Zambia Visit - AUG 2025

Two weeks in Zambia passed rather quickly. Four days were spent on buses traveling to the three districts of the Zambia Confessional Lutheran Church (ZCLC). I was accompanied by Pastor Ibrahim, a longtime good friend and faithful servant of the Lord. Ibrahim was trained at the CLC-sponsored seminary in Tanzania. When it became necessary to close the seminary and CLC-East Africa was struggling with dishonest leadership, Ibrahim packed his bags and moved to Zambia. He was invited by a friend to relocate to Lusaka, where he started a Lutheran church that would stay faithful to the Scriptures. Around the same time, Pastor Yumba from the DR Congo was doing outreach across the border in the northern Copperbelt Province of Zambia. A few years later, as Ibrahim traveled regularly to Zimbabwe to work with a CLC contact in Bulawayo, he also did outreach in Livingstone, a border town between Zambia and Zimbabwe. This outreach led to the founding of a congregation. With no other Lutheran outreach in the area, several people became interested and excited about studying Lutheran doctrine with Ibrahim,  seeing that everything he taught was taken directly from the Bible. This was something new for many, as they were accustomed to hearing pastors preach about their visions or testimonies, often with little regard for the Bible's actual teachings. With help from the CLC-MDF, an unexpected anonymous bequest, and the generosity of a local Zambian who was eager to see a church get started in his neighborhood, a small building was purchased that would serve as a church, a Bible institute for training pastors and church leaders, and a pastor's residence. 

Over the past fifteen years, the ZCLC ministry has experienced various ups and downs, as well as many blessings from the Lord. The ZCLC is nearing the completion of its registration as an official Zambian church body. This process is not straightforward. Due to the prevalence of fraudulent ministries that exploit the people of Zambia, the government has implemented a strict procedure to ensure that only legitimate ministries receive the necessary documentation. Registration is important for a couple of reasons: 1. Since Ibrahim does not hold Zambian citizenship, he needs a registered organization to work under in order to avoid immigration issues. 2. The government will not recognize marriages and funerals conducted by non-registered churches. The ZCLC has been informed that everything is now in order, and they anticipate receiving the official registration documents within the next couple of weeks! Once registered, the ZCLC will be official in three districts: 1) Copperbelt District, 2) Lusaka District, and 3) Livingstone District.

My visit began with a week spent in Kitwe, located in northern Copperbelt Province. I had the privilege of preaching during the Sunday service, where members from all three ZCLC congregations in the area gathered at the Kalulushi congregation, which is about 40 minutes outside of Kitwe. Additionally, we conducted an outreach seminar and a training seminar for pastors and church leaders. We also took the time to discuss the church registration process, as well as some of the opportunities, needs, and challenges of the three congregations in the district.

Joint worship at the Kalulushi congregation in the ZCLC Copperbelt District

Joint worship service of three ZCLC congregations in the Copperbelt District

Pastors and Leaders in the ZCLC Copperbelt District

ZCLC Leadership Committee in Kitwe, Copperbelt Province

Ibrahim and I traveled back to Lusaka from Kitwe, which is a 9+ hour bus ride. In Lusaka, we met with contacts and tried to meet with the local ZCLC evangelist but there was some miscommunication that prevented our meeting. We also spent time following up on the church registration at the Office of the Societies Registrar.

 

After a quick visit to Lusaka, we took a bus for another long journey, this time to the southern border city of Livingstone. We spent five busy days there conducting worship, Bible study, outreach activities, a training seminar for pastors and church leaders, and several meetings to discuss the opportunities and challenges they are facing in the area, as well as future plans for the congregation and outreach efforts.

Worship at the ZCLC Congregation in Livingstone, Zambia

Pastor Ibrahim leading worship in Livingstone, Zambia

Pastor Ibrahim leading worship in Livingstone, Zambia

Participants and the Pastor/Church leader training seminar in Livingstone, Zambia

Livingstone is always a fun place to visit because it is close to Victoria Falls, making it a popular destination for tourists from all over the world. The hostel where I stay has become a sort of home away from home. The staff knows me well by now, and it's like a homecoming when I arrive. And, there are always many interesting people to meet.

I made friends with a father and son from New Zealand. The father had served for fifteen years as a medical missionary and pharmacist in Zambia, where his son was born. They spent five weeks doing construction and maintenance work on a hospital and a school in the town where they once lived. They are both very conservative Christians, and we found we had a lot in common, including views on creation, Biblical inerrancy, salvation by Grace alone through faith alone, and Christian education.

I also met a young man from Germany who came to Africa with only a bike, a small tent, and a few clothes. He started his journey in Cape Town, South Africa, and had ridden his bike for more than 2,000 kilometers before it broke down. He couldn’t find parts to fix it, so he abandoned the bike in Angola and is making his way by bus to Lusaka to either buy a new bike or continue his African adventure by bus.

I also met a man, about my age, from the U.S. who is spending 14 months riding his motorcycle around the world. He is a nurse and has taught at a nursing college in Phoenix, specializing in behavioral health. With his children all grown and out of the house, and his wife recently taking a new position in Flagstaff, Arizona, leaving him between jobs, he decided it was a good opportunity to explore the world. He began by shipping his motorcycle to Europe. After touring Europe, he flew his bike to South Africa. Once he finishes his travels in Africa, he plans to head to South America and then Asia. Both he and his wife have been involved in supporting Gospel outreach efforts throughout Africa, so he's been trying to find and spend time with pastors connected to ministries they have supported along his route. He also looks for opportunities to use his nursing and teaching skills wherever he can. This led to an opportunity to spend a few weeks taking care of an elderly woman who had returned home from major surgery. 

It's always exciting to meet such interesting people from around the world, and I stay in contact with several of them. I consider this a fringe benefit of my travels!

My lodging at the Hostel in Livingstone, Zambia

Rick and his round-the-world motorcycle trip

I'm back in Lusaka now, waiting for a late-night flight from Lusaka to Doha, then on to Miami, and finally home. If everything goes as planned, I should arrive home in the early hours of Saturday morning. 

 

I appreciate your prayers for safety, good health, and the blessings of our Lord on the Gospel ministry here in Zambia. Thank you! Please continue to pray that the Lord will bless me with safe and uneventful travels.