REPORT FROM BEREAN REFORMED BAPTIST CHURCH

1. Introduction
This report highlights some of the church ministry activities and the on-going weekly pastoral visitations. We also include marital problems involving three couples that pre-occupied us during this period.

2. Church Ministries
Sunday Service Updates - We are thankful to God that the attendance on Sundays has continued to show improvements with numbers reaching sixty and above.

6th of July - Pastor S. completed his series on Proverbs 28:13 with a sermon on “the forgiveness of God.” The five sermons he preached on this text have had a tremendous impact on the hearers.

13th of July – Brother Situmbeko K. preached on a topical subject of “happiness.” His sermon was timely and welcomed. Brother Situmbeko is a member of Central Baptist Church (CBC) in Chingola.

Teenagers Sunday Bible Class – Met on 6 and 13 July with Shadreck K. teaching them. Late coming still remains a problem.

Wednesday Bible Study – Met on 2 and 9 July. Attendance continues to be around 15; we are encouraging many more to begin attending.

Youth Fellowship – Met at the manse on 6 July. Attendance continues to be around 15 and this is still below par considering the number of youths attending church on Sundays.

Sunday school – The attendance has dropped and late coming by many of them affects the teaching.

3. Pastoral Weekly Visitations - The pastor, Emmanuel S., and his wife, Maggie, conducted visitations during this period.

• John and Joyce M. – Were visited on 3 July. We continued our weekly catechism with them.
• Lawrence C. – Was visited on 3 July. Continue to pray for his deteriorating health.

4. Marital Counselling Series - The following three marital problems preoccupied us and disturbed our usual weekly program:

• Brian and Ruth M. – They are regular at church even though we are yet to see signs of con-version in either of them. Their marital problems started with Brian’s reckless drinking behav-iour, sleeping out and misusing money for the family. His wife suffered severe depression as a result, and was briefly admitted in hospital. The Pastor is currently offering them counseling (evangelising) lessons.
• John and Rina C. - We have been reporting on this couple for sometime now. John has become extremely defiant, reckless and abusive to his wife. His wife in turn wants to sue for divorce. We do not know how to handle this case as Rina’s life is under threat each day that passes.
• Andrew and Royda M. – Andrew is one of our confidants at church. His wife is not yet converted. They had bitter differences to the extent of wanting to divorce. We are still offering them counsel.

5. Prayer Items & Thanksgiving

• Please do pray for the three couples mentioned above with serious marital problems. We need wisdom to know how to respond and handle them.
• Continue to pray for Regina M. to find a marriage partner. She is a single mother of two teenager girls.
• Continue to pray for our weekly pastoral visits and follow-ups.

“Finally, brothers, pray for us that the message of the Lord may spread rapidly and be honored, just as it was with you” (2 Thess.3: 1)

Emmanuel S.
Missionary Pastor