The Love of Jesus, Sweet and Marvelous

It came to mind as I looked in her face...you know, the song "Isn't the Love of Jesus something wonderful...wonderful it is to me". There she sat, one of Melody's Little Bible Students at Kooma Basic School.

We traveled 1 1/2 hours from home, 30 + kilometers in the bush (during rain season, closer route in dry season), to reach this place...week after week! It is the 5th school in which Melody has taught Bible since we moved here.

Today, Melody had to step out of class while they were coloring, and I got to sit with them. Nicodemus and Jesus were getting some Zambian styling, bush concept. The precious babes of the bush villages had just heard the story of the Love of Jesus for this wicked, cheating little man who climbed a tree looking for something more that riches and fortune.

Then she looked up at me...smiled...yeah you got it, I thought of the wonderful marvelous love of the Blessed Lord of creation who became a man, the very and only begotten Son of God, to be our sacrificail Lamb shedding His own blood to wash our sins away. That same love so overwhelmed my sweet Melody and me, that we came here so this little bush girl could know HIS GREAT LOVE!

Now that is Praise to the LORD, Praise from earth to heaven, Praise ye the LORD. From Texas to bush pardise lost; but now regained by children of the bush thru the Holy Light of Heaven, even our Eternal Life, Jesu Christu, Jehovah our Redeemer, Savior Father, Friend of Sinners: for His Glory sake...Praise the LORD, Praise the LORD!

Yeah and Hallelujah, 'Isn't the Love of Jesus Wonderful'? Look at this face and argue...WOWEEEE I do love it so!

Phil

"Go ye therefore..."

Greetings from Zambia

As we teach and preach the Bible, our desire is the people of Churches planted by the Lord Jesus in our ministry, have the vision of Christ for the world. He said these things..."all power in heaven and earth is given me...go ye therefore and teach all nation...preach the Gospel (power of God for salvation) ...ye shall be witnesses unto me (so HE, Christ the Lord would be the One we teach them)...to the uttermost parts of the world!!!

Now this is not the complete charge the Jehovah who is our salvation, JESUS, left us in the scripture, just part of His words in Matthew 28, Mark 16, Luke 24, John 20 and the Acts of the Apostles 1.

Today, as I was leaving Kooma, Albert elder man and disciple of the Lord Jesus in Grace Baptist Church there, said this to me, "we must go to other places far away and teach them who Jesus is because many do not know HIM"!!! Our conversation revolved around building a house for Pastor Aaron Siazyombo. And that when he is there with them full time, they could do the work of the ministry together thru out the week every week.

That statement out of the heart of a man that loves Jesus and has Jesus heart vision for the world, is the very essence of the Life of Christ formed in us.

Did I do that? NO, NO, NO! Only the Lord of Glory can move a man to have that vision of reaching the lost with the revealed Glory of our loving God by the Gospel as seen from Genesis 3 and 4.

More stories coming soon...don't move that dial.

Phil Stephens

New Work for Jesus: Nakampatu

In the remote valley of Habbanyuka, the Lord Jesus directed, empowered, blessed and provided the planting of Victory Baptist Church. It is HIS work, not mine. It is HIS Body, Congregation of assembly, HIS believers, baptized unto HIM for HIS Glory by the work of the Gospel.

This Church has now planted another work, serious, serving and surely sanctified, by the Lord Jehovah our salvation, even the God Amighty of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, Jesus the Christ. The remote village of Nakampatu is the location of this new work in Christ.

Breyford Mwaanga, Pastor of Victory Baptist Church is training men to reach their world with the Gospel. One of those men is Given. He and his wife went thru a ruff patch 2 years ago. The wife was very ill, but they called on the LORD for help in time of need. Pastor Mwaanga and I went to visit them along with other members of Victory Baptist Church. We prayed with them, on several occations.

In the midst of Given and his wife's trial, their families pronounced a curse on them for rejecting traditional ancestral worship (familiar spirits) and for refusing to allow the darkness of witchcraft to be consulted. They stood firm that, live or die, they were serving Jesus Christ and trusting only HIM for any and all needs.

The wife is well, and Given is now preaching every Sunday at Nakampatu. Sunday 12 were Baptized, 4 from Habbanyuka and 8 from Nakampatu. And Jesus who is worthy, is receiving glory by the Gospel spreading across this remote area.

Stay tuned as these 2 works of Christ have been invited to come to an even more remote village. The people heard of the mighty work of God and sent messengers to plead that this same Gospel be brought to them.

If our slow internet will do so, I am downloading a short video of the baptism this past weekend.

Your loving servant of Jesus,

Phil

PS how bout a picture, video will not load. Maybe in a week or so when we get a new Internet Provider.

They said WHAT?

This is Sunday, February 20, 2011. 04:30 zulu time, called "early, very very early". Left sleeping beauty, Melody, where she snuggly lay, and cooked some eggs with... HALLELUJAH!!... Tony Chachere Seasoning from Louisiana (a eastern rural community of the Republic of Texas).



Packing some lessons for Fred Mutinta, my Sword, written version of that which proceeds from the King of Kings and Lord of Lords in HIS Revelation seen clearly in chapter 19, some water and Coke Light (keeps me light in the saddle) NOT...fast forward on slow road to Maluma ....>>>



Arriving Maluma area Baptist Church, surprise visit, 010:00 zulu time (sounds military huh? not, zambian time actually meaning we are there when we get there never early, never late), we find some gathered in the Blessed Name of Jesu Christu, our Lord and our God, Savior One and Only...rejoice, rejoice again I say rejoice...



Songs, Hymns, Spiritual Songs, choir 4 songs, oh the Glory did roll, Sunday School taught by Daniel from Highway Baptist Church... THEN...minor key 'dum de dum dum'... question time ( why do they do this??? : > ( ???)....



Jacob a bright star for the MORNING STAR was supposed to preach...he sat down beside me and frightened miss muffett away...well actually he asked me if I was OK then told me what I feared from what I perceived, though lesson and questions in Tonga... They had butchered the truth, built a golden calf, danced around the subject(s), for 45 minutes of the hour and 15 minute Sunday School lesson which switched or witched away from 'what is sin' to 'how to destroy biblical truth about Satan and and since they already had 2 wives and lusted after another woman was it ok to take another wife... we already broke God's plan, 1 woman with 1 man = 1 marriage too late now because many have 2 women with 1 man + lust... might as well have 3 wom..." well you'll get the point, read it again.



"What is that , Jacob?" "Should you speak, Pastor Phil?" "Oh why not, Jacob, what is the worst that could happen...things get worse?" "HUH? Pastor Phil what do you mean?" "Oh never mind, just interpret for me Jacob" Grin, Jacob's face, he loves a good fiasco...



One and a half hour later, Satan is put in place, lust is condemned, period, more sin must not follow forgiven sin, no divorce but no more wives, NO QUESTIONS but one...you get the BIBLE POINT? and will you live for JESUS and let HIM have your life?



AMEN was the answer, let's get out of Dodge, dodging any more questions...13:30? who cares what time...start the truck, wave good bye OHHHH wait one more thing, let's take a photo and oh yeah let's PRRAAYYYYYYYYYYYYY.



Yours truly...knocked out for Jesus, I do love it all!!!

Phil Stephens

miracles are still ours

Welcome, have been away from home in Zambia for a while but now back and the stories of the work of Yahweh our LORD and God even Jesus Deliverer Messiah abound. First story from the bush ministry now!
Trouble had been brewing as Satan stirred his seething pot of darkness in the heart of a man at the Church in Sinamanjolo. When Melody and I arrived, Pastor Costa Musena (with family on the left, picture taken 2 days ago) told me that one of the "leaders", Eliot, in the Church had threatened him with death.
Eliot told all the faithful that if they came to Church, Costa would be killed. They, for fear of Costa's life, stayed home for 2 weeks. He also told Costa that before the old white man(that would be me) returned, Costa would be dead and dried. As you can see from the photo Costa is alive and quite hydrated.
The story goes that this man with a heart of murder and evil got his childhood friend, Preston, to go with him to beat Costa. As they walked to Costa's home, the follower saw a fiery sight ahead (no bush fires at this time of year and no fires in the area) and realized he was following to fight against the LORD, most high God. He told his long time friend that they were friends no more and went back to his home.
The next day as the instigator continued his evil plot, alone now, Preston repenting of the wicked scheme came to Costa, confessed the story, apologized, asked forgiveness from the LORD and Costa and said, "I was deceived by Eliot that you should not be Pastor. He has been rebellious from the start, I will never listen to him and the Devil again. When I saw the fiery vision I knew it was a warning from the LORD".
In the process, the LORD had already given Costa great peace that he was safe. Costa visited the homes of the faithful last week and assured them he was in the LORD's hands and for them to return to Church, he had no fear of death! They all were encouraged and even some who were faithful in the past, hearing this, said now that the truth regarding Eliot was clearly seen (they had known his devious ways for years) would return to the Church they loved.
There are more elements of the Grace of God in this story and HIS direct touch from heaven on Costa and the people. But I choose to let them be known when you see Jesus, miracle on miracles. JUST LOOK INWARD AND CHECK YOUR OWN LIFE IF IT BE SURRENDERED FULLY TO CHRIST JESUS. IF SO THAT IS SALVATION PROMISED TO THE REAL BELIEVER. CHRIST IN US, HIS LIFE BECOME OURS!!!

Stay tuned to the channel of stories of the mighty work of God among the children of men.

Phil

Last for a While

We are, with mixed emotions, headed to States. Though we will miss our people here, we will be delighted to see those that we left behind to come this side.

One last salvo across the bow of Satan's hell bound 'ship' before we depart. Last weekend we went to a bush village that is given to darkness, witchcraft and the blinding deceit of that old Serpent.

Bondage of souls of men is the art of the great red Dragon. His kingdom is alive in death and the depths of wickedness. BUT and so we charge with the Sword of the Spirit of Christ, the Holy Scripture.

They agreed to a meeting. We taught and preached Jesus Christ for over an hour and half. 3 men asked to receive Christ. Then Sunday morning 2 of them plus 2 more came to Grace Baptist Church with us just down the 2 rut road at Kooma.

After preaching service of life with Christ, and promise of new heaven and earth, new body at His return, Romans Chapter 8, Isaiah51, Colossians 3 another one came to front of the Congregation calling out to the Lord Jesus to forgive him for drinking, witchcraft, beating drums (their word for witch doctor all night drunken reveling) and for Jesus to receive him and take his life to be a follower of the Redeemer.

Take that in the heart you old Devil! Jesus has "snared and taken" some more to HIMSELF!! Isaiah 28:7-13 (KJV to see the full import).

HIS servant,
Phil

New Village Same Gospel & Love of God

Been absent, busy getting things in order here to come home to USA for furlough. Then infection set in. Common problem with cuts scrape and bacteria. Really got bad while in Habanyuka Valley this past weekend.

We found a new village off the beaten path. Many people there, small crowd of 30 or so people gathered and we preached the Gospel according to Isaiah the prophet. One man received Christ.

That evening, hand throbbing from infection but worth the pain, I picked a group of them and brought them to Victory Baptist Church. Again we preached Christ crucified, dying for our sins and risen from the dead.

These people called out that we must start a work of this Bible teaching in their area. Pastor Breyford Mwaanga agreed to bicycle to them each Sunday afternoon to hold Bible Study, 7 miles! Yeah, this is the work of Jehovah our Savior, Jesus Christ, amongst the children of men to bring them salvation from sin and death, giving them His eternal life...." "who gave Himself for our sins that He might deliver us from this present evil world...' Here we live and breath and have our being in HIM and HIM through us to "those that sit in darkness" who now "have seen a great Light" even Jesus in whom is Life.

See you tomorrow, Lord willing.
Phil