CROSS graduation
When we first arrived in Zambia, we worked with the CROSS Project (Churches Ready to Overcome Silence and Stigma). It is a ministry that equips local church groups to compassionately reach out to those around (and within) who are affected by HIV/AIDS. Tim and I both really enjoyed this work, both encouraging from the Word of God and challenging traditional beliefs about this disease. When Tim took on the role of director and I became a stay-at-home mom with 2 small children, our involvement in the CROSS project became minimal.
It was a real treat to join the CROSS team this past week and participate in their graduation signifying their completion of a 5 month curriculum. Tim did a fantastic job of speaking to the graduates, passionately exhorting them to be a community who embraces those with HIV/AIDS. After his talk, each graduate received a certificate and a “badge” of a blue cross wrapped in the red HIV ribbon.
Pray your way to…
Perhaps you’ve heard of the Health and Wealth gospel? Maybe not. Either way it has made it’s way from the West to the heart of Africa. It’s message is as deadly as any false prophet ever was. It completely empties the work, death and resurrection of Christ. Those are peripheral items compared to gaining prosperity, healing and deliverance. The “pastors” of these churches are often misguided swindlers trying to rob an already destitute people of whatever material possession they have. In addition, they are leading people astray and having them put their hope in something other than God. Those who follow such teachings will undoubtedly become disappointed and angry with God for not giving them their every wish and many will turn cynically away from the church.
It makes me mad when I come across a sign like the one posted below. My jaw drops as I read “pray your way to salvation…” And I wonder just how many people think they are Christians doing all the right things, following the prescription their church has outlined for them, but have never truly encountered Christ, the suffering one, who bore our sins upon the cross. All of Action Zambia’s ministries combat the health and wealth gospel at some level. We pray that God would use us to speak simply and clearly about Jesus Christ.
Ireen Visits Orphanage
Since Ireen came home to live with us we have taken her to the orphanage where she came from on several occasions. There was one auntie who had a special bond with Ireen, Auntie Katherine. For one year, Auntie Katherine cared for Ireen, nursed her to health and helped her adjust to life without her biological mother.
It has been said that if a child bonds well to their caregivers she is less likely to have issues bonding to her adoptive parents. It was apparent 3.5 years ago that Ireen had bonded to Katherine and for that we owe Katherine a debt of gratitude. I shudder to think of what would have happened to Ireen had God not placed Katherine in her life to bridge the gap until we adopted her.
Pray for Katherine and she contemplates leaving her work with the orphanage. Recently, there has been a lot of turn-around in the children placed in the orphanage. On top of that, the children who were there from the beginning of the orphanage have all been adopted or family members have claimed them. For Katherine it seems to be a fitting time for her to move on. She will forever hold a special place in our hearts, however, as the Auntie who cared for Ireen before Mama could.
Keke Christian Academy
Bruce Kaumba is one of the 15 pastors that are attending Action Pastors’ College (APC). His church and residence is not too far from our home. Although the distance isn’t very far, the roads to reach his place can prove challenging.
Tim, Andrea and the kids had a chance to go and visit his him in Kanyama compound. In addition to the church, Bruce has set up a small school called “Keke Christian Academy”. From what I could tell, it only provides pre-school and some of the lower grades. The children looked very engaged in what they were doing and the teachers, similarly, seemed very engaged with the children.
It was great to see a church where there is so much concern for the well-being of their community. We pray God’s abundant blessing on that Church and that many children will come to know their Saviour because of their education at the school.
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