When Enja* first came to Spring of Love Christian Academy, she had some behavioral challenges. Enja’s teacher, Elizabeth Caldwell, recalls, “She was one of the naughty students.” Sometimes, she shouted abusive language and didn’t interact nicely with the other students.

Spring of Love is a school serving three remote Zambian villages about an hour drive from the city of Kabwe. Spring of Love was started as a strategic way to plant the Gospel in these three remote villages, which together are known as Kapiri Mposhi. The school was modeled after Excellence Christian Academy, the high-quality Christian school started over 20 years ago by ITMI partner, Eugene Kalunga with the help of ITMI supporters.

In the remote location of Kapiri Mposhi, the need for the Gospel is evident to Elizabeth and the Spring of Love staff.

Elizabeth commented, “In this [rural] environment, most parents are so much into drinking and smoking and worldly things. There are so few who really practice the life of Christ. It is wrong, really, for the children as young as they are to see their parents behaving [this way]. God has His way of preserving His own. That is why - I think - He made this school. They can spend much of their time here, learning about Jesus Christ and their parents can even learn from them.”

Your gifts supporting the ministry of Spring of Love are helping meet the need for education for the families of the area, while providing for the deeper need for knowledge of Christ. Every morning at Spring of Love starts with devotions and worship.

“We [Spring of Love teachers] talk to them about Jesus, sing songs and tell them about Christ,” Elizabeth continues, “and as time has passed, I’ve seen a change in Enja’s speech. I’m seeing that transformation, I think Jesus is doing a new thing in her life.”

Enja had a health condition that kept her from attending school quite a bit, but lately, even her health has been improving.

Elizabeth’s co-worker, Mabel, teaches the youngest grade, which they call “Reception.” Mabel shared the story of a boy from the village who is mentally challenged. He is glad to come to Spring of Love everyday, although sometimes, he can’t handle being in the classroom. Spring of Love accommodates him as best they can. They are thankful to have him there.

“When he first came here, he was a fighter,” Mabel recounted, “he beat his friends and chased them around. But because of the morning devotions, he knows God, he knows she shouldn’t fight at school and he can pray. He has really been transformed.”

Spring of Love has been reaching children in this area since 2021. At the end of 2022, they completed the on-site teacher housing apartments, which ITMI supporters helped fund.

Each member of the small staff gushed about how thankful they are for the apartments.

“They are beautiful!”

“Very nice!”

“I’m very happy!”

When ITMI’s Steve Evers visited in April, they gave him a tour. Each went directly to the sink and turned on the water and said almost the same thing, “We have water inside!” They were also excited about indoor electricity, allowing them to prepare for their classes each evening.

They couldn’t say enough to express their gratitude.

“This school is a way to brighten their future. When someone does something as big as that, it is more like giving them life. As a teacher, I am thankful to those who built this institution. You have given me a way to provide for my family. I’m also learning more about Christ - which is more valuable to me than money,” Elizabeth said.

The Spring of Love classrooms are getting quite crowded. They have already had to split their population so that half come in the morning and half come in the afternoon. This has reduced the total teaching time each student receives, which is not ideal.

Each year, the school expands a grade level - which allows the current students to continue on to that grade level, but this year, they simply can’t expand further without another classroom.

They are in dire need of completing the next building, which has walls, but still needs a roof  - very soon! Please prayerfully consider supporting this effort.