On Monday, the husband of a lady that attends one of the Baptist churches in Nyimba passed away. Also on Monday the second term of Youth Bible School started. So why do these two things matter and how do they go together? Today, Tuesday was the burial of the husband. Kendall left the house and went to the church to begin teaching the youth that are in attendance. As soon as he arrived they told him that they needed to attend the burial today. Kendall had enough time to teach and then they all went to the house of the funeral. As Kendall got out of the truck with the Bible School students, he grabbed his Bible and thought, "you never know". When he sat down at the home he began to prepare a small devotion/teaching just in case they asked him to share. Sure enough, when the time came for the church that was represented to share, they called on Kendall. He shared from John 5:25-29, 1 Peter 1:3-4, 1 Corinthians 15:20-22, and John 11:25. The basis of his teaching was that all will rise but those who believe in Jesus will go to Heaven and the unbelieving go to Hell. It was a short teaching and soon after everyone stood up, left the home and made their way to the graveyard.
When they got to the graveyard, a man stood up and said, "This is Jonathan Tembo. He was born in 1953 and was 58 years old." His body was lowered into the ground by several men. Immediately a drunk man yelled over to Kendall and said, "Bwerani Abambo" (Come Mister!). Kendall resisted the urging from the drunk man for a short time then gave in. He was asking Kendall to come help them to shovel dirt over the body. Kendall participated and helped the men in the process.
After the body had been covered, Jumbe, preached a sermon from Psalm 23. This was Jumbe's first time to preach at a funeral and it was an amazing testimony to those in attendance because Jumbe's past is one that many in Nyimba are aware of.
Kendall arrived home around 12:45pm. When he got home, Paul came to him and said, "Amai Bwaleya called Zeria and said that you preached at the funeral and that you did a great job!" Kendall was floored. Then tonight, Rabson came to work and said, "Everyone said that you preached well at the funeral and you did a good job covering the body!" Rabson lives over 3 miles from the village of the funeral and he had heard about Kendall's presence there. What a testimony! Not only did the Bible School students have a practical day of learning about what and how to preach at a funeral but what a testimony Kendall shared by preaching in the heart language of the people and being unafraid to come alongside them to assist them in their time of need.
It has been so neat to see the smile come to Kendall's face when he talks about how he wasn't even planning on going to the funeral and then how the Lord just nudged him to take his Bible and prepare. The most encouraging and amazing thing of this all is how fast news traveled about his presence there. Like we say, "you never know who is watching or what you will be asked to do". But Paul's words to Timothy are so true.
"I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching." 2 Timothy 4:1-2
We have been to many funerals but for some reason this one really meant a lot to people and the Lord was glorified through the teaching of His Word! I am so blessed to call Kendall my husband and I am so proud of his amazing ability to share Christ and teach His Word in a moment's notice. Pray that the people that were in attendance today truly heard God's Word. Pray that if they do not attend church that they would find a place to worship. Praise the Lord for the amazing reports that came to our home that encouraged Kendall! Hallelujah!!!
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