Changing the world, one church at a time.

As the year comes to a close, we want to again thank you for all your financial support, prayers, emails and packages.  As you probably know, we have 15 pastors that we are currently training in ministry as part of our Action Pastor’s College and our Discipleship College. These pastors reside in poor compounds and cannot afford Bible college.  Most of them work in addition to pastoring.  So, we are looking for sponsors who can commit to sponsoring these pastors for  a year to pay for a room in which to meet, to provide transportation to and from the training center, books, and a bag of mealie meal (their food staple) each month. With the economic crisis we know that there are many places one can invest money, so we don’t take it lightly that you might consider investing in our ministry. As we evaluate our program and the amount of money it takes to move forward, we have asked the question, is it worth it?        

In some senses, it is difficult to demonstrate in pictures why we think it is worth it. A word picture we like to use is comparing the ministry to the growth of a tree. A picture taken of a tree from day to day would not be very impressive. But a picture taken over a period of three years would show tremendous change and growth in a seedling. Christ invested heavily for that length of time in a few disciples who ended up changing the world! Our hope and belief is that Zambia will only be changed by such a similar investment in a few people for a long period of time. As we are patient and faithful to water and prune the tree, the fruit will come.

With the first year of the program drawing to a close, we are seeing lots of encouraging signs that we are on the right path. The pastors are growing in their love and understanding of the Bible. We have given them the tools to exegete and interpret passages, to know how the Bible came to be, and they have seen how God has guided the church through twenty centuries to the truth of the Scriptures. They have also  been taught how to interact with Jehovah Witnesses as well as how to address money matters in their congregations. Just this morning, one of the pastors could not say enough about how much he is learning and the impact it is having in his church and life. Because of the class another pastor changed the leadership structure of his church from a culturally Zambian model to a biblical model. We recently took two pastors down to the rural area to evangelize in villages and they couldn’t say enough about the importance of pastors being involved in missions.  Because day to day growth can be hard to gauge we delight in such stories as shared above. These stories are a confirmation to us that this path is worth every minute and every dollar spent. 

Recently the Pastoral Leadership Development team had an off-site retreat and one of the desired goals was to improve our responsibilities in partnering with prospective donors.  A significant way in which we can be a better partner is through our newly created Pastors Blog. In the past six months two interns have worked diligently to put together videos, pictures, and interviews on this blog. Hopefully this site will help our supporters to better understand the impact of their gifts.  If you would like to check out the site, the website is: www.az-pld-sponsor.blogspot.com. At least every three weeks, a blog will be posted and with the link provided you can check in on the latest from Zambia. By enabling you the opportunity to get to know all the pastors over the course of the year, the blog will serve to strengthen our partnership and broaden your heart and love for the pastors of Zambia.  

While it takes around $60 a month to sponsor a pastor, we don’t want you to miss out on being an integral part in this ministry. It may be that you could give $5 or $10 or $25 a month and that we can get more people giving smaller amount and yet still accomplish the same goal.  Would you consider joining us this year?  You can give monthly or a one-time gift.  If you would like to give, click here for the link to the Action International donation website.  Thank you again for partnering with us.

Meet Pastor Kashewe

1 Corinthians 10:31-So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

Pastor Charles Kashewe wasn't looking to be a pastor, but when his pastor died, the church called on his to lead them. It has been a difficult road, but this humble young man is learning quickly. He is eager to learn, humble to change and desires deeply to see his church grow to love Jesus. Please pray for Charles for the courage to lead well and the wisdom to know how to lead well. Thank you!

Meet Pastor Phiri

"Bless the LORD, O my soul, And forget none of His benefits;
Who pardons all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases;
Who redeems your life from the pit"
-- Psalm 103:2-4

Please be praying for Pastor Phiri right now, as he has been forced to drop out of classes due to failing health.  Please also be praying for his family -- Martin and his wife have eight children.  This is not the first time his health has been poor, however, and just as God has been faithful in the past, so He will be now.

Martin grew up going to catholic school and was very successful in his studies, so much so that he was sent to London to study.  While he was there he got sick and consulted many doctors, though none of them were able to find a cure for a lack of appetite -- the hospitals could not do anything.  So Martin returned to Zambia, where he visited 21 different witch doctors, many of whom gave him tattoos that were supposed to free him of the spirits that were causing his sickness.  On the way back from receiving the last of these tattoos, he sat down on a bus next to a pastor who knew through the Holy Spirit that he was sick.  Phiri wanted to know which spirit had given him this knowledge, and the pastor replied that is was the Holy Spirit.  Martin was curious to know more, so he followed the man off the bus and prayed with him to become a Christian.   Martin regained his appetite immediately, and though he never met this man again, he was able to find a home church at Grace Mission Ministries.  Martin knows what it means to say that God heals; please pray that He would do so now.

Below is a video of Pastor Phiri introducing himself; if you are receiving this post via email you may need to click here to see the video.  Thank you for your support and God bless!

Meet Pastor Ngoma

"1 Corinthians 11:1 - Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ"

Father Ngoma is a man worth imitating. He is compassionate, humble, encouraging and purposeful. He leads a church at the Anglican church in Makeni (just outside of Lusaka) as well as oversees a community where the daily needs are overwhelming. Whether he is helping feed impoverished families, encouraging bereaving widows or ministering the HIV/AIDs ministry, Father Ngoma continually pours out his life for his flock. Please pray for Father Ngoma for strength and endurance as he ministers daily in Makeni.

Meet Pastor Simuyemba

"A joyful heart makes a cheerful face..."  Proverbs 15:13


Pastor Manuel Simuyemba has one of the most blessed and joyful hearts in the world, and when you meet him it is reflected in his face.  Always smiling and laughing, Pastor Simuyemba is one of the most gentle and humble men in the ABI program, which is saying a great deal.  He is an encouragement to all who are privileged to walk with him.


Pastor Simuyemba, until recently, was an elder at Libala Baptist Church.  Like many of the churches in Zambia, Libala Baptist is actively involved in church planting and community evangelism, and Pastor Simuyemba was leading the charge in these areas.  Three months ago, however, Pastor Simuyemba left Libala in order to plant a church in nearby called Grace Baptist Church.  Steve Allen had the opportunity to preach their a few weeks ago and returned very encouraged by the solid foundation that has been laid by this young church. The future is bright.  In the midst of great encouragement by this church, he is also facing a difficult challenge in that his contract was not renewed for the new year and he is currently unemployed. Thank you for remembering our brother Manuel!



Please be praying for Pastor Simuyemba as he leads his young church to reach out to their community, loving the poor and the widows and the orphans.  There is much to be thankful for, yet there are also many areas where they are still waiting on the Lord to provide for them.


Here is a video of Pastor Simuyemba introducing himself... be sure to click on the link if you are receiving this update via email.  Happy Thanksgiving!

Meet Pastor Chiwuswa

"Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity." -- 1 Timothy 4:12

There are fifteen pastors currently enrolled in the Action Bible Institute, and all but one of them are married.  In the U.S. this might not be a big deal for the lone unmarried man, but in Zambian culture singleness and marriage carry very significant social connotations.  The married man eats before the unmarried man at meals, is addressed more respectfully in public, and so forth.  In this sense Zambia is far closer to Biblical culture than modern American culture: much the same way Paul encuraged Timothy not to let anyone look down on him because of his youth, young Zambian men likewise need to be encouraged that their faith speaks for them ahead of their culture.

James Chiwuswa has attended the Anglican church since childhood, and as a youth was very zealous for his faith, even being given his own congregation at age 21.  But he soon found himself surrounded with bad company, and so he gradually left the church as a drunkard in his early 20's.  After trying for many years -- unsuccessfully -- to obtain training as a mechanic, James found himself in a miserable condition, drunk and impoverished.  But God was gracious, and led him to move back home with his mother to live in Makeni Ecumenical Center, a small neighborhood center to the South of downtown Lusaka.  This decision led him to a renewed faith in Christ, and to this day he lives with family in Makeni Ecumenical Center, having been given another congregation in nearby Kalikiliki Compound.  James has not touched a drink since moving to Makeni, and he hopes to join the ranks of the married very soon to a beautiful, godly woman who he himself led to Christ with the rest of her family.

Please be praying for James as he prepares for marriage.  Also pray that he would have the ability to minister both to his flock and to his young family once he is married: the Anglican Church where James is a priest is able to provide only very little financially, yet God has proved himself faithful to provide for James thus far.  Many thanks also to you as you provide support for James as he takes time out of his week to learn more about God's Word which could be used for supplemental income or for further ministry to his people.

Meet Alfred Mulenga

If you were to ask the average Zambian today whether status and prestige are important, the answer would be a certain yes. Knowledge is power in a country where education is scarce; many pastors lord their position and their knowledge over younger men in order to retain their respected position. Even those who train up young men often fall into the trap of doing so harshly or with a critical spirit. Alfred, though a young man himself, has many reasons to boast he has been blessed with a wonderful family (he and his wife Gertrude have four children), and was only just recently admitted to the deaconate in the Anglican church after having completed his Anglican education. Yet Alfred Mulenga is a man with a gentle smile and a humble spirit, who is willing to serve others with gladness even when, by Zambian standards, he ought to be asserting his position.

Pastor Mulenga was raised in the church from a young age in the town of Kafue, which is about 15 miles south of Lusaka. Shortly after being married, a group of thieves broke into his home and began to steal things from him, but were caught by a mob as they fled. One of the thieves was severely beaten -- and eventually died -- despite Alfred's efforts to break up the violence against the very people who were stealing from him. After the incident, the rest of the thieves delivered death threats against Alfred and his family, so that they were forced to flee to Lusaka for fear of their own safety. Alfred soon found work at Makeni Ecumenical Center, where he has since finished his education and received a congregation in nearby Linda compound, where he is now serving as a priest.

Please be praying for Alfred as he continues to take classes from Action Bible Institute three times each week, having recently moved his family to Linda in order to live where he is actively involved in ministry. Also please be praying for God's continued provision for he and his family. The Anglican church is able to provide only very small means for its priests, so the support that you provide as Alfred takes classes from ABI has been, and will continue to be, a tremendous blessing. Please also be rejoicing with Alfred and his family, since being ordained to the deaconate is a tremendous honor. Hundreds of people came to the ceremony last month to shower the new deacons with gifts and to celebrate with them!

Here is a video of Alfred introducing himself... if you are receiving this post via email you may need to click here to see it. God bless!