Outreach In Zambia

An update from Wilbroad Chanda, Pastor of Christ Community Church in Ndola, Zambia…

The Coronavirus or COVID-19 has affected almost every aspect of life around the globe. The negative devastating effects of the pandemic have been compounded by the lock down. The social- economic, spiritual and cultural lives of thousands of families have been altered. Practices like social distancing, regular hand sanitizing and wearing of masks never crossed our minds nor imagination. Who ever imagined churches not gathering for corporate worship for more than three or so Sundays?

Instead of being fixated on the negative repercussions of  the COVID-19 pandemic, the Lord in His providence, enabled us to lift our gaze to some greater and more significant matter than the COVID -19 pandemic. He stirred us to  lift up our eyes, “and see that the fields are white for harvest” (Jn. 4:35). Pentecost Sunday fell on 31st May this year. With God’s help I took two weeks before Pentecost Sunday training Pastors College students and some members of Christ Community in personal evangelism and discipleship. The training was followed with practical evangelistic outreach for three weeks. 

This evangelistic campaign dubbed, “[COVID-19] Pentecost Outreach” yielded positive and encouraging results. We witnessed a good number people coming to faith in Christ Jesus. One Pastors College student has planted a local church as a result of this outreach. The number of children in our local church has multiplied. We have commenced a week- end “Good News Club” for children in one impoverished community. The Pastors college students are very excited about this evangelistic outreach. As a result, we will continue with the outreach for months and years to come. A good number of Pastors College students have started training their church members in personal evangelism and discipleship. We had a whole day Evangelism and Discipleship class on Tuesday, the 7th of July (Heroes and Unity public holiday). We spent time to review, asses and evaluate the Pentecost Outreach project. My prayer and heart’s desire is that all of the Pastors College students and our church members will endeavor to “do the work of an evangelist” (2 Tim. 4:5).

On behalf of the Pastors College students and the Christ Community Church (a Sovereign Grace Church), I would like to thank most sincerely our partners in Sovereign Grace and especially Dave Taylor and the Emerging Nations leadership for partnering with us through prayer and financial support in our “Pentecost Outreach” evangelistic initiative. Your prayer and financial gospel support enabled us to train evangelists, procure evangelism and discipleship materials and provide transportation and other outreach requisites. Allow me to say to say to you in the words of Paul that

“This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of the Lord’s people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, others will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else. And in their prayers for you their hearts will go out to you, because of the surpassing grace God has given you. Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!” (2 Cor. 9:12-15).

Soli deo gloria!