November 29, 2010
Subject: Discipleship Africa – November Update
Dear Partner in Ministry,
What an exciting time it is, as we see God slowly, and in His time, revealing His expanding purpose for us in South Central Africa! As I pen this letter, Zambian nationals are leading the largest number of graduations we have seen in the history of the ministry with an anticipated 500 newly equipped graduates in 22 cities, while across the border in Lilongwe, Malawi precious saints are forming 33,000 bricks by hand for the new Emmaus Course distribution and training center in preparation for what could be explosive growth there!
The Zambia work continues to expand under the national leadership of Brother Dickson; however Mulengwani, his apprentice, continues to learn and take the lead in many areas. Mulengwani is a very gifted young man, who we feel God is preparing for the national leadership position. While we are very grateful for Brother Dickson and Brother Mulengwani, we are also very grateful for the commitment and faithful service of three other Zone Coordinators, forty four Area Coordinators and some 1,400 Bible Center Correctors!
For years now, Brother Banda, our Zambia Eastern Province Zone Coordinator, has equipped and sent men to remote areas of Zambia and Mozambique with God’s word and the Emmaus material. His purpose was to establish preaching points to share the gospel and equip the new Christian using the Emmaus courses. This has resulted in 17 known new churches and three public schools! Through an initiative called Village Outreach and under Brother Banda’s leadership, the Zambian Government has approved the establishment of multiple Primary Schools for children who would not otherwise have an opportunity to receive an education. Teachers have been enlisted and the Bible and Emmaus course are taught as part of the curriculum. We praise God for this opportunity!
Across the border in Lilongwe, Malawi we are positioning for what could be explosive growth. Lilongwe is a bustling city of more than 2 million with approximately 60,000 new people moving in each year. Brother Ross and Sherry Collier, IMB missionaries to Malawi for more than 20 years and members of Mobberly Baptist in Longview oversee church planting and growth there in Lilongwe. With more than 600 established churches prior to this year, there have already been 220 new churches established since July of this year! This translates to more than 30,000 new converts and young Christians who desperately need discipleship in God’s word. Brother Ross anticipates 15,000 baptisms this year alone! In a recent email from Brother Ross he told me that “our greatest challenge is discipling those we lead to Christ as well as developing leadership for the next year’s work in church planting.”
Brother Ronny and I went to Zambia then Malawi in June of 2010. We traveled more than 1,700 miles in Zambia to encourage the saints and have leadership meetings there. We traveled across the border into Malawi and began the Emmaus work in Lilongwe. We are planning to return to Malawi in January 2011 to graduate, train and send the initial group out to begin the multiplication process. It was just six years ago that we trained and equipped 59 people in Zambia and now there are more than 1,400 Bible Center Correctors!
Chikondi Baptist Church, there in Lilongwe has offered a free piece of property in a location where land sells for $9,000 an acre. The saints are currently forming and “firing” 33,000 bricks for a facility that will be large enough to house the discipleship materials and serve as a meeting and training facility. This is very timely as shipment from Germany of more than 20,000 Emmaus courses just arrived in Malawi. We are very grateful to Brother Ross for the ground work he has done to make the facility possible!
As we press on, we trust God for the financial increase needed to support this awesome growth. We are confident that where God guides, He provides! We are praying for God’s provision of $60,000 to support the growth in 2011.
Multiply your gift through the end of 2010! – A small group of very generous ministry partners have pledged the sum of $8,000 as a matching fund. This means that for every dollar that is donated up to $8,000, they will match the amount, doubling the amount that is donated to the ministry! We hope you will pray about this unique opportunity to financially support the ministry as we press on in obedience to our Lord’s command to “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations….”
Tell others about Discipleship Africa! – We have a 5 minute DVD that can be used to introduce the ministry to others. Just let us know if you would like a copy. I am also available to speak to individuals, churches or civic groups about the ministry.
Thank you for your partnership in the ministry through your fervent prayer, volunteer service and financial support!
Together and by God’s grace, we are making an eternal difference!
Your Brother and co-laborer in Christ,
Eddie G. Napps
President
Jericho Road Ministries
