ACU July Prayer Update | May God Be Honored Through Obedience

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Greetings!

"When he [Jesus] saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, 'The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.'" (Mat. 9:36-38)

So much work remains to be done to have everything in place for the Scholars Program to be initiated in January 2014. Thank you for your earnest prayers as God prepares students, calls faculty (mentors & student labor disciplers) and administrative staff, provides for donors and guides all of those in wisdom who are laboring to bring ACU to fruition. May God be honored through obedience and glorified for the demonstration of His might.

A Preacher's Library

by Carole Campbell

Editor's note: It is important to note that often donations of all sorts have an important story behind them. Mrs. Carole Campbell tells us that the process of packing up her deceased husband's treasured library was, "quite a chore physically and emotionally!" Enjoy the story written for her family to tell the story of Mark Leslie Campbell's Library being donated to African Christian University.

Rev. Mark Leslie Campbell

My husband, Mark Leslie Campbell (Les), lost his father at age 11 due to a sudden heart attack and consequently he was sent to Milton Hershey School for the remainder of his growing up years.

Under the influence and witness of his uncle Les received salvation the summer following his graduation. Feeling led to further his Biblical knowledge he attended Bob Jones University in Greenville, SC where his passion for books to increase his knowledge began. On summer vacation after his first year he had trouble finding work and was not able to return for the following year. In the meantime Les and I met at church and were quite fond of each other. I was going to Philadelphia Bible Institute (PBI) in Philadelphia, PA. Since it was closer, less expensive, and he would have free transportation he decided to attend there as well. In Philadelphia there were a number of used book stores which he would visit and pick up good books very cheaply; and so the library began. As we were unable to afford a second year at PBI, we both took jobs in Pennsylvania, he in Harrisburg where his mother was living and I in my hometown of Lewistown. Missing each other so much we were engaged in August of that summer and married in November.

We lived in Harrisburg, PA and Les continued to work at Sears where he eventually became a manager of the electrical department and I took a job as an inventory control clerk. My working days didn't last long as God began to bless us with a family.

Les's passion for the ministry which was instilled in him at Bob Jones University never left. While working at Sears and later for the state of Pennsylvania he helped an older gentleman with church planting in the Harrisburg area. Hearing of a closed church between Harrisburg and Lewistown he pursued the possibility of reopening it. Along with a good friend they cleaned and fixed it up and began holding services in 1958. The church grew and Les, feeling inadequate to handle it on his own, asked for assistance from the Bible Fellowship denomination who instead invited Les to become a pastor in one of their mission churches. Les accepted their invitation and our family of five moved to Millersville, PA in October of 1960 when Les started his pastorate with the denomination.

Campbell Family 1966

We served in four churches during the next ten years and were responsible for anything from preaching to cleaning to taking care of the finances. Les felt led to resign after the third church but was persuaded to remain. However, after being there for a year and a half he resigned and our family of eight relocated to our hometown of Lewistown.

Throughout his life Les continued to build his library. He acquired some of the books through his studies for ordination and always had access to good used book stores. Friends and church members also gave him books from their private collections.

Shortly after moving back to our hometown he took the pastorate of a Baptist church about twenty miles away where he served for six and a half years. After a short break he took a Brethren Church closer to where we lived, serving for two and a half years. Finally he accepted the pastorate of an independent church his uncle had started but was not able to continue due to ill health. During these years Les was bivocational, working as an office equipment salesman. I also took a job making it possible for him to not only continue buying used books but new ones as well.

Rev. & Mrs. Mark Campbell

By then his library had expanded to about nine, full, five and six-shelf bookcases with books piled on top and in boxes. I have no idea how many books he actually had as I could never bring myself to count them. I would guess he had more than 2000. One of his favorite questions to ask anybody, was "What are you reading?"

About six weeks before his going to be with the Lord he stopped me one afternoon as I was walking past his chair and expressed concern about what would become of his library. He knew he was terminal and time was short. I assured him that I would see that it got into good hands. Over the next eight years this became a matter of earnest prayer for me. I explored many avenues including making the library available to pastors and teachers, but there was little interest. I even considered putting them up for sale on eBay, but I was unsure of what that entailed.

Carole Campbell

Then, "Praise the Lord!" I received an email from Matt Zook, a missionary in Mozambique church planting with New Tribes Mission. My husband had given books to Matt prior to his going to the mission field. The email said that he had a possible outlet for the books at a Christian university in Africa. What a perfect solution as the books would be used by students and future pastors.

Thus, it is with great pleasure and contentment that I donate The Mark Leslie Campbell Library to African Christian University through Dr. Ken Turnbull. I give thanks to God for His answer to prayer.

ACU Spotlight On Carlos Paul

by Heather Adams

Carlos Paul

After living a life of heavy partying and self-centeredness Carlos Paul met with a man from a church he had attended two years earlier. On his way home after talking to this man Carlos burst out in excitement and yelled, "I believe."

While originally from Scott's Head, Dominica, Carlos currently lives with his wife, Diana, and children (Kayley 7, Miguel 6 and Nicolas 4) in Ontario, Canada.

He is currently pursing a Masters in Theological Studies with a concentration in Apologetics at Toronto Baptist Seminary. He eventually would like to earn his Doctorate in this subject. He believes that as a theologian he will be "equipping leaders who will in turn transform their communities through the gospel."

In 2005, he joined an assistant pastor and 20 other members in the challenge of planting a sister church in another part of their town. As the evangelism director he trained believers for street evangelism and home visitations. "As the Lord blessed us with new converts, I taught a new believers class teaching the fundamentals of the Christian faith and basic Christian disciplines," Carlos said.

Bayfair Baptist Church, Pickering, Ontario

In 2010, Carlos began attending Bayfair Baptist Church where he is now a member and teaches courses in evangelism and apologetics. Initially, he was personally engaged in outreach utilizing worldview evangelism that explained the redemptive story from Genesis to the Gospels while critiquing and evaluating non-Christian worldviews. However, he began to feel that others could benefit from equipping in this approach to evangelism. "I sensed the need to train believers in evangelism, as this ministry is far more effective for reaching a wider audience," Carlos said.

Carlos set up a class in worldview evangelism. The class teaches participants to work through the Bible's narratives illuminating God's plan of redemption. In the process, the superiority to the Christian worldview for addressing truth can be demonstrated against the other major worldviews prevalent in our society. In addition, Carlos also teaches an apologetics class that grounds believers in the Christian worldview, equipping them to respond to common challenges in opposition to Christianity.

Carlos & Diana, Kayley, Nicolas & Miguel Paul

Carlos has also had the opportunity to go on three mission trips to Dominica. While there, he engaged in street evangelism, vacation Bible school and open air preaching.

At African Christian University, Carlos will be joining the theology faculty where he will be engaged in developing curriculum and teaching. "My first reaction after reading through some sections of ACU's website was, 'there is a ministry that employs my convictions both doctrinally and practically,'" Carlos said. He points out that the practical aspects that excite his convictions are in training pastors, in worldview evangelism, and also in assisting those in poverty. But the doctrinal alignment is what confirmed his attraction.

"Ken Turnbull's explanation of a holistic approach to Christian education that is thoroughly grounded in Scripture was invigorating, and I sensed that ACU's approach may be the vehicle that God will use to transform not only Zambia, but even the neighboring countries. I believe that no society can truly flourish apart from truth, and Scripture provides the normative basis for truth. The Biblical worldview provides the only foundation for effectively transforming culture in order to break the cycle of poverty and violence. Therefore, I am eager to work with the ACU team to bring a Reformed approach to higher education," Carlos said.

As African Christian University is undertaking a tremendous task that is aligned with Scripture, Carlos believes that it will face many obstacles due to the schemes of the devil. "My prayers have been along these lines: Lord, please provide workers; Lord, please bring students; Lord, please provide the finances; and Lord, please maintain unity among the workers. It is of utmost importance that the workers remain doctrinally sound and maintain integrity, modeling Christian virtues," Carlos said.

Carlos and his family are very excited about this opportunity, but they know there are many uncertainties ahead as he, his wife and children adjust to the new culture and leave behind friends and family. "Our hope as a family is that God will use us in immeasurable ways to further his kingdom and bring glory to His name," Carlos said.

Toronto Baptist Seminary

Dr. Ken Turnbull and his family are anxiously anticipating a visit with the Pauls, their sending church and Toronto Baptist Seminary (TBS) in late July. Ken expressed his enthusiasm as Carlos is anxious to work with the Reformed Baptist Churches of Zambia, he has been zealous for the ACU vision from their earliest conversations, and he is passionate about being part of the team that will see the vision brought to fruition by God's mighty hand. Please pray for God's glory as He provides for the Paul's needs, for their family as they prepare to separate from friends and family, for their church as they unify behind the Pauls in sending them to Zambia, and for God's will as Ken seeks to initiate a relationship between TBS and ACU.

The ACU Prayer Update Team

[email protected]

African Christian University-USA

http://www.acu-usa.com

In This Issue:

A Preacher's Library

ACU Spotlight On Carlos Paul

Praise & Prayer

Print this Update

Seeking Help

Praise & Prayer

Howard Eames & Jim Elliff

book donations

In Ken Turnbull's travels around the USA making known the various needs of ACU, God is graciously building up a library through many people donating books. Donations for their shipment to Zambia would also be greatly appreciated.

Even before we have advertised, word is getting out and people are expressing interest in the Scholars Program starting in January 2014. Pray that God would prepare those students who will enroll in this inaugurating class.

God be praised for guiding in wisdom those who are strategizing the academic programs and preparing curriculum and syllabi for the initiation of classes. There is a great deal of innovative and biblically sound thought fueling these developments for which your prayers and God's wisdom are critical.

God has raised up those who will fill most of the faculty positions for the Scholars Program. We continue to seek God for a Mathematics teacher and a Director for the Student Labor Program, a very key position.

Preparing for registration and student enrollment for the Scholars Program is complex and daunting with the few people that are handling the tasks. We seek His guidance in accomplishing all that is necessary for preparing for the start of this program. We thank God for those He has provided to help and pray that He will continue to interest others in serving to bring the ACU project to fruition.

John Chundu

The issue of land for the ACU campus continues to be a matter for earnest prayer. God has ordained His purpose in these challenges and we continue to rely on Him to direct and provide for this need. We thank you for dedicating focused prayer on the matter during this next month.

Pray that God would lead the way as Dr. Turnbull is seeking for a "backstop" university in the USA to partner with ACU as required for Zambian registration purposes. This relationship is very important and God's guidance will assure our success as His will is accomplished.

Please pray for the ACU-USA Board meeting to be held on August 9. ACU is a global project and we praise God for the faithful servants in the USA, zealous to see this kingdom work succeed through the Zambian churches that Christ has raised up to lead this effort.

The Turnbulls are visiting many people and places in the USA to move the ACU project forward and raise awareness of its various needs. God has been gracious in generating so much interest in the ACU work. We thank each one of you who have responded to His prompting. Please pray that God will continue to raise up ACU prayer warriors, donors and those who will serve.

ACU praying hands

Print this Update

Download a copy of the ACU July Prayer Update to print and hand out at your church.

Seeking Help

Do you have experience that would equip you to oversee campus construction projects at ACU? Please contact us or forward this request to someone who you may know that might serve with us as a construction project manager.

Email: [email protected]

If you have books of all types in any academic disciplines, but particularly those emphasizing a Christian worldview, please consider if you might be in a position to donate towards ACU's library. Email: [email protected]

Links

A Letter From Kabwata

African Donations