What A Day!

Billy Graham preached at Madison Square Garden in June, 1970. It was there that thirteen year old Abby Archer went forward to dedicate her life to full time Christian service. Little did she know that this decision would carry her to the Kanyambo district of Lusaka, Zambia fifty-five years later where she was ordained on July 5, 2026 by the Synod of Zambia as a Minister of Word and Sacrament of the Church of Central Africa Presbyterian (CCAP)!

The four hour Service of Ordination was inspiring and beautiful, punctuated by amazing music from three choirs, gripping times of prayer, challenging preaching of the Word, deep words of encouragement, and so much love and joy. We wish all of you could have been with us.

Through the years, Abby has always been actively involved in ministry and mission, including church planting, youth ministry, Sunday School, women’s ministry, hospital and at-risk youth chaplaincy, and, for the last eighteen years, raising, training, equipping and releasing mission minded pastors, chaplains and leaders in Zambia and beyond.

Her ordination was historic. She is the first non-Zambian and the first white to be ordained by CCAP with whom she will work annually to train school and clinic chaplains, evangelists, church planters, and seminary students at Chasefu Theological College. She will be joined in this effort by Doug and our dear friend and Zambian director, Pastor Percy Muleba.

Thank you for always encouraging, praying for, and supporting us through the years. You’re amazing. And always remember that when we go, you go with us!

Please enjoy the photos below of this glorious day!

Surprising New Opportunities

As we drove out of Namibia, we sensed a shift which we guess isn’t surprising because it seems like we have transitioned to new opportunities about every five years. We’re currently ending our third five year cycle and have just entered our fourth. What lies ahead? Well…

Today, Zambia has perhaps the youngest demographic of all the African countries. Approximately seventy-five percent of its population is under thirty years old. It’s not surprising, then, that when we taught three different groups in Livingstone they were dominated by young people.

First, we trained a group of students at Pastor Tom Siachitema’s Bible school. Unlike the first group of pastors we had trained at Pastor Tom’s invitation, these were all young, with only one student over the age of twenty-five. Drawn from various villages in the wider region, most of these students had finished high school and a couple had college degrees. After we sorted out our American accents, they were eager to engage, some in Tonga (translated) and many in English. As usual, we began with “Understanding Guilt, Shame and Fear and “Wounded Healers.” Our approach was new to them, but they liked it and seemed to thrive in our interactive style. By the end of the week we were posing for pictures with numerous students, all being taken on their ubiquitous smartphones. We were especially encouraged by the international vision of the students. Many shared that they are looking at making a missional impact beyond Zambia, and they want to be well prepared.

Next, we spent a little time with Pastor Esau’s Multiply Church leaders, many of whom are young. We challenged them with a shortened version of “Discovering Your S.H.A.P.E. for Ministry” which we modified to begin with a general discussion of the life flow of a healthy church which differentiates the biblical roles of pastors/shepherds and members/disciples. This is something new we’ve been working on and it was very impactful. One student enthusiastically commented, “We have never had training like this before.”

Finally, at the invitation of Pastor Francis whom we met several years ago and whom Percy has since gotten to know, we met with his church planting team for two afternoons. The Linda South Primary School graciously gave us classroom space. Again, we presented the newly modified “Discovering Your S.HA.P.E. for Ministry” and we can safely say that it was a bit revolutionary to Pastor Francis and his team. One student put it simply, “I want more of this training!” As you might imagine, we intend to work more closely with Pastor Francis’s team next year.

Whew! What an amazing two weeks in Livingstone! It’s clear to us now that our training must shift to focus even more strongly on younger students, especially those below the age of thirty, and to be prepared for their international outlook. Smartphones have opened the world to their generation. They’re ready to make an impact, and so are we.

The pictures below are of these trainings, along with some of the wildlife we’ve seen in the Livingstone area in the last two weeks.

Always remember that when we go, you come with us in your support, prayers, and encouragement. We deeply appreciate you!

Transitions

We’ve just finished a week’s training in Namibia, and it went very well. We were hosted by Keith and Teresa who opened their absolutely stunning guest house with large classroom space on a beautiful property to our class. Our Namibian man of peace and dear friend of Percy, Pastor Jack, has gotten to know them and has been training them in his Bible School.

Our focus in Phase 3 was twofold, quickly review Phases 1 and 2, and then turn our attention to “Foundations of Pastoral Care: Receiving, Being, Becoming and Doing” which was taught by Abby, and “The Importance of Vision in Ministry: A Study of Nehemiah” which was taught by Doug. Our students, Keith, Teresa, Jack, Selma, Naomi, Athanasius, Blassius and Japheth, were just wonderful, allowing for open and helpful discussions. The last five came 200 miles from Divundu, deep in the Caprivi Strip, for the week of training.

One of the most encouraging comments during our class was made by Teresa, with everyone concurring: ”Others who have not taken these classes will continue doing their ministry the same. But as for us who have had these classes, we will do ministry differently from now on.”

At this point, we are excited to say that Percy and we are transitioning from this Namibian class, and joyfully handing them over to our new Director of Church Planting, Bosco Kutoma, and his team for future training. We’ve had a great run with this group of students and are excited about their future potential!

Medical Update: Our friend and GTN colleague, Michael Brogna, who was to have joined our training team in Namibia, has cleared numerous medical tests which is great, but he is still awaiting more results so please keep praying for him.

We have now returned to Livingstone, Zambia, and are once again working with Pastor Tom. We are training a new class of twenty young Bible School students from a variety of churches, many of which are quite far away in remote villages. We’re excited about this new partnership and believe it holds great promise for the future. This Saturday, we will train Pastor Esau’s leadership for the third time, and then Doug will preach in his church, Multiply Livingstone.

It’s been an intense, but very encouraging trip so far, and we are very grateful for your faithful, prayers, support, and encouragement. And, please remember, that when we go you always go with us.

The photos below are from our day trip with Laura Rumple into Chobe National Park and a few of our Namibian class. Enjoy!

Old Friends and New!

When we left home, we had several goals. We wanted to introduce Laura Rumple, a dear friend, recording artist, worship leader, and vocologist, to Zambia’s great need for vocal and leadership training among its worship leaders. We also looked forward to team teaching here for the first time with a GTN colleague, Michael Brogna, during our Phase 3 training in Namibia. Additionally, we wanted to launch Phase 1 training with a new partner, Pastor Tom Siachitema, who has established Rural Hope Africa, and had asked for our help to train church planters. Excitedly, we anticipated Abby’s ordination by the Church of Central Africa Presbyterian (CCAP) and a week’s training with its leaders afterwards. And, finally, we were anxious to spend time and strategize with the new Director of BWTC’s Church Planting Academy, Bosco Kutoma.

Well, how’s it been going? First and foremost, Laura Rumple has adapted beautifully to Zambia and has already made an amazing impact on many worship leaders with whom she has had one-on-one vocal training. Last Friday evening she led about one hundred worship leaders and praise team members in heartfelt musical praise, followed by a provocative and enlightening teaching entitled “Five Things I Want Every Worship Leader to Know.” She has clearly caught the vision for the great need here for her ministry, and is already thinking ahead about how to multiply her gifts, knowledge and skill in Zambia through our Biblical Worship Academy.

Laura has also had the chance to worship in a small church in the bush about an hour north of Livingstone where she was exposed to joyous traditional worship. She loved it! Also, this past weekend, we took Laura over a very, very difficult road to Mwandi village where our work with Percy Muleba began. We wanted Laura to meet Percy’s mother, Gertrude, and see what village life is like in the bush. It was an intense two days, but well worth it. Traveling with her has been a delight, and we have spent a lot of time over meals processing her experiences with her.

If you’d like to hear directly from Laura, you can find her on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/share/1F39Wig9JY/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Disappointingly, no sooner had we arrived, than Michael Brogna wrote to tell us that he would not be able to join us this year because of a sudden and unexpected medical concern. He and we are very disappointed because we’ve been working toward teaching together for several years. Our concern now, of course, is Michael’s health, and we would appreciate your prayers for him as he undergoes some tests.

As far as working with Pastor Tom, our Phase 1 training with sixteen Pilgrim Wesleyan church planters was fantastic. They were ready, welcomed us with open arms, and were extremely responsive to our approach. As usual with Phase 1, Abby began with “Wounded Healers” and Doug began with “Understanding Guilt, Shame, and Fear.” As we concluded, one student speaking on behalf of the group said, “Our approach to ministry will now be different because of your training. Thank you!” Given this, Tom, Percy and we have decided that working together in the future is a must.

At this point, Namibia, Abby’s ordination, and church planting strategizing still await, but it’s been a really, really great start apart from Michael Brogna’s situation.

As always, your encouragement, support, and prayers mean the world to us. And always remember, when we go, you go with us!