Teams, Tents, and the Truth

Friends,

Sometimes, initiating a friendship with a Christian, especially in the context of Christian ministry, can become merely the norm. Perhaps, it is hard to appreciate the unifying power of the Holy Spirit in each of our hearts when it appears that Christian social and cultural influences are the primary facilitators. I was thus reminded of the truly unique dynamic of the community of Believers when I went to the UNZA main campus one evening. My intention was to find some gym time to see if Abel was bluffing about his basketball skills. We were able to get into the gym despite the campus being closed thanks to a student, Vernon (aka Big Vern), whom Abel has been discipling. When we arrived, we were surprised to find that the UNZA Pacers school team was still on the court. Abel fled to the weight room, intimidated by his smooth dribbling countrymen. However, they invited me to join them. To be clear, I am not a good basketball player, as much as I enjoy poking fun at Abel, but I saw a great opportunity to meet some guys and have some fun! While resting on the bench after a couple of games, I engaged in conversation with one of the student athletes, Richard (aka Controll). I was surprised to hear him share of his frustrations regarding the team, and his struggles with being an older leader among younger guys. He desired to be competitive, but not as individuals; he wanted the team to learn to work together and appreciate one another, to be the national champions that their reputation suggests. Controll had invested time, energy, and money into his teammates and the program, and he was beginning to lose hope for both. Surprise number two: Controll walked me back to where I was living and hung out at the Nav office! It was then that I learned about his genuine faith in Christ. Like many Zambians, he was brought up by Christians parents. But unlike many Zambians, he eventually took it to heart and made faith his own. We had a good time sharing life and figuring out how to move forward with his dilemma. Pray for this story to continue!

The ZamFam has made a lot of progress with cleaning out and reorganizing the office storage room. John has been leading and coordinating the project, and has done an amazing job. The ZamNavs love to go camping, and they have a chaotic assortment of tents. Unfortunately, these tents have been thoroughly "loved", and our efforts are much like assembling a three-dimensional jigsaw puzzle with missing pieces. Thankfully, we succeeded in restoring five tents and a gazebo!

My time since last weekend has mainly been invested in studying and preparing for Nav Forum at Ridgeway, where I spoke last night on "the Truth and Sufficiency of the Scriptures for the Whole of Life". I thought it was a mouthful, too, and an even bigger mindful. The experience has reminded me of my dependance upon God and the Holy Spirit in my ministry. Examining the Scriptures and recalling its many impacts on my life has bolstered my convictions and confidence in the gospel of Jesus Christ. Everyone can see that the Bible and the life of Jesus have shaped mankind, but knowing Jesus personally as I plunge into the depths of the Scriptures is nothing short of a life-giving miracle, the work of God for the salvation of the spiritually blind, of whom I once belonged.

"The glory which You have given Me I have given to them, that they may be one, just as We are one; I in them and You in Me, that they may be perfected in unity, so that the world may know that You sent Me, and loved them, even as You have loved Me."
~ John 17:22-23

Please continue praying for the ZamNavs National Conference taking please this weekend. It will be a spectacular gathering of men and women who are seeking God. Pray especially for students struggling to attend due to financial constraints, for workshop and seminar leaders, and for our speaker.

By His Grace,
Jon Chen

Eating the Scriptures and Fried Caterpillars

Friends,

The theme of the Zambia Navigators this year has been one of the core values of The Navigators - "The truth and sufficiency of the Scriptures for the whole of life". The students of UNZA Ridgeway have begun investigative bible studies (IBS) in the book of John. I am impressed with the response of students to the invitations we extended to these IBS groups. UNZA Ridgeway is a branch of the University of Zambia which focuses on the study of biology, pharmaceuticals, and medicine. The culture is less socially-driven and more academically-driven, but we are learning that students deeply crave more community and deeper relationships. This hunger has given us an opportunity pour our lives and the gospel into the campus through the narrow cracks of the busy students' schedules.

I have been honored with an invitation to speak to students at their Forum meeting, an evening of fellowship where students join Navigators in hearing teaching and worshiping in songs. I humbly request your prayers as I prepare to teach on the theme of the ministry.The Forum will be on Wednesday night.

Almost a week later, the team has yet to fully recover from the trip to Ukwimi. As a team, we are serving the ministry by cleaning and organizing the overwhelmed storage closet. Work has been difficult, but is making great progress. I have adjusted my resting schedule to make better use of the morning, and to avoid the fruitlessness of restless evenings. Unfortunately, Chris seems to be struggling a little more to regain his strength. He has battled flu-like symptoms and muscle soreness. John is growing more energetic with each day, and has also been growing motivated as he spends more time on campus. Gershom made a special lunch today to give us a little more energy for the afternoon: caterpillars! Honestly, it was not our favorite. John later recalled, "I had butterflies in my stomach!"

Next week, we will be hitting the road again. The Zambia Navigators National Conference will take place July 2-4, hosting staff, students, and partners from all over the country. I am excited to expand my perspective for a weekend and see what God is doing all over this amazing country! Please pray as we recruit heavily for this conference. We would like to see all the students in whom we invest attend this life-changing event. Following the National Conference, the team will travel to Livingstone, home of the Victoria Falls.

One last thing: if you have a story about how Scripture has impacted your life, please email me that story. I may end up sharing some of the stories when I speak on Wednesday!

By His Grace,
Jon Chen

Song of the Redeemed Rising from the African Plain

Friends,

Praise God! We have returned from a fantastic four day trip to Ukwimi of the Eastern Province. Our team of seven included Nelson (national director of ZamNavs), Gershom (GAP staff), Abel (GAP staff), Kakoma (a friend and former Navigator student), and the ZamFam (the summer team). Departing Friday at dawn, we drove about six hours without incident through beautiful hills and plateaus, ending up in a village characterized by straw thatched roofs, bare feet, and curious faces.

Settling into the Community

Our first evening, John facilitated a Frisbee workshop among neighborhood children, demonstrating the fundamentals to what he hoped would be a community Ultimate Frisbee game. We pitched our tents on hoed and swept plots of red soil, graciously provided away from the colonies of ants, who opportunistically gather around anyone who may be sitting for a meal.

Rest (or the lack thereof) became a theme of our trip to Ukwimi. Our nights were either cold, windy, or short. John would recount a feeling of gratitude that Kakoma, a former rugby player, would weigh down the tent as they slept the second night. God was sufficient in our fatigue, giving us strength as we required.

The team split to perform our appointed work at Ukwimi. On Saturday, five of us joined Pastor Shakala, our host, in serving one of the local cotton farmers in the field. We experienced cotton picking by hand for the first time. Typically, workers spend fourteen hours harvesting up and down the rows under the intense sun. By contrast, we spent a mere four or five hours, feeling scorched and tired by mid-day. The others went with Mrs. Shakala in search of a goat to slaughter for our supper on Sunday. After a long and tedious search on foot, they came back with only a bag of ground nuts (aka. peanuts).

Laborers in the Field

Our labor, as expected, was mostly sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ to members of the community. While the goat seekers failed in one respect, they did come across some field harvesters along the way, sharing how a relationship with God is possible!

On Saturday night, the leaders of the Zambia Fellowship of Evangelical Students (ZAFES) at Ukwimi Trades Training Institute (a vocational school) invited us to share with them. We preached on the importance of the Scriptures and getting the most out of time in the Scriptures.  I left that meeting deeply saddened. No one in that student fellowship group had ever read an entire book of the Bible. Furthermore, no one claimed to know God (as opposed to knowing about God).

Pastor Shakala and Evangelist Mauluka invited us to preach at their respective churches, the Pentecostal Assemblies of God and the United Church of Zambia (UCZ). I took the opportunity share at UCZ what many of you have heard already, because it has been part of our vision at Purdue. I preached my sermon on ministering out of an overflow of a personal relationship with God and a Christ-centered church community.  Chris also taught on the Wheel Illustration at Pastor Shakala's church.

Chickens!

The team also had some fun Sunday afternoon. Since we were unable to acquire a goat, we purchased two chickens for our supper, chickens we still had to catch. Without going into too many details, it took teamwork to catch the fastest chickens I have ever encountered! The neighborhood seemed thoroughly entertained by the spectacle of two Mzungus (Caucasians) and a Choachoali (Oriental) running after the elusive black birds.

Overall Impressions

All said and done, I am hopeful for the work prepared for laborers in and incoming at Ukwimi. Without a doubt, the need is great for sound doctrine and discipleship. Churchgoers do not have a personal relationship with God. Some church elders even participate in Nyau, a dark and powerful demonic ritual which is deeply rooted in the community. It is a hardworking community though, and they welcome gospel. I pray that laborers like Pastor Shakala, Evangelist Mauluka, and future teams will see the continued work of the Spirit in this land. Pray for the song of the redeemed!

We returned safely yesterday, and our time will be spent immersing ourselves in campus ministry and preparing for the National Conference of The Navigators of Zambia. Pray as we recover our strength and return to the relationships we began at UNZA Ridgeway.

By His Grace,
Jon Chen

From the Campus, to the Town, to the Village

Friends,

Thank you for your messages of comfort and encouragement through this last week!  My family is grateful for your prayers.

Leaders at UNZA at Ridgeway continue to open the doors for our team to initiate new relationships with students.  The campus of about 1,000 is geared towards biological and medical vocations.  Less than half of the students are involved in any way with churches or fellowship groups - even fewer who are truly Christ-followers.  Several students have encouraged me, sharing their passion for growing in their faith and sharing it with others.  Pray for these students and our team as we come alongside one another in seeking God and His will our lives.

The team is resting much better, and we are adjusting to life here in Zambia.  The last few days, we have experienced much more of Lusaka, especially the town square and Ridgeway.  Our walk through the markets of town square left a deep impression on my heart regarding poverty.  Unfortunately, I do not yet understand this poverty (if anyone honestly can), but I am hopeful that this team will continue to mature in compassion as we dig further into a biblical perspective of poverty.

Africa will undoubtedly expand my perspective of the spiritual realm.  Our overnight prayer with Pastor Max and members of his church from the village of Miyoye was indescribably refreshing.  The faithful here have a deep appreciation of the power of the Holy Spirit, and it is evident in their prayers and their songs.  This coming weekend, we will be traveling to a village in the Eastern Province of Zambia called Ukwimi.  The staff team has informed us that spiritual opposition is evident and strong there.  Please pray for God's protection and leading as we seek to engage and serve the community.

By His Grace,
Jon Chen

A Moment from the World to Rejoice

This day was made for celebration

For victory and for fulfillment

For a life well-lived and a life well-loved

For utmost humility through grandest achievement

For steadfast strength through darkest trials

For wisdom amidst foolishness

For gentleness amidst conceit

For the work eternal of Christ

To whom a man of God may now go

To rest after a life of fruitful labor

To enjoy the company of his Father.

Zhuang Tinghuai, my grandfather
Went to be with the Lord June 12, 2011

Sunrise Through the Eyes of a Lagging Insomniac

Friends,

First, I will apologize if my thoughts do not retain coherence through the duration of this update. The fatigue of jet lag has not yet hit bottom yet, and my hope is that my body will soon realize its need for rest.  I am not doing poorly, but it is not a secret that I do not last long without sleep.  Please pray that God would grant me peace as I try to rest this coming weekend.

The last couple of days, the team has been meeting the staff and students of the Navs ministry at the University of Zambia Main Campus (UNZA) and the University of Zambia Ridgeway Campus.  The excitement is mutual as we lay out the vision for advancing the Kingdom and the gospel into the campuses.

I humbly share my observations about life in Zambia not to impress or to portray myself an authority, but to invite you to see what I see.  Zambia seems to struggle with a lack of strength and integrity in leadership.  Several of the concerns are associated with the government's inability or unwillingness to sustain reform and improvements.  On the street, it translates to helplessness and complacency.  The common Zambian seems to be trying to merely get by.  Gershom, one of the GAP staff, shared that unemployment is a problem for many, and it is not unusual to see a man intoxicated before 9 in the morning.  On the college campus, students are full of energy and ideals, but most are without the leading of Christ.  I pray that our labor and God's spirit would transform lives across this nation through what happens on these campuses through our ministry.

The team is currently reading a book called "When Helping Hurts" to better understand what it looks like to bear sustainable fruit through our labor in countries outside of our own.  Please pray that we would continue to grow and mature in our understanding of and approach to the issues we see here.

The staff here have also requested that I join them in teaching and training student leaders.  I hope to grow in my understanding of the culture and its people so that I may be able to serve more effectively in this role. Please pray for God's leading in this assignment.

Trust in the LORD with all your heart
And do not lean on your own understanding.
~Proverbs 3:5

By His Grace,
Jon Chen

Bwangi from Zambia

Friends,

The "day" is finally over. John, Chris, and I have arrived safely and without setback.  Everyone I have met so far at the Navigators office have been so spirited and encouraging to me and the team.  Nelson and the Zambian staff team have done an incredible job preparing for our arrival and for organizing our summer.  I am insufficiently grateful to God for this experience thus far.

I thought it may have only been a commercial ploy, but it turns out that African kids really are THAT cute.

I am anxious to see what plans this ministry and God has for us this summer. We will meet students and the rest of the staff tomorrow. Everything I am learning and everyone I am meeting have been energizing me, so much so that I hardly feel the exhaustion to which I will inevitably succumb in a few minutes.

Please remain faithful in praying for us! I cannot begin to describe how amazing His responses have been. Your prayers have power, and He is listening!

"My mouth will speak the praise of the LORD, and all flesh will bless His holy name forever and ever!"
~Psalm 145:21

By His Grace,
Jon Chen

Understanding Blindness

Friends,

International travel, especially to an unfamiliar place, can be like walking into a furnished room blind.  The process of exploring and growing familiar with a new country and its customs can at times be painful and frustrating, like stubbing a toe on a new obstacle.  I have also learned that it helps, for all unaccounted ignorance, to be humble in ignorance.  They love to see that a traveler is trying to learn; they hate to see that a traveler thinks he has learned.  Therefore, I welcome the opportunity to work alongside the Zambian staff team.  They will be my teachers and guides with eyes as I meet other members of our eternal family.  To expire this metaphor, I hope I may come to a point this summer where the unfamiliar becomes familiar, not in boasting, but in love developed and rooted.  I will not be so bold as to foresee , but rather, to merely hope that Zambia may become like another home to me.

Tomorrow, my teammates Chris and John, and I will begin flying to Zambia. Please pray for us. For anyone who would like to be praying with us throughout this summer, please make use of the bookmark pictured here. Feel free to save and print the image.

As a team, we have been meditating on and praying through a psalm which speaks of the worship for which we hope.


Psalm 96

Sing to the LORD a new song;
Sing to the LORD, all the earth.
Sing to the LORD, bless His name;
Proclaim good tidings of His salvation from day to day.
Tell of His glory among the nations,
His wonderful deeds among all the peoples.
For great is the LORD and greatly to be praised;
He is to be feared above all gods.
For all the gods of the peoples are idols,
But the LORD made the heavens.
Splendor and majesty are before Him,
Strength and beauty are in His sanctuary.

Ascribe to the LORD, O families of the peoples,
Ascribe to the LORD glory and strength.
Ascribe to the LORD the glory of His name;
Bring an offering and come into His courts.
Worship the LORD in holy attire;
Tremble before Him, all the earth.
Say among the nations, “The LORD reigns;
Indeed, the world is firmly established, it will not be moved;
He will judge the peoples with equity.”

Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice;
Let the sea roar, and all it contains;
Let the field exult, and all that is in it.
Then all the trees of the forest will sing for joy
Before the LORD, for He is coming,
For He is coming to judge the earth.
He will judge the world in righteousness
And the peoples in His faithfulness.

By His Grace,
Jon Chen