Zambie 2014

Lusaka 2014

During 2010, 2011 I traveled to Zambia on a regular base with a friend of mine, Steyn. He was involved with a ministry in the Gwembe valley at the Kariba Lake called Harvest for Christ Ministries. We had amazing times there. Two pastors, Albert and Oliver, led a network of churches in the Kingdom. These men are passionate, on fire soldiers of the Cross and had many stories of hardships and breakthroughs as they went from village to village to preach the Gospel and plant churches. Steyn then withdrew from the ministry as the Lord led him and the outreaches to Zambia stopped, but everyone is still on good foot with each other and no relationships were broken. See, even when paths split because of Gods will or circumstances or whatever, the relationships can still remain. Our Father is a God of relationship!

At the end of 2013 pastors Albert and Oliver were on my mind a lot and I wondered what was happening with our Zambian friends. Sure enough one Sunday afternoon I received a phone call from Albert. They were praying together after church and my name came up. They wanted to know if I was willing to visit them again and minister with them. I was overjoyed with this! However I am a guy who believes in protocol so I contacted Steyn to hear his heart. We had breakfast and it didn't take long for us to realise that we needed to go to Zambia soon.



Steyn had some business he wanted to finish with Harvest for Christ and I wanted to see what God wants us to do in Zambia. So on the 19th of January we got on the plane to meet our old friends who recently moved to Lusaka. It was so special to see these guys again. I quickly remembered why I love them and the absolute commitment they have for Christ. We spend most of the day driving and searching for a place to sleep. The evening Steyn and I went to a nearby hotel for a swim but found the pool empty. We then stayed for dinner and had opportunity to share the Gospel with a very friendly reception lady named Alice. She had light in her and a joy that will cure any depression! We also learned this day that taxis and accommodation in Lusaka is definitely something to be budgeted for and good local knowledge as many people will take advantage of anyone looking like a foreigner. That night I also had one of the worst nights of my life as we had no mosquito nets and we literally became buffets meals for every mosquito in Lusaka. I couldn't sleep at all!

The next day we took to the streets in search of breakfast. Steyn had a burger and I had some sheema (pap) and fresh fish from a nearby river. It was surprisingly nice, considering there must have been a fly farm in the area! Later the day we went to a local mall in Lusaka to meet some people from Steyn's congregation. It was one local Zambian guy and two Chinese missionaries now living in Lusaka. We had drinks together and then left for the Chinese house to have lunch. We talked and fellowshipped for hours with them confessing the importance of intimacy with the Lord. Its Christ in me and me in Christ. After a massive, and even better, late lunch we then started to sing hymns together from their church's hymn books just worshipping our God together. Spending time with these Chinese people again just poured fuel on my desire to visit the underground church in China. Maybe one day! All in all we just had an amazing day with our Zambian friends. Albert and Oliver also now know more people who are sold out for Christ in Lusaka.

After a very good night's rest underneath our long awaited mosquito nets we got up early and eventually got picked up by our taxi. He took us to a very large and very poor part of Lusaka where Albert lives. Apparently there are more than a million people living in this area. We had breakfast with the leaders and thereafter we discussed our hearts and strategy for the church. The Zambian pastors basically want to put more energy into business where each of them can earn his own money to provide for his family and ministry. This is a major challenge for many people in ministry today, finding the balance between working to earn money or just to minister in faith. We need to be very sure of what His plans for are for our lives and everyone should hear for themselves and then obey Jesus. This discussion went on for quite some time but it was very inspiring and uplifting. After lunch the rest of the church came together in Alberts house. They have many small group meetings like these in various homes in Lusaka. Steyn shared a message on mans purpose here on earth and the audience really enjoyed the message and could all relate to it. The day was very long in a sense that we were seated in the same house the entire day having meetings and food there but it was a massive blessing to have heard the people’s testimonies and hearts. I was inspired! We then left for a lady's house on the other side of Lusaka. She stayed in the Gwembe valley where we used to go often but she recently married and moved to Lusaka with her husband. She and Steyn are very good friends. We went to their home and met her neighbour friend and new husband who work at the American embassy. We had a good fun relaxing time there and had opportunity to prophesy over them and ministered to them. Jesus did amazing things and poured out His love in an awesome way!

We had a very relaxing morning the following day and late morning headed to EHC (Every Home for Christ) national head office. There we met with Richard. He is EHC Zambia director as well as director over the region which includes Tanzania, Malawi, Madagascar Zimbabwe and Congo if I remember correctly. They work with many churches all over Zambia with over 4000 voluntary missionaries who spread the Gospel into every home connecting the people with the local church. Richard is an amazing humble guy. One can easily see who is in ministry for business and who has heart. Richard has heart! We spend the morning in his office talking and also prayed over each other.

We then rushed to Arcade mall where we met our Chinese friends. We arranged to have lunch with them and settled in at a Mikes Kitchen in Zambia! We had an amazing time again with them. The Zambian brother that was with them had severe tongue ache. The Chinese then took out their needles and stuck a needle in his right hand. If you have pain in one part of your body, they will stick a needle in a total different place in your body. They do this with amazing success! Scientifically it’s amazing as they connect the different body parts with your blood flow. And sure enough a minute later our friend's tongue ache was completely gone! They use these needles for healing but also as a tool for evangelism. They have great success with it!

Steyn went with the Chinese to the university where he joined them in the work they do there. They had a cell meeting with the students that apparently went very well as they shared about Gods goodness together. I went opposite the road to the governments international conference centre. It's a very beautiful place! Amazing gardens with a variety of game walking around, mostly antelopes. Here I was to meet Harriet. A friend in South Africa asked me to pay her a visit before the time and we agreed. She is a pastor at Capital Christian Ministries International. She showed me around and introduced me to their team. Everybody was very friendly and looked really happy there. The church also has a media department as they broadcast their church services on Zambian TV. We then sat down in their boardroom. This is one amazing lady I discovered! Extremely wise and talented. She is true forerunner. Besides being a wife, mother and grandmother, she is an international and local business women and a fulltime pastor at her church. Their congregation is about 800 people strong and they meet at the conference centre every week. The Lord also provided them with land where they can build a church and also develop some land for agriculture or however the Lord leads them. Her company's name is OLA International and their business is mainly with China. What I loved about her is that she also told me her failures. This showed me maturity and humbleness. We encouraged each other greatly in the Lord as we shared stories. We truly serve one God and His body is a global body. People all over the world speaking with one voice.Jesus. God is breaking down fences all over the world as He unifies His body. We had an amazing time with the Lord and His presence brought new life to both of us. I left there revived! Being just across the mall and assuming Steyn will still be with his friends, I went to the wimpy to enjoy a nice dinner and their free Wi-Fi internet. I enjoyed a nice relaxed evening by myself and had some quite time where it was just me and Jesus. We also went for a movie before heading back to the lodge where Steyn was already waiting. A real enjoyable and effective day in Lusaka!

Again we started the new day very relaxed. Steyn stayed at home as Albert and his team visited him at our guesthouse where we stayed. I was asked to meet with a young pastor (Emmanuel) that used to live in Pretoria and be part of our pastors’ network. He moved to Lusaka and he started a church. Pastor Jan asked me to pay Emmanuel a visit and bring back a report on Emmanuel's do bouts so that we can see what his situation and circumstances are. I met Emmanuel at a shopping mall near his house. He took me to his house and there we spend the rest of the afternoon talking and getting to know each other better. He also cooked me lunch and showed great hospitality. He is a young man and is open for new opportunities to earn an income. Many pastors are now also turning to business in order to support themselves and their families. For too long the church has been begging. It’s a time where the church must be able to give and support those in need. Matt 6:33 plays a significant role in this, as pastors also tend to focus too much on the physical, they neglect the things of the Spirit. But Gods grace and Spirit is with us to guide us all on the path He has chosen for us. After a hole day of fellowshipping we went back to the mall to meet two of his friends who owns a magazine and are two upcoming business women/entrepreneurs' in Zambia. Ladies who aren't afraid to do a new thing. And be the first to create a market for it. It was a very interesting day as all our discussions painted me a clearer picture of Zambia and its people. Some things were very positive, but others turned on the warning lights. My prayer for this week is still that God will show us His plans He has for us here in Zambia. I went home early and had time to reflect on everything and meditate on what it is that God wants.

The last day we left for the Chinese' house again. We were to spend the day with them before we left for South Africa again the following day. Steyn was really sick with fever and spend the whole day in bed. I had a very good day there with our new friends, but couldn't help but to feel very disappointed in how the trip ended. I came with the idea to spend as much as possible time with Albert and Oliver and pray with them over Zambia and the future for us there. We were very low on cash as Zambia became very expensive over night, and our budget was seriously in the red. Albert and the team also had church at their home and was unable to come to us. So the week ended with us not being able to greet our friends who were the actual reason we went there. The other meetings in my eyes were not the main priority. But it turned out this way and there's nothing we could do about it except to keep our attitude positive and give all preconceived plans to the Lord and hear what is on His agenda.



Before the flight back to South Africa I had the feeling to not take my usual hand luggage with me as it won't be necessary. And surely enough, on the flight back, I ended up sitting next to a pastor from the Cape, Johan. We started talking and very soon it became clear that this was a God appointment. He told me about the missionary work he does in Zambia, Malawi and Tanzania. It is massive and the way he does his outreaches was the same way that we also believe it should be done. By not taking ownership away from the locals but to support them in their work; and to work together on a relationship basis. These are but two key strategies that I believe is Gods way for us forward.

To summarise the week, I have met with six different church/ministry groups that operate in Lusaka and the rest of Zambia. Why? That's what I pray that God will show us. Its pieces of a bigger puzzle that God is putting together. The week turned out different than what I originally thought, but God knew from the start. Many ministry and business opportunities crossed my path throughout the week. I believe He also wanted to see our hearts and teach us a few things. I also had many dreams and throughout the entire week God was speaking with me. Intimacy with Him and to be guided by the Spirit is the only way forward! To be IN Jesus, the Name above all names!