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Baptisms East and West

In Western Province, Poniso Kuyumbana has baptized four Lozi believers in recent months. Poniso is planting Senanga Baptist Church, one of only a very few Reformed Baptist church-plants among the Lozi people. Having personally served in Western Province as a missionary, I can testify to the spiritual hardness of the ground there. Yet gospel seed is breaking through and a harvest is being gathered in Senanga. Every baptism is cause for great rejoicing.

On the other side of the country, Sangwani Mtika is planting Magazine Baptist Church in eastern Zambia. Magazine is an area of Chipata, the largest town in Eastern Province, right on the border of Malawi. In recent months, Sangwani had the joy of baptizing three new members into the church.

Ordaining Deacons in the North

From eastern and western Zambia, we now go north to the Copperbelt, where Pastor Blessings Ndhlovu and Faith Baptist Church were delighted to set apart three deacons. Establishing the biblical offices of elders and deacons is a crucial step in the life of a new church-plant. The ordination service was held on October 14. Blessing writes:

“For a period of time we have been observing these men. We have been studying books of the Bible together and teaching them how to work through practical application. I have also given them many responsibilities to see how they performed. These past months we have seen proof that they are ready.

By God’s grace, three men were ordained to the office of deacon on 14th October (two are in the photo left). On the day of ordination we had the church packed to the fullest. We invited neighbors, friends, and the deacons’ relatives to attend the service and witness what God is doing at Faith Baptist.

We have come a long way, starting from early this year, it has been the prayer and the focus of our church. Thank God for His great love upon us to give us these men as our first deacons. It’s our prayer and plan that God would also give us a team of elders.”

A New Missionary in the South

Now from northern Zambia we go south. Livingstone is the largest city in Southern Province, and home of the famous Victoria Falls. My friend Michael Bwembya is the pastor of Trinity Baptist Church in Livingstone. Like Senanga in the West, Trinity is one of only a few Reformed Baptist churches in the South.

A couple of years ago, Trinity responded to the spiritual need of their region by sending Enock Sakala to plant a church in Kalomo, the first town north of Livingstone on the road to the capital city, Lusaka. Trinity stepped out in obedient faith, doing all they could, but struggling as a small church themselves to sustain support for the church-plant. This year they asked if HeartCry could come alongside and help the work, which we were very happy to do. You can read more about Enock, his conversion testimony, and call to ministry, here.