Sent to Zambia - May 2026

First Official Zambia-CLC Pastor Conference

It's Friday, May 22nd as I sit here in the Lusaka, Zambia airport waiting the first of several flights that will take me home after being away for six weeks that included visits to Nigeria and the DR Congo (DRC). If you haven't heard, the visit to the DRC is going to cause a little havoc in my return trip. Just yesterday, the U.S. Department sent the following notice:

 Event: As of May 21, 2026, all U.S.-bound American citizens and lawful permanent residents (LPRs) who have been present in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda, or South Sudan within 21 days of arrival in the United States must only enter through Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) for enhanced screening. 

Since my departure from the DRC was just 10 days ago, I fall into the category of traveler who "must only enter through Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) for enhanced screening." Lucky me! I was scheduled to fly from Lusaka to Johannesburg, South Africa to Atlanta to home...arriving Saturday afternoon. I'm guessing I might arrive a little later, like a couple of days later. When I checked in for my flight here in Lusaka, I was told that my booking to Atlanta has been suspended and they are only responsible for my flight from Lusaka to Johannesburg and I would need to contact the Delta help desk upon arrival. Delta now has me listed (but not confirmed or ticketed) on flights through Nairobi and Amsterdam arriving at Washington, Dulles on Sunday morning. I won't know my actual flight schedule until they get something worked out in Johannesburg. All I know for sure is that I will be routing through Washington, Dulles airport instead of Atlanta. It's kinda funny, I don't really get too worried or nervous about these kinds of things anymore. I've witnessed Our Savior take care of much bigger issues than this, like my sin on the cross!! I trust He will just work all of this out according to His good and gracious plans! Romans 8:28, 31-32

Anyway, on to the topic at hand, my recent visit to Zambia...

I arrived in Zambia on May 11th after spending two weeks in the DRC with Missionary Evensen. This was an important visit as the Zambia-CLC (ZCLC) planned to take the next step in the organizational process and in a long partnership with the CLC that began nearly 16 years ago. It was a joyful and encouraging time filled with progress, fellowship, and clear evidence of God’s blessing on the work.

Upon arrival in Lusaka, I was immediately informed that plans had changed. Instead of hopping on a bus the next day to spend a couple of days visiting preaching stations with Pastor Ibrahim, I was informed that Pastors Mwansa and Mutale, along with Evangelist Reagan were in Lusaka to make the final push to secure official church registration for the Zambia-CLC. They, and Missionary Ibrahim had arrived earlier in the days and were planning to visit the office of the Zambia Registrar of Societies and not leave until they had the registration certificate in hand. They didn't want me to go with them to avoid any thoughts of asking for additional fees if the clerk or registrar got the idea that there was an American organization with deep pockets available. But they did want me to stay in Lusaka in case the registrar needed me to verify the letter of partnership that the CLC had provided a few years ago in the process. So, for the next few days, these men dutifully went to the office at 9:00 and waited, and filled out more paperwork, and testified in court that their affidavit stating their leadership of the ZCLC was true and accurate, and stayed until the close of business. By Thursday afternoon, they were told that everything was complete and approved and they could pick up the official certificate on Monday. That little piece of news was great to hear, not only because it seemed that all their work and frustration was finally going to pay off, but also because it freed them up to attend the ZCLC pastor conference and Bible training! 

On Monday, May 18, their persistence paid off—the registration certificate was finally issued and signed! The excitement among the men was obvious. I was told that there were prayers of thanksgiving said right in the registrar's office along with a few tears of joy! After years of delays, immigration challenges, lost paperwork, and many setbacks (including Covid), the church body now has legal recognition. This will now allow the congregations to purchase property, conduct marriages, funerals, and baptisms. This will also provide the necessary legal status for Missionary Ibrahim (who is from Tanzania and was trained in a CLC affiliated seminary) to work unhindered and unharrased under the banner of a registered church. This may not seem like much to many in the world, but to the pastors and leaders and congregations of the ZCLC...this is a BIG DEAL! Everyone involved was overjoyed and gave thanks to God.

That same week we held a three-day (Friday-Sunday) conference, Bible training seminary, and organizational meeting in Lusaka with twelve men from several areas across the country. It was the first time many of them had gathered together in one place. I have met and taught all of them on different visits over the past fourteen years, and they have all studied under Missionary Ibrahim for many years. We studied doctrine, discussed Lutheran worship practices, and shared reports on outreach efforts in their various districts. The men participated with deep humility and respect for the Word of God, zeal, and a deep commitment to the truth of Scripture. Watching them meet, exchange ideas, and strengthen their unity was a joy and a privilege to witness, not a memory I will soon forget! Thank you Lord!

From Lusaka, I traveled by bus to Livingstone for a Bible seminar. Missionary Ibrahim stayed behind to collect the registration certificate and joined me in Livingstone on Tuesday evening. We spent Wednesday studying key teachings of the Lutheran Reformation with a group of fifteen people, including six local pastors and leaders interested in sound doctrine. The discussions were lively and encouraging.

This visit marked a significant milestone. After years of patient work, the ZCLC has taken important steps toward greater organization and unity. The pastors and evangelists expressed genuine excitement about moving forward together, growing in their understanding of God’s Word, and reaching out with the Gospel. They have lots of plans for strengthening the congregations and preaching stations they are called to serve. They asked if I could make plans to come more than once a year and conduct longer, deeper studies of God's word. I told them I was not opposed, but we would need to see how the Lord leads.

I left Zambia encouraged and eager to return soon for continued training and support. Praise God from whom all blessings flow!

Missionary Ibrahim Welcoming the Pastors, Leaders, and Evangelists to the ZCLC Confernece/Seminar

Pastors, Leaders, and Evangelists who attended the ZCLC Confernece/Bible Training Seminar

Lunch Time

My view of the ZCLC Confernece/Bible Training Seminar

Youth Choir from the ZCLC Shimabala Congregation on the Outskirts of Lusaka joined us for Sunday Morning Worship

Attendees at the Bible Seminar in Livingstone

Black Board in Livingstone--Missionary Ibrahim explaining the CLC

Waiting for Everyone to Arrive for the Bible Seminar in Livingstone

Missionary Ibrahim Welcoming Everyone to the Bible Seminar in Livingstone

See more pictures HERE

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 made his way through Turkey, Iraq, Kuwait, and Saudi Arabia, where he arranged to have his bike flown to Nairobi, Kenya, where he began his travels through Africa. It was fun to hear him describe his time in and around Arusha, where the Tanzania-CLC seminary is and where Missionary Bruce and Paula Naumann live. 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.