For over a decade, Ruben Mwale was discipled by former ITMI partner, Timothy Keller.

Tim visited Ruben’s village frequently, and as the years went by, the Spirit grew Ruben into a spiritual leader in his village. He is the pastor of the church outside his village of Chongwe, Zambia.

As he discipled others, and they grew into being able to share leadership responsibilities, Ruben has been able to travel regularly to Portuguese-speaking Mozambique to share Jesus there.

Now, Ruben is being discipled by our partner, Johan Leach. He is participating in a Biblically-based course designed by Harvesters International to equip field pastors to make disciples and plant churches. 

Like most who live in rural villages, these villagers have very little. Most survive by living off the land and few earn income. 

For years, the church worshipped underneath tarps held up by poles. As Ruben led his church in putting their trust in the Lord to provide for all their needs, he was convicted that the church needed to honor the Lord by trusting Him to provide a place to worship that would declare by its very existence that the Lord provides for His people.

In a place where even people’s homes can’t truly be considered “structures”, if the church worships in a true structure, it would be a monument to His provision and Lordship.

With your support, ITMI was able to give Ruben some funds so that the church could purchase materials for making bricks.

The church leaders themselves, including Ruben, did the labor of brick-making. This is highly unusual in an African church. It is common for church leaders to miss the Biblical teaching about servant leadership, and instead float along with cultural customs, where it is common for those in leadership to exalt themselves above those they lead. 

But this church’s leaders demonstrated something radically different and Christ-like by laying the bricks themselves. 

Ruben and his church are trusting the Lord for $4620 USD to complete the next step, which is 5 doors, a concrete floor and plaster for the interior walls. 

We are praying for a few people who might want to be used by the Lord to demonstrate his faithfulness and build up His church in the Zambian village of Chongwe.