In May, my daughter Kathryn and I went to Zambia to teach in a Bible college. I taught the book of Romans and Kathryn taught the doctrine of eternal salvation. This was our fifth trip to Zambia. Thanks so much to you who have supported us in these endeavors financially—allowing us to give out free books and other materials—and with prayers.

I think that such mission trips are most effective when we are able to return each year, as we have been able to do in Zambia. On our first trip there, the students really struggled with assurance of salvation. Every student believed he could lose his salvation, and there was a heavy emphasis on the necessity of doing good works in order to have some measure of peace. None of them had assurance that they were children of God.

On each trip, we have not only taught the Biblical doctrine of assurance, we have also passed out a lot of Free Grace literature to the students and for their library. After five years, there is a noticeable difference in the students. They mention the writings of people like Zane Hodges and the GES website. In chapel messages they even speak of the assurance of salvation. The new students we have in class are quick to see the truth of the doctrine and believe it.

On this trip, I was asked to speak at a local Baptist church one Sunday. The pastor of the church is the father of one of our students. I spoke on assurance, and the pastor said that through his discussions with his son, he knew he had eternal life. He wants to have a conference at the church on the topic when we return next year. He said that the churches in Zambia sorely need this teaching.

I think that the biggest problem in Zambia is the teaching about charismatic signs and wonders. It is very common to have twenty-year-old students claiming to be prophets or apostles. Many of them also say that they cast out demons on a fairly regular basis, even though they cannot explain how they know when someone is demon possessed or how they cast out demons. They also claim that some pastors in the country have raised the dead, caused shriveled arms to miraculously grow back, and even turned themselves into snakes. The students are very impressed with well-known preachers who are able to do such things. Such preachers are often very wealthy, as people pay for their services. On this trip, some students even showed me a video of how Satan, through a local witch doctor, had turned a man into a cow because the man had committed adultery. It probably goes without saying that the view that Christians are to speak in the languages of angels is widespread.

It is, of course, sad to hear and see such nonsense. What is even sadder, in my opinion, is how missionaries from America support it. They come to Zambia and tell the students that we do not see such things in the United States since Satan is stronger in Zambia because of the influence of voodoo and other evil influences. In other words, these missionaries actually encourage the practice of such things.

When we first went to Zambia, Kathryn and I would change the subject when these kinds of issues came up. We wanted to emphasize the gospel of grace and felt that we did not have time to address all these other concerns. In addition, we felt that these things were part and parcel of their culture and if we told them the truth it would turn them off. They would not be willing to listen to anything we had to say.

We have changed strategies, however. When students make such claims, we point out that these things are not Biblical and that they are being scammed. We also tell them that missionaries who support such teachings are doing a disservice to them.

Is that the best strategy? I suppose some would say yes, and others would say no. We are encouraged, however, by the response. It does seem that many of the students are getting a clearer picture of reality. It is our hope that these students and future leaders in Zambia will not only understand the gospel of grace, but also have healthy beliefs about what is going on in the churches in their country.

Thanks to all who support GES and this work! If anybody has any advice or constructive criticism, don’t hesitate to let me know.