Some reading this blog know that GES has had an ongoing teaching ministry at a Bible college in Zambia. Each year for approximately five years, my daughter Kathryn and I have gone there to teach. She teaches a class on soteriology (salvation). I teach a class on the Book of Romans. We are scheduled to return this April to do the same.
It is always exciting to go because the students there, usually around 25 in each class, are full of questions. Free Grace is new to most of them. I say most because–due to the ongoing nature of what GES is doing there–there is now a Free Grace presence among the students. We have also donated many Free Grace books to the library, and we hand out books to all the students we teach.
Still, it is difficult to determine how much sticks in the minds of the students on campus. When we go, I always speak at chapel at the school at least once. Local churches also have us come and speak, either at their services or in Sunday school classes. I think it is always a matter of interest in the churches when they can get Americans to come visit. We do these things in order to get the Free Grace message out to as many people as possible. There is a great deal of bad theology in these churches.
I want to give an update on one of our students as an encouragement to those who are interested in what GES is doing. It’s very appropriate that this student’s name is Christian. We had him in class four years ago. He’s one of the students who has expressed great appreciation for Free Grace theology. For the last few years, Christian has organized evening question-and-answer sessions during which Kathryn and I can discuss various passages from a Free Grace perspective.
His father is a local pastor, and Christian has shared with his father the GES books we gave him. His dad has now adopted the gospel of grace in his teaching and enjoys the books his son has given him.
Christian is a bright young man. He graduated from the Bible college a few months ago. He was accepted into medical school and will soon be leaving to start his studies. December 11 was his last Sunday, and as a special treat and farewell, the church his father pastors asked Christian to preach before he left for school. They specifically asked him to speak on James 2. The members of the church have been exposed to Free Grace theology and have questions about this passage.
The great news is that Christian loves Zane Hodges’s commentary on James, which GES has in its bookstore. He has read it through many times and is familiar with what the passage teaches. I am very confident that the people in that church heard a message of grace when Christian spoke on James 2. In fact, they got a clearer message than do many in US churches when their pastors speak on the same passage.
If the Lord delays His coming, how exciting is it to know that there are people like Christian in countries like Zambia? Who knows what the Lord can do with a strong Free Grace-believing doctor in that land? What will the Lord do with the believers in that church?
This is just a small part of what GES is doing. I wanted to give you an update and some encouragement. We are all making a difference. Let’s pray that the Lord will continue to use us to accomplish His work.
