2015 has been a year full of changes for Zambia, the Reformed Baptist Churches and ACU. We began the year with presidential elections (after the death of our president, Michael Sata, in October 2014).  The elections went well and we now have a new president, Edgar Lungu. Then the long awaited registration for the Reformed Baptist Churches Association of Zambia (REBCAZ) was finally given by the government. On the ACU front, we received the Bauchams and the Pauls who have come to beef up the theological teaching staff. On the negative side, the Zambian currency lost almost half its strength and our electricity company began to cut power across the whole nation due to low water levels in the hydroelectric plant. That was 2015.

A new year has dawned! We are looking forward to what the Lord has in store for us at ACU. The one major hurdle that we are yet to overcome is the registration process. Continue to pray for us with respect to this matter. We anticipate that at any moment we will receive registration.  Once we receive it, we can begin enrolling students and getting the first classes going. We feel like a bride on the night before her wedding. We can hardly sleep!

Thanks to all of you who have stood with us from the start. Establishing a university is no small feat and your support has gone a long way to bring us to the starting line. The engine is revving. We can't wait for the gun to be fired so that we can speed off!
 

The past year has been a reminder of Nehemiah 2:17-19. Nearly 100 years after the first wave of Israelites returned from captivity in Persia to rebuild the temple in Jerusalem, starting with the altar as a symbol of 'yieldedness' to God, Nehemiah comes to encourage them for the good work of rebuilding the wall so that they may no longer "suffer derision" (v.17). He reminds them of the hand of God that had been upon him for good so that their hands might be strengthened to build.

Another year of delays by the Higher Education Authority (HEA) in granting ACU registration to operate in Zambia has passed (nearly three years in total ... not quite 100!). This has prevented the full engagement in building ACU as the wall of identity and a shield in Christ for the churches. ACU has met 100% of the requested application materials by the HEA and we have been told that we 'will' receive registration by the end of January 2016. Having been told such things multiple times in the past, we wait to see. However, we wait not upon the HEA; we wait upon the Lord. When He determines that we are ready, we will fully engage in building. He continues to strengthen the hands of the Zambian churches, the Board, those who donate, those who pray and those working on the ground.

We have been greatly encouraged by those who have come to serve with their families in 2015: Dr. Voddie Baucham (Dean of Theological Education) and Carlos Paul (Theological Education). We are excited by those families who are working towards coming to serve with us including: Ben Killian (Agriculture), Michael Janse van Rensburg (Student Labour Construction & Maintenance).

There are many things still to get in place and we pray that God will do a marvellous work in 2016 to strengthen the hands of all involved in the work of ACU so that His glory will resound in the excellence and beauty of ACU.
 

I am sure many Israelites thought that the journey to the Promised Land from captivity in Egypt was going to take a couple of months, or, at most, a few years. Little did they know that it would take them 40 years!

For most of us at ACU-Zambia, we thought the same way as the Israelites when we lodged our application for registration going on three years ago. Now, so many years down the line, we still wait for registration to come through; though we can see our registration coming with our eyes of faith!

Many explanations have been given for this delay, but as I reflected on this matter, I came to two reasons.

The first is that the delay has been necessary for God's glory. In their 40 year journey, the Israelites saw God's power and deliverance at work. They saw his faithfulness and goodness as he dealt with them in the desert. The deliverance from captivity was God's plan and as such everything had to be done according to his plan.

Today, many who are closely associated with ACU are able to testify of God's faithfulness and goodness as we have waited for registration. We give God the glory and honour! If our registration was plain sailing, it may have been possible to sin by thinking that we achieved the registration through our connections, intellect or good planning abilities.

The second reason is that God is sovereign and He works according to his time (Ecclesiastes 8:6). In God's wisdom, the delay has allowed us more time to prepare the running of a fully fledged university. While we have been waiting for registration, many systems, programmes and policies have been developed or are being developed.

The above reasons together with the encouragement we find in Romans 8:28 are enough for us to continue with this project despite the delay in obtaining registration. Nothing can thwart God's purposes!

Confident in the Lord of our registration, we urge you brethren to pray that this may happen sooner than later. Happy New Year!
 

"Our God is in the heavens; He does all that He pleases." Psalm 115:3 (ESV)

It is a comfort to every believer to know that God always does His will. As I look back upon 2015, I am reminded of the Faithfulness of God in everything He does. While our plans may not always come to pass, God's plans always do! It is our responsibility and privilege to serve Him faithfully regardless of how things progress. Many times we think we know what is best and yet our plans do not get accomplished. So what are we to do? Keep serving God with a joyful heart and a singular focus-to the glory of God!

The Lord gave many opportunities for service in the USA during 2015. First, there are the many supporters of ACU who prayed and sacrificed to see the work move forward. The ACU-USA board is thankful for each and every one of you. Second, there were numerous opportunities to present the work of ACU this past year. Opportunities included preaching in local churches; conferences in Atlanta, Orlando and North Carolina; and a meeting with the Zambian Ambassador to the United States. God was working in all of these things and fulfilling all His purposes. Third, my co-labourers on the USA Board had numerous opportunities for service and I am thankful for each and every one of them. This past year saw Dan Chittock and Ray Warwick step down from the board due to other increasing responsibilities. I am so thankful for the labours both men put forth. Dan Chittock played a key role on the Board. Both he and his church family sacrificed much for the work of ACU, for which we are very grateful. Thankfully, Ray Warwick continues his labours in Zambia with ACU as we prepare for the beginning of classes.

As I look forward to 2016 I am grateful for further opportunities to present the work of ACU. I will be travelling to the Atlanta area for the G3 Conference at the end of January. In February, I will be at the True Church Conference in Alabama. Please pray that these conferences would be a means of increasing our prayer and financial partners. Finally, please continue to pray for those who labour so faithfully in Zambia as we await the beginning of the Scholars Programme.

Thank you all for your support.