Thursday, August 12, 2004

ENCOUNTER ZAMBIA TEAM LEADS 600 CHILDREN TO GIVE THEIR LIVES TO CHRIST
Team Members Run Leadership Course, Ministry Workshops, Kids Clubs And Street Outreach

CHESTER, ENGLAND  (ANS) -- An outreach team, from Northgate Church in Chester, England just returned from a two-week mission to Zambia, where 600 children responded to appeals to give their lives to Christ. The Encounter Zambia team of 20, led by UCB Europe’s Senior News Editor Peter Wooding ran a leadership course, children's ministry workshops, kids clubs, and street outreach events to some of Lusaka's neediest kids from July 23 to Aug 4, 2004.

Zambia is a country situated in the southern half of Africa, with 10 million people, most of who survive on an income of less than £20 per month. Due to the high incidence of AIDS and poverty, the average age is 17.

Zambia’s capital is Lusaka, where it was estimated in 1998 that there were at least 80,000 children living on the streets. Many of these kids who are aged from 4 to 16 have been orphaned by AIDS and abandoned with no one to care for them. In addition due to 85 percent of the population living below the poverty line, there are many vulnerable children in Zambia.

During the first week of the mission team members trained local Christians in children’s ministry through a series of workshops, based at the Kingsgate Centre in Lusaka, which is shared by Zambian charities Hope College and Africa Enterprise Trust Zambia. The team worked closely with Charles Chalimba a full-time evangelist with Child Evangelism Fellowship. (Pictured: Encounter team in action).

Speaking in an interview with UCB’s Peter Wooding Charles Chalimba explained how churches in Zambia have a very varied response to children’s ministry: “Some people think ministry is to adults, and they know that if they reach the grown ups then when they come to church they’ll be able to give an offering and tithe. However some of them realise that if we reach the children now then they can grow up to be adults that follow the Lord. I’ll give you a testimony of a church that started through a group of children. About 10 children had a bible club. They went and talked to their parents, and before long it became a big church with about 300 members. Now those children are older and are deacons in the church.”

While the workshops were taking place in children’s ministry during the first week of the mission, other team members were involved in street outreach to hundreds of needy kids. This involved football games, juggling, balloon modelling, singing, dramas and even gospel escapology performances by Peter Wooding who described what it was like seeing the response of the children: “It was quite overwhelming to see how excited they were when we would arrive at their school or local community. They were in such desperate need for something to do, for food, love and affection and most importantly to hear about Jesus. (Pictured: Peter Wooding making modelling balloons at the Kabanana Pentecostal Church kids club).

“At the end of each session we would give them the opportunity to ask Jesus into their lives, and each time nearly everyone of them would raise their hands and pray with us. At the conclusion of our three day street outreach we saw 350 responses in total.”

The street team worked closely with a group of youth workers from the Revelation church in Lusaka. One of those is Enoch Mwswema, an orphan himself who explained his thoughts on the best way to reach the children of Zambia: “There’s a desperate need to provide rehabilitation centres for the kids. Many of them become rebellious because they have nothing to do and don’t go to school, so if we can provide activities for them and train them to use their hands, they can grow up to be responsible adults.

During the second week of the Encounter Zambia mission, many of the local children’s workers that were trained by the team, had the opportunity to put this into practice by helping coordinate children’s clubs in three different churches in the Lusaka area.

One of them took place at the Fountain of Life church in Chibolya, which means desolate, and is seen as one of the most dangerous areas of the city. Pastor of the church Hudson Louie explained more: “Many people run away from this area, but God has called us to be a fountain of life to provide hope for people who are hopeless. This is a very dangerous area. When we were building the church we discovered six dead bodies because of the gangs of drug dealers behind the church. We almost gave up but God called us to be here.” (Pictured: Peter Wooding interviews Pastor Hudson Louie outside the Fountain of Life church).

Another of the children’s clubs took place at the Kabanana Pentecostal Holiness church. That team was led by full-time teacher from Chester Sue Wilcox, who described what it was like running the club as well as training the local children’s workers: “What I wanted to see was God capturing their hearts. We taught them skills in communicating effectively with children through presenting the bible in drama, having fun ideas and prayer activities, but for me most importantly I wanted to see God capture their hearts and He certainly did.

“It was rewarding seeing the two halves of the mission. We had the training the first week and then in the second week we were gradually able to release the reigns to the Zambian leaders more and more. So by the end they were just running things for themselves.

“The response of the children was overwhelming. I just think their hearts are hungry and once they hear for themselves that Jesus loves them as a personal saviour they just respond.

Sue went to explain how much more it meant to her to be part of the Encounter Zambia mission after overcoming breast cancer: “It just means the world to me. God’s spoken to me a number of times during my life about how He wants to use me. That was the hardest part when I heard that I had cancer apart from the whole health thing, was that I just couldn’t understand what God was doing. I knew God wanted me to work with children, but here I was in my physical body. I just didn’t have any strength and I couldn’t operate how I wanted to. But God wanted to get hold of my heart and make sure I was 101% lined up with him as the head. We went through some really difficult times together, but when you go through those times that’s when you really know that nothing can separate you from God. His love is just so good.”

The third children’s club took place at Libala Baptist church, which concluded with a very moving farewell with the kids, the team of local workers and the church leadership team, who presented the Encounter Zambia team with a copper clock in the shape of Zambia. (Pictured: The children learning a memory verse at the Libala Baptist Church kids club).

In total 250 children responded to gospel appeals at the three children’s clubs. Encounter Zambia team leader Peter Wooding concluded: “Not only has a lasting impact been left spiritually but also practically as children’s shelters have been constructed at each church, which was sponsored by our team.

“As well as the work carrying on through local churches and youth workers we trained up I know it will also continue through the inspiring work of Africa Enterprise Trust in Zambia as they seek to continue to bring more kids off the streets. We had the privilege of spending some time at the Chimwemwe rescue and care home for street kids, which means happy, where we handed over a gift of £500 raised through a concert that took place at Northgate Church. It was remarkable seeing the behaviour of the kids there, compared to the ones we were meeting on the streets. It sets a great model for rescue and care homes that provide a small loving Christian family environment for the kids.”

“While we were there a second property for an orphanage was purchased next door to the Kingsgate Centre, which we were encouraged to support and pray for by Hope For Africa’s director Richard Bartrop.”

With his thoughts on the Encounter Zambia team, Richard Bartrop commented: "The name of our ministry is Hope for Africa and we are seeking to empower people in Africa to overcome their poverty. A key part of this is through education and vocational training particularly of church leaders and workers.

“So we were delighted when we were asked to facilitate the Encounter Team to Zambia as it fitted in to our vision of equipping the church and reaching out with the good news of Jesus. The team lived up to their name. They Encountered Africa and Africans sometimes at the most basic level. Through them many kids had a first time encounter of the love of Jesus and all who experienced their ministry whether workshop participants or children on the street or in the clubs have a great appreciation of all they did. The challenge now is for them to help water the seed they have sown. An exhausting two weeks but I believe of eternal significance. Well done Encounter Team. When will you be back?"

Note: To contact Richard Bartrop to find out more about the work of Africa Enterprise Trust you can e-mail: hope@zamnet.zm

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