TheSpeedyz

Love from the Speedy family

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 25 Dec 2016 00:18:00 -0500

Wishing you a Special Merry Christmas from the Speedy family!

In this season of greater focus on the greatest Man in history, the unique Savior, born 2000 years ago, let's pray that more souls are salvaged this Christmas and the coming year of 2017.

A few little prayer alerts and praise reports that are in our hearts......

PRAYER ALERT- CONGO: Pray for peace... Please pray for Pastor Emile and the Congo, which has experienced some turbulence recently, due to postponed elections and an expired presidential term.
PRAISE REPORT - LAND: Almost there... We want to praise God for answering prayer and allowing us to raise a large part of the money needed for our church in Congo to acquire their own land, thanks to the kind help of both a South African church and a dear S.A. family, who continue to stand with us faithfully. We are amazed at God's faithfulness to us, and this ministry.
PRAYER REQUEST - P. JABU: In our hearts... Please keep in your prayers Pastor Jabulani of Pretoria, along with his 3 young children, who this past week lost their lovely wife and mother suddenly, to heaven's gain. Only God truly knows, understands, comforts, and heals the broken hearted. We are broken with him and pray for him often.
PRAISE REPORT - BABY SPEEDY: Coming soon... Praise God with us for our good news, the 4th Speedy baby, another boy, due in April! Praying for a Speedy delivery!
PRAYER REQUEST - TRAVELS: The baby's due date has affected my ability to go to ZamCon in April, but I am planning a trip to Morocco in March, and further travels after the baby's birth, God willing. We are contacted so often by our friends in Tanzania and Zambia, it is hard to not travel.

Thank you for having us in your hearts, we so appreciate everyone who prays for us.

Love from the the Speedy's

Fruit, Much Fruit, Remaining Fruit

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 11 Apr 2016 22:34:00 -0400

Please keep this time in prayer,

We were in Malawi with Pastor Scibelli from Baltimore, then flew in to Lusaka, Zambia for a gathering of 650 people from Zambia, Zimbabwe, Malawi and Congo. I am currently on a night bus with Pastor Emile heading North to Kitwe and hope to cross tomorrow into Congo. Please keep us in your prayers. Pictures below!

MALAWI is one of the smallest countries in Africa, on the east side of Zambia. Pastor Chris Arman and the team have made a great investment there and we saw 50 people graduating with 2 & 3yrs. The Bible college has 150 students.

ZIMBABWE came to ZamCon with 70 people, they hired a coach bus and came at their own expense.

P. Adam and one of the Zimbabwean students. Zimbabweans are the only people on this continent which I have met that have selfie sticks!

Graduates from Lusaka, Kitwe, Malawi, Zimbabwe etc.

Pastor Sciibelli addressing the graduates.

KITWE some of the 13 graduates from Kitwe.

Merry Christmas from the Speedyz

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 19 Dec 2015 23:03:00 -0500

Christmas, Redemption

The tragedy of the man-God disconnect, Restored
By the God-man

Satan's long work, Reversed
Suddenly

MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM THE SPEEDYz!

Promised "Z pictures" (from Africa)...

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 24 Nov 2015 23:30:00 -0500

Pictures from Tanzania, Zanzibar, Zimbabwe & Zambia: click on any to see them bigger!

(Will be edited shortly after posting & emailing to protect identities..)

Happy thanksgiving!

TANZANIA - DAR SALAAM (MAINLAND)

The 1 hour long, very hot journey to a Church service under a tree prompted me to use my Bible for shade! “the Lord is thy shade upon thy right hand” Ps.121:5

Service under a tree - A Tanzanian that had studied a year in our Kenya Bible School, and was now living back in Tanzania has a few people that meet in his yard for a Bible study. He invited us to come and share the word with them. They are in the northern part of the capital, Dar Salaam.

An interesting store in dar salaam, back on the mainland

Chicken for dinner! - People will buy a live chicken for dinner and transport it in a bag with a hole in it for the chicken's head!!

TANZANIA - ZANZIBAR ISLAND (OFF EAST COAST)

The guide - at the "Zanzi Resort" (who showed us around). Hot and exhausted we found this exclusive oasis on the coast... they had an ice cold coke and, after enquiring about room prices ($980!!!).. I told him I'd “check with my wife”!

Zanzi-Resort - We refreshed ourselves here with a coke!

Matt, Jo & I - Wearing my wet towel for “portable ac”.

Not a restaurant - getting on another random bus we came across this little hut made with palm branches and scrap material with the most helpful sign!

Amazing sunsets in Zanzibar

Desiring Bible school - this young man next to me has been praying for the opportunity to go to Bible school.

“Prison Island”

Checking the news!

Zanziberry artist at work... whilst on a call!

Jo with some Massai's in traditional garb!

ZIMBABWE - HARARE

Zambian Pastors - Travelled days by busses to Zimbabwe, Kitwe, South Africa... amazing soldiers!

Evangelizing in Zimbabwe - I had the best time I've ever had. Amazing receptivity, their hard recent history and 92% unemployment, has contributed to a certain openness to spiritual things. Their education and english level is excellent, communicating is very easy there.

230 students in the bible college in Zimbabwe

ZAMBIA - KITWE

Leadership conference in Kitwe

This is Pastor Benson's family - His father on the right got saved at the service! He was at first resisting Benson coming to Bible school, but now is incredibly grateful, by his own testimony, at the positive influence it has had in his family and sons life.

ZZZ trip stories Tanzania Zanzibar Zimbabwe Zambia

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 19 Nov 2015 22:42:00 -0500

Addictions in the Muslim world

I dug my toes into the warm sand as I sat on the beach watching and listening. I was watching Matt swim and enjoying the scenery. Small fishing boats anchored in the shallow water near the beach. The sun was slowly sinking in the distance, creating a picturesque scene on the horizon. I was listening to the tale of a Muslim man who I had just met. He was pouring his heart out. He and his brother had been in England for a period of time. Whilst there, his brother had picked up a serious drug addiction. The addiction travelled back with him all the way to the small island of Zanzibar where we were now sitting. The addiction haunted him and his family and created much sorrow and heartache.
They did not know where to turn at this point. The man had come to the beach to reflect upon this at the same time I sat there. I listened to his story and asked him, “Could I pray for your brother?” The man earnestly replied, “Yes, please do.” Right there, on the beach we prayed together. Islam can not anything for someone who hits rock bottom. Christ meets people right where they are at.

Preaching to fellow Muslims

Earlier in the day we had jumped on a random bus. Our mission was people, so it did not matter where we went. The bus was full of people, and they most likely were going to places where there were more people. “Take us to the end.” I said to the driver. He seemed both amused and confused by our request, but he complied. We were dropped in a rural area. We wandered around looking for people to share our good news with. We met people, but it seemed none of them spoke English. We handed out Swahili tracts whilst someone went to find a translator. When the “translator” was brought to us we soon realized that his English was a little better than our Swahili. “Can you read the tract to the others?” I asked him. He began to read the tract with great passion and fervency. He sounded like he was preaching! We were surprised, a muslim man was preaching the gospel in Swahili to his fellow muslims!

Another Muslim gets saved

On another adventure Matt & his translator ended up in a small shop where they sat down for a coke. The outdoor furniture they sat on was no ordinary furniture. It was made of old tires! A tire chair, a tire couch, and tire tables! Matt shared the gospel with the man sitting in the tire chair next to him. “The Holy Spirit led us here, to speak to you.” The man listened intently and received Christ.

The stories go on and on. They are the moments we treasure as we reflect on our trip. Yes, we went swimming in exotic places, visited prison island, sampled amazing foods, traipsed through curios markets etc. We did all those things, but this is what we treasure. We have lost count of the stories, but God hasn't. We stopped counting the number of Muslims and others that got saved. They are recorded in eternity. I will try to post some of the best pictures this week. God bless, p. Adam & Melinda, Micah, Noah & Aliza!

Zan Zim Zam!

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 4 Sep 2015 06:30:00 -0400

We are going to Tanzania Zanzibar Zimbabwe and Zambia this month... zzz!

Tanzania, Zanzibar

Zimbabwe - A new work
This is a new work for Greater Grace in the region. There has been a great response, with more than 200 students
coming to a new semester of Bible college this month. We will be joining Pastor Scibelli & Pastor Renaldo in Harare after my Tanzania adventure.

Zambia - An expanding work
I'm so excited that from Zimbabwe we will all be moving on to Zambia. We will have a time in Lusaka, the capital, where our first churches were planted in the country in 2004. Then we plan to take a 6hr bus ride with about 35 leaders to Kitwe in the north. We will be joined by disciples from Congo and meet at the Kitwe church for a leadership seminar with Pastor Scibelli.

Please pray for traveling mercies and great ministry opportunities.

Thank you to all who pray for us and all who have helped us. Together, our continued investment in the leadership in Kitwe, as well as the Bible college dorm, and the travels back to the region of Zambia and Tanzania, is bearing fruit. Thank you for your heart for us all.

Love Pastor Adam, Melinda, Micah, Noah & Aliza Speedy

Faith Transition, Worldwide Mission, Long-term Vision

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 3 Jun 2015 00:23:00 -0400

OVERVIEW OF THE WORK

In August we celebrated 10 years in Zambia. It has been one miraculous decade and the work continues to expand:

7 Churches have been planted in the country of Zambia
Pastor Renaldo Brown has moved south to Zimbabwe
Pastor Chris has moved east to Malawi
And our family plans to move in God's perfect timing, north east to Tanzania.

Pictured above: Pastor Adam and Pastor Benson in Kitwe recently, preaching and translating a message into the local Bemba language.

IN THE MEAN TIME..
Whilst the family has based itself out of..
..Baltimore, we continue to serve actively in the work, both locally and abroad:

Since August I have been back to the region twice. In October we had leadership conferences in in Kitwe, Zambia and South Africa, as well as evangelistic outreach to Tanzania and Zanzibar
We also went again in April, to Kitwe and to Lusaka, where we witnessed some of the fruit that God has brought;

550 men and women assembled in Lusaka, including students from Malawi and Zimbabwe, and a bus load from Kitwe.
It was so special to see the ordination of 2 men whom we have had a personal investment in; Pastor Emile (Congo) and Pastor Benson (Kitwe).
There were also more than 30 graduates, a large number of whom were from Kitwe.

WHEN NOT TRAVELING

It is a great privilege to volunteer locally in Baltimore, the church that trained and sent us out in the first place:

I am not working a job in Baltimore due to my frequent travels and desire to serve locally and abroad.
My wife and I have been volunteering in the missions office helping Pastor Scibelli.
I have also been available to the Bible college and have taught 2 courses.
I also believe it is very important to lead students into missions, both locally and abroad. We have been provoking students and encouraging both of these:

Local involvement in our community center in the inner city of Baltimore; evangelizing 5 times a week and offering bible school classes there.
Internationally, in our Go5 vision for summer harvests to 5 countries including Tanzania.

ONE PRAYER REQUEST

The practical side of the work in Kitwe: This is a faith venture and we are thankful for those precious supporters that have stood with and continue to stand with us today. By living lean and staying focused, together we have been able to:

Visit and encourage frequently
Provide for Pastor Benson (housing etc)
Feed and house 7 assisting leaders in training in the dorm
Construct a chapel to usable condition (The next step is doors and windows!)
Continue nationwide radio (Praise God, this has been instrumental in increasing the Bible college in Kitwe from 30 to 40 students!)
Pastor Benson recently he told me he would like to construct a small “mission house” (i.e.. a place for him to stay at the church property, which would relieve him of the burden of rent each month). The local church is taking special offerings for the project but they are not wealthy and need help. The Christian school also is part of the plan to make the ministry ultimately self sustaining financially.

OUR COMMITMENT

Our commitment is not just to missions in general, but to the cultivation and growth of this specific work. This has been demonstrated by Pastor Scibelli in his faithful support and investment in the churches he has planted, all these decades later. Our commitment is firm and unchanging, no matter our personal circumstances and movements.

We appreciate your prayers for our family, and for my upcoming trip to Tanzania in August, with some of the students - that perhaps more would join us and get a good taste of Africa and a vision to move!!!

Breaking Out

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 5 Apr 2015 00:40:00 -0400

P. Adam & Benson, who will be receiving his ordination at ZamCon

A zealous sketch board spectator once told Pastor Chris Arman: "It's really breaking out!"

In Exodus when the Law was given, they were told not to come near, lest He break out against them.
Under grace, we are told to draw near with a true heart and full assurance of faith!

Easter is
a time when we celebrate the unthinkable unimaginable miracle of Christ dying for us and breaking out of the grave!

As humans we can get stuck like the ram in the thicket; stuck, in a rut, in a mold, in a place, in mental blocks, in a concept, in a program, and ultimately putting God in a box. I thank God that He is above all that! "Our God is in the heavens: He hath done whatsoever He hath pleased!! Ps115.3
He is sovereign. He is above barriers. He can do above and beyond what we could ever ask or think or imagine!

As we head to Africa this Monday, my wife and I are excited and amazed to see the work of God. It's more than a program, it's a sovereign work of God, beyond us. We are going with Aliza, our daughter, and leaving the boys with the Roberge Grandparents for a few weeks (please keep them in your prayers)!

Pray also for ZamCon in Lusaka, the graduation, the ordination etc, where we hope to see Zambians, P. Chris & the Malawians, P. Renaldo & the Zimbabweans, Congolese and many more! Also pray for our trip up to Kitwe. God bless,
p. Adam & Melinda

Star, Jerusalem, Bethlehem / Light, Cross, Christ

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 23 Dec 2014 18:06:00 -0500

Following light revealed, leads to a cross, which leads to Christ.

Naaman responded to the testimony of the little servant girl. That led him to the humiliating admission that his worldly position and goods were useless in the Divine economy, and upon passing through the cross, he found Christ.

The wise men followed the general revelation God had given them. That led them to a cross, as they realized that their natural logic and wisdom and ideas searching Jerusalem were repudiated by God and they were told to go further to Bethlehem. There in that ghetto, they too found Christ.

May we humbly respond to His light, His Word, accept His cross, and discover His Person, Jesus Christ, daily.
Merry Christmas & God bless you in 2015!

Pastor Adam & Melinda

Micah, Noah & Aliza Speedy

The First Noel (awesome): http://youtu.be/Wpa57avNksA

Grace Words blog: http://graceremas.blogspot.com/2014/12/star-jerusalem-bethlehem-light-cross.html

Recent Speedy adventures of faith in Africa

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 12 Dec 2014 11:50:00 -0500

1^st Stop: TANZANIA & ZANZIBAR

The “Bagomoyo” Livingstone Monument

– coast of Tanzania

It has long been our desire to visit some of the key sites commemorating the life of David Livingstone, a man who gave his life for the furtherance of the gospel in Africa. We had already gone to the Livingstone Museum in Southern Zambia, and Chitambo village, where he died in Northern Zambia. Recently, we discovered that Bagomoyo, the Tanzanian coastal town where Livingstone's body was carried en route to England, is one hour outside of Dar Salaam. On my recent visit I decided to make the trip. After reconnecting with Lucas (who I meet each time I visit Tanzania) and Pastor Davis (a pastor from northern Tanzania), we made the epic journey, traveling by minibus as well as a 3-wheeled pajaj to find Bagomoyo. It was truly inspiring, to find
the monument. There was an old church near the beach where his body laid for 24 hrs, and a memorial. (See pictures) To think that this man walked thousands of miles in Africa, preaching the good news of the gospel -back in the 1800's- is both humbling and inspiring.

With Pastor Davis, James and Pastor Jukka

– Dar es Salaam, Capital of Tanzania

Back in Dar Salaam, where we plan to start the ministry, we were met by a Finish pastor who traveled 24 hours by bus from Kenya. Pastor Jukka was accompanied by 2 of his students, James and John (-but no Peter!). John is actually Tanzanian, and James is a Kenyan.. he wore his traditional blanket the entire time!

We had wonderful times of evangelism and visitation of contacts (some of ex-Muslim background). Particularly encouraging was one older gentleman that we've befriended. He is keen to assist us in helping register the church. Please pray for this process..

The Muslim Island of Zanzibar

– off the coast of Tanzania

The Kilimanjaro Ferry service is a high speed luxury boat that takes just 2 hours to reach Zanzibar. The island is always a highlight of my trip. Zanzibar is still part of Tanzania, giving certain liberties that are not common for majority Muslim places. Still, we use wisdom and discretion whenever we visit. We don't use printed tracts, just our mouths! We had 2 times of evangelism, and 2 Muslims accepted Christ! I continue to see Dar Salaam as the best place to reach Zanzibar Island from. On the 2^nd day, as we were waiting for our ferry, we went swimming in the crystal blue ocean. On the beach, a young muslim (in his 20's) began initiating a conversation asking questions about the Bible and the Gospel. “I am a Muslim,” he said, “What do you believe..?” After sharing with him he seemed to hesitate, saying he was not ready. But I encouraged him that, despite everyone else on the island believing something else, it doesn't make it true. He agreed, and allowed me to pray for him, on the beach, that God would show him the truth. I am encouraged by their openness and left thinking how much God loves muslims, and how Satan hates muslims. They really need the gospel.

2^nd Stop: ZAMBIA

Zambian leaders – Lusaka, Capital of Zambia

The flight to Zambia is 2 hours. After spending 5 years in Lusaka, I felt like I had arrived “home.” Back at the Manda Hill Lodge we met up with Pastor Scibelli as well as Pastor Renaldo (who is now in Zimbabwe -south) and Pastor Chris (who is in Malawi -east). The churches are doing well. It is encouraging to see leaders we helped to train, continuing in the Word and Grace. There were many people I have never met before, and it reminds me that missions is about laying a foundation (1Co3.10).

Construction in Kitwe – Northern Zambia
The bus trip to Kitwe took 7 hours, with 30 leaders.. and plenty of singing! Arriving back in Kitwe, we were welcomed warmly by the church. The ladies all wanted to see Melinda! The property was immaculate. People had donated time and substance to host the guests who traveled there. The chapel was at roof/ lintel level (roof sheets are purchased, but they desperately need wood for a frame, as the rains have started). For our trip there were temporary coverings for guests, temporary showers and plenty of food!

Benson overseeing the work

I was overwhelmed to see how Benson and the body have been motivated and was pleasantly surprised to find that things seemed in better shape than when I left! One conversation I had with one of the new students left me very encouraged. I had never met him before, he had moved from Ndola, another town an hour away. He has clearly been receiving good instruction from Benson this semester. As we discussed the Word I could sense that he is benefitting tremendously. 2Tim2.2 came to my mind.

I was also able to bring with me a gift from a kind friend, for the Kitwe Grace Hour radio program. After some complications with the local radio station (trying to triple their price), we concluded God wanted us somewhere else. Now.. we are on radio nationwide!

Last Stop: Pretoria, SOUTH AFRICA!

Conference & ordination of Mozambique leader

Deciding to turn south again, I journeyed to Pretoria, South Africa. I met up with Pastor Scibelli and the team. I was driven to the airport by a Bible college graduate from Kitwe, and picked up by Pastor Jakko in Johannesburg. He drove me directly to the “big tent revival” meeting in “Nelmophias” township in Pretoria. We got there just in time to hear Pastor Scibelli's message conclude. I was so edified by the warm reception of my fellow South Africans in Christ. They have an amazing church and team of leaders, led by Pastor Jabulani, with a mission to the country of Mozambique, a few hours away.

Sitting in one of the meetings, listening to Pastor Scibelli preach, I had a flash back to 15 years ago, the first time God connected us in Durban, South Africa, and how my life has been forever changed.

I also got to meet up with my long lost cousin, who drove all the way to Pretoria to meet with me. He confided in me that, feeling a bit alone, without family, he had just prayed for God to send someone..

"Tanzania!"

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 27 Nov 2014 15:34:00 -0500

Just arrived in Dar Salaam, enjoy this update

click to download as pdf!

Tanzania

Population: 47.8 million

Size: 365,000 miles2, that's almost

the size of Texas & Arizona

combined /4x the size of UK

Capital: Dodoma (official) /

Dar es Salaam (de facto)

Religion: Estimates* 1/3rd Christian,

1/3rd Muslim, 1/3rd Other

Language: about 10%
speak Swahili as

a first language, up to 90%

speak it as a second language.

Most speak both Swahili and

a local language; many educated

also speak English* Literacy rate:

68%. In the capital I found about

½ speak basic to fluent English

*Stats vary; these estimates are taken

from Operation World, Wikipedia etc

Situation: East coast of Africa,

bordering Kenya, Uganda,

Rwanda, Burundi, Congo, Zambia,

Malawi, Mozambique, and the

Indian Ocean, it is 2hrs by ferry

to the Island of Zanzibar

We lift up our eyes and look on the fields, for they are white already to harvest1.

God has graciously brought us into this unique, precise, special message -the biblical, pure gospel of grace2 based on Christ who has finished the work3 for us! What a privilege we have, as David did, to serve his generation4, for such a time as this!5

How exciting it is, that He has places for us to reap, where we have not sown.6 He goes before us and has prepared beforehand that we should walk in7 His works..

The places we go to are like gold mines, with open doors. There are still places where people have not heard, but are waiting for us, and for the Word of His grace.8 We have received such a high quality of sound doctrine.9 It works in America, in Europe, South America, in Africa, in the 1st century, in the 21st century, in the 1st world and in the uttermost parts of the earth.10

LOCKED DOOR OPEN DOOR

DAR ES SALAAM means “City of Peace” - it is a huge city, the biggest in Tanzania. I have been there several times. It is busy, diverse, and very hot!

Located on the east coast of Africa, one of the cool refreshments available are the fresh, sweet (and very cheap) coconuts!

They are brought in daily from the country side on wheel barrows. The vendors will cut and prepare them for you, right there on the street.

One afternoon, during a mission trip to the city, I left the hotel room just to find one of those delicatessen (which do not exist in the landlocked country of Zambia, where I had been ministering for the past 10 years).

Each day I would stock up on cold waters, Azam “Pinacolada” juice (the best tasting juice ever) fresh mangoes, oranges, and the legendary fresh coconuts.. to keep myself from withering away physically in the hot and humid Dar Salaam weather.

I remember returning with my stash of refreshments, and climbing up the stairs to the 4^th floor of the Durban Hotel.

I knocked on the door to our room, and there was no response! I thought, Maybe I'm at the wrong room again?

My room mate (who shall remain nameless) had decided to leave too.. with the keys! Well, I thought, I'll just have to go and fellowship with God on the roof.. There I found a beautiful panoramic view of the whole city.

All around was the sound of Mosques, chanting the call to prayer. Below was the hustle and bustle of people, markets and traffic. On the horizon, were the sights of construction cranes and many tall buildings. An expanding metropolis...

While fellowshipping with the Lord and looking out at the city, I thought of the verse: Ask of Me and I will give thee the nations for an inheritance.¹¹ It struck me that we could have a real amazing church and Bible college in this city.. Imagine God using us to bring the finished work message, grace, the word, the daily body life fellowship, and question and answer times with disciples... in Dar Salaam!

Let's pray, knock, visit, go and believe God for this place!

Since that day, the vision has been burning stronger in our hearts. God is stirring in Tanzania, and I believe we have before us an open door, which I'd like to walk through by faith, with great purpose, without striving, for God performs all things for me! ¹²

CLEAR PURPOSE

Some “spiritual stats” that make the vision pretty simple...

1. Connecting the work: Tanzania is strategically situated between East and Southern Africa. East Africa -Uganda, Kenya etc- is where our ministry began operating in the 90's, and Southern Africa -South Africa, Zambia, Malawi etc- is where we started in 2000.

2. Muslim world: With 1.1billion Muslims in the world, I would like to be looking for open doors to reach them with the gospel.

Tanzania has a good sized, yet minority, Muslim population which is not evangelized. They are not staunch, but many are the secular type of “backslidden Muslim” that are not so serious nor religious. They feel like they don't measure up (who does?!). Because of that, and the fact that they've never heard grace in a mosque, I have found they are very interested in the gospel!!!!

We had many such opportunities to share the gospel with Muslims. We saw one get saved, and met another who had recently received Christ and found us on the internet.

3. Zanzibar: is a 99.9% Muslim Island, easily reachable from Dar es Salaam by a 2 hour ferry boat. Because Zanzibar is part of the country of Tanzania, which is not majority Muslim, you are still free to travel there (it's actually very tourist friendly), and you can evangelize.

4. New territory: Our outreach to Tanzania began with trips by Pastor Scibelli in the 90's, when he was living in Uganda. One man in Ngara, a fairly rural, northern part of the country, heard the message and in time affiliated with our ministry.

He has faithfully been serving the Lord and has a number of village pastors with works in the surrounding rural areas near the border of Burundi. Recently he received his first trained helper, a Ugandan trained Rwandan, moved to his town. In addition to Ngara, a good contact was made in Zanzibar, and evangelism took place in the capital, Dar Salaam.

We have no church in the capital. He Who began it, will perform it!¹³

5. Openness: People are very friendly, and open to talk about the gospel. This applies to Muslims and non-muslims. Most non-Muslims have some sort of a background in Christianity, whether they are born again or not. From the perspective of the English language, it is easy to evangelize. Based on my experience, it seemed about 1/3 spoke English, 1/3 broken English, and 1/3 only Swahili.

6. Religious Freedom: Tanzania allows freedom of religion, freedom to worship, to register a church/ bible college. This makes it an easily accessible country, with the freedom to openly evangelize.

7. Contacts: We have a growing number of contacts including the GG pastor in the north, a contact in Zanzibar, contacts who meet us each time we visit the capital, a bible college student who did a semester in Zambia, and a number of “Tanzanites” scattered around the ministry in places such as Finland, Kenya, and America.

PRAYING IT THROUGH

1. PLEASE LIFT UP our upcoming trip in October/ November

2. PLEASE COVER IN PRAYER the details of that trip including travel arrangements, church registration & practical preparatory details, those we travel with, those we will meet with, soul winning times, Zanzibar etc

3. PRAY FOR the team.. members hand picked by God

PRAYERFULLY support this vision in any and every way that God leads you, most importantly, we covet your prayers for wisdom.

KITWE GREATER GRACE (KITWE, ZAMBIA) UPDATE

It has been such a joy to watch God use faithful disciples in Kitwe.. Benson and the team have truly received the message. Our trust in God for them is great.

RADIO - Praise God for someone's kind gift which we just received, enabling The Grace Hour radio in Kitwe & the Copperbelt, to continue for another entire year. It airs twice a week.

CONSTRUCTION - God has blessed the church in Kitwe with a really nice piece of land. In addition to the dorm and the classroom, which is used for Christian school and English classes, we have been desiring to get out of the tent by building a 120 seater chapel. We have completed the foundation/ footers, the concrete slab (floor), and have also purchased the sheets for the entire 88m2 roof, some of the blocks for the walls. Putting it together should be under way shortly, thanks to the generosity of friends and family around the world.

DORM - There are now 5 young men living in the dorm. Daily, they eat together, pray together, study together and stay together. They are an integral part of the work. Please keep them in your prayers.

LEADERS - Pray for the Leadership Seminar in Kitwe (October). A bus load of leaders from Lusaka will meet with Pastor Scibelli, Pastor Renaldo, Pastor Chris & myself. Pray for my upcoming trip to the region including Zambia and Tanzania. Also pray for Pastor Renaldo who is planning to have 10 leaders spend some time with him in Zimbabwe later this month.

Verses used..

1 Jn4.35 6 Jn4.37-38 10 Ac1.8

2 Ac20.24 7 Ep2.10 11 Ps2.8

3 Jn19.30 8 Ac20.32 12 Ps57.2

4 Ac13.36 9 Ti1.9,2:1 13 Php1.6

Came in empty, went out full

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 27 May 2014 04:36:00 -0400

We are just about to board a long flight back to the States... Ndola Zambia... via Johannesburg South Africa.... via Abu Dabi UAE... Dulless... should take 2 days, one flight is 16hrs, keep the kids and my wife in your prayers!

As we take the step towards a new country (Tanzania), and an extended summer in Baltimore, we are filled with encouragement by what God has done here in the last 10 years.... (pictures below)

I am reminded of Ruth, where Naomi said she went out full and after 10 years came back empty... for us it's been a case of coming here as a young single guy who knew nothing, and flying out of Zambia with the 5 of us... I have been so enriched by what God has done here. The 5 years in Lusaka, learning under Pastor Renaldo, discipling and continuing to be discipled, being lovingly and patiently "coached" by him as we planted the 2nd church in Lusaka, (Lilanda), served as totally valuable preparation for the church plant in Kitwe, 5 hrs north, near the border of Congo, where today we leave a church body, many disciples, 30 students, 13 graduates, a church property with a dormitory, classroom, beginnings of a Christian school, an interim chapel under construction, leaders, daily outreaches, daily prayer, daily word, the grace message with a finished work emphasis preached and lived daily, and a radio outreach which is reaching new people in new cities every week. We come out with a high hand, full!!!! God has been so good and merciful to us!!!

We are so excited for our contacts and friends and plans in Dar es Salaam Tanzania and we ask you to keep us in your prayers and Benson Chinyanta specifically in your prayers as he takes over here and continues to build on the foundation we have laid. He is a precious disciple and man of God.

Love Pastor Adam & Mindy,

Micah, Noah & Aliza

Livingstone statue

Dr Stevens on the Big screen

Benson with us on a trip to Dar es Salaam Tanzania

In a village in Tanzania

"Any Seeds To Declare?"

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 31 Jan 2014 06:51:00 -0500

Seed is potent. It is regulated by customs at all borders. The pure gospel seed of grace is powerful. I've thought about declaring it at customs when I travel! It is genetically designed to go beyond borders. I just took an inspiring trip, taking Benson, a disciple from Zambia & crossing over into neighboring Tanzania &
the 99% Muslim island of Zanzibar (off the Coast of East Africa). Tanzania is 2 days away by bus. There we met with my brother-in-law, Matt Roberge, who flew in from snowy Baltimore to the tropical port city of Dar Es Salaam on the Indian ocean. This was my 3rd trip. Grace Seed is motivating all of us to go beyond our borders.

[Snapshots below]

Other seed has been sown, which makes our precious seed all the more rare. Soulwinning outside the Dar Post Office, I asked one man, "What gospel have you heard?". Instantly he responded- "The Baptism of John!" I didn't expect that, so I enquired further. He explained, someone has to believe AND repent PLUS be baptized in plenty of water"!!! It does get rather strange when you leave the simplicity of Christ [PLUS NOTHING].

Then there were some who believed, and others who, being believers, desired to learn more. One told me he had "received salvation" a few years ago and had been praying to be trained. Others even sought us out and came to our hotel, asking when the ministry would be starting in Dar. Some even wanted to come to Zambia and be trained. One young man is actively now pursuing that. It was difficult however, to have to tell some of them that God's perfect will might be quite simply, "Wait". Then we encouraged them by telling them we are actively visiting and praying that God would open a door for the ministry to start in Dar es Salaam.

3 of us journeyd to the mountainous North of the country (a town called Ngara), where we have an affiliated church, lead by Pastor Shyogotera, who has been with the ministry for about 18years. I determined to meet him. We took a very eventful bus trip, with no shocks, for 2 days. We were so blessed, on the way, to meet (possibly) an angel, who took us for the evening to the most beautiful little hotel I have ever stayed at (the Golden Valley Hotel), in the middle of nowhere. We felt like Elijah, at the brook Cherith.

In Ngara the people were so excited, they had Matt sing about 7 songs in one service! I preached on "No longer strangers but citizens". The ministry has fruit in Tanzania! Everywhere you go there is literal fruit in Tanzania. We got to do some more evangelism there. It was a privilege to preach the gospel to the poor. Some fruit sellers we preached to were very attentive.

We got to spend much time with 7 of his leaders and attended a funeral in a village, where Matt preached on Peace to more than 450 mourners.

As we were leaving, one man had a testimony of the finished work message that up to this point it had been hard to be a Christian. He was so grateful for this message that Christ has done it on our behalf and that we can rest in our position, securely. We told them we will attempt to send whatever Bible college videos we have to that town. He ended with this last statement, "Those classes, will they also have this message too?" To which I told him, every one of them! We need our minds renewed, and you can get ready for 4 years of being saturated in the finished work, because the entire Bible is "dripping with grace"! People are excited about grace. What other seed has this effect?

Sadly, on the journey back, we met an old agnostic (in Africa!) As we witnessed to him, one statement he made really broke my heart. "In the West," he said, "people are more advanced and intelligent than us. And they have stopped believing in God". It hit me hard. I am almost in tears thinking about it. Gospel seed, gospel seed, gospel seed -O Lord send out laborers! We got to look at him and love him and share the gospel of grace and the love of God.

Tanzania has a large minority of Muslims on the mainland. So it is still possible to register a church, and openly evangelize. To be honest, many of them are, what I would class as, "backslidden Muslims"! And they are ripe for gospel seeds!

When we began to witness to 2 Muslims on the bus, they were very interested. By the end of the trip (2 days), the entire bus had broken up into discussion groups, discussing the gospel! "This is the best deal you will ever hear!!!" I proclaimed... "you will never get a better offer, a better Perfect Substitute, a free gift!!!!" They were absolutely intrigued. Wherever we went I can honestly say this about every encounter with Muslims.. They are intrigued. They have a basic knowledge of OT Bible characters. They have NEVER EVER even remotely heard anything that resembles the gospel of His free pure grace, through the finished work. They have tons of questions about everything from the parts of man, to prophecy, to the return of Christ, to the Holy Spirit, to the old sin nature... Many of them told us they are very interested and have many questions. Many got our contact details. And some, whom I can't describe in detail, requested that we please come back because they wanted to hear more on these matters. Very few were antagonistic, even on the 99% Muslim dominated island of Zanzibar. There we got to witness to groups, who had many questions. Few would admit openly that they were sinners. But one, after first objecting to receiving Christ "because I'm a Muslim," attended unto Matt's words. "The truth is truth, and grass is grass, not concrete, no matter what you are..." A few minutes later, he accepted Christ as his Savior.

Returning to the main land, I sensed a tremendous change in atmosphere, a liberty in the spirit, and thought to myself, this place is ripe, and the beginning should be on the mainland. Though I do dream of a Zanzibar School of the Bible, the launching place would be Dar. But you never know... looking at the coast from the "Kilimanjaro Ferry", seeing all the coconut trees lining the beaches, I thought... seeds do travel...

SNAPSHOTS...

"ZANZIBAR ISLAND BEACH"

"DINNER"

(WITH MATT + LUCAS)

"BACK TO WORK"

(VILLAGE CHILDREN)

"LIVE BACKGROUND"

(NOTE PULPIT BEHIND MAT)

"AL KARIM"

(THE BEST TAKEOUT IN DAR)

"THE GROCERY"

"1ST TIME @ THE BEACH"

(BENSON, P. ADAM & LUCAS)

"FULLY CLOTHED"

(WITH BACKPACK)

"WITNESSING TO FRUIT SELLERS"

(NOTE SHEKINA IN BACKGROUND)

"TIME WITH 7 LEADERS"

"THIS WAY TO RWANDA"

"ANY TAKERS?"

(SEA FOOD ON ZANZIBAR BEACH)

A Not So Silent Night

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 6 Jan 2014 14:32:00 -0500

This Christmas season was full of activity for us. The Church here decided to put on a big Christmas party for the local community. It was a great joy to see the excitement and watch the Body come together & really make it happen. The afternoon started with children's events, including a big jumping castle, which many of them had never been on before. Before we knew it, there were over 200 children standing very
impatiently in a line waiting for their turn, pushing themselves as far forward as possible in an attempt to move ahead in the line. Later in the evening we had a candlelight service where more than 20 raised their hands in response to an altar call. The Zambians loved the singing by candlelight, they just kept going, one song after another late into the night. The glow of joy n their faces seemed even brighter than the candles they held. Many people in the church provided gifts, which were such a delight to give out. Everyone loves gifts. How blessed we were to share the greatest gift to mankind, "a Savior which is Christ the Lord."

Zambian Nativity Scene

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 11 Dec 2013 16:25:00 -0500

Precious Zambian Women

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 28 Nov 2013 05:38:00 -0500

God has been blessing us with many visitors every week at the new church property. Some come from the sign which, being translated reads "Come just as you are".

One lady, who has been coming for about 2 months, is from the far north western part of the country, near Angola. Today I was astounded by her story.

I sat in the small living room with her sister and elderly mother. Her sister suffers from a terminal illness yet has survived 20 years whilst also battling high blood pressure. Her elderly mother has diabetes and eye problems. This lady crossed the border and spent 20 years in Angola. She married an Angolan who was a soldier. He died in the war in Angola. She returned to Zambia to care for her mother and sister. They have very little means of income, yet words cannot encapsulate their
shining happy faces. Their faith in God is so pure. As we chatted about their lives it turns out the elderly mother was an orphan, and many years ago, was raised by a missionary family, the "Fisher family" from England, back near the Angola border.

Turning to the translator, the lady in our church says, "Tell the pastor we are so grateful for him coming under our roof. Pastors don't usually do that, they choose people with money to visit. We are so grateful you have come twice. God bless you."

As we left their home, I turned to those around me. They were all visibly moved by the testimony of this family. "Let's do whatever we can to help them," one said. I asked them to translate one last sentence before we left, "tell them.. If God sent us to Zambia for just you, it would have been all worth it." Obrigado!

My Best Friend

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 26 Oct 2013 17:02:00 -0400

Mutale & his "best friend" Micah playing the drum in church

Last Sunday, whilst helping some of the sunday school children at the water fountain after church, I came across a little boy, about 6 or 7 yrs old. I asked him, "Who are your parents?' Often the children are running around playing all together & it is sometimes hard to know which children belong to which parents. This boy seemed newer. "I don't have any parents" he replied. Taken back, I asked "who brought you to church?" "My friend." he answered. "Can you get your friend?" He darted off &
returned moments later with a small group, pretty excited to have personal time with the pastor.. "Here is my friend" he said. "And where are your parents?" I asked the friend. "They aren't here, they're at home.."he answered. "So who told you about the church?" "Oh, I've been coming for a long time now! (I think it's only been about a month:) And Micah is my best friend! " He grins and I am left amazed, at the mysterious work of God, touching the lives of children in the area..

Visiting Dar Es Salaam

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 6 Oct 2013 18:44:00 -0400

This Wednesday we're planning to travel

to Dar Salaam, Tanzania. Last time I went by bus with P. Renaldo (an amazing experience in Africa!) it took 3 days to get there.. This time we're going with Melinda & Aliza.. by plane! Well.. Ethiopian Airlines, which is like a mini bus.. it stops in Congo.. Zanzibar.. & Addis Ababa
to pick up & drop off a couple of passengers :) Dar Salam is semi nominal / secular muslim and Christian mixed. It sits between the work in Southern/Central & East Africa. It is open, and would be a great target for our ministry.

We had a spiritually invigorating time in Congo, building up Pastor Emile recently... God was with us all the way. Please pray for this adventure of faith to Dar - for divine appointments! And for my parents, who fly in tomorrow to look after Micah & Noah!!!! Love, the Speedyz

I'm going to Congo!

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 29 Aug 2013 00:14:00 -0400

congo border!

Well it's 06:00 on Thursday morning August 29th, and after a anointed, packed out service last night with Pastor Renaldo, we are getting ready to begin the trip to cross into Congo this morning (the country right in the center of Africa). Keep us in your prayers. We will visit Pastor Emile, who is marrying on Saturday, and his church. Pictures to follow upon return!

Miss Aliza Taylor Speedy

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 3 May 2013 14:57:00 -0400

Unto you is born this day in the city of Baltimore, Miss Aliza Taylor Speedy (pronounced like A-Lisa but with a Z) meaning (hebrew) Joy / happy / merry / cheerful. It is one of the names for Jerusalem. Born: May 2nd, 2013 - 3:38pm - 8 lbs 4 oz (20") pics/vid here!

Construction in Kitwe

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 20 Apr 2013 04:11:00 -0400

Building buildings where we can keep building people - the place is turning into a 2Pe3.18 deal where capacities can be gradually increased - a central place where people can rest & grow with daily dosages of the word and body life..

Dar

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 12 Mar 2013 11:25:00 -0400

Arrived in Dar Salam [/Dar Shalom?!] this morning. Hussling bussling city. Quite religious... 2 remas: Man is a sinner & God is love

Reaching out to Tanzania

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 8 Mar 2013 16:09:00 -0500

Heading to Lusaka in the morning by bus with Benson, a disciple from Kitwe. I am going to Dar Salaam (24hr bus trip!) with Pastor Renaldo and Pastor Victor for a mission trip for a couple of days. Please pray for us for "grace exploits!"

The Cross Still Stands

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 9 Jan 2013 17:21:00 -0500

by Pastor Adam & Melinda
As we drove around the curve we peered anxiously, straining our eyes, trying to see if it was still standing. "Can you see it?" - "No, do you?" I replied. We were looking for the 7 meter high wooden cross which the day before had taken 7 men to put up prominently on a hill, located
near the front of our new property. It had rained heavily in the night and our fear was that perhaps the strong winds and wet soil had not held the structure because cement takes several days to dry. Then suddenly... "There it is! It's still standing!" We breathed a sigh of relief. There it was, the simple tall, thin wooden cross on top of a grassy knoll. It reminded me of the "old rugged cross" - nothing special (by sight), but to the believer, it holds a lot of meaning.

A POWERFUL LANDMARK
There has been a lot of curiosity in the community lately centered around the new church property. Whenever we are there, people stop by to get a closer look, wondering what is going on. They stop and ask, every time. How fitting it seemed that the first thing erected would answer all their questions, a simple wooden cross, which says it all. The location of the property is on a popular route for a number of local residential areas. Members of our church have mentioned that, not a few times, while driving past on the public minibus transportation, they have overheard people talking about it. That cross! That is what we are talking about, and that is what we are pointing people to. Now, it's a landmark! As we meet people daily, we mention it. And it seems everyone has seen it. "Jesus Christ has been evidently set forth, crucified among you" (Galatians 3.1)

"PREACHING SALVATION"
As we drove closer to the property, fixing our eyes on the cross, our minds flashed back to a conversation we had a week earlier. When we first engaged Reuben, the man who organized the leveling out of the land, we asked him if he was born again. He was, and seemed pleasantly surprised that we were more concerned with the state of his soul, than just his line of business. He was eager to hear about the church and the vision of the ministry. As we told him, he listened intently, and said, "You know, few churches preach salvation anymore." The comment reverberated in our minds. So many people seem to be lost in the cloak of religion, but have no understanding of the cross and of salvation. Every generation needs to be evangelized. We much preach Christ, crucified. What else really matters? The cross still stands.

HE RAISETH UP THE POOR OUT OF THE DUST

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 24 Oct 2012 05:47:00 -0400

We had just recently arrived back in Zambia after being away for 40 days and 40 nights. It was a Tuesday, and the daily schedule led us to Buchi [meaning honey], a nearby community, for a time of door to door evangelism. As we walked through the cluttered streets, it was such a contrast to the orderly neighborhood in Baltimore where we had just come from. Each plot was somehow demarcated, whether by some plants, a hedge, a few planks of wood sloppily nailed together to make a fence, or for those who had more money, a cement wall. On each plot there was a collection of small houses which seemed to be randomly placed, each of them consisting of about one to four rooms. Everything was brown as it was hot and dry. Dust was everywhere,
everything seemed to be covered by layers of it. It blew in our faces, in our eyes & in our teeth. I despised it. I couldn't stand the feeling of it on my hands & in between my toes as my feet sank into it. Micah & Noah (aged 4 and 2) laughed and ran ahead kicking it up everywhere as they went. I closed my eyes & tried to put it out of my mind, it was such a small thing.

We were divided up into groups. I was with Charles, a Zambian disciple, with a heart of a true servant of God, and a heart for souls. Our first stop was a half built house, where inside 2 men were working. We peered in the whole of what was to someday be a window & greeted them in the local language. “Mwabombeni,” how are you working? The men looked up, one of them smiled, and said, “Ah, it is a beautiful day.” We all laughed, as the men came out of the house. Charles and I sat on a plank of wood stretched across 2 stones to make a bench, the 2 men grabbed an empty bucket, turned it upside down to make themselves a seat. We introduced ourselves & began sharing the gospel. One of the men, Gift, listened intently, asking questions, and prayed with us to receive Christ as his Savior. He began speaking, “ you know,” he said, “I have been having troubles, and asking, 'Why?' I just couldn't understand. I didn't know what to do, I was thinking of just ending it, but I knew this was not right. I knew I could not just end it, so I asked God to send someone. That is why I said, 'it is a beautiful day' because when I saw you, I knew you had been sent from God.”

The dust has since been washed off, and the dustiness of our souls is continually being dealt with by the Word. Gift still refers to things that were said on that dusty day. He has been faithful to church, as well as our addictions program, since then. He even plans to be part of the baptism next weekend. With a smile on his face he encourages others, despite the tests he has been faced with as a new believer.

Pray for “Buchi”, where our new church property is (video here) - it's an area notorious for problems, poverty, alcohol addictions, promiscuity, broken marriages, and broken hearts - that grace would shine in the darkness!