EVANGELICAL BIBLE COLLEGE OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA
NINTH MISSION.
SOUTH AFRICA AND ZAMBIA
DR PETER MOSES
[BOOK160]
JULY 7 -28 2001
INTRODUCTION
Late in the 1997 a request had been received from a number of Zambian Christians to assist in the setting up of a Bible School in Zambia utilising material from the Evangelical Bible College in Western Australia
Books were provided in various quantities to assist in this endeavour. This also included the provision of the 500+ tapes comprising the complete Diploma Course in Theology.
In 1999 I visited Lusaka on a teaching mission which involved reviewing the entire 78 hour course in Systematic Theology. This is reported on as the fifth Mission.
It was during this mission that it became apparent that due to the general level of poverty that most Zambian Christians did not have tape recorders and that duplication of tapes was out of reach to the vast majority of them.
I had undertaken the Diploma Course in 1992-1995 and as such had accumulated about 1300 A4 pages of notes on my computer.
Dr John McEwan, the author of the course had compiled the course in pre computer days and his notes were therefore non computerised.
Over the period August 1999 to early 2001 John and I using email were therefore able to reconstruct the course into 13 volumes of Diploma Course notes. These notes together with some half dozen verse by verse commentaries were now able to be presented as a Diploma Course in Theology without the need for cassette tapes as shown below.
DIPLOMA COURSE NOTES
INTRODUCTION TO DIPLOMA NOTES
1 - SYSTEMATIC THEOLOGY - PAPER 111
2 - SYSTEMATIC THEOLOGY - PAPER 112
3 - PENTATEUCH - O T PAPER 214
4 -JOSHUA, ISAIAH, JEREMIAH O.T.PAPER 214
5 - CHURCH HISTORY - PAPER 531
6 - PASTORAL THEOLOGY - PAPER 312
7 - OLD TESTAMENT INTRODUCTION - PAPER 212
8 - NEW TESTAMENT INTRODUCTION - PAPER 211
9 - NEW TESTAMENT BOOKS - PAPER 213
10 - NEW TESTAMENT BOOKS - PAPER 213
11 - NEW TESTAMENT BOOKS - PAPER 213
12 - NEW TESTAMENT BOOKS - PAPER 213
OTHER DOCUMENTS INCLUDED IN DIPLOMA COURSE
13 - GENESIS 1-11
14 - JAMES
15 - JUDE
16 - PHILIPPIANS
17 - 1 TIMOTHY
18 - 2 TIMOTHY
19 - TITUS
20 - BIBLE TOPIC BOOK [CONDENSED]
TEXT BOOKS
In addition to the above three text books were also required dealing with Books of the Bible and Church History
Since the Systematic Theology seminar four learning centres had been established with six lecturers and about twenty three students.
The seminar run in 1999 has been replicated in Kasama in the north of Zambia and in Southern Tanzania. In addition an intensive seminar in Pastoral Theology had also been conducted in Lusaka by the Zambians
MISSION NINE
The original intention had been to have a ten day intensive seminar on Church History in Lusaka in April 2001 with John and I being the facilitators. Both of us had accumulated enough frequent flyer points to fly to Africa and we were both current with our immunisation protocol. Because of certain factors the seminar was postponed until mid year.
During the early part of 2001 I had decided to experiment with putting all our work on a CD. This experiment led in April of that year to my advertising the CD free of charge and free of copyright in the Maranatha Revival Crusade booklet. As a result about 200 CD's were posted out from Western Australia to around the world.
It was through the CD that contact was made with Bruce Woolard from St Marks in Port Elizabeth.
Because of work commitments the mission was finally set as a two week mission to Zambia in July 2001. As John had the furthest to go it was agreed that he would try and get a frequent flyer seat to and from Africa first of all. His flight would come through Perth Western Australia en route to Johannesburg.
When John tried to book there were no seats available. He phoned to inform me so that I could see if I could get a ticket. As it was late I decided to try it in the morning.
That evening I checked the email and found that there was one from Port Elizabeth inviting me to visit St Marks if I was in Johannesburg at any time.
I had been on missions to Zambia on three previous occasions Missions 2, 4 and 5 and in each case with the exception of the outward journey on Mission 2 I had always flown from Perth to Harare in Zimbabwe to minimise access cost to Lusaka. However early in 2001 the direct flights to Harare from Perth were terminated so all access was now via Johannesburg.
As I work for myself I was able to adjust to a three week mission overnight and the following morning was able to book a frequent flyer ticket to Africa from Perth with a break in Johannesburg to accommodate a visit to Port Elizabeth. John found that during the period of the mission bereavement and illness affected his family. The Lord, knowing this had shut the door for John but had allowed a longer mission for me to undertake.
The roles were reversed the following year when I was unavailable to respond to a request from Zambia and John McEwan was able to minister to them.
THE SEMINAR IN LUSAKA
I also decided that in order to gain maximum participation with the Zambian delegates that rather than have a seminar on Church History in Lusaka we would replace it with a seminar based on books 7 and 8 of the series giving a Birds Eye view of the Bible.
The draft seminar programme was therefore drawn up covering all the books of the Bible and a pertinent doctrine. The concept was that the Delegates from Zambia would address the books in a fifteen minute time period. I would then follow on with comments and explanation of a doctrine most appropriate to the book.
Interlaced with the main body of the seminar would be an overview of eschatology appropriately named "From Here to Eternity
In addition it was expected that there would be additional opportunity to preach on the "rest days" in the schedule. Those expectations were fully realised on this mission.
By late June everything was in position apart from the confirmation from Zambia that the seminar was on. Communication problems between Zambia and Western Australia meant that one went by faith believing that the seminar was to occur. It was and it was most successful.
OVERALL ITINERARY JULY 7-28 - 2001
DATE / ACTIVITYSaturday 7 July / Leave Perth 1200 hrs arrive Johannesburg 1700 hrs Overnight Johannesburg
Sunday 8 July / Fly Johannesburg to Port Elizabeth. Preach in morning and evening
Monday 9 July / Port Elizabeth - Meetings with St Marks
Tuesday 10 July / Port Elizabeth - visit to Grahamstown and Kempston
Wednesday 11 July / Port Elizabeth - interviews at St David's presentation on church leadership
Thursday 12 July / Visit to Storm River and Beaufort
Friday 13 July / Fly Port Elizabeth - Johannesburg, Overnight at Johannesburg with relations
Saturday 14 July / Leave Johannesburg 1105 hrs - Arrive Lusaka 1300 hrs, Preach in afternoon
Sunday 15 July / Preaching at Chosen Generation Church
Monday 16 July / Seminar OT - Grassroots Evangelism and the Pentateuch
Tuesday 17 July / Seminar-OT - Joshua to Second Chronicles with Eschatology
Wednesday 18 July / Seminar- OT - Ezra to Song of Solomon with Eschatology
Thursday 19 July / Seminar- OT - Isaiah to Obadiah with Eschatology
Friday 20 July / Seminar- OT - Joel to Malachi with Eschatology
Saturday 21 July / Seminar - Major Doctrines with NT Introduction, Preach in afternoon
Sunday 22 July / Rest Day - Preaching in morning at Lilanda Baptist Church
Monday 23 July / Seminar- NT - The Gospels and Eschatology
Tuesday 24 July / Seminar- NT - Acts to Ephesians and Eschatology
Wednesday 25 July / Seminar- NT - Philippians to Philemon and Eschatology
Thursday 26 July / Seminar- NT - Hebrews to Revelation, Eschatology and Certificate Presentations
Friday 27 July / Leave Lusaka 1405 hrs Arrive 1610 hrs, Johannesburg Leave 1755 hrs
Saturday 28 July / Arrive Perth 0855 hrs.
SATURDAY 7 JULY
The lead up to departure had been very busy with Engineering work having my attention until July 4. In addition Rebecca was due to go on a camp on the 6th July and Philip, Dionne and the three grandsons were also with us until the 5th. The sixth of July was spent making final arrangements.
I arrived at the International Airport at 10 am and shortly after midday commenced the 10 hour flight westwards across the Indian Ocean.
With it being school holidays in South Africa the plane was very full but the lady sitting next to me was moved soon after the flight commenced leaving a spare seat between a South African mining Engineer and myself.
During the flight he saw me preparing notes for the following day's services and said that no one works on a Saturday afternoon. He asked me what I was doing and this led to an interesting conversation.
The flight was uneventful. As usual we caught up with a couple of films and were well catered for with food and drink. I was seated in a chair with plenty of leg room for which I was thankful
The ten hour flight was in the light. Johannesburg was very grey , cold and overcast as I arrived at 1700 local time or 2300 Perth time.
Customs and passport control were completed with no problems. As there was no connecting flight to Port Elizabeth that night I had to stay overnight in Johannesburg.
My long lost cousins who I was to meet later in the mission were out of town so having changed money I left the main entrance of the international terminal I made my way on the chilly afternoon to the shuttle bus to take me to the Holiday Inn Hotel.
The hotel was within the Airport and was well appointed. Having had a couple of meals on the plane I went to my room and tried to rest.
SUNDAY 8 JULY
As usual with jet lag the body clock was out of kilter so I awoke at 0230. I rested until 0600 and left for the airport a half an hour later.
Again the leg room was excellent. This time the flight to Port Elizabeth was not very full. I shared the row with a Swiss professor and we conversed for most of the journey to Port Elizabeth. We were served an ample breakfast. The overcast skies of Johannesburg gradually gave way to intermittent cloud and by the time the plane landed the day was fine with intermittent cloud.
For the only time that I can recall in all my journeys the plane left early. Time was made up and I landed 20 minutes early at the airport. My host Aydn Wilson fortunately was also early standing in the arrival lounge with a very professional St Marks placard. We therefore left P.E. [as the locals call it] Airport at about the time that we were due to land at about 1015.
The mission to South Africa was off to a quick start as we immediately headed for Pastor Sicelo Duze's church in New Brighton. We entered the rear of the building in which the service had already started with the song leaders amplified were singing choruses. The voices and co ordination of the singing was as usual excellent in this African setting.
We sat at the back for a short while and then were invited to go to the front where a church leader volunteered to act as an interpreter. I was invited to begin my message which was on the authority of the word of God somewhat short of a hour since the plane landed. I spoke for about forty five minutes with the interpreter working flawlessly with me. I admire people who can do this as I speak one language only.
At the end of the message one of the leaders made some concluding remarks after which photographs were taken with the congregation. The leader said none of us know when the Lord may change our situation. He used as an example the lead singer, a lady with a very powerful voice might go permanently hoarse.
As I left I caught up with the lady and said that with her talent I sincerely hoped that she would be able to use her voice and not become hoarse. She found that encouraging and amusing. As we left the church she and her backing group were back on the stage singing and dancing in unison.
We now headed for St Mark's to meet Bruce and Sandy Woolard. This church which was a Congregational Church had grown over the years and now included a Bible Academy and Christian School. As St Marks and St David's have four services on Sunday with Sandy playing the organ it is the custom of the Woolards to go out for Sunday lunch, so bidding farewell to Aydn I accompanied Bruce and Sandy to Apron String a charming restaurant set in hill in P.E.
Here we enjoyed a wonderful Sunday lunch sitting near to an open fire and spent time catching up on the last seven or so years. We confirmed that there was a high degree of compatibility between our viewpoints and believed that this trip to P.E. generously funded by St Mark's had the potential to bear much fruit.
On the way back to St Marks we visited St David's. I was able to give Bruce 50 CD's of the EBCWA libraries and the Omnibus Edition of the Bible Topic Book before returning to Aydn Wilson's house.
Aydn who has an accounting background is now a Minister in training. At his house where I was to stay I met his wife and two children. I was also able to load up the CD onto the computer at his house.
About 1730 we all went back to St Marks for the evening service. The church was full. Bruce led the singing with Aydn leading the service itself. I spoke for about 45 minutes, this time without translation on the topic From Here to Eternity. At the end of the service I greeted everyone at the door. Many of the congregation were enthusiastic .As a result I had interviews later in the week with a couple of young people who were interested in being trained in mission work.