September 7, 2009

HIMAfrica heads to Zambia for pastors' conference

Zambia is one of the poorest nations on earth, ranking 117th out of the 128 nations listed in the 2007 Global Competitiveness Index. Per capita annual income averages less than $400. Well more than half the population lives on less than $1.25 a day.

Think about that... a Sunday newspaper here in the United States costs more than most Zambians can afford to spend for food, clothing, or shelter for an entire day.

But it gets worse.

Twenty percent of the population is infected with HIV, and will most likely end up dying of AIDS. This tragedy contributes to the incredibly low life expectancy in Zambia of 40.9 years.

And it is this situation that partner ministries of Hope Builders International find themselves facing.

This week, Lou Ann and Jeff Hawkins of HIMAfrica (Helping Indigenous Ministries in Africa) are in Zambia, sharing God's love with the lost.

"Wednesday, we will get up early and be on a plane to Zambia at 10 a.m. and arrive near 1 p.m. in Livingstone, meeting our partners Denson and Rebekah and also our dear friend Kennedy Mukumbo," reports Jeff. "We will stay there for a couple of days before traveling to Chingola and our Zambian family. The Conference starts Monday and ends Friday. We will be distributing many Bibles, bicycles, glasses, manuals and 350 new study courses for the new pastors."

Jeff has been asking for prayer for this trip for several months, specifically for the logistics of getting thousands of Bibles from South Africa to Zambia, timely delivery of a shipping crate of Bibles coming from the United States and headed to Chingola, and that all 48 Hub leaders and the six district leaders will be able to attend the conference.

And Hope Builders and HIMAfrica have undertaken a huge step of faith.

"We are committing to support all 48 Hub leaders with a quarterly allowance to help them do the work of planting churches and training new pastors," Jeff says. "Right now we have just enough money to support 10 Hub leaders and the six district leaders. Pray with us. Pray that the Lord would open doors for me to present the opportunity to more churches in the United States to sponsor this awesome work of planting churches and training pastors. It gives them an opportunity to have a personal ministry in Africa that God is using to save thousands and train hundreds of pastors."

Besides this step, Jeff says a generator ($1,000), a high definition video camera ($650), and a video projector ($800) are greatly needed for the work in Zambia and elsewhere in southern Africa.

A Sunday newspaper. A cup of coffee. Lunch at a fast food joint. A little bit of sacrifice on our part can make all the difference in the world for the lost in Africa.

Will you help?