Report by

Jesse M. Nzima

(in the picture  with wife, Moudy)

We had been praying for the mission for quite some time. We thanked the LORD that he finally provided the way for us to travel to the Eastern Province of Zambia, which is about 570km east of Lusaka, to a remote village called Mnukwa.

We set off from Lusaka at 5am on Friday 25th May.  The team that travelled comprised of four brothers and their spouses. After about nine hours on the road, we finally touched Chipata. This city is the provincial headquarters of the Eastern Province.

We had the opportunity of meeting Chief Mnukwa at his residence in town. He welcomed us. He made us feel at home. He was delighted to finally meet the Nyali Mission team in person.

(Earlier brother Phiri and his wife had been travelling to Chipata to request for land where a church and a school can be established. We have called this project Nyali Mission. Nyali means Light and it is our desire to see the light of God shine in this region. Chief Mnukwa explained that he was looking forward to the establishment of the church and its various activities that will help transform people’s lives spiritually and physically. It is important to note that this is a rural place: schools are scarce and the few that are there are below required standards. Medical facilities are very few, and people have to walk long distances to access them. People are extremely poor and families depend on farming activities. It is for this reason that when Brother Phiri first visited the arean he saw the need to both preach the gospel and teach people literacy skills. He drew inspiration from what the early European missionaries, like Dr David Livingstone, did when they came to Africa. So great were the sacrifices of these missionaries, that one wonders what courage they had to leave the comfort of Europe and come to settle in a strange land which was a bush populated by people whose languages they did not know!).

Upon arrival in Chipata we first visited sister Phiri’s aunt who had been involved in an accident which left her very sick.  Her x-ray showed a crack in the spine. She was in pain and lay down in the centre of the living room as we sat on the sofas.  She had not slept previous nights because of intense pain. She explained how costly the required medical treatment would be. She spoke in tears out of the physical and emotional pain. Some spiritualist religious people visited her and gave her ‘anointed’ water and honey to eat for her healing. They spoke about prophecies of her impending death, to occur on a specified date in June. They said that this would be caused by some people who used evil spells on her. But brother Andrew Phiri read from the book of Jonah chapter Jonah 2:8  – “They that observe lying vanities forsake their own mercy” and encouraged her to believe on the Lord Jesus. He testified about how his mother got supernaturally healed and became a devout believer. At the end of the sharing we held hands in faith praying a prayer of faith. A day after this prayer, the following day, we were surprised to see her walking, looking bright, with a strong voice, and she was able to sleep soundly that night! She happily testified and after two days we passed through the house and she still looked better and stronger than the earlier time. We can only pray that her heart stays steadfast on the promises of God.

On Friday, after praying for the patient we proceeded to Chatama, another village under Chief Mnukwa, where the mother of sister Phiri lives. She farms and rears animals. We arrived at night and were warmly welcomed.

Before going to sleep the family gathered to listen to a preaching. At the end of the sharing we presented various prayer requests which had been given. At the end of the meeting brother Phiri distributed bro Branham’s book –  “Discerning the Body of the Lord”, to all people who were present.

Saturday was the day that we were scheduled to see the land allocated for our ministry.

That morning there was a request which came from a woman at a nearby home, asking for prayers over her family. She desired healing in her legs which are experiencing pain and prayer over her children. When we arrived there, some more women and children gathered. Brother Phiri preached about the Lord Jesus and how He came to set the captives free. The people were attentive and expectant. After the sharing we had prayer for the sick. We also prayed for the children.

We finally said good bye to the people and I looked at the brothers and told them that we had offered prayer and they had received us and heard us but they still needed financial and educational assistance. The people have heard the preaching but they can’t read!

We finally proceeded to the area where the piece of land was. It was beyond our expectations. It is so beautiful, so large, very near to the road, and has a stream flowing through it. The local headman showed us the whole area. The land is approximately 400 metres by 160 metres. After finalizing the tour of the place we drove back to town and spent a night at a lodge.

In the morning, at the lodge, before going for church service, brother Phiri took us to sit around under a tree-shade. He took the opportunity to remind us on various important aspects of leadership that we should always be mindful of as leaders in our local assembly. He admonished the brothers to watch the ways of their homes in ensuring that their wives were also versed in the Truth of God’s Word.

He stressed that leadership was not merely a position but a life to be lived. He admonished us to be ahead in prayer, to be ahead in studying the Bible. He admonished us to live a life worthy of a leader, full of integrity and devoutness. After a word of prayer we got into our cars and proceeded to  Chipata Christian Tabernacle.

Brother Phiri preached an inspired sermon titled The Way of Life (watch video below).Our spirits rejoiced being in anointed atmosphere. When the sermon ended the pastor of the assembly was enthused at how the message preached reflected what had been mentioned at church the previous week. He desired for us to return there as often as we can to help strengthen the church of Christ. (watch the sermon on the link provided below).

From the church service we started off to Lusaka and arrived in Lusaka around 10:30PM. To God be all the glory.

“Way of Life“

Preached at Chipata Christian Tabernacle