Zambia Watch

Tomorrow, Pastors John, Richard and Bob Hamer fly out to Zambia for a ten day ministry trip. Our relationship with Bishop Hudson Luwi and the growing number of Churches across Zambia and into Zimbabwe that relate to him in an apostolic manner, goes from strength to strength. Having been myself on two prior occasions, their spiritual growth and development is always evident from one year to the next. They are truly a spiritually rich group of people who matter very much to the Lord.

The majority of this trip will focus on the Solwezi Conference; a concentrated 5-day series of meetings based in this northern Copper-Belt location, quite close to the Congo border. Each day consists of worship (it is a great privilege to hear these saints worship God using their own language and songs) and teaching from our team (mainly Pastor John) as well as others from the Zambian connection.

Since last year's visit, a number of Churches have been planted in the Solwezi area and they are going from strength to strength. Bishop Hudson has set in place leadership teams to pastor and lead these fledgling Churches and now, courtesy of his new vehicle bought and paid for by BCC members' financial gifts, can visit them with minimum fuss and expense. As a result of this significant growth, they are expecting 250-300 conference delegates and there will be no shortage of signs, wonders and the presence of the Lord, such is their passion for Christ.

Despite some highly challenging conditions (basic sleeping accommodation, cooking on open fires, no running water or proper toilets, exposed to the elements (sand storms and torrential downpours are not uncommon in October) and limited medical facilities), the conference delegates come hungry for God and ready to receive absolutely everything He has for them. Sometimes they have attended the meetings with empty stomachs as sand storms blew out the fires on which their evening meal was being cooked. There are no showers or bathrooms yet they were impeccably turned out and greeted us with a genuine warmth and hospitality that would not have been out of place when greeting heads of state and other dignitaries.

This attitude of honour was and still is a great provocation to me.

In Apostolic Biblical Church, Colin Urquhart writes (p.9 emphasis added), "An apostolic people recognise their complete dependence on the Lord to accomplish His plans and purposes. They are a people of faith and authority. There is a keen sense of honouring the Lord and the anointing He gives, and of honouring those who carry that anointing. Those submitted to a greater anointing than they themselves carry can minister in the power of that anointing that is greater than their own. They are able to accomplish far more, therefore, than they would be able to accomplish on their own." As the Zambian Church honour both Pastor John and Bishop Hudson, this anointing is released into their lives and the Kingdom of God advances through them. This fruit of honour is often ignored but it is both Biblical (Hebrews 13:17) and essential for our ability to produce truly Christ-like fruit.

Pray for the Team as they travel and minister. Pray also for yourselves as these Zambian Christians have a far greater understanding of honour and submission than most in the West. They are reaping the spiritual benefits as a result.