Preschools, Prison Ministry, and more in Zambia

Chisamba is a community of more than 160,000 people, with many facing deep economic, social, and spiritual challenges. Roads are poor. Schools and hospitals have inadequate infrastructure. Crippling poverty leaves families struggling to eat three meals a day. Illiteracy is common. And for years, the true message of the Gospel has been crowded out by prosperity teaching and confusion.

However, amidst these challenges, something new is emerging.

In 2023, Possibilities Africa began walking alongside local pastors in Chisamba who love their communities and were eager to bring transformation that reaches the whole person. After meeting with more than 15 pastors and inviting them to the Possibilities Africa training, eight committed. These pastors returned home after learning from seasoned facilitators, equipped to serve their communities in new ways.

One of them, Dismas Chisanga, saw that children in his community had no access to education. He decided to take action and bought land for a school building.  What began with two classes for 50 preschoolers and 5 educators has expanded to include 110 children, ranging from the age of three to grade seven, and 11 educators. The demand has been so high that he added two more blocks and a foundation for four more rooms. He hopes to fund the building project with the proceeds from his piggery and a garden behind the school, where he grows maize and vegetables. 

Pastor Dismas uses the time during lunch each day to hold spiritual guidance sessions with the children. He teaches them the Word of God, shares Bible stories with them, and gives them scriptures to recite when they go home. Parents happily report that they have since seen behavioral changes in their children. The 11 staff members gather daily for devotionals with Pastor Dismas, and plans are underway to train them to disciple students more deeply as the number of students also increases. 

Another pastor, Josephus Mwape, began establishing small groups for church members to meet in their homes. Small groups of three or four families gather weekly to study Scripture together. Neighbors who had never attended church discovered a sense of belonging. In a short time, his congregation grew from 55 to more than 200 people. He also stepped into local high schools, teaching them about building a relationship with God. He met weekly with 25 students at one school before helping start a Scripture Union that the students themselves now lead. The Scripture Union has grown to 47 members. Generational change is taking place in both faith and character.

Together, Pastor Benjamin Sakala and his church members have reached 2,061 prisoners with the Word of God. They have also pooled money together to buy food for prisoners. Consider this for a moment: thanks to the generosity of donors like you in the United States, thousands are hearing the Gospel and receiving encouragement. 

The impact doesn’t stop with spiritual transformation. Pastor Benjamin has also taken economic productivity very seriously because he now knows firsthand the power and respect that come from having the ability to provide for oneself. He returned from the Possibilities Africa training determined to provide for his family and model sustainability. He started by raising pigs. Selling the meat gave him the ability to launch other income-generating projects, including maize, an orange orchard, and irrigation. He has planted 200 orange plants that he hopes to sell at the market.

Across Chisamba, pastors have formed Shalom Groups for men, women, and youth to grow spiritually, support one another, and lead transformation in their churches. Crusades now include conversations with parents about keeping girls in school.

There are still challenges, like distance, poverty, and strong cultural pressures. But step by step, the story of Chisamba is changing. Because when pastors are equipped to serve people spiritually, economically, and socially, communities begin to heal.