Zambia
How the Lives of Village Youth Were Changed by Jesus!
Before
After
"This just doesn't happen in Africa...especially on the west bank of the Zambezi River," Steve observed.
A group of youth from Lihukwa Village recently came to know Christ through interaction with one of the pastors being equipped by the ministry of our partner, Johan Leach. The pastor recently planted a church in Lihukwa Village, and through his ministry, this group of youth came to know Jesus!
Not only did this pastor help them come to know Jesus, but immediately helped them live in obedience to Christ by serving others and showing them His love.
These youth traveled to another village where they were aware of an elderly lady whose home was crumbling and built her a new one!
Serving others and helping the elderly is not part of the culture on the west bank, so this counter-culture sacrifice, shows plainly the difference Jesus has made in their lives.
Two Village Men Respond to the Heart of Man Gospel Teaching!
These photos are not from this trip, they are photos we already had used here to help you visualize what this visit may have been like.
After visiting a remote village where ITMI supporters helped install a borehole, giving the village access to clean, safe water, Steve says,
"We went 20-30 km down river today and I got to watch two of Johan's team leaders teach the "Heart of Man" lesson from the flip chart. Heart of Man is an evangelistic biblical teaching on the deadness and darkness of man's heart in its natural state. It uses pictures and animal images to explain what sin looks like and what happens to someone that dies in their sin.
The old man of the village responded to the message, said that his "church going" for the last lot of years was not giving him peace that he would be in heaven when he dies. He said that I am old and will die soon and I don't want to go to the place called hell. He stood before the villagers who were meeting with us under the big shade tree and lifted his hands high, confessed his sin, asked God to forgive him and to save him.
He then wanted to go and be baptized immediately. Another young man, maybe in his 20's also wanted to confess his sin and failure, and ask God to save him. It was really very special to see God move in the lives of both young and very old, and all in a very remote village."
Bush Plane to Chavuma to Visit Johan and Lesley Leach
From Steve, visiting some of our partners in Africa, taken on his Saturday morning flight to Zambezi, en route to visit with Johan and Lesley Leach in Chavuma.
DR Congo
From ITMI's Charl van Wyk
Live TV Interview
Steve was interviewed on the Come and See Church's live TV station! (Come and See Church is the church that ITMI's Charl van Wyk has built a relationship with for years, and the church that invited Charl, Steve, and the team to speak and encourage God's people at their conference.)
A Unique Thank You...
A Congolese Brother in Christ!
Pastor Desire, who is also head of security for the Come and See Church that ITMI's Steve Evers and Charl van Wyk are visiting, has served the Lord by doing most of the transportation for Steve, Charl, and their team. He was a military General before he was a pastor. Steve says, "I have to use Google Translate to communicate with him, but he has decided he wants to be an American and my twin brother." =)))
Steve Teaching at Come and See Church's Conference
Here's some photos from day one of the conference in the DR Congo, where ITMI Director, Steve Evers, ITMI Partner, Charl van Wyk, and American Brian Eschen are ministering at the Come and See Church in Lubumbashi. Keep praying for our team as they minister here all week!
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Summer Kelley is a writer and follower of Jesus living in Phoenix, Arizona, with her husband and three kids. She’s had the honor and privilege of telling ITMI’s stories since 2006. Summer loves reading, the outdoors, and Coca-Cola Classic.