Strengthening Our Partnerships In Zambia & Namibia

An update from Dave Taylor, Lead Pastor of Sovereign Grace Church, Sydney and Director of Global Missions for Sovereign Grace Churches...

August was a very sweet month for me, in that over a stretch of twelve days, I got to visit both Zambia & Namibia to seek to do all that I can to strengthen our work there... And what a sweet time it was!

First up was Zambia, where I was warmly greeted at the airport by Ector Makaliki (Lead Pastor of Christ Community Church) and his leadership team. I have known about Christ Community Church for many years, remembering when the late Wilbroad Chanda actually planted the church some fifteen years ago, and so to finally be with them was such a joy. I found the church to be exactly what I had expected: joyful, gracious, encouraging, zealous, gospel-centred, to name but a few.

The Sunday gathering was a highlight, to finally be with the gathered saints of CCC. Their unwavering expressiveness in song will always remain with me, what a wonderful picture of heaven they are. Likewise gathering with all of their leadership group and seeing their heart for the lost, both locally and globally was such an encouragement to me. CCC was the first church in Africa to be in full partnership with Sovereign Grace as an Emerging Nation Church, something it was a joy to remind them of and celebrate with them about.

During my stay I also got to spend some time with Zicky Chanda and her son, Penjani Chanda, as we toured the work of Covenant Mercies together, and in particular the work of Lighthouse Christian School. It’s been nearly 20 years now since this school was founded, serving over 400 children in the area, many of whom are orphans and are able to attend through Covenant Mercies sponsorships. It is an outstanding ministry and one I’m thrilled we get to partner with.

Then on my last day in Zambia, I got to open their Youth Conference, made up of young people from CCC, as well as their friends. As they camped out at a farm, it was so good to see and hear of their zeal for the Lord. It was a wonderful conclusion to my time in Zambia.

I then made my way to Namibia, where I was picked up by Josh Kruger (Lead Pastor of Sovereign Grace Church of Windhoek). Josh & Lieze Kruger have lived in Windhoek for many years, relating to Sovereign Grace for well over a decade, and back in 2023 they actually relocated to the US for a year of training, discipleship and our ordination process. After a successful time in the US, they then returned to Windhoek in early 2024, where they have begun to gather a Church Planting Team together, that I then got to spend time with during my time in town.

For me personally, it took me down memory lane, to when Emma and I moved from the UK to Australia to plant Sovereign Grace Church, Sydney, back in 2010. Now in 2024, it was so special to be with Josh, Lieze and the gathering planting team.

With lots of questions and a keen ear, it was good to be able to serve Josh as he continues to put the necessary foundations in ahead of the public launch of Sovereign Grace Church, Windhoek. Josh is an outstanding leader and I sincerely look forward to seeing what God does in and through this Church in the days ahead. From everything I saw, I’d say the future looks very bright here, for which the Lord deserves all the glory.

For the Audience of One. Soli Deo Gloria!