OCTOBER 2009 UPDATE

REGIONAL CONFERENCES:
The first weekend of October began with the Copperbelt Regional Conference in Kitwe, Zambia. The hosting church and their Pastor and Sister Chileshe did a tremendous job in making everyone feel welcome. We want to give our thanks and appreciation to them, as well as the regional committee for their hard work during the conference.
SPEAKERS:
• Missionary/Superintendent Abernathy blessed and encouraged us to ‘Sow the Seed’ and to ‘Take Advantage of Our Opportunity’ to serve God.







• Rev. Herbert Nalishuwa, national secretary – UPCZ, reminded us that ‘tradition will not set us free’. He also gave a definition for those that are too ‘busy’. He said being ‘busy’ is ‘being under satan’s yoke’. Are we too ‘busy’ about the wrong things

• Rev. Johnson Mwansa, national assistant superintendent – UPCZ entitled his message ‘Separation From the World’


• Rev. Benjamin M. Daka, national home missions director – UPCZ, challenged us with ‘Our Goal to Reach the Lost’ and ‘The Willingness to Hear Wise Counsel'.






ATTENDANCE: 809
HOLY GHOST: 45




October 23-25 found us at the Lusaka Regional Conference at Life Tabernacle. We would like to thank the church family and the host Pastor and Sister Morgan Mwanza for their warm hospitality.

SPEAKERS:
• Rev. Morgan Mwanza, national treasurer – UPCZ, reminded us to ‘Become as Little Children’ within the church. Little children have characteristics that we need to remember: ‘they easily forgive, they easily repent, they easily receive the Holy Ghost, and for the most part – they easily obey.’ During his message, Sis Mable Daka, national ladies secretary, told me ‘children are like blank tapes and what you do and teach is what goes on the tape.’ My mind went back to a time when we were with our children in Illinois during a prayer meeting. Our grandson, Gavin, was between us, and he was praying using the words he was hearing when suddenly he began saying words we didn’t understand – we soon realized this was his interpretation of speaking in tongues! God bless him! The scripture says, ‘train up a child…’ and we must remember that Jesus said, ‘…Except ye be converted and become as little children, ye shall not enter the kingdom of heaven.’ (Matthew 18:3) Thank you Pastor Mwanza for reminding us!
• Rev. Johnson Mwansa, national assistant superintendent – UPCZ, ministered on the topics of ‘Freedom of Choice’ and ‘The Principle of Sowing and Reaping’.
• Rev. Mollen Daka, presbyter for Lusaka Region blessed us with his message ‘Independence Day’. He reminded us that what the world calls ‘freedom’ – the Bible calls ‘bondage’. While the country of Zambia was celebrating Independence Day of 45 years…the churches within the region were celebrating our own independence day remembering when we were born into this church!
• Rev. Benjamin M. Daka, home missions director – UPCZ, cast the vision that ‘missions is reaching out’. He said, ‘where there is no firewood – the fire will go out!’ We must keep the fire burning within us for reaching the lost.
• Missionary/Superintendent Abernathy reminded us that ‘heaven is a prepared place for prepared people – hell is a prepared place for unprepared people therefore, we are to ‘WATCH…and be Ready’.

ATTENDANCE: 2,338
HOLY GHOST: 26

COPPERBELT REGIONAL W.I.S.H. LEADERSHIP SEMINAR
The last weekend of October found us back in the Copperbelt Region for their regional Women In Spirit and Health (W.I.S.H.) Leadership Seminar. Sis Mable Daka and Sis Becky Zyambo did outstanding in their ministry to the leadership.
• Sis Daka reminded us of the different ministries within the church and that a leader (nthungulushi) should never get too comfortable with a position in leadership.
• Sis Zyambo related the beautiful story of Ruth and Boaz with emphasis that Ruth began picking up the leftovers from the field and ended with being the owner of the field!
Since she is an RN working with a foundation on HIV/AIDS research, she spoke to us as leaders about our responsibility to those we know and are even are among us with HIV. She reminded us that stigma (ukukankamba) is one of the greatest challenges for someone that is infected to overcome. However, with God all things are possible.
• Sis Sharon Abernathy spoke on the subjects of ‘Leaders: Become Giant Killers’ and ‘Leaders: Let Us Work in Unity’. As David killed Goliath and led the Israelites to victory over the Philistines, leaders can kill the giants in our everyday lives and become over comers. She also reminded the leaders that it was God’s Will for the church to dwell together in unity (ukuikatana) – using 1 Corinthians 1:10 where Apostle Paul wrote, ‘Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly jointed together in the same mind and in the same judgment.’

ATTENDANCE: 173

TO GOD BE THE GLORY! Thank you for your prayers and continued support to us and ZAMBIA!

Gary and Sharon