The Rouch Family in Zambia

Sep/Oct/Nov 2006

Truckers receiving the discipleship lessons

Open Forum at LBBOZ Pastors Meeting

Dear Pastor, Church Family & Friends,

Here in Zambia, we are transitioning from six months of a very dry season into six months of a very wet rainy season. We find ourselves comparing the dry season to the many trials and challenges of our first five months back on the field. Like the rains, God’s blessings are very refreshing after the “dry times.” We still have no home (the one we paid rent to move into for October will now not be available until January or February.) Although we have rebuilt engines and done other extensive repair, our vehicles are not road-worthy for traveling out of town. The kwacha has stabilized at 75 cents for each dollar (example prices: gasoline is $6 per gallon, a can of corn is $2.50 and a house that was $300 is now $700. Sickness and death are rampant affecting even national pastors and their families.

Pastor & Mrs. Chitondo

Two weeks ago, Pastor Chitondo from the Northern Province, who pastors the three largest churches we have, was so near death his daughter called to tell us they were returning him to the family village about 700 kilometers away. We all know that means he wants to die where he was born. A month ago we had him come here to Ndola for proper medical treatment…..trying to save his life after two months that he tried to depend upon Zambia’s social medicine for treatment. After testing, he was found to have severe pneumonia and HIV due to a blood transfusion. This is heavy trial for us all. We have not heard anything more and we are not able to travel to the churches in Kasama. Please pray for the Chitondo family and those churches.

Lubuto land being cleared (3.2 hectares)

Our Bible Institute is closed until January due to students who plant crops during November & December. We had a very successful two-day annual pastors meeting in October. All of the Pastors (except one) came in from their provinces. There was much fellowship and encouragement one to another. Pastor Cheelo from Southern Province has been authorized a piece of land and is trying to finalize the paperwork so we can begin their church building. Pastor Atrie in the Northwest Province has land now but has requested to wait with their building until the rainy season ends. Pastor Sekala in Kawama has footings in and the walls will soon go up. Pastor Chongo and the church in Pima have recently completed their temporary building. A wonderful blessing is the land we acquired in Lubuto. We have already cleared the land and the church there will soon be putting in footings and a slab, but may have to wait with the building until after the rains. Pastor Munkanta is trying hard to get the final papers from the Council.

Kawama footings for new building

This property is 3.2 hectares and will not only be for the church, but also for Lighthouse to have its own mission compound…including Bible Institute, housing for four missionary families, and hopefully a Youth Center in the future!

47 Saved!

Showers of blessings came on Saturday, November 18th at Gospel Light Baptist Church’s Youth rally here in Ndola under our big yellow tent. Bro. & Mrs. Owens reported 32 youth saved! . As I listened to the lesson being taught, I noticed several big trucks parked nearby and caught a glimpse of an old truck driver who was watching with great interest. He gave me the “thumbs up” sign, and it was like the Lord said “you asked for showers of blessings….go get him!” I grabbed my shirt pocket to be sure I had tracts and my New Testament and headed for the old gentleman. After a few minutes of small talk, I discovered there were many drivers -- all from Dar-Es-Salaam, Tanzania who had been “stuck” 8 days in Ndola waiting for customs clearance. I began to talk to him about the Lord. By this time, we had both walked to sit down on the curb. Another truck driver came to listen in and then another. Before long, Brother MacFarlane joined us and we found ourselves standing and preaching to 11 truckers and passersby. After 30 minutes, 8 of them prayed, repenting and asking Christ to save them! They could not come to Gospel Light on Sunday due to having to stay with their trucks – so at 3:00 p.m. on Monday, Brother Mac and I went back to preach to 8 more truck drivers under a tree by the railway station, where 7 accepted Christ including two Muslims who said they wanted to become Christians! A total of 15 saved! We started all 7 on our discipleship course. By Tuesday morning, all of the trucks were gone. Following is a text message I received on my cell phone from Dar-Es-Salaam on Thanksgiving Day – 2 days after the trucks left Ndola……

”Dear Rev..we are very sorry for leaving without saying goodbye. We appreciated the brotherhood you showed for us. Although there are more than 2000 kilometers, we believe we are close in Jesus name. Please send me your P.O. Box number so we can post the subjects you gave us. Myself, I need some more lessons. Please don’t hesitate to send me more subjects by mail. My message to you is Psalm 133. It’s me…Chris Lemaof in Tanzania. Many greetings to your family and your brother-in-law.”

Thank you Lord …..for the “cloud burst of blessings” in the midst of this otherwise “dry time.”

Partners in His Harvest,

Bro. Charlie, Tressa & Taylor

“Sending the Gospel Light into Every Province”

The Other Side of the Coin (Page)

We always enjoy sharing great blessings about souls saved and baptized. Sometimes I believe it is necessary to share the depths of our hearts with our co-laborers. . We put all we have and all we are into this ministry. To us being a missionary is not just something we “do” – it is what and who we are. God is blessing this ministry. Our goal for almost 10 years has been to go into all 9 provinces winning souls and starting churches. This has continued to multiply as pastors have been sent out of Gospel Light Baptist Church here in Ndola. Now there are churches in these provinces whose pastors have set their own goals. Being soul winners, they are training more pastors of their own and have purposed to plant a church in every major town in their province in 10 years! Those will then reach the villages around them. God gave us the plan, and we are doing our best to walk with Him and work hard. As this ministry continues to propagate, we find ourselves at a real crossroads. We have reached the “max” financially with what we can do effectively. The bottom line is . . . ministry that has grown to this size takes money – and lots of it. We seriously need your help. We are not asking for ourselves, but I am asking and pleading with you for the lost souls of Zambia. We are asking every supporting church and those of you whom we send letters to who have not yet taken us on for support. We are asking individuals who would send special gifts. It is not about us…..it is not about you……it is not even first of all about them (Zambians)…..IT IS ABOUT HIM. For us to go forward, we are in immediate need of an additional $2,000 monthly support and special offerings of whatever the Lord lays upon your heart. We are asking you to also consider supporting one of five national pastors who have proven themselves over the years through many “dry seasons” and have remained faithful to God’s call – with or without the presence of the missionary. If you could only know their own sacrifice for God’s call and the souls of their countrymen. We have found them without even vegetables to eat – boiling the leaves of vegetables to feed their families. Some of them had education and good jobs before being called to preach, but they continue to preach and win souls – redeeming the time because the days are evil.” If a pastor were to receive a regular monthly support of $100, he could provide housing and food for his family and devote full time into ministry. A pastor’s wife also works – many times carrying a baby on her back while hoeing a field to help her husband have more time to be more effective in ministry. Their wives continue to do this as well as minister to the ladies and children of their churches. Out of many pastors, we are seeking support for only five. This request is not so they can be lazy. This request is to free them to concentrate on multiplying ministry. Their people help them, but with people hungry, it is not enough. I am not begging, but pleading with you – as I plead with people to make a decision to receive Christ. Dear Co-Laborers…..please…….sacrifice……do without……and give much. Please help push this missionary, ministry, and these pastors forward. I am asking all – rich and poor to give much. Many co-laborers have sacrificed before – hence – much of the successful advancement, souls saved, churches started, land purchased, etc.

If you wish to write or call me to discuss these things, please feel free to do so. Email address is crnzam@coppernet.zm Our phone is 011 26096781025. Please pray with us at this time for souls in Zambia. Thank you for your consideration, prayers, and financial support. May God bless you.