,FIELD ADDRESS: FORWARDING AGENTS: I

P.O. Box 32184

Lusaka, ZambiaAfrica

Mr. and Mrs. Skip AUenP.O. Box 611Kmg,NC 27021

-AMBASSADORS FOR CHRIST" IN CENTRAL AFRICA. (II Corinthians 5:20)

Volume 19 May 1984 Number 1

FURLOUGH TIME

When you receive this ZAMBIAMESSENGER Judy and David will alreadybe in the States with Cyndee and Rick andtheir new baby. I will be in the final stages oftying up the loose ends and makingpreparations to leave Zambia on June 19th.

Jim, who is finishing his first term asmissionary in Mongu, will travel with medirectly to Chicago where I'll go through theMt. Sinai Tropical Disease Center to see ifthey can find the "bug" that has beenbothering me for the past six months.

This will be our fourth furlough and asalways we look forward to seeing everyoneand reporting first hand to all ofyou who havebeen so faithful as fellow-workers in thespreading of the Gospel. We can see now thatit is going to be a busy furlough as ouritinerary is already almost completely filled.(We have reserved some time to spoil our firstgrandchild and be together as a family.) Weare also looking forward to filling our own cupat the North American Christian Convention,the National Missionary Convention and the

Johnson Bible College Homecoming. We arepraying that God will use us to challenge youand others to greater involvement in worldevangelism.

BEREAN IS GROWING

Last Sunday we had a record attendance of96 at Berean (the English speakingcongregation in Lusaka). By the time youreceive this we hope that we have broken the100 mark. The emphasis at Berean is not onnumbers and in fact the attendance figuresare never mentioned during our worshipservices. The emphasis is on thecommitment and faithfulness of everybeliever. Most of the people who have come toChrist have been led by friends who havewitnessed to them before follow-up calls havebeen made by me. When someone comes toconfess Christ he/she is usually baptized bythe person who led them to the Lord. Thenthere is a discipling program for each newChristian again, when possible, led by theperson who influenced that individual forChrist. One young man who came to Christ inMarch 1983 has already baptized six peopleinto Christ.

Discipling a new Christian

Since we feel we are still too young for theselection of elders we have a steeringcommittee which conducts the affairs of thechurch. Recently the committee wasincreased from 6 to 8 men. Each man has beenmade responsible for "shepherding" a certainnumber of members so that everyone receivespersonal attention and care.

In April we began two Bible School classes(adult and children 10 to 16) and response hasbeen so good that already we see the need formore classes. We will soon have to consideradding more classrooms to the building.

About 20 young adults meet every Sundayafternoon. Activities vary between Biblestudy, visitation, prayer meetings and timesof fun and fellowship. They have been a realsource of inspiration to us as we've seen themgrow in Christ.

Berean "Christ In Youth" Group

Most of the ladies at Berean work at publicjobs but just before Judy left for the Statesthey expressed a desire to get together forfellowship and getting to know each otherbetter. There were 9 women at their firstmeeting and plans were made for them to meetone Saturday afternoon of each month. Theyalso volunteered to each help in thepreparation of the Lord's Supper and set up aschedule for that.

Berean is growing!! We praise God for theinfluence this congregation is having forChrist.

OUR REPLACEMENTS

We have been blessed to have Chris andDonna Alexander in Lusaka for the past year.They came to Zambia first in 1981 as internsfor three months. At that time they were notmarried and Chris worked in Chipata whileDonna worked in Lusaka. After theirmarriage and Chris' graduation fromJohnson Bible College they came back toZambia as "replacement missionaries". They

where the Baumanns '

were ministering. (•When I leave they j r.

•n . 1 Unris and Donna A exanderWill take over theministry at Berean to replace us while we areon furlough. They are a sweet, dedicatedcouple who have proven themselves through

hard work and a deep love for the people withwhom they work. Please pray for Chris andDonna as they continue to serve in Zambia.

BENOITS LEAVE US

Three years ago a lovely Canadian familycame to Lusaka to work with the Zambianministry of Agriculture and WaterDevelopment. They are faithful and devotedChristians who have shown great interest inthe work by visiting churches, preaching andencouraging the Zambian Christians. Theyhave visited most of the missionaries with

Z.C.M. and have been a constant source ofencouragement to all of us. Randy, Mindyand Ben assisted in the establishment of theBerean church and were faithful servants

there right through their last Sunday inZambia. They are cherished friends whom we

Randy, Mindy and Ben Benoit

shall never forget. Their contract with thegovernment of Zambia has been completedand they return to Canada. We and theBerean church hate to see them go. ThanksRandy, Mindy and Ben for making our livesricher by having come to know and love you.

Kd Benoil, Randy'sfather, preaching atBerean. Bro. Benoit hasfor many years been apreacher of the Gospel inChristian Churches inCanada. We greatlyenjoyed his three weekvisit in Zambia,

DAVID'S CORNER

My sister has had a new baby boy so Momand I came home early on furlough to helptake care of the baby. Dad will come in amonth or two. I am liking being here but Imiss all my friends back in Zambia. It was abig job packing everything up and gettingready to come.

I am going to school here for the last monthof grade seven to see how I fit in with theAmerican school system. Then I will move onto the 8th grade when school starts again.

I'm looking forward to seeing all of you.

--David

seBve

ONe

ANOThCR

LoveNOUTb AMeulCAN ChulSTlAN CONVeNTlONlUL^ 10-13, 1984 ATLANTA. QeOUQiA

The phone rang at noon. "We've takenCyndee to the hospital; the baby's on its way"was the message! The women's group fromChawama, 15 in all, had come earlier thatmorning to tell me good-bye, so they were justas excited as I was. Children are so importantin their society and they immediately startedsinging and dancing and congratulating me.It seems that grandchildren are even moreimportant than children. Many, many

Judy and Joshua

couples have divorced because they wereunable to have children, thus depriving theirparents of grandchildren. If a son's wifehasn't had a baby by the end of the first year,the first murmurings are heard. By the end ofthe second year, the parents start insisting ona visit to the "African Doctor" to see what theproblem is. By the end of the third year, mostwives are sent back to their parents indisgrace, and usually the lobola (bride price) isrefunded because the bride hasn't hadchildren. No one ever believes it could be thehusband's fault that there are no children.Even if a medical doctor checks the couple andfinds that the husband is sterile, it's the wife'sfault. Just last month, neighbors of ours wentback to their village so the elders could decidewhat to do about them since they've beenmarried for three years and have no children.They have been to doctors here and found thatthe husband is sterile - but the village elders"treated" the wife with traditional medicine.If she doesn't conceive soon she says, herhusband will probably have to get anotherwife since she's no good. So the women wereunderstandably happy that we would soon begrandparents.

"If the baby is a boy", one said, "that means

Dean, the grandfather, has a walking stick. Ifit's a girl then you, the grandmother, has awalking stick. It's much more important thatthe grandfather have the first walking stick.That's why we Africans always want a boyfirst".

Well, Dean has his walking stick as JoshuaAllen was born just a few hours later. Rickand Cyndee are the proud parents of a beautiful baby boy. Dean and I are the proud grandparents, and Dean is looking forward to "leaning on his new walking stick" in his old age!

We thank God for answering our prayersand we are looking forward to spoiling ourfirst grandchild.

THANK YOUWe want to thank all those who responded

to our request for used communion trays.We now have plenty and have even sharedthem with missionaries in other areas.Thank you for being a channel of blessingto the Zambian Christians and aidingthem in their worship of the King of Kings.

ambia MesgQnq

FIELD ADDRESS: FORWARDING AGENTS:

P.O. Box 32184Lusaka, ZambiaAfrica

Mr. and Mrs. Skip AllenP.O. Box 611Kmg,NC 27021

-AMBASSADORS FOR CHRIST" IN CENTRAL AFRICA. {II Corinthians 5:20)

Volume 19 December 1984 Number 2

Se/uorCi GnMi/ujiWe want to take this opportunity to wish you a joyful, Christ-filled Christmas as you celebrate, in

your own way, the birth ofour Lord and Saviour. We pray that 1985 will be for you a fruitful year inHis service.

This Christmas is special to our family because it will be the first one in five years that we have allbeen together as a family. Ofcourse adding to the joy ofthat is the fact our family has increased sincethat last Christmas together. This has been an extremely rewarding furlough for Judy, David andme as we have spent time with Rick, Cyndee and our grandson Joshua. We have been blessed withanother lovely daughter as Jim and Cindy have

you. Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!" Dean, Judy, and David

NEWS FROM ZAMBIAShortages

Hearing about shortages in Zambia comesas no surprise to us since we have been experiencing them in varying degrees over thepast 17 years. However, we are concernedabout the present situation and would like foryou to join us in prayer about it.

For the past three years the great drought ofnorthern Africa has been reaching intoZambia. The country has experienced belownormal rainfall which has not only reducedthe production of essential crops for food, butit has critically diminished the availability ofwater in rivers and storage reservoirs, manyof which are now completely dry. Because thewater table has lowered, many wells havegone dry and large areas of the country aresuffering from lack of water. The rainyseason in Zambia has just begun. PLEASEPRAY for a long season with heavy rains bothin Zambia and the other drought strickenareas.

Also due to serious economic problems thecountry is not able to import such essentialcommodities as gas and diesel fuel, spareparts to keep equipment running, medicalsupplies and drugs. Please pray for the president and government leaders of Zambia asthey seek to find solutions to these difficultproblems. Pray for the Zambian Christiansthat their faith may be strong and theirwitness effective in these difficult times.

The ChurchIn spite of difficulties being faced, reports

from both the missionaries and the nationalsare positive. The Berean Church is continuing to enjoy growth under the capableleadership of Chris and Donna Alexander.Following are a few quotes from letters thatwe have recently received.

"Chris and Donna are continuing fromwhere you left off. They are both doing a finejob. We have formed a volleyball team for ourChrist In Youth group and we meet every Saturday. We also meet on Mondays for lessonsin a class that is especially arranged for newconverts. The Christ In Youth group and theSunday Bible Study class are strengtheningand encouraging to all the believers atBerean." "The congregation is fine andgrowing strong.."The Lord is keeping ussafe and we are now getting ready for a

crusade with Bro. Cecil Byrd doing the speaking." "The Church is doing fine and we arehappy to report that all is well with theChurch at Mongu where we, the Steeringcommittee, go for preaching every month.This program is helping us and them."

Reports like the above are certainly encouraging to us and we must admit make us homesick to see and be with these brothers andsisters in Christ again.

NEW PRAYER PARTNERCOORDINATORS

For several years Hoyt and Grace Johnsonfaithfully served as coordinators for ourPrayer Partner program, sending out therequests and encouraging you to pray for thespecific needs that arose in Zambia. Becauseof Hoyt's death it has become necessary tofind someone else to take over this vitalministry.

Having had an enjoyable ministry with theCapella Church of Christ near King, N.C. justprior to our going to Zambia, we have appreciated their continued interest and supportthrough the years. These ties are now beingfurther strengthened as Steve and PhyllisMartin, presently ministering at Capella, become our new Prayer Partner coordinators.We are thankful to have Steve and Phyllisworking with us in this way and we pray thatGod will bless them and their ministry.

Many victories have been won in Zambiabecause you have responded to the prayerrequests presented by our prayer partners. Wesay a special THANK YOU to the prayerpartners in each of our supporting churches,and to each of you who continue to pray for usand the work in Zambia.

Steve and Phyllis Martin

ASSOCIATIONSMCE 1946

HORizorrs.

16151577-9740 'RaBox2427.Kncuville.TN. 37901

MISSION SERVICES -SERVING MISSIONS

Because of the many nice comments wereceive when we are on furlough we know thatyou appreciate the ZAMBIA MESSENGER.We are thankful for that and hope to keep youwell informed through this means.

However, the quality of printing and theefficient mailing of the ZAMBIA MESSENGER is due to the loving service performed bythe team at Mission Services. They do the layout, printing, folding, addressing and mailingof the MESSENGER and 75 other newslettersand publications for missionaries all over theworld. They send out two million pieces ofmail a year and are the largest bulk mailers inKnoxville, TN. The valuable service theyperform relieves us of time and work whichcan better be used in our efforts to evangelizeZambia.

If you, your class, or your church would liketo support a mission that is worthy because ofthe significance and importance of what theyare doing for world evangelism, pray for andsupport MISSION SERVICES. You will behelping us and many other missionaries whenyou do.

riiir-

The Mission Services family

DAVID'S CORNER

Things in the States are nice, although I ama little homesick for Zambia. Right after Icame to America this time I bought acomputer with money I got from selling mybicycle in Zambia. It is a Commadore 64. Iplay with it a lot and I am having quite a lotoffun with it. I am learning to type on it.

My birthday was not too long ago and I gota small used motorcycle. I really like it andride it a lot.

I am hoping for quite a bit of snow this yearsince we do not get any over in Zambia. Itwould be fun to play in it.

Well, that is about it for now. I love you all.

David

Rick, Cyndee, and Joshua

Furloughs are great if you can adjust to allthe travelling and separation and beinghomesick for Zambia. But being in the Statesfor a year, seeing family and friends, visitingsupporting churches and presenting the workin Zambia is a great boost to our morale.

Right now David and I are eagerly anticipating the first snow and hoping we'll have awhite Christmas. We both love cold days andsnow and hope we will have lots of it. Whilemost of you are dreading the thoughts ofwinter, with its high fuel bills, snow, ice andslush, we are excited just thinking about it. Irealize there are many who really sufferduring the cold season and we understandwhy you don't look forward to it, but for us"tropicalites" the changing of the seasons isrefreshing.

Just as the highlight of the summer of '83was Cyndee's wedding, the highlight of thefall of '84 is Jim's! Jim was married Friday,November 23 to Cindy Moore in Dallas,Texas. Cindy is a former schoolmate of Jim'sfrom Rift Valley Academy where they bothattended school in the 1970'8. Cindy is nostranger to Africa as her parents were missionaries in Tanzania. She is an artist andafter college in Texas has been painting andworking in a frame shop. We have been

Mission Services

PO Box 2427Knoxvilie. TN 37901

ADDRESS CORRECTION REQUESTED

praying for Jim to find that girl that God hadfor him and we praise Him for working allthese things out bringing them together againat the right time and the right place.

Jim and Cindy became husband and wifethe day after Thanksgiving and are living inIndianapolis while they travel and prepare toreturn to Zambia in June or July of next year.Their address is 4263 Burkhart, Apt. A,Indianapolis, IN 46227.

Please pray for them as they settle into theirnew life together and prepare to serve Godtogether in Zambia.

Congratulations Jim and Cindy. May Godguide you and bless your home and future asyou grow together.

Jim and Cindy

Non Profit Org.

U.S. PostagePAID

Knoxvilie, TN

37901

Permit *374

f CHRISTIAN MISSION

DEAN AND JUDY DAVIS

Dean and Judy Davis have worked in Zambia, Africasince October of 1967. During their first two terms inZambia they worked together with Charlie and BettyDelaney in the copperbelt city of Ndola located in thenorth central part of the country. While in Ndola theDavises were instrumental in starting seven churchesin Ndola and the surrounding area. When congregations of believers were established assistance was

given in constructing church buildings to providemeeting places and stability. Leadership trainingclasses for the men and Bible classes forthe women in

each church were part of the weekly responsibility ofDean and Judy. When they left Ndola, new missionaries came in to continue Bible training andestablishing new churches. There are now more than20 churches in the area.

After survey trips to the northern province ofZambia, the Davises moved to the provincial capital ofKasama in 1974. They spent six months there, starting

one church and opening the area for more work. Othermissionaries followed and continued the work of evangelismthroughout the Northern province.

Shortly after their second furlough, the Davises moved to thecapital city of Lusaka where opportunities for church plantingand establishment equaled that of earlier years in thecopperbelt. Dean and Judy reopened the Chawama church inLusaka and started the Mungwi church near where they lived12 miles west of the city. Classes for both men and womenwere held weekly. Besides the city work, they assumed theleadership training of 5 rural churches west of Lusaka. From1980 this responsibility extended to 12 churches in a 40-miteradius. Through two dry seasons (April - October) Dean spenttwo days a week in this area having classes among the 12churches.

In November 1982 most of the work with the above-

mentioned churches was turned over to other missionaries

and Dean and Judy concentrated all their efforts toward theestablishment of an English-speaking church which couldminister to those English-speaking Zambians who are ingovernment, business, technical, and executive positions, aswell as the college and university people of Lusaka.

While the Davises are on furlough Chris and DonnaAlexander are ministering to the Berean Church.

Dean and Judy have three children. Jim and his wife, Cindy,are missionaries in Mongu, Zambia and are presently onfurlough. Cyndee, a nurse, is married and she and Rick andJoshua Allen live in Knoxville, Tennessee. David is in the 8thgrade at Doyle High School in Knox County, Tennessee.

Dean, Judy, and David will return to Zambia in 1985.Please continue to pray for them and for the people with

whom they work in Zambia.

Furlough Address:Johnson Bible CollegeBox 516

Knoxville, TN 37998Phone (615) 579-1326

Forwarding Agents:Mr. and Mrs. Skip AllenP.O. Box 611

King, NC 27021

FOR HORIZONS

Y;IN OCTOBER 1967 the Dean Davis family arrived in Zambia to begin the work of

establishing churches and training a national leadership*in fehosc diurchftCi

They were the first Christian'Chur di missionaries to enter the Oopperbelt

city of Ndola and continued their work there until Sept. 1976. During that

time they were instrumental rn starting seven churches in the Ndola area.

They also spent six months at Kasama in the Northern Province of Zambia where

they opened work and started one church.

In 1976 they moved to the capital city of Lusaka where they began two

churches and assumed the work of 12 others that had been established by former

missionary, Don Mechem. In Jan. 1983 they began the Berean Church of Christ

in Lusaka. Berean is a ^^lish-speaking church which is reaching Zambians whoperfer to use^^iglish in their worship. This congregation is making an effectivewitness among people who befope we were unable to reach.

Through the years -our main emphasis has been to train a national leadership

which can carry on the work without the presence of missionaries. Vte-are—happy-

-thet^^Apiy of the churches now have strong elders who are leading the congregationsin effective outreach in their respective communities. Jt^must be undei'stood that

-^^e growth and influence of these churches has resulted from the combined effortsof the Zy'c>l45tl^^' as they have worked together and carried on the work oftraining the leaders of churches that were already in the area when they arrived,

as well as starting new churches.

Presenty Dean and Judy are spending most of their time with the Berean

church working toward ,the goal for them to have their own trained Zambian Minister

by 1989. During.-©ur-furlough in 1984 and 1985 Chris and Donna Alexander will be

ministering to the church. Chris and Donna have done an excellent job of filling

in while the Ron Baumanns were on furlough and have worked with the venacular

speaking churches in Lusaka, Kafue and surrounding area. ' Wften^^^ return to Zambiain July 1985 we'^ill resume the ministry with Berean and endeavor to lead them toa completely self-supporting position. At preasent Berean is 85% ZAmbian and

15% whites from various other countries. The church has a strong desire to reach

out beyound itself and recently sent one of their members with Dean and Judy for

an evangelistic tour to Uganda.

It—io importaduthat •wo •me»frion-l:-he—work—that-Judy -haS' done-threugh-bhe

.years-with- the women. -She-'has had an influencial ministry meeting regularly with

womens classes of various churches to encourage their growth in the Lord. She has

also been teaching literacy classes to women who don't know how to read or write.

One of the most rewai^ding parts of her ministry has been seeing the joy of thesewomen as they read the word of God for the first time.

request prayers for more workers, both missionary and national. Please

pray for the Berean Church that this congregaton may be preparing itself to lead

in the development and evangelism of churches in the non-english speaking areas

of Zambia.