December 4, 2000
LINDY HOWARD, an SBC missionary from Brownsville, leads a children's Bible study at a new preaching point in Zambia. She and her husband are part of a missionary team starting new churches by using the "Jesus" film. (IMB photo by Grace Robinette)
Texans in Zambia: Heavenly projections
___By Sue Sprenkle
___SBC International Mission Board
___There was no room left in the one-room school, yet two more people squeezed in. Still more found rocks, stood on them outside the building and poked their heads through the open windows.
___It wasn't every day that a movie showed in this Zambian village. In fact, people walked from several villages in the rain just to watch the "Jesus" film brought by International Mission Board missionaries. A few weeks earlier, a small group of Christians beganmeeting in the school and asked for help in starting a church.
LINDY HOWARD of Brownville plays with a Zambian baby. (IMB photo by Grace Robinette)
___A team of missionaries and Zambian Baptist leaders were glad to help out. They've had plenty of practice in starting new churches and preaching points--this year alone more than 100 Baptist churches were started throughout Zambia.
___IMB Strategy Coordinators Mike and Lindy Howard, natives of Brownsville, take to the road most weekends with several of their Zambian Baptist leaders. Sometimes the group uses the "Jesus" film as a way to introduce and illustrate the gospel message, while other times they use Bible studies.
___"We don't really do a lot," Mike Howard said. "The Zambian leaders know how to start churches, so they do it. They just tell us what they need."
___A normal weekend for the team consists of showing the "Jesus" film on Friday and Saturday nights. The film is broken into two parts by a short sermon. All day Saturday is spent in various counseling and Bible study sessions, with Sunday ending in a morning Bible study and worship service.
___Missionaries Jim and Sherry Payne of Grapevine help to lead some of these Bible studies. During the rest of the week, the Paynes make contact with some of Zambia's brightest teachers at the country's teacher college.
___The Paynes both were teachers in Texas before going to the mission field this year.
___"By teaching the teachers, we have contact with almost every corner of Zambia," he said. "We hope they will see Christ in us and see how their teaching skills can be a service to God. The responsiveness to the gospel here is justamazing. The people, they want to know about Christ."
SBC missionary Jim Payne, right, from Grapevine, leads a Bible study during a recent weekend at a preaching point. Jim and his wife, Sherry, not pictured, teach science and math to Zambian teachers at the country's teacher college. The Paynes were both teachers in Texas before going to Zambia in July.
___Response to the weekend trip was exceptional as many decided to watch the "Jesus" film both nights. As the film showed Jesus on the cross, a chorus of disapproval rang throughout the crowd of Zambians. When Jesus rose from the grave, the depiction was met with hoops and hollers from the audience.
___More than 100 people made a commitment to follow Christ after viewing the film. That will create a strong start for a new church.
___In the days ahead, however, Howard and other Baptist leaders will continue to travel to the village to help the new Christians develop their faith and their church.
___"It won't take long before this new church starts another one just down the road," Howard said. "That's how the Zambians are--when they hear the truth, they feel it is important to keep spreading it."
___The work of the Howards and the Paynes is supported through gifts to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering for international missions, an offering being promoted in thousands of Texas Baptist churches this month.
___For more information about the Lottie Moon offering, visit the IMB's website at www.imb.org.
___
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