Central Africa Baptist College & Seminary

Training the Next Generation of African Leaders

The Plague of Ambition-less Gospel Ministers

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On my way to the college office last Friday I passed a home where a yard worker was slowly slashing grass, in fact he was barely moving his arm. He certainly lacked ambition and motivation.

As children belonging to God we have been drafted into Gods workforce and sent out to labor for His interests among men. Yet too often we are like my neighbors yard worker.

Perhaps our exposure to success-driven men and ministries have caused us to feel that there is something spiritual about lacking ambition in the work of ministry. In Africa spiritual ambition is often viewed as something negative. The result is a plague of ambition-less gospel workers.

Paul was controlled by a spiritual ambition: to preach the gospel where it had not yet been proclaimed (Ro 15:20). This ambition gave him a laser-focus, structured his priorities and provided a template for decision making.

Consider these principles from Pauls life:

  • A God-given, life consuming ambition must be shaped by a clear vision of the mission the proclamation of gospel, that all must be justified by faith in Jesus Christ alone (Ro.15:6-7,17).
  • A God-given, life consuming ambition is not optional if we are to bring glory to God (Ro.15:9).
  • A God-given, life consuming ambition requires that we exercise faith in God for His work of grace in the lives of others. (Ro.15:14)
  • A God-given, life consuming ambition is given by God and pursues Him as His highest end (Ro.15:15-16).
  • A God-given, life consuming ambition requires a power greater than ourselves, but it does not require less than our all. Consider the little boys lunch, he gave Jesus his all even though his all was nothing compared to the need of the multitudes (Ro.15:19).
  • A God-given, life consuming ambition consumes everything your time, your energies, your assets, your priorities (Ro.15:22-24).
In a lecture given in 1875 to the students at his Pastors College CH Spurgeon said,
We must be done with daydreams, and get to work. I believe in eggs, but we must get chickens out of them. I do not mind how big your egg is; it may be an ostrich egg if you like, but if there is nothing in it, pray clear away the shells. We want facts deeds done, souls saved. It is all very well to write essays, but what souls have you saved from going down to hell? Your excellent management of your school interests me, but how many children have been brought into the church by it? Are sinners converted? To swing to and fro on a five-barred gate is not progress, yet some seem to think so.
Brethren, do something; do something; do something. While committees waste their time, over resolutions, do something. While Societies and Unions are making constitutions, let us win souls. Too often we discuss, and discuss and discuss, and Satan laughs in his sleeve. It is time we had done planning and sought something to plan. I pray, be men of action all of your Get to work and quit yourselves like men.

In the New Testament, the teaching and learning of Scripture is always in the context of equipped. The purpose of learning Scripture is to equip us for harvest work. We are to teach others to obey all things that Christ commanded.

Theology is not a hat you wear on your head it is boots you strap on your feet! It is time to strap on those boots and embrace a God-given life consuming ambition that results in Great Commission living.

Fearlessly Proclaiming Truth To The Multitudes

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Dear Friend,

I would like to take a moment to share with you what the Lord is doing through Faith Radio. We have been blessed to receive donations from various supporters and their testimonies are encouraging.

For the second time now, Mrs. M—– from Chimwemwe Chapel passed through CABC and donated K1000 to Faith Radio. She is personally burdened to see the spread of the Gospel through Faith Radio. She explained that the teaching and preaching sessions on Faith Radio have really helped her grow spiritually. Her own spiritual growth has motivated her to support the radio station in hopes that many others can be reached with the same truth. According to her, she can use her money to reach more people through Faith Radio than she could on her own.

Another faithful supporter is Mrs. Margaret K—–. She lives within Kitwe and has faithfully supported the radio station with K100 or K200 monthly. She claims to be in the “Bible School of Faith Radio” as she listens and enjoys spiritual growth. Through the teaching on Faith Radio, she has been challenged with regard to her local church. She currently attends a Pentecostal church and is considering a change because she desires to receive at church the kind of teaching she receives from Faith Radio.

Bana K—— from Bulangililo Township came to donate K4500 to support Faith Radio. She testified that she and her children listen to Faith Radio regularly. She has noticed a change in the character and behavior of her children and believes the truth from Faith Radio is reaching their hearts.

Another supporter mentioned that she has been praying since 1991 for a radio or television station that would proclaim truth and provide sound Bible based teaching and preaching without mixing the truth of Scripture with worldly ideas. After listening to Faith Radio, she declared it as her answer to prayer! Now she prays that Faith Radio will extend to all of Zambia.

Recently, a man sent a text to the Faith Radio phone number indicating that he desires to be born again. What an awesome opportunity for the Gospel.

We cannot possibly give all the testimonies of what God is doing through Faith Radio, but we hope this gives a small picture of how God is using this radio station for his glory and the spread of the Gospel. We are thankful for the great things that God is doing through this ministry.

Please pray for Faith Radio. We desire that God will raise up people from within Zambia and outside Zambia to support the efforts of Faith Radio in sharing the Gospel truth with a needy world of listeners. Partners outside of Zambia can can donate here. Local donations can be made through the following account, Kindly write “Radio” on the deposit slip memo line:

Account name: Central Africa Baptist College
Bank Name: Standard Chartered
Account Number: 0100141842700
Branch: Zambia way
Town: Kitwe
Swift Code: SCBLZMLX
Sort Code : 060228

Thank you.

By God’s Mercy,

Martin Mwamba
Station Manager
1 Samuel 12:24

CABC Is Hiring An Academic Dean

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Central Africa Baptist College & Seminary is accepting applications for the position of Academic Dean. This is a full-time position for a qualified male candidate.

The Academic Dean is responsible to uphold the mission and purpose of CABC by directing the academic programs, personnel, events, and records to meet the objectives of CABC.

This position comes with the following duties and responsibilities:

  1. Provide academic leadership and oversight in all academic programs offered at CABC including certificate programs, diploma programs, degree programs, and graduate programs.
  2. Provide academic leadership and oversight for all CABC deans and academic department chairs.
  3. Provide academic leadership and oversight for all CABC faculty members.
  4. Provide academic leadership and oversight for all CABC students.
  5. Provide academic leadership and oversight for academic office responsibilities

An ideal candidate for this position would possess the following qualifications.

Education Qualifications And Experience:
  1. Minimum of a Graduate level degree (preferably in the field of Education).
  2. Leadership experience in the field of Education.
  3. Experience in classroom teaching.
  4. Familiarity with the academic systems for higher education institutions.
Skill And Ability Qualifications:
  1. Organizational skills including planning, attention to detail, and effective follow up.
  2. Effective communication skills both verbally and in writing.
  3. Competent with computer programs (email, word processing, etc.).
  4. Able to manage the department budget.
Character Qualifications:
  1. Possesses an understanding of Scripture and demonstrates a life that has been transformed by the gospel of Jesus Christ.
  2. Professional in conduct and communication.
  3. Emotionally and spiritually mature.
  4. Team minded and able to develop healthy working relationships.
  5. Demonstrates a teachable spirit.
Interested candidates should send a letter of application with a current Curriculum Vitale (CV) to academicdean@cabcollege.org.

Notification of Postponement of CABC Opening For 2018

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January 5, 2018

To All Parents, Students, Faculty & Staff:

UPDATE ON ZAMBIA GOVERNMENT DIRECTIVE TO POSTPONE THE OPENING OF ALL EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS

INTRODUCTION

THE re-opening of schools countrywide has been deferred until further notice.

On Wednesday, January 30, 2018 the Ministries of Health and Education issued a joint press statement that was read by the Ministry of Health, Dr. Chilufya and I quote in part:

As part of the escalation of the response, I did issue Statutory Instrument N0. 79 of 2017 which evoked certain provisions of the Public Health Act to ensure that we spread of the outbreak and also prevent loss of life. This has also escalated the multi-sectorial response and in line with the presidential directive, we are strengthening our inter-sectorial collaboration. Today, we are discussing a key subject that is, the re-opening of schools at primary, secondary and tertiary level. So, we gather here today to make an announcement that the re-opening of schools at primary to tertiary level is being deferred countrywide country wide in order for us to monitor the evolution of the epidemic and we will review this decision on January 30, 2018.

He said deferring the re-opening of the schools countrywide was to avoid many gatherings in various educational facilities.

Remember that there are children who are coming from areas which we are describing as the epicentres of the epidemic and they will be mixing with children from other areas. There may be cross contamination and that may escalate the epidemic. There are also children that will be coming from the epicentres in Lusaka who may need to travel to boarding schools outside Lusaka to various parts of the country. So, we will suddenly be having a possibility of carriers and this disease will spread in various parts of the country and will spiral out of control, Dr Chilufya said.

In line with the Statutory Instrument, we are restricting this particular movement. We do not want school children to move outside the epicentres to various schools where they will co-mingle with other children. Or move out of Lusaka to other parts of the country so that we start fire fighting in different parts of the country. So, this is an important measure and will apply to all schools nationally and we will be able to review this decision by January 30, 2018. This period will allow us to work with the authorities in the schools to look at water and sanitation facilities, correct them where need be and so there is a task force that is working to ensure that water facilities, sanitation facilities in the schools is in good shape.

OFFICIAL RESPONSE BY CABC ADMINISTRATION

This morning I met with the administrative team of Central Africa Baptist College & Seminary to discuss how CABC will comply with this directive. The following is official notification to all parents, students, faculty and staff:

In compliance with the Government directive regarding the opening of schools, CABC will not reopen until the Government has lifted the ban. An announcement from government is scheduled for January 30, 2018.

This postponement of opening has the following implications:

  • Returning Third-Year Education students are not to report on January 5, 2018 but follow the timeline listed below.
  • The Masters of Ministry class scheduled to begin Tuesday, January 9, 2018, has been postponed. The Academic office will communicate a new date for the commencement of this class.
  • Bible Students should not report to campus as previously scheduled on January 23, 2018.
  • The Continuing Education Block Class on 1&2 Thessalonians scheduled for January 29 – February 2 has been cancelled. The next block class will be as scheduled in July.

Should the ban be lifted on or before January 30th, CABC students should plan to report to campus on Thursday, February 1, 2018.

The new adjusted schedule applies to all students and is as follows:

  • February 1, 2018 – Students report
  • February 2-3, 2018 – Student Orientation and Registration for classes
  • February 5, 2018 – Classes begin

Should the ban on reopening be extended past January 30th CABC will provide further information at an appropriate time.

If you have further questions please contact the office on +260 97 7415011.

 

Sincerely,

Philip S. Hunt, President

Central Africa Baptist College & Seminary

Our Class Visit to a Miracle Worker Campaign

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Heal Jesus Campaign, Kitwe Zambia

This semester I am teaching a 4th year class on Apologetics, in which we work through what a worldview is, how it affects our beliefs and behavior, and how to be more aware of our own and others worldviews as we engage in sharing the gospel. One of the most interesting parts of this class is finding clear examples of unbiblical worldviews for us to interact with to be able to better understand the worldview issues that we find all around us. Last week we were afforded a unique opportunity to get up close and personal with a very prevalent unbiblical worldview when we attended the Healing Jesus Campaign which had come to town for the weekend.

Evangelist Dag Heward-Mills is a London-born Ghanaian pastor who leads Lighthouse Chapel International, which has what is claimed to be the largest church campus in Ghana, along with 2,833 other locations in 84 countries. He explicitly teaches a health and wealth prosperity gospel (although his website makes great efforts to make his ministry seem doctrinally sound), and claims to be able to work miracles and offer deliverance from all sorts of demonic activities. His campaign travels around Africa every year, and his website www.daghewardmills.org states that he has held 168 campaigns in 20 countries, and that he has won a total of 10,872,343 souls! (For those of you who are wondering, that is an average of more than 64,000 salvations per weekend campaign!) So last Friday night four students from our Apologetics class and myself joined 4-5 thousand others in attending the service, hoping to be able to better understand the worldview from which he operates, and the kind of influence he has upon the vast crowds that he gathers.

We arrived after the song service had ended, as the offering was about to be collected. Right away the sow-a-seed theology was apparent, as the leader called out, We all came tonight expecting something from God, but I hope you all also came with something for God! In her prayer, she also asked that what was given in the offering be returned back manifold to the faithful who had sown in faith hoping to reap a miracle. After this Evangelist Dag began to preach for more than an hour. He wandered from one Biblical story to another offering his commentary, which was at times inspirational, humorous, and occasionally downright irreverent (recounting the fall, he said that after Eve ate and saw she was naked, she said to Adam, I want to show you some fashions. And then he concluded, Adam was happy that night, and thats how we all got here.)

After his message Evangelist Dag then led in a prayer service followed by miracles. He asked people if they wanted forgiveness from the sins which Satan has made you commit. He then proceeded to lead the entire assembled crowd in a prayer repentance and acceptance of salvation (this seems to be where his numbers of souls saved comes from). After this he instructed us to raise our finger and begin talking to Satan. We were commanded to bind him and declare our freedom from him. He told us to lay our own hands on our heads and he began to pray for us, casting out demons. Snake spirits, cobra spirits, wicked demon powers, kangaroo spirits, rhinoceros spirits, every animal spirit, I command you to come out! He then moved on to healing. Place your hand on whatever is wrong or doesnt work. He then began praying in tongues, after which he said, Whatever you couldnt do before, check yourself, youve been healed! Someone is supposed to die soon, but you are being healed. People streamed to the front to receive healing from him, and many fell down shaking as he cast out the demons.

The last part of the service was a testimony time for those who had been healed to share their miracles, and it started with a bang. The first lady to come up claimed to have come the night before straight from the hospital where she left her small nephew dying. But, according to Evangelist Dag, he had been raised from the dead! (There was quite a bit of confusion on stage about this, with some claiming that he had died, and some that he had not. Those who understood the Bemba of the ladys testimony said she never actually claimed that the boy had died). Next was a case of a young boy healed of severe epilepsy. Evangelist Dag, whose website says that he holds an MD and occasionally practices medicine at his ministry hospital in Ghana, actually concluded from this, We know that every case of epilepsy is always demon possession! There were also reports of deaf now hearing and cancer being healed.

On the way home, we discussed what we saw and heard. One student commented that his message demonstrated plenty of Bible knowledge but no sound theology or exposition of the text. He observed, His preaching and praying was all about creating fear of demonic possession and Satanic influence, which he then offered himself as the solution through the power that he had. Another one noted the explicitly African worldview of the spirit world in his casting out of animal spirits. We all discussed the easy-believism which called for everyone to an emotional response to the prayers but no changed life or meaningful follow-up or commitment (he left town two days later, after all), and then counted us all as decisions for Christ. It is likely that many of the same people attended every night of the campaign and got saved again each night.

Undoubtedly this was an eye opening and helpful exercise for the class as we seek to understand worldview and how it affects the lives and beliefs of the people all around us. But more importantly it gave us all a greater sense of the need and urgency of proclaiming the true life-changing gospel message. Most of the people there at the campaign would likely call themselves Christians, yet the faith they have seems not to be rooted in Christ at all, but is much more focused on fear of the spirit world and the search for a powerful man of God to deliver them from the spirit forces that cause all their problems. It was a sobering and powerful reminder of the task that still lies before us, even in this Christian nation, as we train and equip men and women for true gospel witness, and call all around us into true freedom that only comes from a relationship with Christ!

– Ben Straub, CABC Academic Dean