When darkest hour comes, there is Light for the believer in Jesus; for " in HIM was Life; and the Life was the light of men". What a thought from that which is God Breathed! The context is from the "beginning". Jesus (Jehovah who is our salvation: name defined in its fullness) in Person of God WAS and has not failed to remain Life and Light. Of HIS Person He said "I change not"! When the greatest need arises, there is help; for we find "My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth" (He from the beginning by the way, "all things were made by HIM") &... "so that we may boldly say, the Lord is my helper...". He, our Life eternal from the beginning, "Light unto our path", from the beginning, who is from the beginning and never changes, will meet our need if it is a need, indeed!
When our greatest desire is realized, (the desire HE has given us to be grasped when we see the desire is HIS desire for us) Jesus is not only the "Author" of that desire "of our faith", but the "Finisher" of HIS desire for us "of our faith". Again I exhort us to grasp it, in darkness, in need indeed, so we can may stand in HIS presence today, fulfilled by HIS Life and Light "that hath appeared to ALL men." Tallyho" let us go, there is a fox to be caught and skinned, it is the old Serpent, and only the Light and Life of Jesus is the power to do so!
Later, Phil
Wednesday, September 24, 2014
Thursday, September 4, 2014
Traditional Culture Clash With Scripture
Bride price: does it clash with Scripture? The answer is no if it does not interfere with a consummate marriage. What does that mean? Well let me explain in the traditional culture where my wife and I work; Zambian villages. If the no portion of the agreed bride price has been paid by the husband, then the family of the bride can bring her home, withhold here from her husband...legally! So where is the clash with Scripture. Were not Rachel and Leah held from Jacob due to bride price, the week of work (7 years), until the time was completed? Yes, it is true and it was a tradition not a law of God but nowhere in Scripture does it say that bride price is wrong. However, these marriages were not consummated until the price was met. Thus it did not interfere with a command of God we find in Genesis 2. "A man shall leave his father and mother and cleave unto his wife and they shall be one flesh"; joined, not a promised marriage but a consummated marriage in physical intimacy of joining together (otherwise as 'knowing ones wife' in ye olde English that I love). Now where does the issue of Bride Price become sinful in our culture here? In withholding the wife from the husband cleaving to her and them being one flesh. That is a command of God. Now this is what I wrote using Scripture to reprimand the practice of Bride Price in its usage affecting a marriage...
Traditions
of Bride Price That
Defy
ScriptureGenesis 2:24 Matthew 19:5-6 I Corinthians &:5-6
[Genesis 2:23-24 KJV] 23 And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.
24 Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.
[Matthew 19:4-6 KJV] 4 And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female,
5 And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh?
6 Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.
[1Corinthians 7:2-6 KJV] 2 Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband.
3 Let the husband render unto the wife due benevolence: and likewise also the wife unto the husband.
4 The wife hath not power of her own body, but the husband: and likewise also the husband hath not power of his own body, but the wife.
5 Defraud ye not one the other, except it be with consent for a time, that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again, that Satan tempt you not for your incontinency.
6 But I speak this by permission, and not of commandment.
Man shall “cleave” to his wife; man and woman “joined”: thus according to Jehovah, even Jesus who is Jehovah our salvation --- man, no man, not any man has a right to bring cause for them to be separated.
When a family, and the man of that family who is the head of the wife (Ephesians 5:22-33) becomes instrumental in causing separation of husband and wife, that family and especially the man of the family is guilty of breaking the fundamental and express purpose of the Creator of all things.
That family creates an environment AGAINST what Paul wrote in explanation that husband and wife fulfill each others, needs. Thus his permissive explanation emphasizes NOT to interfere with what our Mighty God set in place in original creation. Can we bring curse from the LORD on our families from using traditions of culture that defy the directives of the Lord of hosts? YES! Is bride price wrong, no. Can the bride price become sin against the God of glory, Jehovah? Yes; when it interferes with the marriage to break asunder, keep apart the husband and wife.
[Deuteronomy 11:22, 26-28 KJV] 22 For if ye shall diligently keep all these commandments which I command you, to do them, to love the LORD your God, to walk in all his ways, and to cleave unto him; ...
26 Behold, I set before you this day a blessing and a curse;
27 A blessing, if ye obey the commandments of the LORD your God, which I command you this day:
28 And a curse, if ye will not obey the commandments of the LORD your God, but turn aside out of the way which I command you this day, to go after other gods, which ye have not known.
Just one of a few issues we must deal with here in our beloved Zambia.
Til next time!
Phil n Africa
Thursday, August 21, 2014
Lessons Learned
In year 2000, I came to Zambia twice to visit then work with the Tribal Village people of Southern Province. By 2002 I was working here on my own staying at the home of missionary absent for medical and family reasons. This was a time in 2002 of starvation as drought had plagued the nation of Zambia. As I moved that year and then years to follow on short term trips, we had crowds of people, sometimes more that 400. I preached the Gospel then called on people to receive Jesus. This they did by the hundreds in some meetings. By my last short term trip in 2005, I realized the same people were coming forward in meetings to receive Jesus at events where we fed them. But at the same time, found when we came for a Sunday meeting, of the hundreds professing only a few were faithful unless food was served...especially when we showed up without notice. Where were these hundreds? Where were the collective 1000s? Did we ever have a faithful number profess to receive Christ and they continued? Yes one place 54 professed to believe and receive Christ, all of them came to teaching on what the testimony of Baptism is and were Baptized and a Baptist Church was founded and they were faithful. But that was like Acts 2-5 and rarely seen in other area (God brought that revival for salvation of many, not man generated by glamorous enticing event)! That Church I know continued faithful under a sincere Zambian Pastor who the Lord had allowed me to disciple to Jesus in faith the follows HIM. My point?
NOW: ....See attached below the complete commission of Jesus Christ and realize our part begins with the peace that Jesus gave and then continues to proclaim clearly from Scripture who Jesus is , who HE is in all power in Heaven and earth, what HE has done for us, what true faith is and what the confession of the true Faith by testimony of Baptism is: that we are delivered from sin to serve HIM by HIS death burial and resurrection to live unto God, HIS own Person in Spirit, Heart, Mind, Jehovah, and so we Live by HIS righteous eternal Life in us as we learn to obey HIS commandments for us! Ask these question of ourselves, are we sure the ones we are reaching to believe in Jesus, to the saving of their soul, know who HE is in eternity? Do we make it clear that real faith will change their life to follow Jesus? Do they understand it is not the words they say but the repentant obedient Faith (Jesus is saving Faith, He is Salvation from sin to serve the most high God) of their very heart that believes and receives Jesus to be their Life? Do we let the LORD convince them that they are truly HIS by HIS Life in them that changes them day by day to be in the image of Christ? Do we look to see if there is evidence of hunger and thirst after HIS righteousness and then continue to build on that from Scripture that they grow in this merciful grace once delivered to the saints (true believers)? These basic questions must be answered lest we leave them with a false confidence in a ritual or prayer coerced by that does not bring New Life of regeneration which comes in knowing Jesus, denying self and following HIM is faith believing from the heart unto HIS righteousness for them, in them and seen through them by others. Luke 9:23, Romans 10:9-13, Hebrews 10:38-39, Galatians 2:20, Colossians 1:9-23!!! King James Version for clarity!
Commission
of Christ to His Church
and Every Believer in the Church
And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you. All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations and preach the gospel to every creature; baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day. Ye are witnesses of these things,that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth, Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, [even] unto the end of the world. Amen.
Til we meet again soon, speaking of Mephibosheth,
Phil n Africa
NOW: ....See attached below the complete commission of Jesus Christ and realize our part begins with the peace that Jesus gave and then continues to proclaim clearly from Scripture who Jesus is , who HE is in all power in Heaven and earth, what HE has done for us, what true faith is and what the confession of the true Faith by testimony of Baptism is: that we are delivered from sin to serve HIM by HIS death burial and resurrection to live unto God, HIS own Person in Spirit, Heart, Mind, Jehovah, and so we Live by HIS righteous eternal Life in us as we learn to obey HIS commandments for us! Ask these question of ourselves, are we sure the ones we are reaching to believe in Jesus, to the saving of their soul, know who HE is in eternity? Do we make it clear that real faith will change their life to follow Jesus? Do they understand it is not the words they say but the repentant obedient Faith (Jesus is saving Faith, He is Salvation from sin to serve the most high God) of their very heart that believes and receives Jesus to be their Life? Do we let the LORD convince them that they are truly HIS by HIS Life in them that changes them day by day to be in the image of Christ? Do we look to see if there is evidence of hunger and thirst after HIS righteousness and then continue to build on that from Scripture that they grow in this merciful grace once delivered to the saints (true believers)? These basic questions must be answered lest we leave them with a false confidence in a ritual or prayer coerced by that does not bring New Life of regeneration which comes in knowing Jesus, denying self and following HIM is faith believing from the heart unto HIS righteousness for them, in them and seen through them by others. Luke 9:23, Romans 10:9-13, Hebrews 10:38-39, Galatians 2:20, Colossians 1:9-23!!! King James Version for clarity!and Every Believer in the Church
And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you. All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations and preach the gospel to every creature; baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day. Ye are witnesses of these things,that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth, Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, [even] unto the end of the world. Amen.
Taken From: Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:15;
Luke 24:46-48; John 20:21; Acts 1:8Til we meet again soon, speaking of Mephibosheth,
Phil n Africa
Friday, August 8, 2014
FOR WHAT PURPOSE?!
How are you this day, in Christ Jesus, Lord Eammuel? I surely pray you are well. Thanks for joining me here; may this be a blessing. This morning, as I was in the Oracles (sayings) where our great God and our Savior, Jesus Messiah (see Letter to Titus 2:13-14) SAID THIS RECORDED BY JOHN THE BELOVED DISCIPLE, CHOSEN APOSTLE: John 1:51 "...verily, verily I say unto you, Hereafter ye shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man." Oh my friends, I have heard all manner of explanations of this saying of Lord Jesus. Let me try to help you see it in light of Scripture...the vision of this in the records written by Moses and confirmed thus by Jesus Himself, is found in the Holy Writ of Genesis 28:12 and verses following when Jacob foresaw this event in a dream. The Vision of this event! Then Jesus gave The Promise of this event as shown above. Finally John the beloved Disciple recorded the event in Fulfillment: Revelation 11:15-19 at the 7th (last) trumpet when "...The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of His Christ; and HE shall reign forever and ever....vs 19 And the temple of God was opened in heaven..."! NOW this is the key...open in John and Revelation is NO BARRIERS, NO CLOSURE, NO RESTRAINT, when Jesus returns to take over finally; therefore Heavenly abode of the most high God becomes one with this new earth, at HIS return... and messengers, angels, will have full access to all of original creation renewed in HIS KINGDOM. Are these angels only the created hosts of the Beginning...I think not, for the definition of "angel" in its entirety is simply "messenger". Context of Scripture defines if it is one of heaven by creation or one born on earth and redeemed by blood of Jesus to be a messenger to those who also need new birth. THUS "For what purpose" do we deny ourselves and follow Jesus to the lost in sin, teaching them also to be messengers of GOSPEL...at all and any cost! JESUS WILL HAVE A KINGDOM FROM HEAVEN TO EARTH AND WE BY MERCY DELIVERED BY GRACE RECEIVED BY FAITH MAY DECEND AND ASCEND UPON JESUS FOR ETERNITUY...OH WHAT PURPOSE WE ARE SERVANTS OF HIS! See this photo of those God has chosen and are surrendered to follow Jesus as believers and messengers to their own people here in Zambia and who the LORD has allowed me to walk with them in this process. After while crocodile, Phil n Africa
Wednesday, July 30, 2014
Oh the joy of ministry at Kooma Basic School. Each week of school terms during dry season, Melody and Pastor Aaron of Grace Baptist Church teach Scripture truth and stories to the students. (Rain season cuts them off even for 4x4 travel for extended times; a wet weather river flows through the area for over 60 kilometers flooding a plain of deep mud.)Tuesday was final day for this term. I preached to the 5th to 7th grade classes inviting them to receive Jesus Christ as their own Lord and Savior to follow HIM in repentant faith believing HE died for their sins, and would be their eternal Life. 18 responded.
Then with care, Pastor Aaron and Alfred, Pastoral Assistant working with me and in training to be a Pastor, spoke to each of them. During my message there were 2 girls and one young man that were intent and seemed anxious to know Christ personally. Oh how my heart yearns to see, written on their countenance, the reproof of Scripture and the Spirit of Christ in their souls. Is it worth the sacrifice of homeland, family fellowship and close personal friends in Texas and across USA? Yea and more, it is worth the humble honoring of the call and enablement of the Lord Jesus Emmanuel, Messiah, King of saints, who died for me that HE might deliver me from this present evil world; it is worth more than anything and I think of the words of that old hymn, "I'd rather have Jesus, than silver or gold, I'd rather have Jesus than riches untold, I'd rather have Jesus than anything, this world can now afford". Oh that HIS Life be my life for HIS sake and for the sake of the lost and lonely needing HIS deliverance from death, hell and the grave!
Sunday, July 20, 2014
To all our friends, my apologies for not writing in over a year. I have used another media for posts but realize I should keep this up. Let me tell you the story of Chuma, a 3 year old girl who was dying. Her body was swollen. Her eyes were nearly closed from the swelling. Her home was a bush village and the hospital in nearest city was of little help.
A team of youth and adults from Arden Road Baptist Church was visiting us from Amarillo Texas. We were on bush village visitation, 2 groups going in different directions, inviting all to come to a Bible Conference at Grace Baptist Church of Kooma village. As we passed out invitation, one of our group, the headman of Kooma asked us to pray with Chuma. We did.
The next night she and some of her family came to the meeting, walking nearly 6 kilometers. The whole mission team and many members of Grace Baptist gathered and we prayed for Chuma. The Arden Road Baptist team then met and took up an offering to send her to a mission hospital in Zimba that has a good reputation for up to date care.
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Yesterday, Chuma came to church with her mother (Mother and Chuma on right in photo). I did not even recognize Chuma.
Her mother said she nearly died before she arrived at Zimba, but glory to God, did not even recognized her. The swelling was gone, she had a big smile on her face and chattered away in Tonga while her mother wept for joy.
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Her mother has testified she will follow Jesus and be faithful to attend Grace Baptist to grow in the Lord. Pastor Aaron (photo on the left)
will follow up and disciple her while witnessing to her family regarding faith of Jesus Christ only name given whereby men must be saved from sin.
Oh by the way the mother on the left in photo with Chuma is holding her last born. His name is Shepherd. He was dedicated to the Lord at birth thus the name. He has a serious medical problem also. The mission team from Amarillo gave more than needed for Chuma and asked us to use it as needed to help others. Shepherd leaves with mother and grandmother for Zimba by tomorrow. Praying he can be helped also. Trusting the Lord to put his hand of mercy on Shepherd also.
I think I owe a promised story from over a year ago. Pray I do not fail this blog again.
Loving Regards in Jesus Emmanuel,
Phil n Africa
A team of youth and adults from Arden Road Baptist Church was visiting us from Amarillo Texas. We were on bush village visitation, 2 groups going in different directions, inviting all to come to a Bible Conference at Grace Baptist Church of Kooma village. As we passed out invitation, one of our group, the headman of Kooma asked us to pray with Chuma. We did.
The next night she and some of her family came to the meeting, walking nearly 6 kilometers. The whole mission team and many members of Grace Baptist gathered and we prayed for Chuma. The Arden Road Baptist team then met and took up an offering to send her to a mission hospital in Zimba that has a good reputation for up to date care.
Her mother said she nearly died before she arrived at Zimba, but glory to God, did not even recognized her. The swelling was gone, she had a big smile on her face and chattered away in Tonga while her mother wept for joy.
Her mother has testified she will follow Jesus and be faithful to attend Grace Baptist to grow in the Lord. Pastor Aaron (photo on the left)will follow up and disciple her while witnessing to her family regarding faith of Jesus Christ only name given whereby men must be saved from sin.
Oh by the way the mother on the left in photo with Chuma is holding her last born. His name is Shepherd. He was dedicated to the Lord at birth thus the name. He has a serious medical problem also. The mission team from Amarillo gave more than needed for Chuma and asked us to use it as needed to help others. Shepherd leaves with mother and grandmother for Zimba by tomorrow. Praying he can be helped also. Trusting the Lord to put his hand of mercy on Shepherd also.
I think I owe a promised story from over a year ago. Pray I do not fail this blog again.
Loving Regards in Jesus Emmanuel,
Phil n Africa
Tuesday, April 23, 2013
no compromise, no respect for that which is evil
In this world of the wicked pursuits of people full of sin, there must be those that refuse the evil and choose that which is good...and Jesus said there is none good but God, Jehovah, the Most High and Eternal Sovereign Creator.
The lives of people around the world deserve for us, believers who in repentant obedient Faith of Christ do exactly what He requires when He told His disciples, "Follow Me". It is not the hype of song, dance, exuberance of the moment that is fulfilled holiness. Rather it is the resulting Life of very Messiah seen in the day to day worship of each one that truly follows HIM.
For that to happen, the whole counsel of our Holy Eternal Almighty God must be given to people so their conversion is real and not a vague religion that is not so different or even incorporates the lusts of the world. These seen below deserve Jesus the real God, Judge and only Savior. Thus HE that very and only God and Savior deserves our denial of self to live in HIS desires for them to have HIS holiness by redemption from sin and this present evil world.
The lives of people around the world deserve for us, believers who in repentant obedient Faith of Christ do exactly what He requires when He told His disciples, "Follow Me". It is not the hype of song, dance, exuberance of the moment that is fulfilled holiness. Rather it is the resulting Life of very Messiah seen in the day to day worship of each one that truly follows HIM.
For that to happen, the whole counsel of our Holy Eternal Almighty God must be given to people so their conversion is real and not a vague religion that is not so different or even incorporates the lusts of the world. These seen below deserve Jesus the real God, Judge and only Savior. Thus HE that very and only God and Savior deserves our denial of self to live in HIS desires for them to have HIS holiness by redemption from sin and this present evil world.
Tuesday, April 9, 2013
The Essence Of War With Darkness
Greeting from Zambia Africa! Below is the introduction and first section to booklet that I am writing. It is a work and labor of love for our people here. They are burdened with a tremendous pressure from all sides to believe in the 'traditions of darkness' while professing faith of following Christ.
Let me first say this a deadly combination. If a person PROFESSES but it is not the heart CONFESSION (full agreement with only Jehovah) of that person to believe in repentant Faith to follow only Christ the Savior, Lord Jesus Messiah, then that one is in double jeopardy before the most high God and to the works and minions of darkness.
Read the following if you will. Then comment please. If it is distorted in its format, do the best you can to read it, this blog format shifts paragraphs etc. out of normal profile. AND the pictures did not download with the text, not sure why.
Til we meet again at African Missions on Biblical Steroids. Stay tuned for the story of the vampire bat that has been attacking one of the Pastors and his family since 2010. This will be a true story that is verified by many that can testify of it's reality. Satan is alive and evil in the universe, and working thru his many evil and foul spirits in the realm of man! BUT JESUS HAS ALL POWER IN HEAVEN AND EARTH!!!
Phil
Results of Admixture of Darkness and Misuse of Bible Phil Stephens: Holding to the Standards of Scripture the very Words of the Most High God. This article appeared in the BBC News magazine. What the writer finds incredible, I perceive as absolutely incredulous. The form of so called "Christianity" founded by Chief Sechele cannot be considered the intent of or be acceptable to the Most High God seen on earth the Son of God who gave Himself for our sins [Christ died for our sins]. He gave HIMSELF to deliver us from this present evil world, thus the very will of God our Father and our Lord, Jesus Christ (Letter by Paul the Apostle to the Galatian Churches Chapter One verses 1 -5). Read the article, then some more comments I have sent to the man who brought this article to my attention and also sent to my Pastor, Dr. Brann Victory Baptist Church, Cedar Park, Texas. Then read the last section. It is a serious short study on the essence of Christianity as intended by the Most High God, the King of Glory-King of Kings-King of Saints-the LORD Jehovah our Shepherd. *Article found in BBC News Magazine 19 March 2013 Last updated at 00:59 GMT
The African chief converted to Christianity by Dr Livingstone
It is 200 years since the birth of David Livingstone, perhaps
the most famous of the missionaries to visit Africa in the
19th Century. But as author and Church historian Stephen
Tomkins explains, the story of an African chief he converted
is every bit as incredible as Livingstone's.
According to the title of one biography, David Livingstone was "Africa's Greatest Missionary".
This is an interesting claim about the Lanarkshire-born man, considering that estimates of the number of people he converted in the course of his 30-year career vary between one and none.
The variation is because Livingstone himself wrote off his one convert as a backslider within months of his baptism.
The irony is that this one backslider has a much better claim than Livingstone to be Africa's greatest missionary.
This man on whom Livingstone gave up became a preacher, a leader and a pioneer of adapting Christianity to African life - to the great annoyance of European missionaries.
His name was Sechele, and he was the kgosi or chief of the Bakwena tribe, part of the Tswana people, in what is now Botswana.
Born in 1812, he was 10 when his father, the previous kgosi, was killed. Two of his uncles divided the tribe between them. Sechele escaped with a few followers into the desert for nine years, and returned to oust one of his uncles. This was how things stood when Sechele first met Livingstone - he ruled a half-tribe. Livingstone persuaded him to make peace with his other uncle by sending him a gift of gunpowder for his rifle.
The uncle was suspicious that the gunpowder was bewitched, tried to neutralise it with fire, and in the resulting explosion was killed. Sechele thus ruled over a reunited Bakwena.
Like many kgosi, Sechele was keen to have a missionary living in his town. Missionaries came with guns (and powder), making them an invaluable defence, and with medicine.
Sechele amused Livingstone by asking for medicine to make him a better hunter. But the thing Sechele wanted above all from Livingstone was literacy.
He learned the alphabet, upper and lower case, in two days, compiled his own spelling books, and set about reading the one book in the Tswana language, the Bible. He ate breakfast before sunrise in order to start school as quickly as possible, and then taught his wives to read.
As Sechele grew increasingly interested in Christianity, he found two huge barriers in his way. One was rain.
Tswana tribes had rainmakers, whose job was to use magic to make the rain come. Livingstone, like all missionaries, vehemently opposed rainmaking, on both religious and scientific grounds.
Sechele happened to be his tribe's rainmaker as well as kgosi, and Livingstone's stay coincided with the worst drought ever known, so Sechele's decision to stop making rain was predictably unpopular.
The greater problem was polygamy. Sechele had five wives, and Livingstone insisted that to become a Christian he needed get rid of the "superfluous" ones. This was a political as well a personal nightmare, threatening the political structure of the tribe and relations with other tribes.
But in 1848 Sechele divorced four of the women and was baptised. The following year, however, one of his exes became pregnant, and it turned out that Sechele had fallen. He repented, and told Livingstone: "Do not give me up because of this. I shall never give up Jesus. You and I will stand before him together."
Livingstone did give up on him, going north to embark upon his celebrated adventures.
Their last contact was in 1852. Sechele had fought off an attack from the Transvaal Boers, and was en route to Britain to ask Queen Victoria's protection. He got as far as the Cape before being turned back.
At this point, Sechele largely disappears from view. His reappearance was startling.
The first British missionaries who arrived to work with the Zulu Ndebele tribe in what is now Zimbabwe in 1859 were staggered to find that they already had regular Christian prayers. Sechele had beaten them to it.
Sechele had decided to lead church services for his own people after Livingstone left. He taught reading, the Bible became popular, and slowly the Bakwena became Christian.
Sechele travelled hundreds of miles as a missionary to other tribes, and having withstood the Boers, the Bakwena became a refuge, absorbing many tribes into their Christian society. At his death in 1892, Sechele ruled 30,000 people, a hundred times the number Livingstone first found him with.
African Christianity: Does it owe more to Sechele than Livingstone?
In the estimation of Neil Parsons, of the University of Botswana, Sechele "did more to propagate Christianity in nineteenth-century southern Africa than virtually any single European missionary".
For European missionaries though, Sechele was a frustrating puzzle, "a half Christian and a half heathen".
He returned to rainmaking, considering it a political necessity, and late in life returned to polygamy, marrying a young woman for what do not seem to have been entirely political reasons.
Missionaries also strongly objected to his use of traditional charms and purification rites, and the list of his ancestors on the church wall.
And yet, even the ones who most hated him admitted, "he reads the Bible threadbare", and when confronted he ran scriptural rings around them.
"Roger had to keep his wits about him," wrote the missionary Elizabeth Price about her husband, "or he would have been lost, so wily and cunning is Sechele - murdering sacred scripture and bringing it to defend him in a way which horrifies and amazes one. A strange, strange mixture he is."
The strange mixture was in fact African Christianity. Unlike other converts who were content to follow European Christianity, Sechele went back to the source and recreated it as an indigenous religion.
Hopefully, in the year of Livingstone's bicentennial, Sechele will finally get a bit more of the recognition due to him.
Foot notes:
From BBC News Report Special Interest article.
Stephen Tomkins is the author of David Livingstone: The Unexplored Story
MY REPONSE in consideration to the very Scripture themselves.
Note: this was sent to my Pastor:
Pastor, please read the article if you will, and know it is this kind of "Christianity" that plagues us still. Also know that this issue is most discouraging to me at times; yet I can take you to 3 men here that have seen the truth of the Life of Christ in true believers and are teaching a few others the same.
"African Christianity" is as heinous as Romans 10:1-3 describes the descendants of Israel to be in Paul the Apostle’s times. "African Christianity" is an absolute oxymoron as described in this article. David Livingstone was right; therefore Sechele did more to distort, "snatch" away and choke the precious seed of the word of Christ than to encourage it in any form. What David L. called backsliding was a Chief gladly receiving the word then without truly submitting to the righteousness of God changed it into his own religion calling it Christianity. [Matthew 13 and Romans 1]
That religion of Sechele was a religion of greed, witchcraft, lasciviousness (uncontrolled lust for forbidden) of adultery and fornication. It is a religion still used with crafty deceit by religious leaders and Chiefs all over this dark continent to gain power, prestige and wealth. It gives new steriodially wicked meaning to "going about to establish their own righteousness" and emphasizes the words of Christ regarding HIS Kingdom," depart from me ye workers of iniquity" and "few there be that find it". Tell Alex that I thank him for reminding me to continue to preach against witchcraft that is here taught can coincide and coexist with the Eternal Life of Christ in the Church or in the true believer. It cannot!
Standing firm on the very Scripture of Jehovah the Everlasting Father, Mighty God, Prince of Peace!
Phil Stephens Missionary to and in Zambia
Among Tribal Village People 13th year; March 20, 2013
What is Biblical Christianity?
Who Is Jesus Emmanuel Christ?
What Did HE Intend When HE Told Men "Follow ME"?
Biblical Christianity is not "European, African, Chinese, American, Spanish, Roman or Muslim". It is Heavenly, eternal, righteous as defined in Scripture without deceptive misuse to fit any culture that is of this present evil world!
The definition of Christian is ‘Like Christ’. It is the result of Christ the Holy One of God seen to be the Life of the person that is redeemed by the blood of Jesus the Messiah from Satan and sin. As Sechele wore his bible threadbare yet changed its truth to a lie, he aligned himself with the Pharisees of Jesus Emmanuel’s days on earth. They knew the Scripture VERY WELL, but changed it to fit their own self made righteousness which Isaiah the Prophet described as filthy rags. Sechele’s African "Christianity" was not Christian at all.
The essence of Christianity was delivered by Jehovah to the family of Adam and Eve; the blood sacrifice of promised LAMB OF GOD was seen when the shame of their sin was covered by skins of animals as result of death and shed blood of innocent animal. The promise was again shown by Abel in Scripture, Genesis 4.
This essential Truth of promise shown, which was fulfilled in Jesus Emmanuel the Lord and Christ, was continued after the flood of Genesis through Abraham who was called out of wicked society of the Chaldean/Syrian culture. His family heritage of separation from worldly sin and false worship was carried on through his linage which became known as Israel, defined "personal persistent determination with God, Warrior unto God".
In Genesis 35:10 and the verses that follow, we find the LORD Jehovah Almighty giving the name Israel to Jacob and his descendants. There in that passage of Scripture we also see prophesy of the place of birth and 2 names of Jesus Christ. The place of birth confirmed in Micah 4-5 was the tower of flocks "migdal Edar" at Bethlehem of Ephradah. The names were; son (man) of sorrows who would be bruised for our iniquity, Isaiah 53 and, son of right hand, right hand of God seen throughout the Old Testament as right hand that has gotten victory for Jehovah Psalm 98:1-2.
The blood sacrifice and promise of the Messiah Savior dying for our sin is shown over and over again through blood sacrifices by Israel. It is prophesied clearly by Isaiah Chapter 53 and Daniel Chapter 9. It is seen from the foundation of the world until the promise was fulfilled when John the Baptist said of Jesus Christ, "Behold the Lamb of God which takes away the sin of the world".
This essence of Christianity promised was fulfilled when Jehovah became flesh and was seen the very Son of God, Lord Jesus, Emmanuel Messiah. This same Savior who gave Himself a sacrifice for our sins, expects us to believe in HIM to follow HIM in righteousness of HIS Life putting away the filthiness of the flesh!
There is to be no mixture in true Christianity (those followers of Christ who are like Christ by the Life of Christ that is in them by faith) with witchcraft; witches, familiar spirits, evil and foul spirits, divination, observer of times, enchanters charmers (using charms of darkness/Satan) consulters with familiar spirits, wizards and
necromancer AND lusts of sin against the commandments, precepts, judgments of the holiness of Jehovah as seen in Scripture: worship of other gods, bow to graven images [using by having faith in man made objects for worship], taking name of Jehovah in vain [claiming HIM as God yet holding to the defiled practices of darkness and sin], sanctifying a day of rest unto the LORD Jehovah, dishonoring parents, murder, adultery [ any sexual sin explained in Leviticus and Deuteronomy or the adultery of mixing spiritually with heathen of darkness, rejecters of Almighty Jehovah], stealing, false witness which is giving lies not truth, covetousness [desire with intent to take] of that which belongs to your neighbor.
These commands and judgments of Jehovah, which are not to be found in the people of Jehovah, continue by explanation in New Testament; rioting/reveling which is wild parties of drinking and disobeying holiness of God, drunkenness, chambering which is sleeping carnally with anyone other than spouse [and from the beginning it was one man one woman one flesh as Pharisees were reminded by Jesus], wantonness/lasciousness which is unrestrained lust of worldly pleasures.
Here is a quote from Paul’s letter to the Ephesians; *notice the words ‘uncleanness and unclean person’ which word ‘unclean’ is applied to evil spirits of darkness and witchcraft by Jesus].
"Be ye followers of God as dear children; and walk in love as Christ has loved us and has given Himself for an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling savor. But fornication, and ALL uncleanness or covetousness () LET IT NOT BE NAMED ONCE AMONG YOU AS BECOMES (is proper for) SAINTS; neither filthiness (shameful sinful conduct just like Adam and Eve were ashamed after rebellion against Jehovah) nor foolish talking (words of a fool, like the fool has said in his heart NO GOD), nor jesting (making a joke of God),which are not convenient but rather give thanks. For this you know that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man who is an idolater has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. LET NO MAN DECEIVE YOU WITH VAIN WORDS: FOR BECAUSE OF THESE THINGS COMES THE WRATH OF GOD UPON THE CHILDREN OF DISOBEDIENCE. BE YE NOT THEREFORE PARTAKERS WITH THEM! FOR YE (followers of God) WERE SOMETIMES DARKNESS, BUT NOW ARE LIGHT IN THE LORD (the Life of Jesus Emmanuel the Lord and Christ is Light and in HIM is no darkness as told to us by John the beloved Apostle) WALK AS CHILDREN OF LIGHT FOR THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT IS IN ALL GOODNESS AND RIGHTEOUSNESS AND TRUTH PROVING WHAT IS ACCEPTABLE UNTO THE LORD. And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.
Read again what Paul wrote and know the things of sin and darkness are not to be found among the people of the LORD Jehovah.[Leviticus 17, 20,Deuteronomy 4-18, Isaiah 8:19-22, Exodus 20, Ephesians, 1 John 1:1-9 ]. The people redeemed by Jesus Emmanuel are to be the holiness of Jehovah which holiness is received by faith in HIS mercy, grace and forgiveness. It is received by those who will follow only HIM with all their heart in repentant obedient Faith of Jesus Christ!
Read carefully what Paul also wrote to Titus a disciple of Jesus Christ trained by Paul to follow Christ in faith believing only the Lord of glory:
" For the grace that brings SALVATION has appeared to ALL men, TEACHING us that denying UNGODLINESS AND WORLDLY LUSTS WE SHOULD LIVE SOBERLY, RIGHTEOUSLY AND GODLY IN THIS PRESENT EVIL WORLD; looking for that blessed hope and glorious appearing of THE GREAT GOD AND OUR SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST; WHO GAVE HIMSELF FOR US, THAT HE MIGHT REDEEM US FROM ALL INIQUITY AND PURIFY UNTO HIMSELF A PECULIAR PEOPLE ZEALOUS OF GOOD WORKS. These things speak and exhort and rebuke with all authority (order of commandment).
Jesus said to his 11 disciples, Apostles, according to Matthew’s account of the Gospel, Jesus Christ:
"All power in heaven and earth is given to me. Go ye therefore and teach (make disciples/learners in) all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things which I have commanded you, and LO I am with you alway even to the end of the world"!
Jesus is with those that learn of HIM by being taught who HE is , then they are to have the testimony of baptism which shows repentance from sin and obedience by faith to the Gospel which is Jesus Christ who died
for our sins and arose from the dead victorious over death hell and the grave to live unto GOD which is the picture of fulfilled righteousness. Baptism is our testimony of promise to follow HIM in Life unto THE GOD not unto sin anymore. AND Jesus’ command to learn all what HE commands which HE has fulfilled for us and we have HIS power to live by HIS Life in us if we truly believe to follow HIM…I am with you alway" not sin and darkness!
Paul made this clear in Romans 6 that our life is not for sin any more. It is a Life of living unto God, a separation from sin evil wickedness darkness ungodliness unholiness. The righteousness of Jesus Christ our Lord and our God does not mix or coexist with evil worship and practice of darkness.
Paul wrote to the Ephesians:
"…e who were dead in your trespasses and sin has HE quickened (made alive) for by grace are ye saved; and has raised us up together and made us to sit in heavenly places IN CHRIST JESUS"
God has made us alive by grace the undeserved gift of God, eternal Life, to walk in that which is heavenly, not darkness of sin and evil and worship of evil spirits by practicing the wickedness of Satan the deceiver. Paul continues:
"For by grace are ye saved through faith and that not of yourselves it is the GIFT of God (Romans 6:23 says the "gift of God is eternal Life through Jesus Christ our LORD!"): Not of (man’s) works lest any man should boast. For we are HIS workmanship created in Christ Jesus unto good works which God hath before ordained we should walk in them." *John said in 1John 2:6 that we should "walk as HE (Jesus) walked".+
Any that believe in Jesus Christ to follow HIM have eternal Life, Jesus very Life of good works for us and in us as we follow ONLY HIM. It is a life of separation. It is the eternal Life of the FATHER of LIGHTS given to us by Jesus when HE washed us from our sins and made us new by birth to live unto GOD, Jehovah and HIM alone
Let me first say this a deadly combination. If a person PROFESSES but it is not the heart CONFESSION (full agreement with only Jehovah) of that person to believe in repentant Faith to follow only Christ the Savior, Lord Jesus Messiah, then that one is in double jeopardy before the most high God and to the works and minions of darkness.
Read the following if you will. Then comment please. If it is distorted in its format, do the best you can to read it, this blog format shifts paragraphs etc. out of normal profile. AND the pictures did not download with the text, not sure why.
Til we meet again at African Missions on Biblical Steroids. Stay tuned for the story of the vampire bat that has been attacking one of the Pastors and his family since 2010. This will be a true story that is verified by many that can testify of it's reality. Satan is alive and evil in the universe, and working thru his many evil and foul spirits in the realm of man! BUT JESUS HAS ALL POWER IN HEAVEN AND EARTH!!!
Phil
Results of Admixture of Darkness and Misuse of Bible Phil Stephens: Holding to the Standards of Scripture the very Words of the Most High God. This article appeared in the BBC News magazine. What the writer finds incredible, I perceive as absolutely incredulous. The form of so called "Christianity" founded by Chief Sechele cannot be considered the intent of or be acceptable to the Most High God seen on earth the Son of God who gave Himself for our sins [Christ died for our sins]. He gave HIMSELF to deliver us from this present evil world, thus the very will of God our Father and our Lord, Jesus Christ (Letter by Paul the Apostle to the Galatian Churches Chapter One verses 1 -5). Read the article, then some more comments I have sent to the man who brought this article to my attention and also sent to my Pastor, Dr. Brann Victory Baptist Church, Cedar Park, Texas. Then read the last section. It is a serious short study on the essence of Christianity as intended by the Most High God, the King of Glory-King of Kings-King of Saints-the LORD Jehovah our Shepherd. *Article found in BBC News Magazine 19 March 2013 Last updated at 00:59 GMT
The African chief converted to Christianity by Dr Livingstone
It is 200 years since the birth of David Livingstone, perhaps
the most famous of the missionaries to visit Africa in the
19th Century. But as author and Church historian Stephen
Tomkins explains, the story of an African chief he converted
is every bit as incredible as Livingstone's.
According to the title of one biography, David Livingstone was "Africa's Greatest Missionary".
This is an interesting claim about the Lanarkshire-born man, considering that estimates of the number of people he converted in the course of his 30-year career vary between one and none.
The variation is because Livingstone himself wrote off his one convert as a backslider within months of his baptism.
The irony is that this one backslider has a much better claim than Livingstone to be Africa's greatest missionary.
This man on whom Livingstone gave up became a preacher, a leader and a pioneer of adapting Christianity to African life - to the great annoyance of European missionaries.
His name was Sechele, and he was the kgosi or chief of the Bakwena tribe, part of the Tswana people, in what is now Botswana.
Born in 1812, he was 10 when his father, the previous kgosi, was killed. Two of his uncles divided the tribe between them. Sechele escaped with a few followers into the desert for nine years, and returned to oust one of his uncles. This was how things stood when Sechele first met Livingstone - he ruled a half-tribe. Livingstone persuaded him to make peace with his other uncle by sending him a gift of gunpowder for his rifle.
The uncle was suspicious that the gunpowder was bewitched, tried to neutralise it with fire, and in the resulting explosion was killed. Sechele thus ruled over a reunited Bakwena.
Like many kgosi, Sechele was keen to have a missionary living in his town. Missionaries came with guns (and powder), making them an invaluable defence, and with medicine.
Sechele amused Livingstone by asking for medicine to make him a better hunter. But the thing Sechele wanted above all from Livingstone was literacy.
He learned the alphabet, upper and lower case, in two days, compiled his own spelling books, and set about reading the one book in the Tswana language, the Bible. He ate breakfast before sunrise in order to start school as quickly as possible, and then taught his wives to read.
As Sechele grew increasingly interested in Christianity, he found two huge barriers in his way. One was rain.
Tswana tribes had rainmakers, whose job was to use magic to make the rain come. Livingstone, like all missionaries, vehemently opposed rainmaking, on both religious and scientific grounds.
Sechele happened to be his tribe's rainmaker as well as kgosi, and Livingstone's stay coincided with the worst drought ever known, so Sechele's decision to stop making rain was predictably unpopular.
The greater problem was polygamy. Sechele had five wives, and Livingstone insisted that to become a Christian he needed get rid of the "superfluous" ones. This was a political as well a personal nightmare, threatening the political structure of the tribe and relations with other tribes.
But in 1848 Sechele divorced four of the women and was baptised. The following year, however, one of his exes became pregnant, and it turned out that Sechele had fallen. He repented, and told Livingstone: "Do not give me up because of this. I shall never give up Jesus. You and I will stand before him together."
Livingstone did give up on him, going north to embark upon his celebrated adventures.
Their last contact was in 1852. Sechele had fought off an attack from the Transvaal Boers, and was en route to Britain to ask Queen Victoria's protection. He got as far as the Cape before being turned back.
At this point, Sechele largely disappears from view. His reappearance was startling.
The first British missionaries who arrived to work with the Zulu Ndebele tribe in what is now Zimbabwe in 1859 were staggered to find that they already had regular Christian prayers. Sechele had beaten them to it.
Sechele had decided to lead church services for his own people after Livingstone left. He taught reading, the Bible became popular, and slowly the Bakwena became Christian.
Sechele travelled hundreds of miles as a missionary to other tribes, and having withstood the Boers, the Bakwena became a refuge, absorbing many tribes into their Christian society. At his death in 1892, Sechele ruled 30,000 people, a hundred times the number Livingstone first found him with.
African Christianity: Does it owe more to Sechele than Livingstone?
In the estimation of Neil Parsons, of the University of Botswana, Sechele "did more to propagate Christianity in nineteenth-century southern Africa than virtually any single European missionary".
For European missionaries though, Sechele was a frustrating puzzle, "a half Christian and a half heathen".
He returned to rainmaking, considering it a political necessity, and late in life returned to polygamy, marrying a young woman for what do not seem to have been entirely political reasons.
Missionaries also strongly objected to his use of traditional charms and purification rites, and the list of his ancestors on the church wall.
And yet, even the ones who most hated him admitted, "he reads the Bible threadbare", and when confronted he ran scriptural rings around them.
"Roger had to keep his wits about him," wrote the missionary Elizabeth Price about her husband, "or he would have been lost, so wily and cunning is Sechele - murdering sacred scripture and bringing it to defend him in a way which horrifies and amazes one. A strange, strange mixture he is."
The strange mixture was in fact African Christianity. Unlike other converts who were content to follow European Christianity, Sechele went back to the source and recreated it as an indigenous religion.
Hopefully, in the year of Livingstone's bicentennial, Sechele will finally get a bit more of the recognition due to him.
Foot notes:
From BBC News Report Special Interest article.
Stephen Tomkins is the author of David Livingstone: The Unexplored Story
MY REPONSE in consideration to the very Scripture themselves.
Note: this was sent to my Pastor:
Pastor, please read the article if you will, and know it is this kind of "Christianity" that plagues us still. Also know that this issue is most discouraging to me at times; yet I can take you to 3 men here that have seen the truth of the Life of Christ in true believers and are teaching a few others the same.
"African Christianity" is as heinous as Romans 10:1-3 describes the descendants of Israel to be in Paul the Apostle’s times. "African Christianity" is an absolute oxymoron as described in this article. David Livingstone was right; therefore Sechele did more to distort, "snatch" away and choke the precious seed of the word of Christ than to encourage it in any form. What David L. called backsliding was a Chief gladly receiving the word then without truly submitting to the righteousness of God changed it into his own religion calling it Christianity. [Matthew 13 and Romans 1]
That religion of Sechele was a religion of greed, witchcraft, lasciviousness (uncontrolled lust for forbidden) of adultery and fornication. It is a religion still used with crafty deceit by religious leaders and Chiefs all over this dark continent to gain power, prestige and wealth. It gives new steriodially wicked meaning to "going about to establish their own righteousness" and emphasizes the words of Christ regarding HIS Kingdom," depart from me ye workers of iniquity" and "few there be that find it". Tell Alex that I thank him for reminding me to continue to preach against witchcraft that is here taught can coincide and coexist with the Eternal Life of Christ in the Church or in the true believer. It cannot!
Standing firm on the very Scripture of Jehovah the Everlasting Father, Mighty God, Prince of Peace!
Phil Stephens Missionary to and in Zambia
Among Tribal Village People 13th year; March 20, 2013
What is Biblical Christianity?
Who Is Jesus Emmanuel Christ?
What Did HE Intend When HE Told Men "Follow ME"?
Biblical Christianity is not "European, African, Chinese, American, Spanish, Roman or Muslim". It is Heavenly, eternal, righteous as defined in Scripture without deceptive misuse to fit any culture that is of this present evil world!
The definition of Christian is ‘Like Christ’. It is the result of Christ the Holy One of God seen to be the Life of the person that is redeemed by the blood of Jesus the Messiah from Satan and sin. As Sechele wore his bible threadbare yet changed its truth to a lie, he aligned himself with the Pharisees of Jesus Emmanuel’s days on earth. They knew the Scripture VERY WELL, but changed it to fit their own self made righteousness which Isaiah the Prophet described as filthy rags. Sechele’s African "Christianity" was not Christian at all.
The essence of Christianity was delivered by Jehovah to the family of Adam and Eve; the blood sacrifice of promised LAMB OF GOD was seen when the shame of their sin was covered by skins of animals as result of death and shed blood of innocent animal. The promise was again shown by Abel in Scripture, Genesis 4.
This essential Truth of promise shown, which was fulfilled in Jesus Emmanuel the Lord and Christ, was continued after the flood of Genesis through Abraham who was called out of wicked society of the Chaldean/Syrian culture. His family heritage of separation from worldly sin and false worship was carried on through his linage which became known as Israel, defined "personal persistent determination with God, Warrior unto God".
In Genesis 35:10 and the verses that follow, we find the LORD Jehovah Almighty giving the name Israel to Jacob and his descendants. There in that passage of Scripture we also see prophesy of the place of birth and 2 names of Jesus Christ. The place of birth confirmed in Micah 4-5 was the tower of flocks "migdal Edar" at Bethlehem of Ephradah. The names were; son (man) of sorrows who would be bruised for our iniquity, Isaiah 53 and, son of right hand, right hand of God seen throughout the Old Testament as right hand that has gotten victory for Jehovah Psalm 98:1-2.
The blood sacrifice and promise of the Messiah Savior dying for our sin is shown over and over again through blood sacrifices by Israel. It is prophesied clearly by Isaiah Chapter 53 and Daniel Chapter 9. It is seen from the foundation of the world until the promise was fulfilled when John the Baptist said of Jesus Christ, "Behold the Lamb of God which takes away the sin of the world".
This essence of Christianity promised was fulfilled when Jehovah became flesh and was seen the very Son of God, Lord Jesus, Emmanuel Messiah. This same Savior who gave Himself a sacrifice for our sins, expects us to believe in HIM to follow HIM in righteousness of HIS Life putting away the filthiness of the flesh!
There is to be no mixture in true Christianity (those followers of Christ who are like Christ by the Life of Christ that is in them by faith) with witchcraft; witches, familiar spirits, evil and foul spirits, divination, observer of times, enchanters charmers (using charms of darkness/Satan) consulters with familiar spirits, wizards and
necromancer AND lusts of sin against the commandments, precepts, judgments of the holiness of Jehovah as seen in Scripture: worship of other gods, bow to graven images [using by having faith in man made objects for worship], taking name of Jehovah in vain [claiming HIM as God yet holding to the defiled practices of darkness and sin], sanctifying a day of rest unto the LORD Jehovah, dishonoring parents, murder, adultery [ any sexual sin explained in Leviticus and Deuteronomy or the adultery of mixing spiritually with heathen of darkness, rejecters of Almighty Jehovah], stealing, false witness which is giving lies not truth, covetousness [desire with intent to take] of that which belongs to your neighbor.
These commands and judgments of Jehovah, which are not to be found in the people of Jehovah, continue by explanation in New Testament; rioting/reveling which is wild parties of drinking and disobeying holiness of God, drunkenness, chambering which is sleeping carnally with anyone other than spouse [and from the beginning it was one man one woman one flesh as Pharisees were reminded by Jesus], wantonness/lasciousness which is unrestrained lust of worldly pleasures.
Here is a quote from Paul’s letter to the Ephesians; *notice the words ‘uncleanness and unclean person’ which word ‘unclean’ is applied to evil spirits of darkness and witchcraft by Jesus].
"Be ye followers of God as dear children; and walk in love as Christ has loved us and has given Himself for an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling savor. But fornication, and ALL uncleanness or covetousness () LET IT NOT BE NAMED ONCE AMONG YOU AS BECOMES (is proper for) SAINTS; neither filthiness (shameful sinful conduct just like Adam and Eve were ashamed after rebellion against Jehovah) nor foolish talking (words of a fool, like the fool has said in his heart NO GOD), nor jesting (making a joke of God),which are not convenient but rather give thanks. For this you know that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man who is an idolater has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. LET NO MAN DECEIVE YOU WITH VAIN WORDS: FOR BECAUSE OF THESE THINGS COMES THE WRATH OF GOD UPON THE CHILDREN OF DISOBEDIENCE. BE YE NOT THEREFORE PARTAKERS WITH THEM! FOR YE (followers of God) WERE SOMETIMES DARKNESS, BUT NOW ARE LIGHT IN THE LORD (the Life of Jesus Emmanuel the Lord and Christ is Light and in HIM is no darkness as told to us by John the beloved Apostle) WALK AS CHILDREN OF LIGHT FOR THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT IS IN ALL GOODNESS AND RIGHTEOUSNESS AND TRUTH PROVING WHAT IS ACCEPTABLE UNTO THE LORD. And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.
Read again what Paul wrote and know the things of sin and darkness are not to be found among the people of the LORD Jehovah.[Leviticus 17, 20,Deuteronomy 4-18, Isaiah 8:19-22, Exodus 20, Ephesians, 1 John 1:1-9 ]. The people redeemed by Jesus Emmanuel are to be the holiness of Jehovah which holiness is received by faith in HIS mercy, grace and forgiveness. It is received by those who will follow only HIM with all their heart in repentant obedient Faith of Jesus Christ!
Read carefully what Paul also wrote to Titus a disciple of Jesus Christ trained by Paul to follow Christ in faith believing only the Lord of glory:
" For the grace that brings SALVATION has appeared to ALL men, TEACHING us that denying UNGODLINESS AND WORLDLY LUSTS WE SHOULD LIVE SOBERLY, RIGHTEOUSLY AND GODLY IN THIS PRESENT EVIL WORLD; looking for that blessed hope and glorious appearing of THE GREAT GOD AND OUR SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST; WHO GAVE HIMSELF FOR US, THAT HE MIGHT REDEEM US FROM ALL INIQUITY AND PURIFY UNTO HIMSELF A PECULIAR PEOPLE ZEALOUS OF GOOD WORKS. These things speak and exhort and rebuke with all authority (order of commandment).
Jesus said to his 11 disciples, Apostles, according to Matthew’s account of the Gospel, Jesus Christ:
"All power in heaven and earth is given to me. Go ye therefore and teach (make disciples/learners in) all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things which I have commanded you, and LO I am with you alway even to the end of the world"!
Jesus is with those that learn of HIM by being taught who HE is , then they are to have the testimony of baptism which shows repentance from sin and obedience by faith to the Gospel which is Jesus Christ who died
for our sins and arose from the dead victorious over death hell and the grave to live unto GOD which is the picture of fulfilled righteousness. Baptism is our testimony of promise to follow HIM in Life unto THE GOD not unto sin anymore. AND Jesus’ command to learn all what HE commands which HE has fulfilled for us and we have HIS power to live by HIS Life in us if we truly believe to follow HIM…I am with you alway" not sin and darkness!
Paul made this clear in Romans 6 that our life is not for sin any more. It is a Life of living unto God, a separation from sin evil wickedness darkness ungodliness unholiness. The righteousness of Jesus Christ our Lord and our God does not mix or coexist with evil worship and practice of darkness.
Paul wrote to the Ephesians:
"…e who were dead in your trespasses and sin has HE quickened (made alive) for by grace are ye saved; and has raised us up together and made us to sit in heavenly places IN CHRIST JESUS"
God has made us alive by grace the undeserved gift of God, eternal Life, to walk in that which is heavenly, not darkness of sin and evil and worship of evil spirits by practicing the wickedness of Satan the deceiver. Paul continues:
"For by grace are ye saved through faith and that not of yourselves it is the GIFT of God (Romans 6:23 says the "gift of God is eternal Life through Jesus Christ our LORD!"): Not of (man’s) works lest any man should boast. For we are HIS workmanship created in Christ Jesus unto good works which God hath before ordained we should walk in them." *John said in 1John 2:6 that we should "walk as HE (Jesus) walked".+
Any that believe in Jesus Christ to follow HIM have eternal Life, Jesus very Life of good works for us and in us as we follow ONLY HIM. It is a life of separation. It is the eternal Life of the FATHER of LIGHTS given to us by Jesus when HE washed us from our sins and made us new by birth to live unto GOD, Jehovah and HIM alone
Sunday, March 17, 2013
Faithfulness Breaths Faith
Pastor Aaron Siaziombo and his wife Mary serve the Blessed Lord Jesus faithfully in a bush village over an hour from Livingstone where Melody and I live. I first met him when he went with me to Habbanyuka valley, a remote area bush location 2 1/2 hours at that time from the asphalt. He went with me twice from his Bible School where he was training to serve in their ministry.
Within 3 years, they had deserted him in a bush village. He continued to serve the Lord, going to his home and finding the wife the Lord of Glory had prepared for him. They moved to a farm where he worked and taught Bible to the other workers who would listen.
During that time, he requested to work with us in his ministry, but due to the fact that some missionaries with other ministries have a possessive nature even of those they desert, I had tell him no.
Finally a year later I saw him in town and the Lord spoke to my heart to visit with him. After meeting with him, I let the ones who did first training with him know that I intended to pursue a ministry (servants serving the Master and Creator of the universe) relationship with Aaron. Their Zambian Pastor came to my home and thanked me saying Aaron was the most faithful they had trained and please work with him to the Glory of God the Mighty to save.
Now Pastor Aaron oversees Grace Baptist of Kooma and 3 regular Bible studies in his area (while farming and helping his wife have a small bush village store selling necessary items to villagers at reasonable prices).
This past week, his youngest daughter, Princess, while playing did a typical 3 year old child thing of curiosity putting stick inside her. Mary knew there was something wrong and finally Princess admitted what she had done but said it was out of her. But it was not having broken off inside and that part finally coming out.
They brought her to the hospital because it was apparent there was some infection. The doctors told them she would have to have an operation, a deadly danger here to life of the patient.
While Mary waited at the hospital, Aaron came to my house and we prayed earnestly for the Lord our God to touch her and take control of the surgeon. The next morning before the surgeon came in, I went to the hospital and we praying again commending her to the oversight of Jesus Emmanuel our God and Savior with the same request of a Roman Officer to Jesus, "say the word and my servant will be healed". Evidently, that is what the Lord Jesus our Messiah did by His word of decree...2 hours later Aaron, Mary and Princess were in our home with clear bill of health after close internal examination only having an irritated place inside of her that was healing. See photo of Princess having just escaped the hospital and surgery.
Lord may I in faith just request you say the word for each day of service in our ministry with you our Life and that Eternal.
Hallelujah, glorious impossible by the Right Hand of Jehovah our Savior and King;
See you soon,
Phil and Melody of Africa
Within 3 years, they had deserted him in a bush village. He continued to serve the Lord, going to his home and finding the wife the Lord of Glory had prepared for him. They moved to a farm where he worked and taught Bible to the other workers who would listen.
During that time, he requested to work with us in his ministry, but due to the fact that some missionaries with other ministries have a possessive nature even of those they desert, I had tell him no.
Finally a year later I saw him in town and the Lord spoke to my heart to visit with him. After meeting with him, I let the ones who did first training with him know that I intended to pursue a ministry (servants serving the Master and Creator of the universe) relationship with Aaron. Their Zambian Pastor came to my home and thanked me saying Aaron was the most faithful they had trained and please work with him to the Glory of God the Mighty to save.
Now Pastor Aaron oversees Grace Baptist of Kooma and 3 regular Bible studies in his area (while farming and helping his wife have a small bush village store selling necessary items to villagers at reasonable prices).
This past week, his youngest daughter, Princess, while playing did a typical 3 year old child thing of curiosity putting stick inside her. Mary knew there was something wrong and finally Princess admitted what she had done but said it was out of her. But it was not having broken off inside and that part finally coming out.
They brought her to the hospital because it was apparent there was some infection. The doctors told them she would have to have an operation, a deadly danger here to life of the patient.
While Mary waited at the hospital, Aaron came to my house and we prayed earnestly for the Lord our God to touch her and take control of the surgeon. The next morning before the surgeon came in, I went to the hospital and we praying again commending her to the oversight of Jesus Emmanuel our God and Savior with the same request of a Roman Officer to Jesus, "say the word and my servant will be healed". Evidently, that is what the Lord Jesus our Messiah did by His word of decree...2 hours later Aaron, Mary and Princess were in our home with clear bill of health after close internal examination only having an irritated place inside of her that was healing. See photo of Princess having just escaped the hospital and surgery.
Lord may I in faith just request you say the word for each day of service in our ministry with you our Life and that Eternal.Hallelujah, glorious impossible by the Right Hand of Jehovah our Savior and King;
See you soon,
Phil and Melody of Africa
Tuesday, March 12, 2013
Bush, Village, Church, Teaching Christ
Friday thru Sunday was back to the Ministry (Servant Serving the Master, My Master Jesu Emmanuel Messias). Set up house, my new tent, thank you Most High of Heaven for stronger bush home with walk thru door and stand up room side to side, OHHH YEAH and a bed off the ground, cot strong enuff for even me...Glory!
Back to the Ministry (Servant Serving...opps already said that )...met with Pastor Costa Musena, and men he is training to serve the LORD of Glory Jehovah our very and certain Salvation, Lord and God Jesus. We looked carefully at what our life is when HE is our Life, eternal and just.
We also looked at Enoch....OHHH what a walk he must have had; then to glory without death, imagine that...never mind imagine it is true. Appointed to die once?.. yes but special job for him yet in Rev. 11 then death and triumph that will scare the wits out of the worshippers of the Beast and Prophet of the final worldly babylonian mystery kingdom. Well, we camped in Scripture on the joy of walking as Jesus walked that we may experience in our own life by HIS eternal Life in us...Hallelujah and Amen.
I love Jesus, Hallelujah, I love Jesus, yes I do.
See you again around the next corner of Ministry (Servant Serving the ....)well you know. Bye, mwende kabotu (y'all travel well)!
Phil of Zambia
Back to the Ministry (Servant Serving...opps already said that )...met with Pastor Costa Musena, and men he is training to serve the LORD of Glory Jehovah our very and certain Salvation, Lord and God Jesus. We looked carefully at what our life is when HE is our Life, eternal and just.
I love Jesus, Hallelujah, I love Jesus, yes I do.
See you again around the next corner of Ministry (Servant Serving the ....)well you know. Bye, mwende kabotu (y'all travel well)!
Phil of Zambia
Saturday, February 23, 2013
Ministry return to Africa Yes back from USA
Today we went to Simasiku for Victory Baptist Children Ministry. What a glorious reunion. Melody taught, Katie Rose who is with us for 2+ months gave a testimony and the children sang.
Little Lovia had a time deciding if she still trusted me...finally she came over to see and stayed for coloring time. As Phil of Duck Dynasty would say, so say I about being home in Zambia with our dearly beloved Zambians...HAAAPPYY, HAAAPPY, HAAAPPY!
Also see the video of the children singing "JESUS MAKES ME HAPPY" while bouncing around following Verinica, Pastor Jacob's wife. Glory to the Savior of mankind, specifically those that believe in repentance in HIM, Jesu Emmanuel Lord and Messiah....SORRY internet to slow to load...
Well stayed tuned for more than this one Story of Glory to the Most High Eternal Almighty Jehovah.
See u soon...
Phil
Little Lovia had a time deciding if she still trusted me...finally she came over to see and stayed for coloring time. As Phil of Duck Dynasty would say, so say I about being home in Zambia with our dearly beloved Zambians...HAAAPPYY, HAAAPPY, HAAAPPY!Also see the video of the children singing "JESUS MAKES ME HAPPY" while bouncing around following Verinica, Pastor Jacob's wife. Glory to the Savior of mankind, specifically those that believe in repentance in HIM, Jesu Emmanuel Lord and Messiah....SORRY internet to slow to load...
Well stayed tuned for more than this one Story of Glory to the Most High Eternal Almighty Jehovah.
See u soon...
Phil
Monday, February 4, 2013
Stay tuned, back to Africa this week!
Home Friday! Back with the beloved people of Zambia. Beginning new and more remote Gospel work in Barotzeland as soon as find the Toyota Land Cruiser the Lord only God and Savior has for us.
Well here a few photos of reminder of the work of Jesus in the past in which HE has allowed us to walk. People having never heard the Gospel, people never having seen a Texas (any Caucasian), people that sit in the darkness of Satan's distress on this earth.
Looking forward bringing fresh and exciting stories of new areas most remote. The Blessed Lord Jesus Emmanuel, having provided stronger transportation, will lead the way by HIS own Spirit most Holy. All we request from our friends in Jesus is prayer of support for protection and open hearts.
Till we meet again here at "African Missions on Biblical Steroids".
Phil and Melody Stephens
Psalms 23
Well here a few photos of reminder of the work of Jesus in the past in which HE has allowed us to walk. People having never heard the Gospel, people never having seen a Texas (any Caucasian), people that sit in the darkness of Satan's distress on this earth.
Till we meet again here at "African Missions on Biblical Steroids".
Phil and Melody Stephens
Psalms 23
Tuesday, January 15, 2013
Lamb of God visible
In the ministry to Zambia, I am careful to teach our Pastors and Church leaders, Scriptural truth, and central to Truth is Jehovah who is the Lamb of God in flesh! That Lamb of God has been forefront to believers and the heathen since Abel prophesied HIM in Genesis 4.
Well, not sure how well we handle it here in USA, but men like Pastor Musena (in the short tie) clearly teach it to men like Victor Lubinda the newest disciple in the Zambian ministry to give his life to serve Jesu Kristo Emmanuel as a Servant Preacher of the Most High. (Victor is the one dressed for wall street business casual...in African bush??!!?...yup and all I kin sez is he ain't no redneck Texican lak I r).
Back in Africa February 8th...I love Jesus, HalleluJah, I love Jesus yes I do!
Phil
Back in Africa February 8th...I love Jesus, HalleluJah, I love Jesus yes I do!
Phil
Wednesday, January 9, 2013
Blogs back in session!
Wow, finally found a way to get back on my own blog. Thank you Lord Jesu Emmanuel Kristo (Zambian English).
This past Monday was humbled to be able to meet with David Richardson's Discipleship class at our home Church. The photo is of a group of men who desire to grow and mature in the Life and Light of our "great God and Savior, Jesus Christ" Titus 2:13.
We will be returning to our beloved Zambians February 6th. There are issues in Zambia that may cause some difficulty from our perspective...oh that we walk in Jehovah our deliverer's perspective.
Well, welcome back to the blog, will do our best to keep updates coming.
Sincerest regards, Phil Stephens
This past Monday was humbled to be able to meet with David Richardson's Discipleship class at our home Church. The photo is of a group of men who desire to grow and mature in the Life and Light of our "great God and Savior, Jesus Christ" Titus 2:13.
Well, welcome back to the blog, will do our best to keep updates coming.
Sincerest regards, Phil Stephens
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
Birth of Christ the Lord
YES and Zacherias, filled with the Holy Spirit, Jehovah Himself, said: a horn of salvation raised up, One declared by HIS holy prophets, since the world began! YES, that would be Jesus Messiah. And Luke said later in his letter to Theophilus concerning our Faith, which Faith is the One whom we surely believe, that Jesus the Christ and Lord is Savior to all people. YES, and Zacherias, father of John the Baptist, explained the result of our Faith; now look at this { = : () result will be that "we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might [be enabled] to serve HIM without fear in holiness and righteousness before HIM, all the days of our Life"!!!! Do not fall into the trap that because you or someone you told of Christ the Lord has LIFE eternal because of repeating some words or saying a 'sinners prayer'. The Life of Christ, Christ Himself will change us if we have HIM. By repentant obedient Faith we have 'days of our Life', His life in us. We will serve Him in HIS holiness and righteousness if He is our Life, our confession which means agreeing with Him unto His righteousness having received forgiveness of sin by His sacrifice and new birth by His favor and a new creature by His workmanship.
Now that is the Story of our celebration of Jesus Christ birth! That is why Pastor Jacob lays a foundation with his Children's ministry, the Only Foundation, Jesus Christ the Lord! Picture is practice with Jacob's ministry for children to present this very holiness and righteousness being born unto us the Savior (as told by Luke the Doctor) in drama to people of Nsongwe area of Mukuni Chiefdom. Glory in highest, the Lord Himself appeared in flesh by virgin birth to die in our place and give us Eternal Life, which Life is HIS life in us if we believe to the saving of our soul!
Blessed Christmas, Phil and Melody
Sunday, December 4, 2011
Bible Conference
Friday December 2, 2011: Here they come from Maluma Baptist arriving after an hour and 20 minute walk thru the bush. Laughing, happy, mostly youth and children...oh glory the whole choir has come! Let the rejoicing begin! ------ Morning Bible Session over and Eliot Kanyama, one of first to come to the early Gospel meetings that became Highway Baptist Church [now do not be disillusioned, this Church is in the bush, but they wanted to be known as a Highway to Heaven] said he wished to speak with me. Eliot has been off and on faithful with some failures of pride inspired by that Old Serpent, the Devil. ----- Eliot has been very humble for the last 7 months, the most faithful to work with Pastor Costa in the ministry of Jesu Kristo in the Sinamanjolo village area. We sat together and Eliot told me he was reading in Isaiah when the Lord asked who will go for ME! Eliot said the Lord moved his heart to be one to say "here I am, send me". ----- Eliot continued, "I prayed then told my wife what the Lord wanted from us...we prayed together and agreed that we would be serving the Lord where ever he sent us. Pastor Phil, we will go where they need the Gospel, even if it is far, not for benefit, but for the work of Jesu." ----- Now that is the reason Melody and I came to Africa, lead them to love Christ so when HE tells them "follow me" they will do just that! A glorious, rejoicing, Texas 'hallelukiiyippeeeiaaajah', and as Peter the fishing Apostle said of Jesus Christ, "glory and dominion for ever and ever, AMEN". ----- On Saturday night, Maria from Maluma, 20 year old girl, broke down weeping just after supper. She ran into the Church building and hid in a corner. I asked her what was wrong, she just continued to sob and weep. Pastor Costa and Eliot came to her and spoke with her. Pastor Costa then came to me and said she had a bad headache, then continued by saying he thought she was struggling with evil spirits. ----- We went inside and sat beside her, and Costa asked her if she had demonic spirits living in her and she said yes, they would cause her to be dancing the traditional vulgar suggestive dancing of witchcraft. [These dances are is sexually explicit with partial or full nudity when seen in witch doctor meetings of darkness honoring Satan. They are not only seen at witch doctor meetings, but also taught in all government schools by mandate, taught elementary students grade 1 and up, called cultural dances of the ancestors. They are dances of seduction. These same dances are seen here in Zambia in most churches by choirs and singing groups, with the voices claiming praise to God, but the body giving honor to the lust of the flesh exalting the love of the world. ] ----- After some questions, we found out she went to witch doctor meeting of ancestral worship, darkness of the Devil, and there while dancing, the demonic spirits came to inhabit her. ----- NOW, I realized the conviction of our standing against that same dancing demonstration of wicked and lewd behavior in the Church that very day brought realization and conviction to this precious child that she was 'walking in darkness while saying she had fellowship with the Father and with His followers'. Scripture says that person is a liar (see First John chapter One; First John was the theme of the Bible Conference). She realized she could not be a follower of Jesus and walk in darkness. [ One of the boys in the choir from Maluma, while they were singing and marching, broke out in the vulgar suggestive dance. Pastor Costa stood up immediately and Scripturally denounced that sort of behavior, PUBLICLY condemning the action firmly yet with kindness of godly admonition] ----- WELL glory, praise and honor the the Spirit of Jesus Christ, she said she did not want the evil spirits but wanted Jesus Christ to be Lord. I told her to just tell Jesus she was turning from her sin, and asking HIM to forgive her sins by dying for her and shedding HIS blood to wash away her sins. SHE COULD NOT call on Him, she choked and gasped every time she opened her mouth. When I asked her why, she said the demons were stopping her. I prayed and asked the Lord to deliver her from their power so she could call on HIM. HE did just that and she began confessing her sins and confessing HIM who shed HIS blood for her and told Jesus she was giving HIM her life to follow HIM! She looked at us and said,"they are gone, and my headache is gone!" Such is ministry here and I do love it so! Photos of Maria standing on your left, in white sleeveless blouse and Eliot with Pastor Costa who is in long sleeve blue shirt.
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
WHAT THE LORD HATH DONE
At times, only about 18 hours a day, I feel useless! And so I am...but in our weakness the only wise God, Jesus Christ [1 Timothy 1:16-17, Jude verse 25]shows His mighty power. Attached is a video slide show of our earlier ministry in His loving favor allowing Melody and me to walk with Him by Him. Rejoice in His grace, mercy and truth!
Well, it was too large to attach with our internet. So here are some pictures of our ministry from the last 8 years. Just a glimpse. Phil
Friday, October 21, 2011
Follow Follow I Will Follow Jesus....
...anywhere, every where, I will follow on, everywhere HE leads me I will follow on! Good old hymn for a Band of Brothers in the army of the Lord of hosts. Just a short story, by an old man, for the glory of a Blessed Savior, one and only God our Savior, our Redeemer Messiah Jesu. Was getting some timber today for a project, minding my own business (shamefully so ) when the work of Jesus overtook me (bless HIS name for overcoming our selfish use of HIS time HE has given us)
. See the photo, Eric and Namachana. Bernard who helps us at our home, Bubba's Bible College Student, exalted the holy name of Christ our Lord to these 2 precious souls. I got sucked into the perfect storm of the spiritual war. Taught them of His Royal Highness, King of Righteousness, King of Shalom, Prince of Peace, Man of Sorrows who carried our grief and was wounded for our transgessions, bruised for our iniquity, the Healer of our Sins and their results, death; then preached repentance and faith in Jesus Messiah the only wise God. They claimed to believe in Him not trusting their religion. Gave them Bibles...now look again at the photo. I do love it so, this walk of the Word of Life!
. See the photo, Eric and Namachana. Bernard who helps us at our home, Bubba's Bible College Student, exalted the holy name of Christ our Lord to these 2 precious souls. I got sucked into the perfect storm of the spiritual war. Taught them of His Royal Highness, King of Righteousness, King of Shalom, Prince of Peace, Man of Sorrows who carried our grief and was wounded for our transgessions, bruised for our iniquity, the Healer of our Sins and their results, death; then preached repentance and faith in Jesus Messiah the only wise God. They claimed to believe in Him not trusting their religion. Gave them Bibles...now look again at the photo. I do love it so, this walk of the Word of Life!Phil
Monday, October 17, 2011
Sunday Blessings
Yesterday, Melody and I visited with Jacob Nasibebo and the people he is ministering to. They meet Friday for discipleship and services on Sunday morning. From small beginnings in the Lord, great things appear, ask the Apostles. During the service while prayer was being offered up, I took a picture of George and Kelvin [do not tell me my eyes should have been closed without giving me a v
erse...HA gotcha]. George, unchurched, starting coming to be discipled by Jacob. Now he is a faithful follower of Jesus Messiah our Savior. Kelvin has been coming faithfully for a few weeks, and joy of learning Christ is beginning to be seen in his life. Grandma in middle of group picture, Jacob's 90 plus yr old Grandmother was singing and smiling all the time. She has gone to church since a girl, practicing witchcraft all along. The first time I met her she was mumbling in a 'tongue' Jacob had never heard but assures me it was not any Zambian language, ....you figure it out....while shaking her head at me with obivious anger; anyway a year later she came to services, proclaimed that she was now following the Jesus of the Bible that Jacob taught and repented of witchcraft. Been smiling ev
er since!
er since! After the service, Jacob gave Kelvin a Bible. What glory is seen when our God and our Savior, Jesus Christ is our Life.
Servant of the most high God, Phil.
Servant of the most high God, Phil.
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