"God governs in the affairs of men." A great man once said. And I believe that even more after the garage sale yesterday.
We had been planning this event for some time, in hopes of selling some of our un-needed items before we head to Malawi. There was some discussion about a good date, and we finally decided on yesterday, March 29th. As we cleaned out and priced items and prepared for the sale, we got a little nervous when weather.com predicted thunderstorms for the weekend. It was definitely a test of faith as we continued to prepare and pray that the weather would be nice.
To make a long story short, we woke up Saturday morning to a little bit of mist and a gray sky, but we proceeded to put our things out, and ended up having a WONDERFUL day. We had a pretty steady stream of people all day and when we tallyed up our totals at the end of the day, everything (including the money my family made from it) totaled $529. Sorry Crystal, we have more junkaholics where we live:) Personally, Victor and I made about $230. What a blessing!
Today (Sunday) Victor spoke at Fredericksburg Chirstian Fellowship on his call to Malawi. We had a wonderful reception there, and it was a wonderful time.
Tomorrow, we head out for Florida. My family will be coming with us, and helping us move. The time has gone by so quickly, and it's hard to believe we're already on our way to Florida. You probably won't hear from me again until later in the week.
So... until then.
~Bethany
Sunday, March 30, 2008
Sunday, March 16, 2008
Quick update...
Just wanted to bring you all up-to-date. We've been pretty busy lately, and thus the lack of posts. Right now we're at my parents house, and though many of you have told me how much you like pictures, the connection is REALLY slow and I can't post pictures right now. We'll just have to wait till we move to Florida.
So... what have we been up to? Well, first let me tell you about the rest of our trip to Florida. After we left my Aunt's house, we went to stay with some friends of ours in Jacksonville. They are a sweet couple who had just gotten married about a month earlier. We really enjoyed our time with them and hope to be able to see them again. Thanks so much Tom and Emily.
While staying with them, we went to Collins Road Baptist Church. There Victor was able to present the work and many were positive about it.
Monday, we drove to visit Victor's grandparents in Carrabelle. They are so sweet, and I really enjoyed meeting them (and they enjoyed meeting Hannah and I for the first time).
Tuesday, we drove on to Pensacola to visit with the people at Mt. Zion. The next day, we were able to spend the day going to the beach and relaxing as well as getting reorganized and doing some laundry so that we wouldn't have it to do when we got home. That night, we went to Mt. Zion Bible church. The people there are sweet and we enjoyed the fellowship.
Thursday we left very early in the morning and got in twelve hours of driving and got home. Friday we started packing and cleaning and kept doing that until the following Wednesday when we moved into my parents house into the family room.
Ever since then, we've been running here and there doing a million things it seems. Life is going at such a quick rate of speed. We have two churches lined up to visit here before we head to Florida on the 31st of March.
Once there, Victor has work lined up and we have housing. We'll be staying there for about 6-7 months before, Lord willing, heading to Malawi to join Victor's family.
So... I think that brings everyone up to date. Sorry for the slowness of my posting. I'll try to be better.
~Bethany
So... what have we been up to? Well, first let me tell you about the rest of our trip to Florida. After we left my Aunt's house, we went to stay with some friends of ours in Jacksonville. They are a sweet couple who had just gotten married about a month earlier. We really enjoyed our time with them and hope to be able to see them again. Thanks so much Tom and Emily.
While staying with them, we went to Collins Road Baptist Church. There Victor was able to present the work and many were positive about it.
Monday, we drove to visit Victor's grandparents in Carrabelle. They are so sweet, and I really enjoyed meeting them (and they enjoyed meeting Hannah and I for the first time).
Tuesday, we drove on to Pensacola to visit with the people at Mt. Zion. The next day, we were able to spend the day going to the beach and relaxing as well as getting reorganized and doing some laundry so that we wouldn't have it to do when we got home. That night, we went to Mt. Zion Bible church. The people there are sweet and we enjoyed the fellowship.
Thursday we left very early in the morning and got in twelve hours of driving and got home. Friday we started packing and cleaning and kept doing that until the following Wednesday when we moved into my parents house into the family room.
Ever since then, we've been running here and there doing a million things it seems. Life is going at such a quick rate of speed. We have two churches lined up to visit here before we head to Florida on the 31st of March.
Once there, Victor has work lined up and we have housing. We'll be staying there for about 6-7 months before, Lord willing, heading to Malawi to join Victor's family.
So... I think that brings everyone up to date. Sorry for the slowness of my posting. I'll try to be better.
~Bethany
Sunday, March 9, 2008
Reformation Zambia Interview with Frank Maxson
The following interview with my father was published in the Reformation Zambia magazine, January - April 2008 issue, and clearly portrays the work going on in Zomba, Malawi at this time. Enjoy!
CHURCH PLANTING IN MALAWI An Interview with Frank Maxson
RZ: Frank Maxson, welcome to Reformation Zambia. First of all, what are you doing in Malawi?
Frank: Presently we are planting/establishing Grace Baptist Church in the former capital city ofZomba. And it is our desire to see many other Reformed Baptist churches established throughout the country.
RZ: How have you gone about accomplishing this challenging task so far?
Frank: We (Frank Maxson and family) began in Zomba without any contacts with the indigenous people, but we quickly made friends as we talked with people. We spent some months trying to learn the Chichewa language. Even though English is taught in the schools beginning at about Standard Five, most of the people prefer to use Chichewa, and a large number of people cannot understand English very well.
Next, we started a home-based, evangelistic Bible study. Over time we developed some relationships, but we did not yet see any significant fruit in conversions.
Then, we started meeting publicly in a private school classroom. We invited many people to attend and we publicly advertised the first service. We had nearly thirty Malawians in the first service. We started out preaching evangelistically every service. Our approach to worship through hymn singing, without the culturally relevant practice of beating drums and dancing, turned away some. Others were not interested because I as the church planter could not yet speak Chichewa. So, I felt it imperative to minister exclusively in the English language. Another handicap we faced was our totally non-Pentecostal approach and presentation in a context where Pentecostalism is viewed as biblical Christianity. And I was preaching expository messages on the reformed doctrines of grace with a special emphasis on human total depravity. Is it not a miracle of sovereign grace that out of that effort emerged a group of believers and seekers who are now baptized and covenanted as a church? We praise and glorify our Almighty God for doing such a wonderful and marvelous work against seemingly insurmountable odds.
RZ: Since there are great multitudes of churches in Malawi, and Zomba town is no exception. So, why are you seeking to plant churches in Malawi - and in Zomba particularly?
Frank: It is true that there is no lack of congregations calling themselves by many names and affiliating with many denominations, but we have discovered through much interaction with the people that there are precious few true believers. And even where there seem to be believers, there is much doctrinal error, and there is great resistance to change. In brief, we are planting this church in Zomba because all of the churches in Zomba have departed from sound biblical doctrine or practice in major areas of fundamental importance.
We are involved in church planting because that is clearly the work our Lord wants all of His churches to be involved in. His Great Commission is a command which, in light of apostolic example and teaching, cannot be accomplished without consolidating the fruit of gospel preaching into organized churches.
Zomba is a town of significant size and influence. It is conveniently located for outreach to the rest of Malawi, and it is the location of one of the country's major universities. It was the practice of Paul the Apostle to go to the major cities and hubs of cultural and social activity to establish churches. He did not begin in the remote, rural areas. That is the strategy we believe the Lord has led us to adopt, and we believe it will ultimately be the best strategy for reformed Baptist churches to be established throughout all areas of the country.
RZ: How did Pastor Percy Chisenga from Chipata Calvary Baptist Church in Zambia join the missionary team?
Frank: My backwardness in learning the Chichcwa language and my felt need for help in the work, as well as a desire to involve the Zambian Reformed Baptists led me to approach Chipata Calvary Baptist Church to help us. I visited Chipata and presented to the leading men of the church my request that they would come over into Malawi and help us. They took my request seriously although it took them a number of months to actually respond.
They eventually sent Percy Chisenga and Prosperous Mutimushi to teach and preach in our midst. That visit led to further meetings with Percy Chisenga, and it was agreed all around that the Chisengas would come and take the lead in the work. They arrived in October 2006. We had our first baptism in November 2006, and we covenanted together as a church in December 2006. Pastor Chisenga also began his debut as the church's first Nyanja speaker, and we launched out from being an exclusively English speaking church to a mixture of English and Nyanja/Chichewa in most of the services.
It is the joy of my heart to see this fruit of God's work in Zambian soil transplanted into Malawian soil. May the Lord of the harvest raise up and prepare more godly Zambian men to labour in Malawi and other surrounding countries.
RZ: How do you look at the future of the work, and what plans do you have for the future?
Frank: It is our prayer that God will establish Grace Baptist Church of Zomba with indigenous leadership from our midst, and that other Reformed Baptist churches will be established throughout the major cities of the country. Blantyre is the major industrial centre of Malawi, and to our knowledge there are not any Reformed Baptist churches in that large city. The capital city, Lilongwe, needs someone to begin the first such church in that huge city also. Mzuzu, up north, needs its first Reformed Baptist church. And there are many towns and villages throughout the country where churches are needed. The population of Malawi is close to that of Zambia, but the effort to plant Reformed Baptist churches here has just begun.
A gift has been received to start the work of building a structure for a meeting place in Zomba, and we have been offered a choice plot of land on the major highway in town by the city planners. We are excited to begin this building project as soon as some details are sorted out.
RZ: Finally, what are some of your prayer needs, which you would like to share with readers of this magazine so that they conjoin you in your struggles out there in Malawi?
Frank: Let me list them down for you:
1. The blessing of God on our evangelistic efforts.
2. An outpouring of the Holy Spirit to give radical conversions.
3. The raising up of indigenous church leaders.
4. Open doors for effective regular ministry at the local university, Chancellor College.
5. Resources for the construction of a church building.
CHURCH PLANTING IN MALAWI An Interview with Frank Maxson
RZ: Frank Maxson, welcome to Reformation Zambia. First of all, what are you doing in Malawi?
Frank: Presently we are planting/establishing Grace Baptist Church in the former capital city ofZomba. And it is our desire to see many other Reformed Baptist churches established throughout the country.
RZ: How have you gone about accomplishing this challenging task so far?
Frank: We (Frank Maxson and family) began in Zomba without any contacts with the indigenous people, but we quickly made friends as we talked with people. We spent some months trying to learn the Chichewa language. Even though English is taught in the schools beginning at about Standard Five, most of the people prefer to use Chichewa, and a large number of people cannot understand English very well.
Next, we started a home-based, evangelistic Bible study. Over time we developed some relationships, but we did not yet see any significant fruit in conversions.
Then, we started meeting publicly in a private school classroom. We invited many people to attend and we publicly advertised the first service. We had nearly thirty Malawians in the first service. We started out preaching evangelistically every service. Our approach to worship through hymn singing, without the culturally relevant practice of beating drums and dancing, turned away some. Others were not interested because I as the church planter could not yet speak Chichewa. So, I felt it imperative to minister exclusively in the English language. Another handicap we faced was our totally non-Pentecostal approach and presentation in a context where Pentecostalism is viewed as biblical Christianity. And I was preaching expository messages on the reformed doctrines of grace with a special emphasis on human total depravity. Is it not a miracle of sovereign grace that out of that effort emerged a group of believers and seekers who are now baptized and covenanted as a church? We praise and glorify our Almighty God for doing such a wonderful and marvelous work against seemingly insurmountable odds.
RZ: Since there are great multitudes of churches in Malawi, and Zomba town is no exception. So, why are you seeking to plant churches in Malawi - and in Zomba particularly?
Frank: It is true that there is no lack of congregations calling themselves by many names and affiliating with many denominations, but we have discovered through much interaction with the people that there are precious few true believers. And even where there seem to be believers, there is much doctrinal error, and there is great resistance to change. In brief, we are planting this church in Zomba because all of the churches in Zomba have departed from sound biblical doctrine or practice in major areas of fundamental importance.
We are involved in church planting because that is clearly the work our Lord wants all of His churches to be involved in. His Great Commission is a command which, in light of apostolic example and teaching, cannot be accomplished without consolidating the fruit of gospel preaching into organized churches.
Zomba is a town of significant size and influence. It is conveniently located for outreach to the rest of Malawi, and it is the location of one of the country's major universities. It was the practice of Paul the Apostle to go to the major cities and hubs of cultural and social activity to establish churches. He did not begin in the remote, rural areas. That is the strategy we believe the Lord has led us to adopt, and we believe it will ultimately be the best strategy for reformed Baptist churches to be established throughout all areas of the country.
RZ: How did Pastor Percy Chisenga from Chipata Calvary Baptist Church in Zambia join the missionary team?
Frank: My backwardness in learning the Chichcwa language and my felt need for help in the work, as well as a desire to involve the Zambian Reformed Baptists led me to approach Chipata Calvary Baptist Church to help us. I visited Chipata and presented to the leading men of the church my request that they would come over into Malawi and help us. They took my request seriously although it took them a number of months to actually respond.
They eventually sent Percy Chisenga and Prosperous Mutimushi to teach and preach in our midst. That visit led to further meetings with Percy Chisenga, and it was agreed all around that the Chisengas would come and take the lead in the work. They arrived in October 2006. We had our first baptism in November 2006, and we covenanted together as a church in December 2006. Pastor Chisenga also began his debut as the church's first Nyanja speaker, and we launched out from being an exclusively English speaking church to a mixture of English and Nyanja/Chichewa in most of the services.
It is the joy of my heart to see this fruit of God's work in Zambian soil transplanted into Malawian soil. May the Lord of the harvest raise up and prepare more godly Zambian men to labour in Malawi and other surrounding countries.
RZ: How do you look at the future of the work, and what plans do you have for the future?
Frank: It is our prayer that God will establish Grace Baptist Church of Zomba with indigenous leadership from our midst, and that other Reformed Baptist churches will be established throughout the major cities of the country. Blantyre is the major industrial centre of Malawi, and to our knowledge there are not any Reformed Baptist churches in that large city. The capital city, Lilongwe, needs someone to begin the first such church in that huge city also. Mzuzu, up north, needs its first Reformed Baptist church. And there are many towns and villages throughout the country where churches are needed. The population of Malawi is close to that of Zambia, but the effort to plant Reformed Baptist churches here has just begun.
A gift has been received to start the work of building a structure for a meeting place in Zomba, and we have been offered a choice plot of land on the major highway in town by the city planners. We are excited to begin this building project as soon as some details are sorted out.
RZ: Finally, what are some of your prayer needs, which you would like to share with readers of this magazine so that they conjoin you in your struggles out there in Malawi?
Frank: Let me list them down for you:
1. The blessing of God on our evangelistic efforts.
2. An outpouring of the Holy Spirit to give radical conversions.
3. The raising up of indigenous church leaders.
4. Open doors for effective regular ministry at the local university, Chancellor College.
5. Resources for the construction of a church building.
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
Victor and Bethany Maxson's Mission to Malawi Newsletter
Dear friends and family and brothers and sisters in Christ,
Eleven years ago, in 1997, my father Frank Maxson first stepped foot on African soil. He spent several days preaching and then felt a burden to return to Africa as a full-time missionary to teach and preach the gospel and plant and establish churches. This led to the Maxson tribe of eleven people going over to Africa in 1999, and resulted in a total of five blessed years in Africa for me, a great part of which was spent laboring with my father. Those were years of growth and learning, where I learned more about the Word of God, the Malawian people, their language and culture, and the heart of mankind in general. The Lord also provided me a wife during this time. I met Bethany in 2005 when she came with a mission team to visit our family, and the Lord has now given me almost one year of marriage with the love of my life, and blessed us with a darling child, Hannah Faith.
The Lord has now laid it on my heart to return to Malawi as a family and work with my father who is in Malawi now. The harvest truly is plenteous in Malawi. As far as we know, Grace Baptist Church is the only Baptist church holding faithfully to the doctrines of grace in Malawi. Our analysis of the religious situation in Malawi is that it is miles wide but only inches deep. Formalism, Pentecostalism, Arminianism and other false doctrines rule the day. Malawi is still in bondage to the darkness of witchcraft and traditional religion, which has even influenced those in the professing church. However, it is our desire to teach the true Gospel of our sovereign Savior, which alone has the power to deliver men from Satan and provide a sure foundation for the church. Our goals are as follows:
Preach and teach the gospel faithfully in the nation of Malawi.
Assist in the establishment of Grace Baptist Church in Zomba.
Assist in the training of Malawi's future spiritual leaders.
Plant other churches in other places in Malawi.
As many of you know, we have been praying for the right local church in the United States to be our sending church who will put their blessing on our work in Malawi. Acts 13 reveals the important role a local church has as the sending agent to put their blessing on a missionary's labors and to hold him accountable to the truth, as the church in Antioch did for the apostle Paul. Praise the Lord for His provision! Faith Baptist Tabernacle of Williston, FL, pastored by Richard Harding, has agreed to do this for us. They will be our home church of contact and accountability. We are very thankful for this blessing!
What's up with us right now? Currently, we are packing. Our plans are to move in with my in-laws here in Elmendorf for the remainder of March, as we visit several churches in the area. In early April we plan to move to the Williston, FL area where we plan to spend several months working and preparing for Malawi.
While in the States we are available to speak in churches about this work God has called us to. Please contact us at maxsonblog@yahoo.com if you would like us to visit your church or if you would like to receive more information about our ministry.
May the Lord bless you all richly. We deeply appreciate your prayers.
Yours in Christ,
Victor Maxson and family
Eleven years ago, in 1997, my father Frank Maxson first stepped foot on African soil. He spent several days preaching and then felt a burden to return to Africa as a full-time missionary to teach and preach the gospel and plant and establish churches. This led to the Maxson tribe of eleven people going over to Africa in 1999, and resulted in a total of five blessed years in Africa for me, a great part of which was spent laboring with my father. Those were years of growth and learning, where I learned more about the Word of God, the Malawian people, their language and culture, and the heart of mankind in general. The Lord also provided me a wife during this time. I met Bethany in 2005 when she came with a mission team to visit our family, and the Lord has now given me almost one year of marriage with the love of my life, and blessed us with a darling child, Hannah Faith.
The Lord has now laid it on my heart to return to Malawi as a family and work with my father who is in Malawi now. The harvest truly is plenteous in Malawi. As far as we know, Grace Baptist Church is the only Baptist church holding faithfully to the doctrines of grace in Malawi. Our analysis of the religious situation in Malawi is that it is miles wide but only inches deep. Formalism, Pentecostalism, Arminianism and other false doctrines rule the day. Malawi is still in bondage to the darkness of witchcraft and traditional religion, which has even influenced those in the professing church. However, it is our desire to teach the true Gospel of our sovereign Savior, which alone has the power to deliver men from Satan and provide a sure foundation for the church. Our goals are as follows:
Preach and teach the gospel faithfully in the nation of Malawi.
Assist in the establishment of Grace Baptist Church in Zomba.
Assist in the training of Malawi's future spiritual leaders.
Plant other churches in other places in Malawi.
As many of you know, we have been praying for the right local church in the United States to be our sending church who will put their blessing on our work in Malawi. Acts 13 reveals the important role a local church has as the sending agent to put their blessing on a missionary's labors and to hold him accountable to the truth, as the church in Antioch did for the apostle Paul. Praise the Lord for His provision! Faith Baptist Tabernacle of Williston, FL, pastored by Richard Harding, has agreed to do this for us. They will be our home church of contact and accountability. We are very thankful for this blessing!
What's up with us right now? Currently, we are packing. Our plans are to move in with my in-laws here in Elmendorf for the remainder of March, as we visit several churches in the area. In early April we plan to move to the Williston, FL area where we plan to spend several months working and preparing for Malawi.
Please pray for the following matters:
For strength, wisdom and grace to fulfill the ministry God has called me to.
For provision of the needed monthly support to serve in Malawi.
For the work in Malawi to grow and prosper.
While in the States we are available to speak in churches about this work God has called us to. Please contact us at maxsonblog@yahoo.com if you would like us to visit your church or if you would like to receive more information about our ministry.
May the Lord bless you all richly. We deeply appreciate your prayers.
Yours in Christ,
Victor Maxson and family
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