Dear Christian Union Circuit Sponsors,
Happy New Year! We look forward to yet another year in partnership together to proclaim the Gospel.
It is now rainy season on the Circuits so we appreciate your prayers for safety as the Riders travel the muddy and at times dangerous roads. We trust you will enjoy this month’s update. Thank you for your continued support!
Mt. ZION MISSION SS / BOB UHRIG PAVILION
The people of this area are interested to hear the lessons we bring. It is an area which is open spiritually. There are a few Jehovah’s Witnesses who don’t allow their children to come. The only church in the area around Katsekera is a Roman Catholic Church. They don’t allow people to bring Bibles to church, and people in this area weren’t interested in the Bible. Now when Sunday School came in the area, we started teaching the people why we need to have Bibles. People started realizing their need for the Word of God. They were so thankful. In this area many people don’t know how to read and write but we are teaching them and little by little they are learning to read. The Good News books have pictures and stories about the whole life of Jesus on earth. This is very helpful because those that don’t know how to read can look at the pictures and remember the stories.
HOLLIS RICHER MEMORIAL SS/GRACE BIBLE PAVILION
Here many people come to Sunday School every week but often they complain about the part of Sunday School where we share the Gospel. Some of the children who are participating are from Muslim families and sometimes these parents stop them from coming. Salib is an example of a child who does well in every class. He is in grade 5 and is 14 years old. One time we had prizes and gave them away during the quiz part of Sunday School. Salib was given a necklace with a wooden cross on it, he was so happy. His parents however were not happy, as he comes from a strict Muslim home, and they chased him from the house and told him not to come back until he had returned the cross. He did not find us (we were at the Chiefs house) so he gave the cross to his friend and went home. From then on he was told he was not allowed to go to Sunday School any more because we are teaching about Jesus. We plan to go try and talk to his parents, please pray for this.
FAIRVIEW FAVOR SS/T.K. HOUSE OF HOPE PAVILION
Many people in this Sunday School come because they love colouring the pictures, even very old people get excited when they can colour the pictures. Other people are eager to learn English in phonics class for the first time. These are the people who want development in their life and community. We want to tell you about Ellen’s mother. Awhile ago she didn’t let Ellen come to Sunday School. Ellen started coming and learning with us even though she wasn’t allowed. Her parents got surprised when she started to pray before meals. They asked her where she learnt this and when she told them Sunday School her mother started attending with her. We praise God for what He is doing in the ministry.
BLESSINGS MEMORIAL SUNDAY SCHOOL
We were so pleased with the report that some of our kids are using their spare time to go for evangelism. When we were about to start Sunday School one day a man named Jacob who is 18 years old told us that two young boys had recently come to his house. He said they had a small black book which said “Uthenga Wabwino” (The Good News). The kids asked Jacob “Have you ever heard the Good News?” He replied that he hadn’t. The boys started explaining about the birth of Jesus, His life, and His death on the cross for our sakes. He said he remembered the boys also shared Acts 4:12 with him. He told the boys that he felt sorry for his sins and that he promised to stop doing evil like smoking and drinking. We asked him if the boys told him how to be born again and he said no. So we shared the plan of salvation with him and he received Christ as his saviour. This was very encouraging for us and we praised God that the fruits of Sunday School are being seen in the peoples lives.
BERNARD & DORIS CLYMER SUNDAY SCHOOL
Many people in Mpango know about Christ only because of Sunday School, and the children here are learning to be well behaved. The teachers of the local school say there has been a big difference in the behaviour of kids since the Sunday School came. Now kids listen well in school and even ask the teacher if they can pray at the beginning of each class. The head teacher also said that people who attend our literacy classes are way ahead of their peers and have nice pronunciation and can read and write better. One girl’s life has been in our prayers a lot, her name is Liness. Her grandmother was teaching her witchcraft until one day Liness fell down and broke her leg. This is when we met her and asked her to attend Sunday School. Now she has stopped learning witchcraft and says she loves coming to learn about the Lord.
ZACHARY OLMSTEAD MEMORIAL SUNDAY SCHOOL
Many things are changing in this location, at first it was hard for the Muslims of this area to understand what Sunday School is all about. They thought we might kidnap their children. Now they understand us more and are allowing their children to attend sometimes. A certain man named Musa was surprised that his children stopped coming to madrasa (Islamic school) and was wondering why. So he came to Sunday School one day to see what we teach them. He said “These are good teachings because my kids will know how to read and even write.” Now he always sends his kids to Sunday School. At first when we went here the kids would always fight but now they are changing and hardly ever fight amongst themselves.
BOYLE FAMILY RESCUE UNIT SUNDAY SCHOOL Kasumbu village
We are praising God because of the wonderful Sunday School classes. One thing that we can testify is that the Lord has helped us so much in is teachers training. During the last two months He has brought us some people to be trained as teachers. We are so thankful because before that no one old enough was willing. As a whole we have seen the attendance of the Sunday School rising steadily, and for this we praise God. We praise God because in offerings people are now starting to understand the significance of it and why it is good. Now people are cheerfully giving in a way we haven’t seen before. We thank God for all these things and look forward for what He will do in the coming year.
Bless you, we appreciate your faithfulness.
Mrs. Linda Maher
Motorcycle Sunday School Mission
