A Little bit of info about Livingstone Church of the Nazarene...
“Imagine the harvest”
Africa is a vast continent, with staggering poverty, AIDS and hunger… it easily seems hopeless at best. But God is there, working among the Saints… nurturing hope and care through the Church and still saving the lost. There are new believers, worshipping in newly planted Nazarene churches all across Africa. This is a story of the faithful…persistently building the Kingdom in Africa.
“Pastor and family”
This is a history as written by Pastor Smoke Chiwe, March 14th, 2007.
I heard a calling in 1978 “build a church in north Province of Zambia”. I was saved in 1993. I continued to be with the United Church of Zambia.
1980 I was sick and I heard a voice from heaven saying that I should worship the Lord.
April 2002 I was attending an Orphans and Vulnerable Children conference in Lusaka and met Rev. Chiluba who was a Nazarene Pastor and he told me that they wanted to open a church in Livingstone. He phoned Rev. Gary Sidle who is our missionary. We had a very fruitful discussion. The missionary said they would come in June 2002.
The missionary, D.S. Kachaka and Pastor Mweetwa came in September 2002. After a discussion…. They told me to start a Sunday School at my house. On October 20, 2002 Nazarene Church was born at my house with myself, my wife and my 5 children. This is how the church was born. We were seven, today we have a membership of 480.
We thank our God for what He has done into our lives. I have planted 3 churches from the main church… Maramba, Linda and Gwenga.
“Youth group”
I have children in school, one in grade 11 and another in grade 7, and I have a nephew who is at the college. I need support from any well-wisher. I want to thank the team which came to support in building the church, Mr Anton and Mrs Anton, the missionary Rev. Sidle and Mrs. Rev. Sidle.
“Choir”
We have many challenges; the church at the moment is unable to pay me any salary. I am requesting for the prayers from all my brothers and sisters in Christ that the church can grow BIG.
God bless all the Nazarenes.
“School”
The Pastor and the church also have an Orphan and Vulnerable children school that they oversee and the church actually owns the property where their new church building will be built. Property ownership is rare in Africa. The property was purchased with Alabaster funds. The first phase of the building is the worship facility, then the parsonage, and then the school.
“Structure”
Construction on the worship facility was begun by a West Virginia W&W team. The project was completed in June by the OKC First team, who finished the block walls, windows and doors for this structure.
“Please pray”
Your prayers will positively affect this growing church in Zambia. We look forward, with great anticipation, to what God will do in and through us as we joyfully serve Him by partnering with our missionaries and Pastor Smoke, in caring for His precious people.
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