Zambia is a land-locked country in central Africa. The people are mostly of Bantu origin, made up of more than 70 different tribes. Zambians are peace-loving people who have never experienced war. They are open and friendly to strangers, even accepting hundreds of thousands of refugees from Congo, Angola, and other countries.
Zambia was at one time a British colony, and is now governed by a multi-party democracy. In the past, Zambia had a very prosperous copper industry, went through a severe economic downturn, but the economy is improving as copper prices are high and new mines are being developed. However, Zambia still suffers from high unemployment and poverty. HIV & AIDS and other diseases are destroying the population, and it is estimated that 1.6 million children have lost one or both parents to AIDS. The United Nations rates Zambia 164 out of 177 countries in the world economically. Eighty-seven percent of Zambians survive on less than $2 USD per day. Half of the population are 15 years old or younger, and the average lifespan of a Zambian is 32.7 years and falling. Three out of four Zambians would say they are Christians, but there is a big gap between stated belief and lifestyle choices.
Zambia is home to the spectacular Victoria Falls on the Zambezi River! They were named by David Livingstone, the first European to set eyes on them. This large, landlocked country in south central Africa is one of the most industrialised and urbanised countries in sub-Saharan Africa.
Current SIM Ministry
The Evangelical Church in Zambia (ECZ) has 668 organised churches and 284 developing ones, as well as one Bible college and two Bible schools in vernacular languages. Ministries of the church and mission include hospitals and community health, HIV and AIDS education, education at various levels, Christian Education resources for the church, discipleship seminars, church leadership training, agricultural development, and aviation. The ECZ has sent cross-cultural missionaries within Zambia. SIM not only partners with the church (ECZ), but also works alongside Scripture Union and other locally based ministries.
SIM seeks to further equip the Zambian church to fulfil Christ's commission. When missionaries came 100 years ago, there was no church; today there is an increasingly strong one. Nevertheless, enormous spiritual and physical challenges face Zambia today: traditional religions, HIV and AIDS, poverty, malnutrition, cults, materialism, and Islam.
The ECZ was established through SIM's work (formerly AEF - Africa Evangelical Fellowship, and SAGM - South Africa General Mission) in church planting and is SIM's primary church partner. SIM shares the church's vision to reach out to the lost and vulnerable, to disciple believers to live out their beliefs, and to train its leaders. SIM and other missions have been working in Zambia since the early 1900s. Today SIM missionaries in Zambia are seconded to the ECZ which is now responsible for all institutional and church work.
History of Christianity
The first AEF/SIM missionary to Zambia was A. W. Bailey, who arrived in 1910 following an invitation from the famous Brethren missionary, Frederick Arnot. Mr. Bailey served the Kaonde people in the northwest of the country, and was soon joined by other missionaries.
Years of Christian work in Zambia have resulted in large churches, some are nominal, but many are extremely active. The work of Scripture Union (SU) has been significant, especially in secondary schools. In the past most missions emphasised institutional work, resulting in large numbers of church-managed schools and hospitals which are encouraged by the government. By some estimates, the Zambian population is 25% evangelical Christian.
Please pray for
- SIM's partnership with the Evangelical Church in Zambia (ECZ) to be effective and marked by good relationships.
- SIM and the ECZ as they work towards the common goal of discipling church members to maturity.
- the ECZ as they seek qualified and committed pastors, financial managers, and administrative staff.
- God to raise up workers for HIV & AIDS ministries, short-term mission programme development, and medical work; ask him to raise up and send out those with a vision to equip the church.
