Skip to content
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • Log In
  • Subscribe
  • Renew
  • Donate
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • Log In
  • Subscribe
  • Renew
  • Donate
The Baptist Paper
Search
Close this search box.
The Baptist Paper
Search
Close this search box.
  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Your state news
  • Classifieds
  • Request a free trial
  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Your state news
  • Classifieds
  • Request a free trial

‘We never stop training’: 12 new churches planted in Zambia; IMB missionaries equipping local believers

  • November 21, 2022
  • International Mission Board
  • Featured, International Mission Board, Latest News, Missions
One aspect of planting churches in Zambia is to always use the Bible, showing where teaching comes from. The country often has a false prophet trying to get people to follow them but they never use Scripture.
(IMB Photo)

‘We never stop training’: 12 new churches planted in Zambia; IMB missionaries equipping local believers

It was the first service as a church and excitement showed on everyone’s faces. They’d been working up to this moment for months with Bible studies, learning to share the gospel and lessons on being a healthy church.

As the opening prayer began, everyone quickly shuffled to their seats — flat rocks excavated from a field and lined up in perfect rows under shade trees. When the praise music started, it would have raised the roof … IF there were one. Finally, the pastor stepped behind the rock podium adorned with a cross made of sticks and opened his Bible.

Kimberly Windham, International Mission Board missionary serving in Zambia, looked around, and her heart leapt with joy. This was church in its purest form — believers gathered to worship God and learn His truths directly from Scripture. It’s something Kimberly and her husband, Randy, never tire of experiencing.

“That first church service … it just touches my heart every time,” Kimberly said. Randy chuckled and added, “Even if sometimes your ‘pew’ might be uncomfortable.”

Walking alongside local believers

Teaching Zambians to plant churches and transform lives with the gospel is their passion. It’s only possible, Randy pointed out, because of generous gifts to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering.

Southern Baptists, through their prayers and faithful giving, helped the Windhams plant 12 churches in and around Lusaka, Zambia. This support allows them to walk alongside local believers as they train nationals in a four-step process.

Randy explained the first step is gospel access or entry into a community. During this entry phase, they pray for God-prepared people — ones whose lives God is already working in — to enter the picture so they can train them to address the lostness around them.

‘We want everything reproducible’

Step two is all about evangelism. The Windhams teach Christians how to share the gospel. Everyone uses this skill immediately for door-to-door evangelism.

“We want everything reproducible,” Randy said. “We teach everyone — including teams from the United States — to draw the plan of salvation using a stick in the dirt. That can be done anywhere in Zambia as a visual aid.”

As people make decisions to follow Christ, the church-planting team moves into the third step: discipleship. In a country where false prophets and cults are common, this is important. New believers grow in their faith by studying Scripture.

As this group grows spiritually and in number, they move seamlessly to the final step — healthy group and healthy church formation. Not every group grows into a church, but those that choose to follow this route learn the characteristics of a healthy church. This step alone can take three to four months.

Churches never look the same from the outside. They might meet under a shade tree, use a room at a school or have their own building. However, at their core, all have biblical teaching, fellowship, worship, service and evangelism.

Now, it’s the new church’s turn to train others and multiply.

“It’s a seamless training,” Randy said, adding that one pastor started four churches and now trains others. Because you give, “We never stop training and planting churches.”


EDITOR’S NOTE — This story was written by Sue Sprenkle and originally published by the International Mission Board.

Share with others:

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Email

Latest News

  • Church sees numbers double with help from IMB missionaries
    Church sees numbers double with help from IMB missionaries
    September 22, 2023/
    0 Comments
  • Looking for growing Southern Baptist churches? Check the Northeast, study says
    Looking for growing Southern Baptist churches? Check the Northeast, study says
    September 22, 2023/
    0 Comments
  • Ongoing legal battle between Liberty, Falwell takes another twist
    Ongoing legal battle between Liberty, Falwell takes another twist
    September 22, 2023/
    0 Comments

Sign up for the Highlights

Get all latest content delivered to your email a few times a month.
Email is required Email is not valid
Thanks for your subscription.
Failed to subscribe, please contact admin.

Related Posts

Church sees numbers double with help from IMB missionaries

“Once we began to minister outside of our own area, that’s where the growth really came from,” pastor Paul Huenefeld said.

black and white book on brown wooden shelf

Looking for growing Southern Baptist churches? Check the Northeast, study says

If you’re looking for a Southern Baptist church, you’re most likely to find one in the South. If you want to find a growing Southern Baptist church, however, you might try the Northeast.

Ongoing legal battle between Liberty, Falwell takes another twist

Jerry Falwell Jr. alleges misconduct by Liberty University’s board of directors and has attempted to ban the university from using images of his late father.

Athens Serve Tour helps Greek churches boost compassion ministry

More than 65 Serve Tour volunteers from 13 churches joined Greek local churches to bring physical help and gospel hope to a diverse city.

Want to receive news highlights throughout the week? Sign up here!

Email is required Email is not valid
Thanks for your subscription.
Failed to subscribe, please contact admin.

About

  • Our Story
  • Our Team
  • Our Partners
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Contact us
  • Our Story
  • Our Team
  • Our Partners
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Contact us

Explore

  • State-specific news
  • Archive
  • Opinion pieces
  • Sunday School lessons
  • Persecuted Church
  • Podcasts
  • Videos
  • State-specific news
  • Archive
  • Opinion pieces
  • Sunday School lessons
  • Persecuted Church
  • Podcasts
  • Videos

Submissions

  • Story suggestions
  • Your Voice/Letter to the Editor
  • Photos / Videos
  • Corrections/other
  • Submission Policy
  • Story suggestions
  • Your Voice/Letter to the Editor
  • Photos / Videos
  • Corrections/other
  • Submission Policy

Subscribe

  • Subscribe
  • Renew subscription
  • Gift a subscription
  • Start a new member subscription
  • Start a new group subscription
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Hosted Church
  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Request free trial
  • Subscribe
  • Renew subscription
  • Gift a subscription
  • Start a new member subscription
  • Start a new group subscription
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Hosted Church
  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Request free trial
The Baptist Paper
Address:
3310 Independence Dr.
Birmingham, AL 35209
Copyright © 2023 TAB Media Group
  • Privacy/Terms of Use
  • Help
  • FAQ
  • Privacy/Terms of Use
  • Help
  • FAQ

Email:
news@thebaptistpaper.org

  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Editorials
  • Archive
  • Your state news
  • Opinions
  • Podcasts
  • Videos
  • Persecuted Church
  • Submit your news
  • Photo Galleries
  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Editorials
  • Archive
  • Your state news
  • Opinions
  • Podcasts
  • Videos
  • Persecuted Church
  • Submit your news
  • Photo Galleries
  • Our Team
  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Manage Online Access Account
  • Subscribe
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Hosted Church
  • Donate
  • Contact us
  • Our Team
  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Manage Online Access Account
  • Subscribe
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Hosted Church
  • Donate
  • Contact us

Log Out?

Lost your password?

Log In

Lost your password?

Log in

Become a part of our community!
Forgot your password? Get help
Privacy/Terms of Use

Reset password

Recover your password
A password reset link will be e-mailed to you.
Privacy/Terms of Use
Back to
Login
×
Close Panel