field ADDRESS: FORWARDING AGENTS:^^^^ j 32184 Mr, and Mrs. Skip Allen jlP

2 A Lusaka, Zambia p.Q. Box 611Africa King, NC 27021

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

Volume 20 December 1985 Number 2

SEASON'S GREETINGS

Dean, Judy, David

It is unrealistic for us to dream of a whiteChristmas just like the ones we used to know --the tree tops don't glisten (except with raindrops) and the children don't listen to hearsleigh bells in the snow. But we do dream ofChristmas and think of our loved ones andfriends all over the world who flood our

memories at this time of the year. May Godwho sent His only Son to be born, to live, andto die for us, bless your home and family atthis special season with His resurrectionpresence. May you have a blessed Christmasand a happy 1986.

RE-ENTRY TO ZAMBIA

It is wonderful to be back in Zambia. Ourfurlough was a busy and happy time for usand prepared us for getting back to the workhere to which God has called us. It didn't takeus long to get re-adjusted to shortages,standing in line and more work than we canpossibly get done. Our biggest frustrationshave come from having to turn down opportunities such as producing radio and T.V.programs, preaching revivals and havingleadership seminars in other areas simplybecause there is not enough time to get it all in.Please pray with us for more laborers, bothmissionaries and nationals.

Our goods shipped from the States arrivedin good condition (with exception of a couple

Container and building supplies ready forMongu.

chairs) and after we unloaded our things fromthe container it was sent on to Mongu to Jimand Cindy with their things. Also sent on thesame truck were building supplies for thechurch building Jim is working on. Again abig THANK YOU to all who helped with thepurchase of equipment which we are nowputting to use.

NEWS FROM BEREAN

CHURCH OF CHRIST

It was good to get back to Berean Churchafter a year's absence. Chris and DonnaAlexander did an excellent job with thechurch during our time on furlough. Thechurch grew during that year and hascontinued to grow since our return. It is notuncommon now to have 150 or more in

attendance and plans are being made to buildan educational wing onto the building toaccommodate Bible School classes. Berean isan English speaking congregation reachingEnglish speaking Zambians. We now havea good group of university and collegestudents attending as well as business andprofessional people.

The steering committee is presentlymeeting every week for prayer and planningsessions to encourage the growth andoutreach of the church. Committees are being

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formed and the mutual ministry of allbelievers is beginning to be realized. Whengoals, and plans for reaching them, have beenoutlined we will begin a series ofclasses on theeldership in preparation for selecting elders.

The Christ In Youth group is being led bytwo of our very capable young men and it isrewarding to see their spiritual growth andoutreach. Some of our young men meet eachSunday morning in our home for a Biblestudy. They are enjoying the video lessonsfrom GOOD NEWS PRODUCTIONS, INTL.and are presently studying the book ofGenesis entitled UP FROM CHAOS.

GROWTH AT MATERO

AND CHAWAMA

CHURCHES

We have been especially pleased with thegrowth of the Matero and Chawamachurches. These are our two oldest churchesin Lusaka (both Nyanja speaking). Since thebeginning of the Berean Church in 1983 whenwe started concentrating most of our timethere, these two churches have been on theirown. They each have strong elders who taketheir responsibility of shepherding veryseriously. Both congregations have a fullhouse each week with attendance runningbetween 250 and 300. The elders and men theyselect take turns doing the preaching. Theyhave ladies' classes, men's classes, youthwork and classes for new converts.

Immediately following our return toZambia we were saddened when one of theMatero elders, highly respected among all ourchurches throughout Zambia, was killed in acar accident. Over 1500 people attended hisfuneral, and Christians from all areas ofZambia sent their condolences. He was a closepersonal friend to us and we certainly miss hisfriendship and counsel.

Ron and Marti Baumann have done a greatwork with the new church at Chelston (as wellas churches at Mungwi and in the Kafue area)and it was a privilege to be the speaker for thededication of their new building.

Dean & Judy

Life in Lusaka keeps us busy which is goodbecause it leaves us little time to wonder wherethe years have gone. Fourteen years agowhen we were trying to adjust to an emptyhouse after Jim and Cyndee left to attend RiftValley Academy, God sent us David, a tinyhandful that took us back to bottles anddiapers again. Now David is fourteen and isalso a student at Rift Valley Academy. Although the house seems empty without him,the time goes by so fast that it's nearly time forhim to come home for Christmas. He will behome from Nov. 30 until Jan. 2. We reallymiss him and will be anxiously awaiting thesight of the plane bringing him home.

At the time of this writing Jim and his wifeCindy are in the States on an emergencymedical trip. Jim began losing his coordination about two months ago and at the time

David & Jim

wondered why he kept walking into walls!When it kept getting worse he decided to see adoctor who immediately sent him to SouthAfrica for further tests. But after a week oftests there the neurologist was unable to findthe cause of his trouble, other than that it wasdefinitely a problem involving the brain. Hesent him on to the States where there is moreadvanced equipment to scan the brain, evenmore detailed than a CAT scan, and hopefullyhis problem will be found quickly. Jim andCindy are in Winston-Salem, NC where ourdaughter Cyndee is a nurse at BaptistHospital. She was able to set up appointmentsfor him so that when he arrived there wouldn'tbe a delay. Please keep Jim and his wifeCindy in your prayers. I'm sure by the timeyou receive this newsletter we (and possiblyyou) will know more. We will try to keepeveryone informed through our prayerpartners. We ask for prayers for all ofus as wego through this difficult time. Jim and Cindy

Belore you move, please seno ine mailing laOei oeiow. aiong «iin a copy ot youi new aooiess loMISSION SERVICES ASSOCIATION, P O 00* 2427, Kno*ville, TN 37901-2427

Mission Services

PO Box 2427

Knoxville. TN 37901-2427

AOORBSS CORKCTION RiOUtSTeO