Home Daily Bible Readings

, March 16... Matthew 12:38-42

March 17...

John 3:14-17

March 18... Matthew 25:31-40

Mark 7:24-30
March 19..
Mark 7:31-37
March 20..

March 21..

Matthew 5:13-16

March 22.. ...Matthew 28:16-20

16

MARCIA KAY THOMSON is a missionary with the Central Africa Mission

working in Zimbabwe. After graduating from Ozark Christian College in1963,

she went to Africa and has worked at Mashoko Mission, Chiredzi, Masvingo,
and Harare. Bom in Lamar, Missouri, she was raised in Mount Vemon, Illi
nois, where she was a member ofthe CentralChristianChurch.
CHRISTIAN STANDARD

(232)

The

STROHG SOK
of God

WE are inclined to say that every

one desires to be whole. But as we

read the Scriptxires, we notice that

few people cameto Jesus for healing.
Manyofthose healedwere brought to
the Master. Perhaps the same is true

of our spiritual ailmentstoday. Many

do not goto Jesus to be healed, either
because they do not realize they need
healing or they do not know that
Jesiis
make them whole.
As we read Mark 7, let us examine
ourselves. Are we whole? Are we pos

Healing sought-Jesus was still

traveling outsideof Galilee. Matthew

RESTORATION

indicates that He healed many, but

Mark tells us in detail about one.

TO

Some people brought a deaf man to

Jesus. Jesus took him away from the

WHOLENESS

crowd and put His fingers into the

man's ears; then He spit and touched

By MARCIA KAY THOMSON

Bible-school Lesson for March 22*

sessed by sin? Do we turn a deaf ear

to those in need and almost never

speak ofJesus to others? Perlfaps we

should bring those who need healing
to Jesus so He can touch them and
make them whole.

If we fervently pray for people and

Samuel was given to EH. Grown chil

dren, awayfrom home, are requested

to return to pay homage to the spir
its. Time, energy, and money are

spent to appease the ancestors and

reach out to bring them to Jesus, we

demons. What a contrast to Chris

can be like those who were over

tianity!

well."

Today we also hear of cults that

hold people against their will. Al
though they enter willingly, they are

Possession-Who or what controls or

rently for the news ofpolitical bonds

dominates you? My dictionary gives

that have been broken in many coun

several uses of possession:

tries.

1, State of possessing^ ownership; con

trol. 2. The thing possessed. 3. State of

Mark 7:24 we see how Jesus re

whelmed with ama2ement, telling ev

eryone, "He has done everything

not free to leave. We praise God cur

being dominated by an extraneous per

sonality, a demon, passion, idea or the

like. 4. State of being under one's own
control; self-possession.

When growing up in Illinois I read

the accounts of demon possession in
the Bible and believed that they were

a thing of the past. Since coming to

Africa I hear many present-day ac
counts of the control demons have
over areas and individuals.
Witchcraft and ancestor worship
are based on fear. People give their
children to the spirits much as

Freedom requested-As we look to

sponds. Most of His ministry was to

the children of Israel. But on this trip
He left their country and went into
Gentile territory. He was in the
house, but a Syrophoenician woman
found Him. She fell at His feet to ask
that Jesus drive the demon out of her

daughter. She acknowledged that as

a Gentile she could be compared to

the dogs that eat scraps under the

table. After this expression of humil

ity Jesus granted her request. He

simply spoke the word and she was
free.

the man's tongue. When He spoke

the word, the man was healed.

Owner8hii>-We are God's. He made

us and He bought us with the blood
of Jesus. He invites \is to follow Him
and demands that we give Him our
all. However, He always leaves a
choice for us to make, as He did with
the twelve (John 6:67).

The Scriptures never say "pos

sessed by" the Holy Spirit. They use

the expression "led bythe Spirit" and

"filled with the Spirit," but not pos

sessed by the Spirit. Romans 8:26

tells us that the Spirit helps us in our
weakness. He "put his Spirit in our
hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing
what is to come" (2 Corinthians 1:22).
Paul did not go to Corinth. The
reason in verse 24 of that chapter is
"not that we lord it over your faith,
but we work with you for your joy,
because it is by faith you stand firm."
We have freedom in Christ. If we are

being compelled instead of encour

aged,we should question the source.
Restoration to wholeness-We
need to be whole and to help others
to be whole. This must be done by let

ting Jesus break the control that

Satan has over us (1 John 4:4). Then
we must hear God's Word with our

heart, as well as our ears. We must

speak plainlyHis words to others.

'Scripture quotations are from New In

ternational Version.

Lesson text: Mark 7:24-37. Printed text: Mark 7:24-37. Memory text: Mark 7:37.
LeasOT based onIntomaeonal Sunday School Lessons. 1988 by the Lesson Committee.
(233)
for March 15.1992

17

MARCIA KAY THOMSON

P.O. Box H-96

Hatfield, Harare
Zimbabwe, Africa

Forwarding Agents:
Central Africa Mission
Mr. & Mrs. Wilford Leasure

Route 1, Box 46
West Union, IL 62477
217-279-3366

March 1992

Dear Christian Friends,

Thank you for your prayers and support of the Lord's work here in Zimbabwe. Thank you for
the letters, birthday cards, Christmas cards and gifts that you sent. In looking over my income
for 1991 Ican see how the Lord has supplied my needs through your generosity. Some of you
give faithfully each month, some every other month or every third month and some annually.
Some of you give through the church and some as individuals. For 1991 my income averaged
$1548.56 per month. Thank you again for your part in the work here. Continue to pray for

wisdom that the right decisions will be made concerning the work here.
CHmSTIAN STANDARD

This letter is a little earlier than in other years because Iknow that some of you would be upset
if you were not notified in advance of my lesson's appearance. It should be in the March 22,

1992, issue of "Christian Standard." When Iwas asked to write the lesson the title "Restoration
to Wholeness" and the text Mark 7:24-37 were supplied.
ZIMBABWE CHRISTIAN COLLEGE

At the annual meeting of the Board of Directors of the College, Jack Pennington resigned as
Principal of ZCC but will continue to teach. Dave Altman was asked to be the Principal
because of the many years experience he has had in administration. At the same meeting it

was announced that Jayne Linda Free would be resigning in May. In the next few months we
need to have the work permits extended for Dave Altman and Lewis Captain, the Academic
Dean.

COMPUTERITIS

Because Iplan to move to Masvingo at the end of 1992 and work at CAMELS Print Shop it will
be necessary for me to know how to use the computer. Each year the print shop is closed

down at Christmas time so all the employees can take a vacation. Ihad CAMELS' Macintosh

computer at my house for four weeks. In the past Ihave made remarks about people that
spend so much time at the computer but during these four weeks Ihad trouble leaving it even

to eat meals and go to bed at a reasonable time. Now that it Is gone Ihave recovered and am

acting more nearly normal. Ispent most of the time learning to use PageMaker and even had
some things ready to be printed when the presses started running in January.
HARARE CHRISTIAN CHURCH

Martin Laurence began an interim ministry with the English speaking church in January.
Besides preaching and teaching Sunday School he is working with the high school young

pdople on Friday nights. The young people like him and attendance has been increasinq. He
IS part time as he also teaches at ZCC.

None of the houses being built near the church were occupied in December but now they say
people will start getting possession in March. Phase 1 has 325 houses and people have
started signing up for Phase 2. Several families from the church have signed up for a house

for our Thursday night home prayer meeting and Bible study runs around 12 adults.
PRAYER

Perhaps vou have noticed in the above news some of the answers to

dles ansZ us as we seek to do His will. Let us continue to ask H,m for His blessing.
In Christian Love,

Marcia Kay Thomson

"|Od IS^Ild
TO OPEN CUT 0^0 THIS EDGE FIRST

Ku"

v.- H-.r

jj'.'

gpc r : ^ ' ..iS' ; ^iOAr^.

jiBUJ Ajeuipjo Aq jues jo pei-

,-._,-:^nscqoue Aue u"-:uo ) :

i!M 11; pop

,n

ubj6g

I! )1
fee ijv

Boujv 'eMqequJiz

UfecO '0 ,
-i;--

0JBJBH 'P19!H^H

96-H xoa "O'd

Vi iV-- '

NosiAioHi Av>i vioyvw

b,.^:^puec;

.o'w^J.-L

aiod a N00:1-;

vsn

ZSfS~t06Z

N1

9TItAXOL4;^

LZi?Z

-Q-^

'^d'SQ -ev^winos^y se3TA-t-5>s uoisstw

mm
3l/\IIAIVdDOd3V
aAiqequiij

a^eqnn^

Marcia Kay Thomson

P.O. Box 231

Masvingo
Zimbabwe, Africa
Phone 011-263-39-62285

Forwarding Agents:
Mr. & Mrs. Wilford Leasure
Central Africa Mission
Route 1, Box 46
West Union, IL 62477-9715
November 1992

Zimbabwe Christian College Students and Staff, 1992

Dear Christian Friends,

Greetings from HOT Zimbabwe!! Some people say that it must get hot before we have agood rainy season which
we certainly need this year. The country is on water rationing which is more severe in some areas than in others

electricity ^a^oning. Part of this is caused by Lake Kariba being so low that the hydroelectric plant

as cut back production for both Zambia and Zimbabwe. Most of the water for Lake Kariba comes from Zaire and

northern Angola, so you can see that the whole of southern Africa needs rain.

In areas severely affected by last year's drought there are various feeding programs. Many of these families will
have trouble raising crops this year even if It rains because the animals that they used for plowing have died IDES

frfn^T r

peoplethatChristians

in u.o.A. care tor them.

The county has Imported food, primarily corn, so people that have moneycan buyfood. Fresh fruits and veqetables

hdusWpfhaeverything keep going up and unemployment is also rising. Some

industries

because they do not have any work. This includes the cotton and sugar

ZItvlBABWE CHRISTIAN COLLEGE

--

incTudpi'^^lorl^n'
training preachers atZCC. We have 34 residentstudents at the presenttime. This
rorrptnLHl
Students (Kenya, Sudan, Malawi, Botswana). We also have 600 students In the Bible

ammiTH
^'"'^ents
taking
turns going
Chidamoyo
Hospital
to get
acquainted withmtheir program forAIDS patients and
learningarehow
to counsel
them.to We
have several
graduates
at Chidamoyo Most of the third-year students are also doing practice teaching in the nearby government
schools. This class will finish their courses in April, 1993.

ca uy yuvBriimem

andme.Hurlburts are supposed to be here to teach in January,

so zrr
ZCC wliflfi'^hi!?Captains,
will be able to carry on without Jill Morrises
Shaw and

loITheto zrr" Pprh

'^' ' 3"eed in Masvingo. How can

With more regular support

we could
cm Hh^P
come to teach
or along term basis.
we
hire a=, infi
local person tocould
do secretarial
work on
andashort
bookkeeping.

housing for our cooks and gardener and it would be helpful to have housing for married

students. We have room for more buildings on our property but getting them built is the next thing.

C.A.M.E.LS.

inmany
DecemberIplanto
to Masvingoto
with CAMELS
printshop.
Se think Iammove
already
there, it isbegin
now working
time to change
your address
list. Be^au^nnouncedthisearlier,
As manager

Of the print shop 1will let you know what is happening after Imove.
Have agrateful Thanksgiving, ahappy Christmas and afruitful New Year.
Yours in Christian Love,

Marcia Kay Thomson

TO OPt!^

mSsf'i.-.

^jGuojns 00

5.V

BOi.w '9/v\qEqai!Z

o6u!asb|/*j
.Jr_ ' f

legxoa'O'd

UOSLUOHi AB>1

tr.'

a 10

l-'k^

vsn

IZ\?Z-10SLE

N1

^TTiaxolj;h

IZ.\?Z

-^OQ

""d

"eDjnos^y sezitAwt'^g uoTSSTjAj

oSST'lG

^J'- 'nhP
W

mtm

3iAi*fJVdbba3v

i li