Zambia
Of the 10
million people in Zambia, 76% consider themselves Christians, but the
influence of Animism is still quite strong. For many, Christian practices have been melded into their animistic customs rather than a true transformation through the Holy Spirit. Cultural habits promote the
spread of AIDS, just as in many other countries of east, central and south
Africa.
Liebenzell
Mission has been working in Zambia since 1985, partnering with the Zambia Baptist Association (ZBA). Ministries include film
evangelism, church planting, theological training for pastors and laymen,
children and youth ministries, a Christian board school, coordination of women’s groups, medical
work at two clinics, AIDS care projects and prevention education, agricultural improvement projects for local farmers, and preparation
of Christian literature.
As
in many other African regions, AIDS is widespread in Zambia. This has
led to new challenges for our ministry work in these areas. For over ten years, the Mungwi clinic
and hospital has served the people of northern Zambia. The clinic has
30 beds and domestic nurses care for patients. Approximately 20,000 people
live in the largely rural area. There is also a boarding school with over
a thousand high school students in Mungwi. The hospital contains a quarantine ward
for contagious patients; tuberculosis cases are common.
For AIDS patients
there is a special care program. The clinic is also responsible for 13
small remote stations in the surrounding villages. In the past year 8,800
children under five years old were weighed once a month and inoculated.
Mothers were taught about nutrition and hygiene. This contact allows the
clinic pastor to encourage people through the word of God and to pray with
them. Liebenzell Mission International participates in running the clinic
with monthly support and supplying missionary medical personnel on a long-term
basis.
One missionary couple has recently begun providing medical and other services at the prison in Chingola. Approximately 300 prisoners live here in inadequate conditions; until recently, only the most severe cases received any medical treatment at all. The prison warden and other personnel have been supportive, providing a separate room for their work. The goal is to establish regular hours for the medical clinic, social services and, most importantly, a Bible study and spiritual counseling.
The
newest building of the Amano Christian School near Chingola is now open.
Sixty-eight students are enrolled this term and over 
100 children are on the waiting list for admission. The boarding
school will eventually train 300 children each year – of which about
one-third will be AIDS orphans.
In northwest Zambia, Liebenzell partners with a coalition of Baptist churches to run the Fiwale Hill Bible Training School. Of the 135 congregations in the church association, fewer than half have a trained pastor. The three-year program provides basic training, which can be used toward an equivalent bachelor's degree at the Theological College for Central Africa (TCCA) in Ndola. Recently, there has been a troubling decline in applicants and support from churches.
The Nabwalya Valley is a remote
region in northeast Zambia. About 16,000 largely unreached people live
in 103 villages. The area is accessible only during the six-month dry season
– and a four-wheel drive vehicle is mandatory. For this reason, the Gospel
message is unknown, while people worship spirits, ancestors and practice
magic. At the request
of a tribal chief, Liebenzell Mission International established
an outreach with a missionary couple and a national pastor. A primitive hospital with a small pharmacy could be
the foundation for medical work along with evangelism and pioneer church
planting.
Ministry
Needs:
• Teachers – especially secondary level
– for the Amano Christian School
• Dorm parents for Amano Christian School
Prayer
Requests:
• Church planting
• Mobile evangelistic film ministry,
literature ministry
• Evangelistic ministry to children,
youth and women
• Leadership in the national church
association, training for church leaders
• Medical ministry at the clinics in
Kalene and Mungwi (many patients have AIDS
• Amano school project; construction
and recruiting teachers
• Prison ministry in Chingola
Recent News Items:
• Groundbreaking at Amano (29 Apr., 08)
• AIDS Education Starts Young (19 Dec 07)
• Baptisms at Amano Christian School (05 July 07)