Click on the link to see a slide show of pictures from our recent trip to Zanzibar!!
Whitfield Zanzibar 2010
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Sunday, December 13, 2009
Video recap of our trip to the village
Dear Friends
Thought you might be interested to view a video that my good friend and fellow travelling companion, Steve Allen (AZ Missionary), put together with some video footage he took last during our evangelistic trip to Chikankhata. Steve, you have a gift man.
Check it out (yes, it does appear to be the Luke show but I promise there were many others who God used in greater ways during the trip. Just thought you might like some cinematic depiction of what God accomplished through our (you and us) ministry. God bless and PRESS ON & INTO HIM!!
Thought you might be interested to view a video that my good friend and fellow travelling companion, Steve Allen (AZ Missionary), put together with some video footage he took last during our evangelistic trip to Chikankhata. Steve, you have a gift man.
Check it out (yes, it does appear to be the Luke show but I promise there were many others who God used in greater ways during the trip. Just thought you might like some cinematic depiction of what God accomplished through our (you and us) ministry. God bless and PRESS ON & INTO HIM!!
Bush Outreach Update
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Ok here it is, as promised a somewhat detailed account of what occurred during our outreach over the past four days. Yes, it is long to wait until you can brew a pot of coffee and enjoy. God was so good and His faithfulness was evident each step of the way. We praise God for the part you play in this work -- Luke
Dear Friends 07/12/09
This correspondence is being written on the heels of what has been three and a half days of amazing ministry in the rural areas of Zambia’s Southern Province. A team of five men (three local pastors and two AZ missionaries) from Action Zambia spent the past few days showing the Jesus Film in partnership with Campus Crusade for Christ Zambia in the remote areas of Chikankhata (chi-kan-kata). The mission trip was also made possible through the permission and invitation of the local leader Chieftainess Mwenda who rules over the roughly 98,000 Tongas that live in her chiefdom of Chikankhata. Her Royal Highness had told us that she believed many of the people who would be seeing the film would be hearing the detailed story of Jesus Christ for the first time. She assumed that many had heard of Jesus before but the majority of her people had no understanding that salvation through Jesus Christ was personally available to them. How right she was.
December 3rd:
The Action Zambia team consisted of three local pastors who are currently involved with Action Zambia Pastoral Leadership Development ministry. Local pastors Anderson Jere, Patson Sakala, Bryan Zulu and Action Zambia missionaries Steve Allen and Luke Whitfield were accompanied by Campus Crusade for Christ Zambia volunteer Paul Mulenga who was an integral part of the team assuring that all the technical aspects of showing the film were taken care of.
The group arrived in the village of Chikankhata on December 3rd and enjoyed a meal and time of fellowship with the Chieftainess and her family. She detailed the following day’s event and informed the team that they would be traveling to a nearby village called Ngangula where she was born.
December 4th:
Upon arriving in Ngangula mid morning on December 4th the convoy, which was lead by the Chieftainess herself, was greeted by a group of women dressed alike and performing the traditional dance which is always performed when welcoming a visiting Chief. The team set up the film in a local Salvation Army Church which could have been no bigger than (20’ x 30’) and began to use the loud speakers to alert those in the outlaying areas of the event. In all there were probably around 200 people who turned out to view the film in their local language. The film runs for around two hours and it was amazing to see people continuously coming out of the surround bush even as the film was concluding.
Afterwards the team directed the viewers to a local soccer field and gave an opportunity for those who wanted to receive Christ to do so as well as receive prayers for sickness, demonic possession, or simply peace from a life consumed by fear. As the team prayed for the locals a huge thunderstorm developed all around the field but the crowd was never rained upon. The local people received a front row seat as God displayed His power during the prayer time through a continuous lightning show in the near distance. The team prayed for many to receive Christ as well as praying for the sick and oppressed. The two highlights though was the opportunity to pray for a little boy on crutches who came through the crowd, as one team member commented, “Just like the crippled man in the Bible”. The boy had a severely deformed right leg that was significantly shorter than his left one and although there was no visible evidence of an immediate healing the real miracle was to watch the faces of those in the crowd as team members focus so much love and acceptance towards this little guy. Disabled members of society are generally not valued by traditional Zambian culture so for the people to see these “special guests” affirming the “least of them” it spoke volumes to the authenticity of the Gospel the team had just explain. The other was a fourteen year old young woman named Desire who sought forgiveness for the bad things she had done but also expressed a desire to be a doctor. She was orphaned at a young age, and couldn’t even remember her mother or father. She became a Christian and the team gave her a new testament to read.
The team ate a late lunch in the Chieftaness sister’s home, and though they all ate at the same time, the Chieftainess was a in a separated partition of the room. Only Luke and Steve’s daughters who accompanied the team on this trip were allowed to eat with her, a privilege they relished. They love their “grandma.” That evening the team also showed the film in the village of Chikankata in a large Salvation Army hall. Around 200 mostly young people showed up to watch the film which had been advertised on the local radio. The movie ended at 11:00pm which hindered much follow-up.
December 5th:
The following morning (December 5) the team set out for the roughly 20 mile trip to visit the remote area of Simwambwa. This rural community is located in a valley surrounded by hills on all sides and is very isolated from most common forms of modern development. Upon the teams arrival they received a massive rain shower, the first in two weeks, which lasted almost the rest of the evening. The team was informed by the local Head Master of the school that they were “good visitors” because they had brought the rains (when God opens doors He puts out all the bells and whistles!). The team spent a good hour reading the Bible and praying for the evening with the Chieftainess. Her passion and love for her people is evident with anyone who listens to her pray. Among one of the greatest encouragements of this trip for the pastors who participated with the team was their time with the Chieftainess. Her unabashed love and faithfulness to Jesus and her desire to see her people be free from the darkness is evident in everything she does.
That evening the film was shown despite the constant sound of heavy rain on the tin roof above. The turnout was good and the team estimated the first showing had about 75 people in attendance who could not tear their eyes away from what they were watching. The evening also produced what could have been the biggest lesson of the trip as the team witnessed this first group’s response to the invitation to receive Christ at the end of the film. When the invitation was given to pray and receive prayer for sickness and such what had previously been a somewhat full room soon became empty with the exception of a couple brave women. The team watched as those who exited the room crowded around the few windows outside the to watched with great anticipation at what would transpire next. Murmurs and anxious comments could be heard as the bystanders offered their thoughts to one another on the events occurring inside. When the team had a chance to reflect on this phenomenon they agree that what had been witnessed was a people who had never before been presented with a genuine opportunity to enter into a relationship with Christ.
The team demonstrated unity in the Spirit as they all confessed that rather than responding in discouragement they would decide to pray that the Holy Spirit would work in the hearts of those who had been fearful and bring them back Sunday morning (December 6th) when the team would show the film again.
December 6th:
It had been announced Saturday evening (December 5th) that there would be another showing Sunday morning in Simwambwa at 7:00 AM sharp. Bit by bit people began to emerge from the surrounding villages and by the midpoint of the film the room was almost full. Again, there continued to be a steady and constant flow of people arriving even as the first showing was concluding. One of the Action Zambia pastors was told that even though the film was ending there was word that people were still coming from the far outlying areas. With this in mind the team decided to have a brief time of explanation of the film which would be followed by another showing to accommodate any who were still on their way. It was truly humbling for the team to witness so many who traveled so far to hear about Christ’s love for them.
By the conclusion of the second showing on Sunday the Chieftaness had arrived back from a short trip she needed to take to attend a meeting with Rupiah Banda who is the current President of Zambia. She informed the team later, that she had totally missed the meeting by the time she arrived but that they should not be concerned because to her, the mission of Action Zambia’s trip had great eternal value for her people. With Chieftainess Mwenda in attendance the team once more gave an invitation, with the help of the Chieftainess herself as the interpreter (the team was informed that this is an unheard of honor), for the roughly 150 present to respond to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The response was uplifting as the crowd was encouraged to stop living under the fear of tradition and witchcraft and chose to receive the everlasting peace that exists in Jesus alone. Many decided to pray to receive Christ as well as receive prayers for sickness and demonic oppression. There was even an opportunity to anoint and pray for one of the local Headmen (local government leader) who had been complaining of continuous demonic oppression and attack.
Later that afternoon the team was lead by the Chieftainess to the nearby village of Chikani, which although was only 10 miles away took the team almost two hours to reach. Chikani was to be the last location for the team to show the film before departing back to Lusaka. The drive took the team through mountain streams and travelled some of the most rugged road any member of the team had seen in Zambia.
Along the way the Chieftainess suddenly stopped the convoy to get out and listen to the trials of one of her tribesmen. This man who name was Robson, described how his grass thatched roof had burned after a lightning strike that also hit his son Emmanuel. He wholeheartedly believed it was the work of a witchdoctor and had stopped the Chieftainess to request her to send for a “witch hunter”. The Chieftainess asked the team to pray for this dear man and his family to be delivered from the fear they daily live with. After listening to the team give witness of God’s love for them the whole family, maybe fourteen in all, joined hands with the team and prayed to receive Christ.
As the team arrived in Chikani it was clear, by the group of people already assembled, that word had travelled ahead of them detailing their visit and the showing of the film. The team quickly assembled the equipment and began the viewing. Within a span of around forty minutes the room, which could not have been much bigger than an average American garage, was filled with what seemed to be well over a hundred people. By the conclusion of the film the room was so packed that when Paul Mulenga, the team’s film technician, tried to get back in to monitor the projector the occupants told him to wait and let them finish watching this film.
The Chieftainess once again translated as the team shared with a large crowd of people the hope and eternal peace that existing in the name of Jesus. Once more there was a positive response of those wanting to receive Christ into their daily lives and they also clearly requested that Action Zambia return with the film since many more still on their way had not gotten the benefit of viewing it. After packing up the team followed the Chieftainess through another fifteen miles of the remote wilderness that makes up much of her chiefdom. One team member reflected, “all through the valleys we have seen there are hundreds of huts all containing people who need a chance to see what we have just shown others”. What an accurate account of what exists in this vast area that God has given Action Zambia great favor to minister in here in Southern Zambia.
Another great highlight was an opportunity that Luke and Steve had to sit down with the Chieftainess and to hear her hopes for her people and her desire that AZ would partner with her in not only reaching the kingdoms using the Jesus Film, but utilizing Action Zambia’s HIV/AIDS team, our Community School teams and AZ’s PLD pastors to put on conferences, camps and meetings. She shared which villages AZ should start with so that teams could then begin to reach the truly unreached villages that bordered the area. She shared how her eyes have been opened by the suffering her people are enduring and she welcomed AZ with a wide open blessing to come and join her in ministering to her kingdom.
Conclusion:
In all the Jesus film was shown six times in three different rural communities to roughly somewhere around 600 - 700 people who for the most part had never even seen a moving motion picture before. Many made an indication of needing to change their current way of living through putting their trust in God. All were expose the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ and all this occurred for the cost of what many of us would spend on a weekend trip. The best part: The chance that even one of these dear souls found eternal rest from a life that is constantly filled with pain and struggle is of course: PRICELESS
There is much more to share and praise God about surrounding Action Zambia’s recent exploratory trip to Chikankhata. The team hopes to get a more detailed report of the trips events in the very near future. The Apostle Paul reminds us in II Timothy 4:2: Preach the Word of God. Be prepared, whether the time is favorable or not. Patiently correct, rebuke, and encourage your people with good teaching (NLT). There were many an opportunity to put this verse into practice over the last four days and the team was amazed to see God provide opportunities to glorify and advance His Kingdom when they least expected it. There is no doubt that the spiritual need of the people of Chikankhata is enormous and the work needed to be completed will not be accomplished through a few quick evangelistic trips.
To those who prayed consistently for this trip, please know you are the real horsepower that allows the hands and feet of Christ to ministry to the masses as occurred in Chikankhata over the past few days. We are all part of the Body of Christ and each part is essential in the advancement of His kingdom throughout the darkness that suffocates much of the world we live in. Please continue to pray for Action Zambia and Chieftainess Mwenda as they continue to seek the Lord’s will in this divinely appointed relationship.
Luke (For The Team) <><
Dear Friends 07/12/09
This correspondence is being written on the heels of what has been three and a half days of amazing ministry in the rural areas of Zambia’s Southern Province. A team of five men (three local pastors and two AZ missionaries) from Action Zambia spent the past few days showing the Jesus Film in partnership with Campus Crusade for Christ Zambia in the remote areas of Chikankhata (chi-kan-kata). The mission trip was also made possible through the permission and invitation of the local leader Chieftainess Mwenda who rules over the roughly 98,000 Tongas that live in her chiefdom of Chikankhata. Her Royal Highness had told us that she believed many of the people who would be seeing the film would be hearing the detailed story of Jesus Christ for the first time. She assumed that many had heard of Jesus before but the majority of her people had no understanding that salvation through Jesus Christ was personally available to them. How right she was.
December 3rd:
The Action Zambia team consisted of three local pastors who are currently involved with Action Zambia Pastoral Leadership Development ministry. Local pastors Anderson Jere, Patson Sakala, Bryan Zulu and Action Zambia missionaries Steve Allen and Luke Whitfield were accompanied by Campus Crusade for Christ Zambia volunteer Paul Mulenga who was an integral part of the team assuring that all the technical aspects of showing the film were taken care of.
The group arrived in the village of Chikankhata on December 3rd and enjoyed a meal and time of fellowship with the Chieftainess and her family. She detailed the following day’s event and informed the team that they would be traveling to a nearby village called Ngangula where she was born.
December 4th:
Upon arriving in Ngangula mid morning on December 4th the convoy, which was lead by the Chieftainess herself, was greeted by a group of women dressed alike and performing the traditional dance which is always performed when welcoming a visiting Chief. The team set up the film in a local Salvation Army Church which could have been no bigger than (20’ x 30’) and began to use the loud speakers to alert those in the outlaying areas of the event. In all there were probably around 200 people who turned out to view the film in their local language. The film runs for around two hours and it was amazing to see people continuously coming out of the surround bush even as the film was concluding.
Afterwards the team directed the viewers to a local soccer field and gave an opportunity for those who wanted to receive Christ to do so as well as receive prayers for sickness, demonic possession, or simply peace from a life consumed by fear. As the team prayed for the locals a huge thunderstorm developed all around the field but the crowd was never rained upon. The local people received a front row seat as God displayed His power during the prayer time through a continuous lightning show in the near distance. The team prayed for many to receive Christ as well as praying for the sick and oppressed. The two highlights though was the opportunity to pray for a little boy on crutches who came through the crowd, as one team member commented, “Just like the crippled man in the Bible”. The boy had a severely deformed right leg that was significantly shorter than his left one and although there was no visible evidence of an immediate healing the real miracle was to watch the faces of those in the crowd as team members focus so much love and acceptance towards this little guy. Disabled members of society are generally not valued by traditional Zambian culture so for the people to see these “special guests” affirming the “least of them” it spoke volumes to the authenticity of the Gospel the team had just explain. The other was a fourteen year old young woman named Desire who sought forgiveness for the bad things she had done but also expressed a desire to be a doctor. She was orphaned at a young age, and couldn’t even remember her mother or father. She became a Christian and the team gave her a new testament to read.
The team ate a late lunch in the Chieftaness sister’s home, and though they all ate at the same time, the Chieftainess was a in a separated partition of the room. Only Luke and Steve’s daughters who accompanied the team on this trip were allowed to eat with her, a privilege they relished. They love their “grandma.” That evening the team also showed the film in the village of Chikankata in a large Salvation Army hall. Around 200 mostly young people showed up to watch the film which had been advertised on the local radio. The movie ended at 11:00pm which hindered much follow-up.
December 5th:
The following morning (December 5) the team set out for the roughly 20 mile trip to visit the remote area of Simwambwa. This rural community is located in a valley surrounded by hills on all sides and is very isolated from most common forms of modern development. Upon the teams arrival they received a massive rain shower, the first in two weeks, which lasted almost the rest of the evening. The team was informed by the local Head Master of the school that they were “good visitors” because they had brought the rains (when God opens doors He puts out all the bells and whistles!). The team spent a good hour reading the Bible and praying for the evening with the Chieftainess. Her passion and love for her people is evident with anyone who listens to her pray. Among one of the greatest encouragements of this trip for the pastors who participated with the team was their time with the Chieftainess. Her unabashed love and faithfulness to Jesus and her desire to see her people be free from the darkness is evident in everything she does.
That evening the film was shown despite the constant sound of heavy rain on the tin roof above. The turnout was good and the team estimated the first showing had about 75 people in attendance who could not tear their eyes away from what they were watching. The evening also produced what could have been the biggest lesson of the trip as the team witnessed this first group’s response to the invitation to receive Christ at the end of the film. When the invitation was given to pray and receive prayer for sickness and such what had previously been a somewhat full room soon became empty with the exception of a couple brave women. The team watched as those who exited the room crowded around the few windows outside the to watched with great anticipation at what would transpire next. Murmurs and anxious comments could be heard as the bystanders offered their thoughts to one another on the events occurring inside. When the team had a chance to reflect on this phenomenon they agree that what had been witnessed was a people who had never before been presented with a genuine opportunity to enter into a relationship with Christ.
The team demonstrated unity in the Spirit as they all confessed that rather than responding in discouragement they would decide to pray that the Holy Spirit would work in the hearts of those who had been fearful and bring them back Sunday morning (December 6th) when the team would show the film again.
December 6th:
It had been announced Saturday evening (December 5th) that there would be another showing Sunday morning in Simwambwa at 7:00 AM sharp. Bit by bit people began to emerge from the surrounding villages and by the midpoint of the film the room was almost full. Again, there continued to be a steady and constant flow of people arriving even as the first showing was concluding. One of the Action Zambia pastors was told that even though the film was ending there was word that people were still coming from the far outlying areas. With this in mind the team decided to have a brief time of explanation of the film which would be followed by another showing to accommodate any who were still on their way. It was truly humbling for the team to witness so many who traveled so far to hear about Christ’s love for them.
By the conclusion of the second showing on Sunday the Chieftaness had arrived back from a short trip she needed to take to attend a meeting with Rupiah Banda who is the current President of Zambia. She informed the team later, that she had totally missed the meeting by the time she arrived but that they should not be concerned because to her, the mission of Action Zambia’s trip had great eternal value for her people. With Chieftainess Mwenda in attendance the team once more gave an invitation, with the help of the Chieftainess herself as the interpreter (the team was informed that this is an unheard of honor), for the roughly 150 present to respond to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The response was uplifting as the crowd was encouraged to stop living under the fear of tradition and witchcraft and chose to receive the everlasting peace that exists in Jesus alone. Many decided to pray to receive Christ as well as receive prayers for sickness and demonic oppression. There was even an opportunity to anoint and pray for one of the local Headmen (local government leader) who had been complaining of continuous demonic oppression and attack.
Later that afternoon the team was lead by the Chieftainess to the nearby village of Chikani, which although was only 10 miles away took the team almost two hours to reach. Chikani was to be the last location for the team to show the film before departing back to Lusaka. The drive took the team through mountain streams and travelled some of the most rugged road any member of the team had seen in Zambia.
Along the way the Chieftainess suddenly stopped the convoy to get out and listen to the trials of one of her tribesmen. This man who name was Robson, described how his grass thatched roof had burned after a lightning strike that also hit his son Emmanuel. He wholeheartedly believed it was the work of a witchdoctor and had stopped the Chieftainess to request her to send for a “witch hunter”. The Chieftainess asked the team to pray for this dear man and his family to be delivered from the fear they daily live with. After listening to the team give witness of God’s love for them the whole family, maybe fourteen in all, joined hands with the team and prayed to receive Christ.
As the team arrived in Chikani it was clear, by the group of people already assembled, that word had travelled ahead of them detailing their visit and the showing of the film. The team quickly assembled the equipment and began the viewing. Within a span of around forty minutes the room, which could not have been much bigger than an average American garage, was filled with what seemed to be well over a hundred people. By the conclusion of the film the room was so packed that when Paul Mulenga, the team’s film technician, tried to get back in to monitor the projector the occupants told him to wait and let them finish watching this film.
The Chieftainess once again translated as the team shared with a large crowd of people the hope and eternal peace that existing in the name of Jesus. Once more there was a positive response of those wanting to receive Christ into their daily lives and they also clearly requested that Action Zambia return with the film since many more still on their way had not gotten the benefit of viewing it. After packing up the team followed the Chieftainess through another fifteen miles of the remote wilderness that makes up much of her chiefdom. One team member reflected, “all through the valleys we have seen there are hundreds of huts all containing people who need a chance to see what we have just shown others”. What an accurate account of what exists in this vast area that God has given Action Zambia great favor to minister in here in Southern Zambia.
Another great highlight was an opportunity that Luke and Steve had to sit down with the Chieftainess and to hear her hopes for her people and her desire that AZ would partner with her in not only reaching the kingdoms using the Jesus Film, but utilizing Action Zambia’s HIV/AIDS team, our Community School teams and AZ’s PLD pastors to put on conferences, camps and meetings. She shared which villages AZ should start with so that teams could then begin to reach the truly unreached villages that bordered the area. She shared how her eyes have been opened by the suffering her people are enduring and she welcomed AZ with a wide open blessing to come and join her in ministering to her kingdom.
Conclusion:
In all the Jesus film was shown six times in three different rural communities to roughly somewhere around 600 - 700 people who for the most part had never even seen a moving motion picture before. Many made an indication of needing to change their current way of living through putting their trust in God. All were expose the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ and all this occurred for the cost of what many of us would spend on a weekend trip. The best part: The chance that even one of these dear souls found eternal rest from a life that is constantly filled with pain and struggle is of course: PRICELESS
There is much more to share and praise God about surrounding Action Zambia’s recent exploratory trip to Chikankhata. The team hopes to get a more detailed report of the trips events in the very near future. The Apostle Paul reminds us in II Timothy 4:2: Preach the Word of God. Be prepared, whether the time is favorable or not. Patiently correct, rebuke, and encourage your people with good teaching (NLT). There were many an opportunity to put this verse into practice over the last four days and the team was amazed to see God provide opportunities to glorify and advance His Kingdom when they least expected it. There is no doubt that the spiritual need of the people of Chikankhata is enormous and the work needed to be completed will not be accomplished through a few quick evangelistic trips.
To those who prayed consistently for this trip, please know you are the real horsepower that allows the hands and feet of Christ to ministry to the masses as occurred in Chikankhata over the past few days. We are all part of the Body of Christ and each part is essential in the advancement of His kingdom throughout the darkness that suffocates much of the world we live in. Please continue to pray for Action Zambia and Chieftainess Mwenda as they continue to seek the Lord’s will in this divinely appointed relationship.
Luke (For The Team) <><
A Last Frontier
Dear Friends
We wanted to take a moment and make you aware of a unique open door that God has provided our (you and us) ministry here in Zambia. Romans 15:10-12 reminds us of the Apostle Paul’s desire to preach the Word where it had not been preached before: My ambition has always been to preach the Good News where the name of Christ has never been heard, rather than where a church has already been started by someone else. I have been following the plan spoken of in Scripture, where it says, “Those who have never been told about Him will see, and those who have never heard of Him will understand” (NLT). What Paul is describing is an opportunity that is becoming almost unheard of as the global community we know grows closer and closer together. That is in part why we are so excited that God has given Action Zambia ministries and opportunity to participate in an evangelistic outreach to a rural village in the remote areas of Zambia’s Southern Province.
Some of you may remember us writing a while back about a rural area called Cikankhata (Chicken Cutta – is almost how is sounds) which is located roughly two hours south of Lusaka. God has given us extreme favor and a growing relationship with the chieftainess of the area and we have been given an open door to be developing and growing the non-existent church in her chiefdom. We have included some pics of a recent trip Elise the kids and I took this past week to visit Chieftainess Mwenda and discuss the details of our upcoming outreach December 3rd – 6th. During the course of three and a half days we will be showing the Jesus Film in the local dialect of Tonga. The Chieftainess believes it will be the first time her people will be hearing the Gospel message in at least one of the villages we will be visiting (what an opportunity). We will also be hoping to identify and empower local elders who might develop into the spiritual leaders of any church body that may develop as a result of the outreach.
This ministry will include the participation of ten local pastors who are currently involved with programs within Action Zambia’s Pastoral Leadership Development ministry area. Some of these pastors have prior experience and some do not, so it will be a unique environment to watch their different experiences and gifts work together to advance Christ’s Kingdom here in Zambia. We are also planning Lord willing, to spend one on one time praying for the sick and oppressed that we are sure to find in these far outlying areas.
Would you begin to pray that God would, even now, be working in the hearts of those who will have (maybe for the first time) the opportunity to respond to the wonderful message of the salvation found in Jesus Christ! It is our hope, Lord willing, that these types of trips to the Cikankhata area will become a more regular part of how Action Zambia is being used by God to strengthen the local believers here in Lusaka.
As always we share this with you to remind you that your partnership with us is being used to accomplish amazing things both now and for all eternity. We are truly blessed to have your prayers and support. Of course we will be taking cameras along to document the events of the trip so you can expect some photos and an update upon our return. May God bless and keep you in His grace and mercy.
His Servant
Luke (for the fam) <><
We wanted to take a moment and make you aware of a unique open door that God has provided our (you and us) ministry here in Zambia. Romans 15:10-12 reminds us of the Apostle Paul’s desire to preach the Word where it had not been preached before: My ambition has always been to preach the Good News where the name of Christ has never been heard, rather than where a church has already been started by someone else. I have been following the plan spoken of in Scripture, where it says, “Those who have never been told about Him will see, and those who have never heard of Him will understand” (NLT). What Paul is describing is an opportunity that is becoming almost unheard of as the global community we know grows closer and closer together. That is in part why we are so excited that God has given Action Zambia ministries and opportunity to participate in an evangelistic outreach to a rural village in the remote areas of Zambia’s Southern Province.
Some of you may remember us writing a while back about a rural area called Cikankhata (Chicken Cutta – is almost how is sounds) which is located roughly two hours south of Lusaka. God has given us extreme favor and a growing relationship with the chieftainess of the area and we have been given an open door to be developing and growing the non-existent church in her chiefdom. We have included some pics of a recent trip Elise the kids and I took this past week to visit Chieftainess Mwenda and discuss the details of our upcoming outreach December 3rd – 6th. During the course of three and a half days we will be showing the Jesus Film in the local dialect of Tonga. The Chieftainess believes it will be the first time her people will be hearing the Gospel message in at least one of the villages we will be visiting (what an opportunity). We will also be hoping to identify and empower local elders who might develop into the spiritual leaders of any church body that may develop as a result of the outreach.
This ministry will include the participation of ten local pastors who are currently involved with programs within Action Zambia’s Pastoral Leadership Development ministry area. Some of these pastors have prior experience and some do not, so it will be a unique environment to watch their different experiences and gifts work together to advance Christ’s Kingdom here in Zambia. We are also planning Lord willing, to spend one on one time praying for the sick and oppressed that we are sure to find in these far outlying areas.
Would you begin to pray that God would, even now, be working in the hearts of those who will have (maybe for the first time) the opportunity to respond to the wonderful message of the salvation found in Jesus Christ! It is our hope, Lord willing, that these types of trips to the Cikankhata area will become a more regular part of how Action Zambia is being used by God to strengthen the local believers here in Lusaka.
As always we share this with you to remind you that your partnership with us is being used to accomplish amazing things both now and for all eternity. We are truly blessed to have your prayers and support. Of course we will be taking cameras along to document the events of the trip so you can expect some photos and an update upon our return. May God bless and keep you in His grace and mercy.
His Servant
Luke (for the fam) <><
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
September Update
Dear Friends
It has a few weeks since our last update and there is much to inform you about. The month of September is always special as it is the only month in which we have two birthdays (Luke’s 29th, Emma 7th) and Payton celebrated his 5th the end of Aug. We have been enjoying some hotter weather which was perfect for Emma’s Hawaiian themed party which was held her in own tropical backyard (we included some pics for you). We also enjoyed a recent visit from Luke’s Uncle Jim and his fiancé Jacki who were in Lusaka with Willow Creek Church in Chicago conducting a seminar on Biblical Church Leadership. It was great to see and reconnect with them and see how God used them help strengthen the Zambian Church.
September also saw the completion of the first 2:7 discipleship class, which Brent Roberts and Luke had been facilitating over the past few months. Along with the Roberts we hosted the graduates to a barbecue where they received their certificates of completion as well as being encouraged to remember to always lead by serving first. With the completion of one class also came the recruitment and enrollment of a new group of students who, Lord willing, will complete the 2:7 course over the next year. Please continue to pray for these leaders as they go out to make disciples of all men.
AZ’s Pastoral Leadership Development Team (PLD), also saw the addition of another Zambian to its consultancy staff to specifically be working with Brent and Luke in the area of Discipleship and Evangelism. Pastor Wozifera Ngoma will be the fourth Zambia to come on staff with Action Zambia and we are very excited about God adding him to our team. He is a wealth of cultural insight and wisdom and it is AZ’s hope that he will help us to serve the Zambian people in a more effective way. Please take a moment and visit Action Zambia’s website: http://actionzambia.org/ to learn more about Pastor Ngoma’s story.
Hospital Ministry has also flourished over the past month as Luke has seen many new doors open up. The AZ team, along with local pastors, are visiting patients in five of the local area clinics and hospitals. At one particular clinic Luke visited this past week, the head physician informed the group that because there are so many patients who are medically untreatable the need to ministering to them spiritually is immense. He actually said that most of his patients are really more in need of spiritual attention than they are medical (Amen). Luke said the best part of the day was to see the excitement on the faces of the local pastors he had traveled with who could not believe the opportunity God had opened right before their eyes. Praise God with us and continue to pray that He would raise up an army of Churches here in Zambia who will compassionately reach out to the sick and dying in Christ’s name.
Moving from ministry to school, Elise has seen such an improvement in the kids’ involvement and retention of schooling material. Although she would deny it, much of the credit goes to her amazing amounts of patience and love that she exhibits towards the kids and their sometime infuriating learning patterns (praise God for kids). School has also gotten easier now that our house helper Pauline is watching Tazi during the morning school session. One highlight from this past week was Macie’s acing her Math exam which, as we would expect, she is very thrilled about. God has also blessed the kids with the opportunity to participate in classes at the International School just up the road from our new house. The biggest blessing is that the school offers some of these classes for free to homeschool students. Macie and Emma are doing swimming classes and Patyon is in beginner’s football (soccer).
As a family we are well and blessed and enjoy learning daily more about our dear Zambian friends and their culture. We have decided to try our hand at raising chickens, much to the delight of our chicken-eating dog Spud. Yes we have already lost two chickens to mortal wounds inflicted by this savage beast; but amazingly, the kid’s love for Spud really does cover a multitude of sins. We continue to praise God that He has faithfully keep us healthy and malaria free as the mosquitoes have become horrendous over the past few weeks.
With that we say goodbye for now but please know we love and miss you all dearly. As always thanks again for being such great supporters and teammates of what God has called us to accomplish for His sake here in Zambia. Please keep praying without ceasing for us as we are always in need and could not function without them. We would love to hear from you or maybe talk sometime -- for those of you on Skype you can reach us at username: Taziona6 . God bless and keep all of you and remember to forget what’s behind and press on to the things He has called you Heavenward in Christ.
Lesa Masuma Nshito Shonse (God is good all the time)
The Whitfields
It has a few weeks since our last update and there is much to inform you about. The month of September is always special as it is the only month in which we have two birthdays (Luke’s 29th, Emma 7th) and Payton celebrated his 5th the end of Aug. We have been enjoying some hotter weather which was perfect for Emma’s Hawaiian themed party which was held her in own tropical backyard (we included some pics for you). We also enjoyed a recent visit from Luke’s Uncle Jim and his fiancé Jacki who were in Lusaka with Willow Creek Church in Chicago conducting a seminar on Biblical Church Leadership. It was great to see and reconnect with them and see how God used them help strengthen the Zambian Church.
September also saw the completion of the first 2:7 discipleship class, which Brent Roberts and Luke had been facilitating over the past few months. Along with the Roberts we hosted the graduates to a barbecue where they received their certificates of completion as well as being encouraged to remember to always lead by serving first. With the completion of one class also came the recruitment and enrollment of a new group of students who, Lord willing, will complete the 2:7 course over the next year. Please continue to pray for these leaders as they go out to make disciples of all men.
AZ’s Pastoral Leadership Development Team (PLD), also saw the addition of another Zambian to its consultancy staff to specifically be working with Brent and Luke in the area of Discipleship and Evangelism. Pastor Wozifera Ngoma will be the fourth Zambia to come on staff with Action Zambia and we are very excited about God adding him to our team. He is a wealth of cultural insight and wisdom and it is AZ’s hope that he will help us to serve the Zambian people in a more effective way. Please take a moment and visit Action Zambia’s website: http://actionzambia.org/ to learn more about Pastor Ngoma’s story.
Hospital Ministry has also flourished over the past month as Luke has seen many new doors open up. The AZ team, along with local pastors, are visiting patients in five of the local area clinics and hospitals. At one particular clinic Luke visited this past week, the head physician informed the group that because there are so many patients who are medically untreatable the need to ministering to them spiritually is immense. He actually said that most of his patients are really more in need of spiritual attention than they are medical (Amen). Luke said the best part of the day was to see the excitement on the faces of the local pastors he had traveled with who could not believe the opportunity God had opened right before their eyes. Praise God with us and continue to pray that He would raise up an army of Churches here in Zambia who will compassionately reach out to the sick and dying in Christ’s name.
Moving from ministry to school, Elise has seen such an improvement in the kids’ involvement and retention of schooling material. Although she would deny it, much of the credit goes to her amazing amounts of patience and love that she exhibits towards the kids and their sometime infuriating learning patterns (praise God for kids). School has also gotten easier now that our house helper Pauline is watching Tazi during the morning school session. One highlight from this past week was Macie’s acing her Math exam which, as we would expect, she is very thrilled about. God has also blessed the kids with the opportunity to participate in classes at the International School just up the road from our new house. The biggest blessing is that the school offers some of these classes for free to homeschool students. Macie and Emma are doing swimming classes and Patyon is in beginner’s football (soccer).
As a family we are well and blessed and enjoy learning daily more about our dear Zambian friends and their culture. We have decided to try our hand at raising chickens, much to the delight of our chicken-eating dog Spud. Yes we have already lost two chickens to mortal wounds inflicted by this savage beast; but amazingly, the kid’s love for Spud really does cover a multitude of sins. We continue to praise God that He has faithfully keep us healthy and malaria free as the mosquitoes have become horrendous over the past few weeks.
With that we say goodbye for now but please know we love and miss you all dearly. As always thanks again for being such great supporters and teammates of what God has called us to accomplish for His sake here in Zambia. Please keep praying without ceasing for us as we are always in need and could not function without them. We would love to hear from you or maybe talk sometime -- for those of you on Skype you can reach us at username: Taziona6 . God bless and keep all of you and remember to forget what’s behind and press on to the things He has called you Heavenward in Christ.
Lesa Masuma Nshito Shonse (God is good all the time)
The Whitfields
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Guinea Pigs, Math and Street Kids
Dear Friends
Sorry it has been a while since we last touched base. Much has happened in the last couple of weeks in all areas of our lives. Where do we start?
How about our saga involving the death of eight Guinea pigs, yes you heard right, eight, Guinea pigs. For a while the kids have wanted to get some more pets, but unfortunately our dog, Spud, does not share their enthusiasm. Spud is a Staffordshire Bull Terrier and is basically bred to be very territorial when it comes to other animals. Needless to say, we have been reluctant to try to introduce another pet into the mix. As often happens, we went against our better judgment and gave the go ahead for our friend “Grandson” to build the kids a cage and fill it with four Guinea Pigs. Things started off well, as we built the cage to be dog proof; which it was until the kids forgot to move a large stone they had earlier place right next to the fence. Yep, you guessed it, that stone gave Spud just enough height to bound over the fence and quickly end the lives of our new fury friends. So what does any sympathetic warm blooded parent do in a situation like this? Buy the kids four more Guinea pigs and hope that the talk you had about being more responsible for themselves and their surroundings sunk in. Of course you know how the rest of the story goes. Yesterday, while trying to fortify the cage even more, we removed the new Guinea pigs and placed them in a rubber bin in the house. With watchful eyes we ensured every door was closed denying Spud the opportunity to repeat his feat again. That is until one of the kids forgot to close a door behind them and sure enough that dog boldly came into the house in “stealth mode” and kill the new batch of four. Amazingly the kids seemed to have been conditioned a bit by the week’s earlier killing and did not seem as upset over the loss of the second group of pigs. All in all it has been sad and if I am honest a bit funny as Elise and I have to break the bad new twice now. We of course will be searching for a new batch of Guinea pigs (as they are only around $2 piece) and will keep you posted on their progress (hah).
"Grandson" and the guinea pig pen
On the home schooling front I am happy to report that Elise and the kids area really enjoying their time together. This is in part to a new system Elise has implemented to teach the kids responsibility and to create a bit more structure into their days. I want to take a moment and let all of you know how great a mom and teacher Elise is. She has done such a great job helping our family to get into a new routine after our move to our new house. And it has been fun to watch her discover her natural gift of teaching. 
A while back I wrote about an experience I had while ministering to some street kids and in particular a conversation I had with a young man named Alvis. I return the next week with a group of friends on a frigid Friday night and distributed some tea and roles to around 70 kids. I have included some pictures and can assure you it was an amazing time of fellowship and coming to the realization that some of these kids have never felt a loving touch. There was one teenage boy who literally latched himself onto my body and said, “I love you, please take me with you”. To tell you the truth, I did not know how to respond. But after I had some time to reflect on the evening I realized that my experience with my young friend was a perfect picture of what Christ does each time I come to Him for affirmation. He does not get hung up on all the Worldly filth that often covers me, but rather, quickly embraces and reminds me that I am His and that He loves me dearly. Please be praying tomorrow as we will return to visit with the street kids and continue reminding them that they are greatly prized by their Heavenly Father and us as well.
Hospital visitation continues to move forward and it seems that God has opened the doors for us to be working in almost all of the local clinics in Lusaka. Recently, I spent some time arranging an outreach event for a short term team that is coming in August from South Carolina. They will be distributing hygiene kits (wash cloths / soap / powder ) to the patients in the Pediatric Malnourishment Word at the local teaching hospital. This will be a great opportunity to spend some time with these suffering children and offer not only some physical relief but more importantly as much spiritual relief as God will use us to accomplish. Please pray for this outreach as many times African are afraid to have white people pray for them due to a cultural belief that all “whites” are “satanists”.
On another ministry front we wanted to ask you to start to pray for Action Zambia’s upcoming pastor’s conference. This is the second conference AZ has facilitated and we are expecting over 200 people to show up. The conference is themed: “Building Biblical Marriages” and is opened to all pastors who will hopefully bring their wives as well. It will be taking place during the first week of August and run from eight in the morning till noon on Mon / Tue / Wed / Thur/ Fri. Elise and the rest of the AZ ladies will also be leading the worship time during the Friday portion of the conference. Talking about marriage matters in public forums is not as common or accepted here in the African culture as it is back in the States. Ask God that He will begin a good work in the lives and marriages of the many areas pastors that will attend this event.
Other than that life continues as usual, always busy and never the same. Thanks again for all you do in supporting the Lord’s work here in Zambia. As you know none of this would be possible without your involvement. We love you all dearly and miss you as well. I know we had said this before, but if you have not already, please visit our blog by clicking on the link: www.whitfieldwateringhole.blogspot.com , where you can read all of our updates and see even more pictures. God bless each of you and remember to PRESS ON & INTO HIM!!!
His Servants
Luke (for the clan) <><
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
The Plight of Alvis
Dear Friend
For a moment imagine, the perpetual smell of urine, sweat and dirt. Contemplate the thought that the next meal you will eat will more than likely be pulled out of a trash can and someone’s leftovers. Take second, to ponder the thought of living with the constant fear of looking over your shoulder wondering who will take advantage of you next. Or possibly, the reality of looking for a temporary escape from this hell you live in through the use of inhaling toxic fumes. Sound familiar? Of course not, or at least, for your sake, I hope not. Unfortunately, for some youth here in Zambia this is daily routine that leaves them to live a life without any hope for a future of what many of know to be normality.
What I have described to you is a picture of life in the day of what the world has labeled a “street kid”. This past Friday, three of my friends and I spent sometime minister to about thirty of these unfortunate souls. During this time I met a young man named Alvis. Alvis is what you might call a ring leader. He is a bit older than most of his peers and is responsible for selling “stika” to the rest of his colleagues. “Stika” is basically what we would call rubber cement and most of these kids spend a majority of their day seeking out and inhaling its fumes; which provides a temporary escape from the battle of life as they know it.
Alvis was an interesting story as he explained that he only sells “stika” because he wants to get his teenage wife, who is pregnant with their child, off the streets and away from the city. As I scanned the crowd of filthy youth for her, my eyes settled on a girl that could not have been more than 15 or 16 who had a dirty dish rage covered in “stika” over her mouth. You can image my horror as I realize the danger this young lady was putting herself through, not to mention the jeopardy she was exposing her and Alvis’ unborn child to. This is life to them, they know nothing different. To them the importance of life lies in finding the next high and then waking up the next morning to do the same. My heart sunk as I soon realize this is who Jesus was taking about when He said he came to seek out the lost and forgotten.
If there is any ray of hope in this story, it is that after talking with Alvis for almost forty minute he admitted he was tired of living this live and wanted something more. I told him that the only true satisfaction he could find in life would be through a relationship with Jesus Christ as his personal Lord and Savior. He agreed and we prayed for him to receive Christ and to have his life turn around in that moment. Our discussion was interrupted by his pregnant wife pulling at his sleeve asking for more “stika”.
Pray for Alvis as leaving this life he knows will be anything but easy. Alvis’ story is not unique but probably very typical of what many young adults on the streets of Lusaka and around the world are experiencing every day. In fact, for those of you who think a story like Alvis’ is only occurring in third world countries, I would challenge you to consider that right now there are many young adults like Alvis in your own back yards. Maybe they don’t live on the street and maybe they are not eating out of trash cans. But there are many lost souls all around us searching for that true satisfaction that comes only through a meaningful relationship with Christ. You might think working with individuals like Alvis is only for those that find themselves in the slums of developing countries, but that simply is not the case. Each of you have numerous opportunities to reach out to suffering individuals like Alvis each day. The question is will we listen to the Holy Spirit’s prompting?
Pray for us as we will be going out tomorrow night again to bring food and hot tea to the many needy street kids of Lusaka. I am hoping to see Alvis and not only provide for his physical needs but more crucially his spiritual needs. Thanks for your continued love and support and remember what God is doing through us here in Africa He can do through you right where you find yourselves now. We love and miss you all.
His Servants
Luke (for the Whitfield clan)
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