Campfire Bible Study

The Sandy Hill congregation is only a few months old. We have been going there on Sunday afternoons since March to help them get a good start. Recently they asked us to come teach a Bible study on Thursday evenings.

David gathered up several men from Namwianga to go with us and we set off just at dusk. By the time we reached Sandy Hill Farm, the sky was completely dark. The winding road into the workers’ compound seemed even narrower at night. As the rays of the headlights lit up the first few houses, we saw children running to greet us. They waved their arms and shouted in Chitonga, “Church! Go to Church!”

Barefoot boys and girls continued their shouting as they ran behind the vehicle to the far edge of the compound where the church meets. One of the leaders had built a fire for us to gather around. The children rushed to their places nearest the fire while a few adults brought “mudala” stools and joined them. The church leader assured us that others would come when they had finished eating their suppers. As we waited, the children sang a few songs and then listened with rapt attention as David told them the story of the little boy who shared his loaves and fishes.

The fire roared on as others trickled in to join our gathering. In the dim light of the fire we could only see the faces of those who were nearest the flames. Others were faint outlines against the night sky.

David’s lesson was entitled “Who Is God?” He began by having everyone memorize and recite James 4:8 “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.” We all repeated the verse in Chitonga several times during the course of the lesson. Many Zambians cannot read, and even those who do read may not have Bibles, so David tries to emphasize memorization of scriptures. He continued the lesson using the stars as a visual aid as he talked about God’s creative power.

One little boy about eight years old was seated in the dust about three feet away from David and me as the lesson began. Little by little he inched his way over closer to us. By the end of the talk, he was right in front of us, his head resting on David’s leg.

The lesson concluded. The smoke of the fire rose to the night sky as our closing songs and prayers rose to the God we serve. We climbed back into the truck for the trip home, promising the leaders we would return next week.

This kind of campfire teaching is a highlight of our work here. As David said on the way home, “It just doesn’t get much better than this.”