field ADDRESS: FORWARDING AGENTS:^^^

^ j 32184 Mr, and Mrs. Skip Allen jlP

2 A Lusaka, Zambia p.Q. Box 611
Africa 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 white
Christmas just like the ones we used to know--
the tree tops don't glisten (except with rain
drops) and the children don't listen to hear
sleigh bells in the snow. But we do dream of
Christmas and think of our loved ones and
friends all over the world who flood our
memories at this time of the year. May God
who sent His only Son to be born, to live, and
to die for us, bless your home and family at
this special season with His resurrection
presence. May you have a blessed Christmas
and a happy 1986.
RE-ENTRY TO ZAMBIA
It is wonderful to be back in Zambia. Our
furlough was a busy and happy time for us
and prepared us for getting back to the work
here to which God has called us. It didn't take
us long to get re-adjusted to shortages,
standing in line and more work than we can
possibly get done. Our biggest frustrations
have come from having to turn down oppor
tunities such as producing radio and T.V.
programs, preaching revivals and having
leadership seminars in other areas simply
because there is not enough time to get it all in.
Please pray with us for more laborers, both
missionaries and nationals.
Our goods shipped from the States arrived
in good condition (with exception of a couple
Container and building supplies ready for
Mongu.
chairs) and after we unloaded our things from
the container it was sent on to Mongu to Jim
and Cindy with their things. Also sent on the
same truck were building supplies for the
church building Jim is working on. Again a
big THANK YOU to all who helped with the
purchase of equipment which we are now
putting to use.
NEWS FROM BEREAN
CHURCH OF CHRIST
It was good to get back to Berean Church
after a year's absence. Chris and Donna
Alexander did an excellent job with the
church during our time on furlough. The
church grew during that year and has
continued to grow since our return. It is not
uncommon now to have 150 or more in
attendance and plans are being made to build
an educational wing onto the building to
accommodate Bible School classes. Berean is
an English speaking congregation reaching
English speaking Zambians. We now have
a good group of university and college
students attending as well as business and
professional people.
The steering committee is presently
meeting every week for prayer and planning
sessions to encourage the growth and
outreach of the church. Committees are being
)
formed and the mutual ministry of all
believers is beginning to be realized. When
goals, and plans for reaching them, have been
outlined we will begin a series of classes on the
eldership in preparation for selecting elders.
The Christ In Youth group is being led by
two of our very capable young men and it is
rewarding to see their spiritual growth and
outreach. Some of our young men meet each
Sunday morning in our home for a Bible
study. They are enjoying the video lessons
from GOOD NEWS PRODUCTIONS, INTL.
and are presently studying the book of
Genesis entitled UP FROM CHAOS.
GROWTH AT MATERO
AND CHAWAMA
CHURCHES
We have been especially pleased with the
growth of the Matero and Chawama
churches. These are our two oldest churches
in Lusaka (both Nyanja speaking). Since the
beginning of the Berean Church in 1983 when
we started concentrating most of our time
there, these two churches have been on their
own. They each have strong elders who take
their responsibility of shepherding very
seriously. Both congregations have a full
house each week with attendance running
between 250 and 300. The elders and men they
select take turns doing the preaching. They
have ladies' classes, men's classes, youth
work and classes for new converts.
Immediately following our return to
Zambia we were saddened when one of the
Matero elders, highly respected among all our
churches throughout Zambia, was killed in a
car accident. Over 1500 people attended his
funeral, and Christians from all areas of
Zambia sent their condolences. He was a close
personal friend to us and we certainly miss his
friendship and counsel.
Ron and Marti Baumann have done a great
work with the new church at Chelston (as well
as churches at Mungwi and in the Kafue area)
and it was a privilege to be the speaker for the
dedication of their new building.
Dean & Judy
Life in Lusaka keeps us busy which is good
because it leaves us little time to wonder where
the years have gone. Fourteen years ago
when we were trying to adjust to an empty
house after Jim and Cyndee left to attend Rift
Valley Academy, God sent us David, a tiny
handful that took us back to bottles and
diapers again. Now David is fourteen and is
also a student at Rift Valley Academy. Al
though the house seems empty without him,
the time goes by so fast that it's nearly time for
him to come home for Christmas. He will be
home from Nov. 30 until Jan. 2. We really
miss him and will be anxiously awaiting the
sight of the plane bringing him home.
At the time of this writing Jim and his wife
Cindy are in the States on an emergency
medical trip. Jim began losing his coordina
tion 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 a
doctor who immediately sent him to South
Africa for further tests. But after a week of
tests there the neurologist was unable to find
the cause of his trouble, other than that it was
definitely a problem involving the brain. He
sent him on to the States where there is more
advanced equipment to scan the brain, even
more detailed than a CATscan, and hopefully
his problem will be found quickly. Jim and
Cindy are in Winston-Salem, NC where our
daughter Cyndee is a nurse at Baptist
Hospital. She was able to set up appointments
for him so that when he arrived there wouldn't
be a delay. Please keep Jim and his wife
Cindy in your prayers. I'm sure by the time
you receive this newsletter we (and possibly
you) will know more. We will try to keep
everyone informed through our prayer
partners. We ask for prayers for all ofus as we
go through this difficult time.
Jim and Cindy
Belore you move, please seno ine mailing laOei oeiow. aiong iin a copy ot youi new aooiess lo
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