22 – 29, Tove and I were in Zambia, where we met connected with our son-in-law, Brian. With him from Denmark was Miriam (16), our biggest grandchild.
This trip to Zambia was all about connecting with leaders of various project-groups in the capital of Lusaka, who have started to bring aid to especially widows and orphans.
These target groups of people have nearly always come into their distress as a result of the HIV/AIDS epidemic. But it is really good to see more and more African churches take up their responsibility of bringing help and support – together with the gospel – to the people in need.
As some of you know, Heidi and Brian have a call to mission work in Zambia. Already now – before being able to actually move there – they have started to build up ministry relationships with relevant people in the country by going there as often as their time and money allows them. They have asked Tove and me to be connected with this and they need us to help by following the development of the work as much as possible. This will be possible for us since we have several ministry trips to Zambia every year.
The Lazarus Project
One of the Zambian projects is called “Lazarus Project” and is located in the city of Lusaka. We spent a number of days visiting the project sites and talking with the leaders about the possibilities for ongoing development. Characteristic for this kind of Zambian projects was its need to build up a viable infra-structure for the work, as well as building up means of self-sustainability.
Brian’s specific objective with this Zambia-trip was to investigate these things thoroughly, in order to later make applications for support from donor-organizations in Europe or USA.
“Lazarus Project” has acquired a piece of land on the outskirts of the city, where they have started a school that has 350 young children; they are running a training program for women who are learning various hand-crafts; a farm is in its first beginnings; and a clinic for HIV/AIDS patients has been set up.
We were impressed by the many things which already had been started, and it was clearly a work that deserves any available support for further development.
Mwama Foundation
Another project which we visited was “Mwama Foundation”; it was still in its first beginnings. We saw their center, which is located in a very poor township called “Linda”, that has a population of over 20.000 people. They gather children here, and teach them how to do street dramas, as well as introducing them to various handcrafts, and then they give them food and drinks.We watched some of their dramas and were impressed by heir eagerness and good abilities. What touched us mostly was to feel the love which was shown by the leader, Friends, towards the children. How we would like to see such a love ministry children. Please pray for these and other Zambian projects, with which we have contact. Pray for Brian and Heidi’s efforts to raise funds for them, in Denmark and other European countries.
In the week of march 22 – 29, Tove and I were in Zambia, where we met connected with our son-in-law, Brian. With him from Denmark was Miriam (16), our biggest grandchild.
This trip to Zambia was all about connecting with leaders of various project-groups in the capital of Lusaka, who have started to bring aid to especially widows and orphans.
These target groups of people have nearly always come into their distress as a result of the HIV/AIDS epidemic. But it is really good to see more and more African churches take up their responsibility of bringing help and support – together with the gospel – to the people in need.
As some of you know, Heidi and Brian have a call to mission work in Zambia. Already now – before being able to actually move there – they have started to build up ministry relationships with relevant people in the country by going there as often as their time and money allows them. They have asked Tove and me to be connected with this and they need us to help by following the development of the work as much as possible. This will be possible for us since we have several ministry trips to Zambia every year.
The Lazarus Project
One of the Zambian projects is called “Lazarus Project” and is located in the city of Lusaka. We spent a number of days visiting the project sites and talking with the leaders about the possibilities for ongoing development. Characteristic for this kind of Zambian projects was its need to build up a viable infra-structure for the work, as well as building up means of self-sustainability.
Brian’s specific objective with this Zambia-trip was to investigate these things thoroughly, in order to later make applications for support from donor-organizations in Europe or USA.
“Lazarus Project” has acquired a piece of land on the outskirts of the city, where they have started a school that has 350 young children; they are running a training program for women who are learning various hand-crafts; a farm is in its first beginnings; and a clinic for HIV/AIDS patients has been set up.
We were impressed by the many things which already had been started, and it was clearly a work that deserves any available support for further development.
Mwama Foundation
Another project which we visited was “Mwama Foundation”; it was still in its first beginnings. We saw their center, which is located in a very poor township called “Linda”, that has a population of over 20.000 people. They gather children here, and teach them how to do street dramas, as well as introducing them to various handcrafts, and then they give them food and drinks.We watched some of their dramas and were impressed by heir eagerness and good abilities. What touched us mostly was to feel the love which was shown by the leader, Friends, towards the children. How we would like to see such a love ministry children. Please pray for these and other Zambian projects, with which we have contact. Pray for Brian and Heidi’s efforts to raise funds for them, in Denmark and other European countries.
Street drama on the dusty street by kids in “Mwama Foundation”
Thank you for your interest in the work, and for your prayers and support.
Blessings to each one of you,
Tove and John
Blessings to each one of you,
Tove and John
Labels: for March 2009, News Update
posted by John Thomsen at
4/10/2009
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