Lusaka – first day

What a joy to meet again with our friends in CCAP Zambia Synod. Offering prayer in the airport carpark and then to the accomm lodge.

This continuing Presbyterian church is close to our heart and the humility and grace of the church leaders is warming to us.

CCAP Zambia has a rich history. In the late 19^th century, the father of Dr Kenneth Kaunda (Dr KK was the founding president of the Republic of Zambia) was a Malawian evangelist sent from the strongly evangelical Free Church missions in northern Malawi. KK’s father was one of several evangelists who brought the gospel to this land.

The converts and new churches spread southward and formed a denomination of churches called CCA-NR … the Church of Central Africa – Northern Rhodesia.

As Independence approached in the 1960s there was a parallel spirit in the church and most CCAP churches were expected to merge with other denominations to form a uniting church UCZ: United Church of Zambia. It was part of the emerging nationalistic spirit and it was considered unpatriotic to not join. But quietly and without being noticed a number of CCA churches remained “out” of the union and after 1965 became known as CCAP. They were willing to worship even without buildings to remain true to CCAP principles. Some feared being arrested by the government! CCAP Zambia Synod became autonomous in 1984.

Two CCAP ministries impressed us.

1. Synod Office complex

Here, at the CCAP owned farm, the church has built a chicken and quail farm in order to have self-sustaining capacity. Currently they raise and sell about 2000 chickens a month and have a steady market for them. Also they now have about 500 quails and over 2000 quail eggs – ALL from 4 quail! The potential is here for an income stream, but they probably need to expand the business some more. CCAP employs two men full time to run the business.

Bricks are being purchased for the completion of a new Synod office complex and a centre for rehabilitation and retraining of skills of prisoners. There is a nationwide CCAP “levy” at present that every CCAP member must provide 2 bricks for the buildings.

Synod has developed a very impressive strategic plan for the development of the Synod ministries. They shared this strategic plan with us and gave us the documents to bring home.

www.ccapzambia.org is their website where future plans may be seen.

Also, it was the day of signing a partnership agreement between CCAP Zambia and PCV (see photo below).

2.  Matero CCAP orphan care

Sorrento-Rye Presbyterian Church again this year donated money to CCAP Zambia for orphan care. These funds have been applied to Matero’s outreach and care ministry for orphans and other vulnerable children. For the last few years the congregation have offered schooling to the neighbourhood children who, because of their orphan status, have no chance of attending even government schools because of the entrance fee and the cost of uniforms etc.

With the arrival of the donation this year the church has immediately begun building a new classroom for over 120 orphans who gather at this school.
Such is the need of Zambia that this ministry of mercy could be repeated throughout the city of Lusaka and all over the land. The men and women of the church were busy mixing concrete in preparation for the bricks.

You will see in one of the photos that I was invited to lay the foundation stone. I hope I laid it straight. But I did talk about the Lord Jesus Christ who is the chief cornerstone of the church.

Thank you Sorrento-Rye for caring.