Matthew Henry, born October 18th 1662 in Wales, was a minister and author who spent most of his life living and ministering in England.
Anyone who has ever studied the Bible with the use of a commentary have most assuredly been influenced by his work.
Matthew Henry is most known for his six-volume Exposition of the Old and New Testaments (1708–10), which were used and spoken well of by George Whitefield, Charles Spurgeon and John Wesley.
However, some of us may or may not have heard his insightful quotes.
“The woman was made of a rib out of the side of Adam; not made out of his head to rule over him, nor out of his feet to be trampled upon by him, but out of his side to be equal with him, under his arm to be protected, and near his heart to be beloved.”
“Extraordinary afflictions are not always the punishment of extraordinary sins, but sometimes the trial of extraordinary graces.”
And this beauty:
“Peace is such a precious jewel that I would give anything for it but truth.”
Our ITMI partners would like to be excluded from the “extraordinary afflictions”, yet willingly journey through these on many occasions in their intense desire to serve God, bring honor to His name and see Him lifted up in the lives of all walks of people.
Timothy and Ashley Keller in Zambia are taking God’s truth to those that are bound to keep law and order in Zambia. The police in Africa, for the most part, are a people forgotten by their superiors and mistrusted and even despised by those that are subject to their inconsistent implementation of everyday laws.
The only consistency in much of the enforcement of local laws is that there is no consistency.
Timothy explains that due to many who cannot read or write, “…the police, as leaders in the community, have a huge influence on people’s understanding of right and wrong, the value of life, and their hope for freedom and justice.” Timothy continues, “…because of fear and bitterness, the Zambian church has shown little interest in ministering to police officers.”
This is why Timothy is rejoicing that God has given him a wonderful connection within the Police Commissioner’s office who is not only allowing Biblical World View and Leadership training amongst her most senior officers, but is encouraging it.
ITMI Timothy Keller is passionate about teaching Biblical Worldview Leadership Training in Zambia.
ITMI’s Johan (John) Leach just returned from a weeklong trip out ministering on “the plains” west of the Zambezi River in western Zambia.
You might remember this is the area that ITMI has sunk water wells to help keep village women from getting eaten by the crocodiles. John shares that there is “...a lot of voodoo and a confused and compromised 'church' out there...a lot of work [to do].”
ITMI has sunk water wells into villages in this area in the past. Here's yours truly a few years ago, pumping beautiful, clean, life-giving and preserving water for a people who feel isolated and forgotten.
Johan Leach, ministering in a remote village across the Zambezi River.
ITMI is hoping in the next month or two, with Johan’s assistance, to send a drill rig out into a few key villages and give them the gift of fresh, clean water, along with the most valuable of all water, the Living Water.
These are villages that feel they have been “forgotten” by civilization and God’s people. John doesn’t care what the difficulties are getting to these villages, he takes his GPS with him, a few local men that he is mentoring and they head off into the brush encroached paths covered in deep sand that the locals use to walk and move livestock.
Johan doesn't care about the difficulty of getting to these villages, and it is difficult.
Matthew Henry reminds us, “In times of great difficulty and great expectation, it is our wisdom to keep our spirits calm, quiet, and sedate; for then we are in the best frame both to do our own work and to consider the work of God.”
God is working and you and I are on the front line watching and helping those who have left everything in order to reach the lost. It doesn’t get any more exciting than that!
In His Service,
About the Author
Steve Evers has advocated for and served the ITMI partners as ITMI Director since 2001. Approximately once a year, Steve visits with ITMI partners in their countries and brings stories back to encourage supporters. Steve enjoys photography and mechanics, (both hobbies that have greatly benefited ITMI partners!) Prior to becoming ITMI's Director, Steve served on the Board of Directors for 4 years. Steve lives in Arizona with his wife, Darlene.
