Peter Chomba - Teacher

Sitting at Johannesburg Airport waiting for our flight to Perth (sent this from Perth as internet connection ran out!) and it is time to write about the last remaining teacher at Samfya, Peter Chomba – his wife is Jennifer and unfortunately I do not have a photo of them together. Peter has been teaching at Samfya for over 15 years. He completed the Biblical Counselling and Expository Preaching courses in South Africa under Dr Wayne Mack and Pastor Joel James. He has written a book in Bemba on counselling and is working on an Expository Preaching one as well. He is waiting for opportunity to get these resources out and they will bless the rural church and its leaders.

Peter was with us in our visits to Kasuba and then our extended trip around the Northern Province. He is an excellent translator and has been working with me since 2001. Peter’s passion is village life and helping these churches grow. When we left Samfya Peter had been out in teaching on the Extension Programme at Chishi Island working on discipleship training with the three churches there and their leaders. He is unofficially known as the head man around Samfya because of his influence and relationship with so many. He is a choice servant of Christ and it is a privilege to work alongside him.

 Peter on right with two graduates that work in Mbala

Meet some Staff

 Francis & Cecelia Chola

 

This is Francis & Cecelia Chola – Francis has been teaching at the school for over 12 years. Francis has been through Biblical Counselling in South Africa which permeates his teaching. He reflects on how this study has changed his life and ministry. He currently has four people in his local church that help in Biblical Counselling issues in his church (he is an elder there) following his training. Francis also has a passion for Youth Ministry and works hard to engage with youth in church life and in training through the Bible School. Cecelia is actively involved in the choir at Mwamfuli church – and they are brilliant!

These are choice servants of the Lord and would value your prayers for their work. Francis is also one of my translators and does a good job. We have worked together for many years and he knows me and I know him – it works well.

 

 Collins & Rabecca Samungole

Please also meet Collins and Rabecca Samungole. I do not know this couple very well. Collins has been teaching at Samfya for the last three years and is the Academic Dean. He is a very skilled translator of written works and is being used to translate works into Bemba for publication. He will be a big help to the literature work that the Bible School is pursuing where they hope to produce booklets in various areas of church life and theology that will build into local church ministries where there is very little in the way of resources. Collins is currently studying for a Master degree through The Theological College of Central Africa in Ndola Zambia. Please pray that he and his wife would continue to settle in to life at Samfya and be mightily used of the Lord in the Bemba Church.

Wathabu Simfukwe

I am pleased to call this man my friend – Wathabu Simfukwe is the Principal of Samfya Bible School. I would call him a bit of a philosopher, a deep thinker, but a thinker whose mind is on the gospel and seeing the local church flourish in Bemba speaking Zambia. He is not one to do things just because someone says you should – rather he will do what he sees is clearly in line with God’s Word. There is a common bond with this man – he thinks and sees life through the lens of scripture and his heart is with the rural church that has so many struggles. Wathabu’s leadership is needed to help the bible school continue to grow the spiritual depth of this ministry and accordingly the spiritual depth of the local churches. His desire is to see churches that are scripture based, not just repeating some tradition, but rather living out the Word of God. Wathabu is a humble man that God has raised up for this important ministry.

 

The picture of Wathabu has him sitting at his computer which is giving him significant problems. This is limiting his capacity to get everything done that is required of him. He really needs a new computer which would cost around 10,000 Kwacha (approx.. NZ$1600). This is an urgent need so please pray with us that this can be met.

I have just been told it is Wathabu's birthday tomorrow - what a way to make his day if we were able to fulfil this need!

We have travelled over 700kms to Lusaka today and managed to purchase another 120 Bemba Bibles. These will help with student sponsorships. Lusaka is a mad and busy city, with rich and poor, and huge needs of its own. There is currently a student studying at Samfya from here - he initially came for a one week block course, stayed an extra month and then the whole term. He will continue his studies next year and finish the one year programme. There are significant numbers of Bemba speakers here in Lusaka and so the ministry of the Bible School is also hitting the big cities! Please keep praying!
 

Last Service & Extension Programme

This morning saw our last church service here in Zambia, shared with about 300 people at Mwamfuli CMML Church. Peter Chomba (still away on extension programme teaching on Chishi Island) and Francis Chola (both bible school teachers) are elders in this church. There are also some graduates active in the ministry here and it is encouraging to see the church active in section groups for encouragement and support. Two men repented and came back to the Lord during the service – they were prayed for and were to be counselled after the service. The choirs were amazing (three with two songs each before and after the preaching!).

The extension programme that the Bible School is working on, draws graduates from village areas and leaders from their churches. The training is run in their areas, and for the first 10 months there are two day workshops that focus on practical discipleship in these rural areas. The programme continues in the next year, however the Bible School staff are equipping graduates who are stepping up to be involved in leading the training especially in the second year. There are three extension areas at the moment and the plan is to gradually role these out wherever graduates are working. The training also identifies excellent prospects for the one year Bible Programme. The number of students in these areas is between 30-100 in the different areas – this is expanding the training from Samfya significantly and focusing on the missing discipleship in the churches.

With four major programmes happening, the one year certificate in Biblical Studies, the second year certificate in Biblical Ministry, the village extension programmes and the school holiday programme taught in English (about a three year commitment), the pressure on the teachers is significant. There is a need to see the teaching staff increase from four to six – this is funding dependant.

Praise God for a dedicated committed team of workers in this ministry. They achieve much with very little comparative to New Zealand terms. A worthy work,  making a real difference for eternity.

 Inside the church - missing two wings left and right!

 Sunday School in progress over 100 kids

 

Further staff updates coming

Fence Completed!

Wow what a great job finished in 4 1/2 days - covering approximately 100 sq metres. The workers are tired but happy to have been involved in such a good project. Now the agricultural project will have good security and will be a blessing to the school. Brad gives himself a rating of 6 1/2 out of 10, but really 10 out of 10 with the kind of materials and equipment available! Next will be a list of maintenance issues that need attention.

 Us with Jonathan, Anton & Obed

 

 

 a string of fish for dinner - cost 35 kwacha about NZ$6

Joseph Administrator and Maria's Cooks

Meet Joseph Mutale who is the administrator of the Bible School. Joseph keeps meticulous financial records and has been able to show us exactly how the school is functioning financially. I can’t speak highly enough of the calibre of this man and the blessing that he is to this ministry. His openness and accountability gives great confidence about the ministry that is happening – great to see committed Christians who are helping this work be very effective. Joseph explained how he had made the call to end the chicken layers project as it was only just breaking even and not adding to the school finances. Instead they have focused on the chicken broiler unit and are on course to have a NZ$10,000 profit this year which is invested into school ministry needs. Great to see these initiatives and that this ministry is doing what it can to help sustain its work!

 Joseph at work in his office in the bookshop

 

 

The Fence - is progressing really well and should be complete by Thursday Morning! This has been incredible progress with Brad and the team of men who have worked hard - photos of this tomorrow! It has been a bit of a challenge

 

Maria's Cooks - This has been an afternoon of baking, sharing food, fun & fellowship. The students and staff of the school got dressed up for the occasion today. It was a great way to get to know the ladies more - cooking together they talk and laugh so freely. Communicating and helping each other, some had never made a cake before. I added sultanas and a lemon sugar top, giving a tasty memory for us all.

 

 

 

 

 

 cooks on action in the mod gear

 Maria and some of the women

 Fence up getting ready to be strained

A Visit from Four Graduates

Today we have had a visit from four graduates – Stephen & Esther Lwando, Kened Mulenga & Hilda Kabesa (whose husband is also a graduate but is terminally ill). We worked out they have 26 ½ children between them!! They came bearing gifts – ground nuts in their shells (peanuts), peanut butter (produced by pounding roasted ground nuts) and a goat! Dinner on Friday night with all the staff will be very good! These gifts were in appreciation of the support that the ministry from New Zealand has been to them as past students. They represented three churches from between 60-80kms from Samfya. What a joy to have such a token of love and fellowship from fellow believers.

They reported that they are active in the work of the gospel and that the churches are progressing well. There are sixteen churches in their region and eight graduates actively work together in evangelism and general church ministry, but also especially working in a remote part of the Democratic Republic of Congo, where there is no road access.  They have planted one church there and are endeavouring to plant 2 more churches in this remote area. What a joy to partner with people like this who have little in worldly terms, but are investing in eternity.

 

 The gifts from the four graduates

 

 Hilda, Maria & Esther. Esther does much teaching at women's conferences