Zambia Missions

Third year students wives attending to their chicken as part of their training. This is part of their lively skills.

Zambia is experiencing major problems this year due to the lack of rain from the last rainy season. The water level in Lake Kariba is so low that Zambia cannot generate sufficient amount of electricity for the country. Hence, they began implementing power sharing back in May/June (i.e., rotate service to limited areas while other areas go without power).

In July we were getting electricity for about 8 hours a day. This past month it dropped to 1-2 hours per day. About 3 days ago, we were told there would be no service (electricity) anywhere in the country for the next 15 days!

Francis Mwale is a graduate from 2018. Francis sent me pictures of a church he planted in Chama in Lundaz (Eastern Province near the border of Malawi).

One of our former students (graduate) recently conducted an evangelistic campaign in the Nyanga area (near the border of Zimbabwe). There was a great turn out as people came from Zambia and Zimbabwe. Osberty says that the people are really thirtsy for the word of God in this area.

Student working in his garden.

We hosted our first lectureship at Daybreak Bible College last weekend. We had a great turnout (especially for our first lectureship and considering the famine in the country which many do not have money for transportation this year). Thayer Salisbury (missionary from Eswatini) also came to speak at our lectureship.

This is something we plan to do every year as it edifies and encourages our former students in their ministries. It also gives us a chance to hear how well our graduates are doing in ministry. In the next few weeks I will post some updates about some of our former students.

Thayer Salisbury (missionary from Eswatini) is teaching a class for two-weeks on the subject, "God-Centered Bible Study." He is doing a great job teaching the students how to study the Bible.

I got an update from one of our Mapepe graduates (12 years ago), Josech Esdaruth. Josech is working as a minister with a church in Kafue (town) and he sent me some pictures from a church conference that was held at his church in July.

Update: Francis has been released from the hospital and has now returned safely back to Zambia (from South Africa). It appears the operation was successful. He has to go back for a review on Aug 15. We pray for healing and a full restoration of his leg as it will take several weeks to determine the long-term results.

Update: Francis Mwanza had surgery yesterday in South Africa. The doctor told him today that the surgery was successful. However, he is still on oxygen as his oxygen rate is not okay. He seems to be doing well although experiencing some pain from the operation. He is scheduled to remain in the hospital for another 8 days.

Thanks again for all of you who contributed to pay for this much needed operation!

Francis Mwanza had surgery today in South Africa. He just got out of surgery and already reports that the pain level has decreased. Thanks to all of you who contributed to make it possible for him to get this operation.

Financial Assistance for Operation.

Franics is our agriculture teacher who teaches our students how to be self-supporting in ministry. He is a very important part of our Bible College. Last year he was moving a large tank which fell on his leg and severely broke it in multiple places. He has had two operations which did not solve the problem. He now has trouble walking and is in constant pain. We need to send him to South Africa for an operation. We are still needing about $4,000. If you would like to contribute, please go to our webpage (www.zambiamissions.org) and click on the orange “Donate” button (or mail check to Zambia Missions, 1700 Goodman Rd E, Southaven, MS 38671).

Pictures below: Lorie is doing some teacher training at the Primary School and teaching a class to the Bible College students (Community Schools Development), and I am teaching a class on Ephesians.

Financial Assistance for Operation. Franics is our agriculture teacher who teaches our students how to be self-supporting in ministry. He is a very important part of our Bible College. Last year he was moving a large tank which fell on his leg and severely broke it in multiple places. He has had two operations which did not solve the problem. He now has trouble walking and is in constant pain. We need to send him to South Africa for an operation that costs about $8,000. If you would like to contribute, please go to our webpage (www.zambiamissions.org) and click on the orange “Donate” button (or mail check to Zambia Missions, 1700 Goodman Rd E, Southaven, MS 38671).

We are hosting the Zambia Youth Conference at our campus this weekend (ending on Tuesday). I spoke today at the Conference on the subject of "Being Christians in the Modern World" from John 17. Below are pictures from yesterday. [Youth in Zambia refers to unmarried adults].

Tobia Viva in his garden at Daybreak Bible College.

We are hosting the Youth Conference in Zambia at our campus this weekend. See advertisement below. [Note: Youth in Zambia refers to unmarried adults over 18].

Fielden & Janet Allison are teaching two classes at Daybreak Bible College this week. One on Marriage (1st and 2nd year students) and the other is on Conflict Resolution (3rd-year students). This is a very important class and we are most thankful that the Allisons do this each year.

Message from Zambia (last Sunday): "WHAT A GLORIOUS SUNDAY AT DAYBREAK_CHURCH_OF_CHTIST! Today we hosted the youths from John Laing Church of Christ together with the Lusaka Youths Coordinating Committee (LYCC) team. We had a glorious Sunday service, and we give God all the glory."

The LYCC visited worship this past Sunday as part of the planning and preparation for the Youth Conference to be held at our campus on in three more weeks.

We did not have good rains this year in Zambia and the most of maize/corn crop has failed. This means that there will be a famine this year and the price of food will skyrocket as maize represents about 80% of the Zambia diet. It’s going to be a tough year and we just hope that this drought does not continue through the next rainy season (Dec-April). If you think inflation is bad in the USA, you haven’t seen what it is like in Zambia!

In order to help our staff and students, we always go out to the farmers and buy about 600 bags of maize (100-pound bags) which we are then able to sell to our staff and students at a price that is less than that which bought in the stores (cf. pictures). Furthermore, when the price increases later in the dry season, our price does not go up. We also have a grinding machine which enables us to grind the maize into mealie-meal (which is the actual product that Zambians use to prepare meals).

First-Year Students getting their Study Bibles today. Many of our students do not have a Bible when they arrive, nor can they afford to buy one. So, upon finishing the first semester, we give them a nice Study Bible. It is fun to watch how happy they are to receive what is not so much valued in the Western world anymore.

Additional message from Dennis Sabelo (Director of the Bible College) who was invited to speak at the National Youth Conference in Zambia. The conferenc was held in Solwezi which is in the northwest part of Zambia (mining town for cooper). Message sent Sunday.

"It was another rare privilege and honor for me to baptize 13 youths today, being the last day of the 2024 National Youth Conference for Churches of Christ that was held at Solwezi Technical Secondary School. The attendance was 1,500 plus. To God be the glory and honor."

Report from Dennis Sabelo (Director of our Bible College in Zambia). Dennis was invited to be a Speaker at a Youth Conference in Solwezi (which is a faster growing town in the Northwest part of Zambia which is where cooper mines are located). Note: Youths in Zambia are unmarried adults (not under 18 year olds).

"Today morning I had a privilege and honor of baptizing eight youths during the going 27th National Youth Conference for the Church of Christ. The meeting is taking place at Solwezi Technical Secondary School under the theme "Be the Light" taken from Matthew 5:13-16. To God be the glory 🙏"