Mechanics for Africa news

Cool, but not too cool for the Covid-19 Vaccine

Zambia recorded its first case of the highly contagious Indian COVID-19 variant in a man who recently travelled from the South Asian nation, Zambia’s Health Ministry reported on Tuesday. However, the Mechanics for Africa team is doing all it can to encourage staff and students to have the jab. Health workers are currently prioritised, but fears of the vaccine are so widespread that, in line with Zambian government policy, in Ndola the vaccine is now available to all-comers over the age of 18, which includes all MfA staff and most students. Around twenty out of 120 students and staff have been vaccinated so far. On Saturday, David Phillips joined the MfA trustees and chief executive Gwanire Kalombe to explore all the ways in which MfA can encourage its people to do the sensible thing.

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Reading Recommendations from Rev. Phil

I'm rarely happier than when I've got my head in a book. Over the years, I've found a huge deal of profit and encouragement in reading Christian books. I've found the three here particularly helpful in the last few years, and want to commend them to you.

Gentle and Lowly by Dane Ortlund
How does Jesus feel about you? What is Jesus' deepest heart towards his people? This book is an extended meditation on Matthew 11:29: '...for I am gentle and humble in heart...' In short, readable chapters, Ortlund shows how our mighty saviour Jesus is gentle, loving and big-hearted. We usually have a far stingier view of God than the Bible gives us, and this book is a very helpful reminder that God is 'a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness' (Psalm 86). This book shows how Jesus' heart breaks for us particularly when we are suffering or sinning- it is his very love for us that compels him to come towards us. I'd recommend this book to anyone, particularly anyone who wants to know God's heart in the midst of hard times, or help others who are going through hard times. The chapters are a good length for daily devotional time- I've been re-reading it a chapter a time just before bed.


Side by Side by Ed Welch
How do we truly love the people around us? This book is a practical guide to 'walking with others in love and wisdom'. It is a book to help normal, everyday Christians to help others with intentional, loving conversations. The starting point is that the people who help others best are the ones who both need and give help. There is no place for 'expert' Christians in Jesus' church- we are all needy. From the basic platform of humility and love, Ed Welch gives lots of practical advice about going further in our relationships, and how to use conversations to truly bless each other. The chapters are short and easy to read, but pack a great depth of practical wisdom. You don't need to have any particular desire to be a pastor or counsellor to find this book helpful- it would greatly benefit any church (including ours) if lots of people in the congregation read it.


The Jesus Storybook Bible by Sally Lloyd-Jones
'Every story whispers his name'. This is not a children's Bible, but a book of Bible Stories that take us from the very beginning of the universe (Genesis) to John's vision of the final union of heaven and earth (Revelation). Throughout, the stories make it beautifully and poetically clear that the whole of the Bible is about Jesus, 'the true hero of the story- the one who comes from a far country to win back his lost treasure, the one who leaves his palace to rescue the one he loves'. The Bible is not primarily a book of rules, or the history of a nation, or a 'how to' guide for life, but the wonderful true story of God's 'never stopping, never giving up, unbreaking, always and forever love' that finds its way to us in Jesus. The book is beautifully illustrated, and uses simple English- it could be read by slightly older children, or used for devotional time with children of any age. If you end up buying one for a child in your life, you may well (as I did) end up buying another for yourself.

How can I pray for my church?

Jesus is building his church- and he is praying for us (Hebrews 7:25).  Jesus invites us to pray with him for his church. There's no better way to serve and love your local church. Please pray for Christ Church as far as you feel able to. There are many things you can pray for; here are some of them. Don’t feel you need to pray each one every time, or that this list is exhaustive. But these would be some good places to start…

·       Pray that God’s will be done in all things at Christ Church (Matt 6:10)

·       Pray that we keep the Good News of Jesus at the top of our agenda (1 Cor. 15:1-11)

·       Pray that we will stay faithful to God’s word (2 Timothy 4:2)

·       Pray that we might grow in knowledge and love of God (Philippians 1:9-11)

·       Pray that the church would increasingly become a praying community (1 John 5:15)

·       Pray that we would be a people who repent of sin- regularly, honestly, and thankfully (Psalm 51:7, 10-12)

·       Pray that we will share the good news of Jesus boldly, both in our personal lives and through our church activities (Acts 4:29-30)

·       Pray that people within the community who are not Christians, exploring Christianity-  or not sure where they stand- might find a home here, and find faith in Christ, (Romans 10:1)

·       Pray that we would follow Jesus, whatever the cost (Luke 9:23-24)

·       Pray that we would love one another (Romans 12:10)

·       Pray that we would be generous with our money and time (2 Cor. 9:12-15)

·       Pray that we would be united in Christ- in particular with other local churches and mission partners. (John 17:20-21)

·       Pray that all the church ministry/leadership team would serve the church with love, faithfulness, wisdom, and joy- in all seasons (Romans 12:12)

·       Pray for people who are struggling or finding life particularly difficult in any way. (Psalm 46:1-3)

you can of course pray these for any other churches you'd like to as well. It's such a privilege to pray for one another. 

'Praying Hands' by Albrecht Durer

'Praying Hands' by Albrecht Durer

Mechanics for Africa Graduation

Mechanics for Africa ‘A shining beacon’

Mechanics for Africa had a successful and joyful graduation ceremony last Saturday, despite the fact that Covid-19 restrictions meant that none of our graduates’ families could attend the ceremony.

This year’s Guest of Honour was Vincent Sampa, the Director of Finance for Copperbelt Province where MfA’s college is based. During his speech, Mr. Sampa said “Mechanics for Africa is a shining beacon. You don’t just learn how to maintain vehicles. Graduates of Mechanics for Africa have a reputation for honesty, integrity, and service that marks them out as special people. The mission you have to train underprivileged youth in our communities keys in perfectly with Zambia’s pro-poor policies targeted at young people. Youth recognition and empowerment are at the heart of what we do. We want to ensure that we have an upcoming generation that is prepared to take up leadership positions in all spheres. This is very important to all of us in government.”  Our Guest of Honour also had words of encouragement for our UK supporters: “As Director of Finance for the Copperbelt Province I have the closest interest in ensuring that we are able to play our part in the great project of improving our God-blessed nation of Zambia… I know that much of the financial support for this college comes from individual sponsors in the United Kingdom. I thank your supporters because they are enabling us to demonstrate just how successful we can be when we work together to make this world a better place.” 

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5 reasons why

Christianity stands or falls on the bodily, physical resurrection of Jesus Christ. If Jesus didn't rise from the dead, Christianity is false. If the disciples only had a 'spiritual experience' of Jesus' presence, but Jesus didn't raise bodily from the dead, Christianity is false. St Paul, one of the early leaders of the church, says this in one of his letters:

And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith. More than that, we are then found to be false witnesses about God, for we have testified about God that he raised Christ from the dead. But he did not raise him if in fact the dead are not raised. For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised either. And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost. If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied. (1 Corinthians 15:14-19, italics mine)

The first witnesses to the resurrection didn't need much faith to believe- Jesus stood in front of them, even if it took some of them (see John 20:24-29) a closer investigation to be convinced. For countless millions since, belief in Jesus' resurrection takes faith. It's not a wild leap in the dark, but it's still a step. That said, there are many reasons to suggest that Jesus’ resurrection is a historically reliable fact. Here are 5 of them. Look at the evidence for yourself.

1: Jesus was definitely dead. The Romans were expert executioners; the soldiers in charge of killing Jesus would have faced the most severe penalties if Jesus hadn't died. Moreover, John's Gospel (19:34) attests that when the soldiers went to check Jesus was dead, they pierced his side, and 'blood and water flowed out. The people writing it at the time did not realize this, but this is a medical sign that Jesus' dead body was already breaking down; his blood was separating into layers of heavier red blood cells and light, watery plasma.

2: The First Eyewitnesses were Women. The first eyewitnesses of the resurrection were women. All the Gospels note that the first people to discover the tomb empty were women. Women were not held in high esteem; in this culture, a woman’s testimony was not admissible in court. In Jewish circles, it took the testimony of two women to equate that of one man. If one were to invent a story, the last people one would place as the first witnesses would have been women- unless it were otherwise true.

3: Nobody could produce Jesus' dead body. If Jesus' enemies had taken Jesus' body from the tomb, they could have silenced all the reports of Jesus' resurrection by producing it. It would have been in their interests to do so. But at no point do the religious or political authorities produce a body, or even suggest there is one. 

4: Post-death Appearances. Numerous accounts affirm that people had intimate, face to face encounters at various times and places with Jesus Christ after his death on the cross. Witnesses claimed to have seen, heard, and touched the resurrected Christ. These physical appearances were reported soon after the actual encounters and cannot reasonably be dismissed as mythical or psychological in nature. A mass collusion (‘let’s pretend we all saw him!’) on that scale would only have taken one person to speak out and the whole claim would have crumbled. This is also why conspiracy theories about the moon landings are highly unlikely to be true!

5: The Transformation of the Disciples. The Book of Acts describes a dramatic and enduring transformation of the eleven apostles (and various other members of the church) from being terrified and defeated immediately after Jesus’ crucifixion into courageous preachers and, eventually, martyrs. Such radical and extensive change deserves an adequate explanation; people will not transform like that for something they know to be a lie.

Assuming you find this convincing, what will you do with this? When Jesus resuscitated his friend Lazarus, Jesus said to Lazarus' sister, Martha:

“I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?” 

“Yes, Lord,” she replied, “I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, who is to come into the world.” (John 11:25-27)

The resurrection of Jesus, requires a decision; Martha chose to trust Jesus with her life. Will you?

The Incredulity of Saint Thomas by the Italian Baroque Master Caravaggio

The Incredulity of Saint Thomas by the Italian Baroque Master Caravaggio