Ministry Highlights

This month's ministry highlight is on Ministry to the Orphans and Vulnerable Children (Fountain of Hope).

Introduction

In 1994 Fred1 at the age of 10 found himself on the streets of Lusaka . During his time on the streets he had to keep warm during the cold and wet nights by sniffing glue, he saw a friend waste away and die due to a lung infection he developed as a result of glue sniffing. He saw a friend thrown off the knife edge bridge at the Victoria Falls by a friend high on glue, he saw a friend bashed by a car and die on Cairo Road because of poor judgment induced by the glue. He was almost burnt to death in Chisokone Market in Kitwe when the market caught fire in the middle of the night. He was addicted to glue and the money he received on the streets. Four years later through the Ministry of LBC he was taken to Fountain of Hope, he recommenced school, last year 2006, he completed his grade 12.

Background

The year 2007 marks a decade of LBC’s work among the orphaned and vulnerable children. The Ministry started as the Street Kids Ministry in 1997, at that time there was an increase in the number of children on the streets and there was virtually no-one working among the children. The church felt moved to reach out to these children. The initial meetings took place on Cairo Road ; near the eating place formerly called Tonto’s (now Chicken Licken). The meetings took place on the island in the middle of the road. Food would be prepared for the children and given to them and as they came the gospel was shared with them. In 1999 the Ministry moved to Snack Attack (now On the Run) on Church Road opposite Evelyn Hone College . This was mainly due to the behaviour of the children which resulted in a number of accidents. However, at Snack Attack the owners were not comfortable and so the Ministry moved across into the Evelyn Hone College Hall. After some time the College authorities evicted the Ministry. This was due to the children playing in the elevators and as a result they were frequently breaking down. The Ministry then moved to the former United Bus Company of Zambia (UBZ) depot in Kamwala.

Around 2000 others started doing some work amongst the children on the streets. One such group ended up soliciting for funding from USAID, from which they bought a plot in Kamwala where they built what is now the Fountain of Hope Drop in Centre. At this time the centre had both girls and boys. About February 2000 the Church decided to rent a home in Kaunda Square were six teenage boys were initially taken in. They were enrolled at a skills training centre. Unfortunately, they absconded from training and did not learn much. After about six months three of the boys were taken back to Fountain of Hope due to unruly behaviour.

In the same year some of the children, those at the home and FOH started coming to LBC on Sunday Morning, initially they joined the rest in the main sanctuary, due to some complaints they moved to the church hall then to the back behind the pastors’ office. In 2001 the shelter at the back was built and this has been the meeting place to date. In September of 2001 the House in Kaunda Square was closed due to a number of factors. It was felt that there was need to sit down and map out a long term plan. During this time the Ministry to FOH had continued.

In 2002, FOH moved the girls out of the centre and found a house for them within the Kamwala area. This was due to sexual abuse which in some cases led to pregnancies. This meant that the Ministry would meet at the two locations.

In 2003 this house was closed as the problem which they had hoped to solve by moving there was not.

In 2004 due to overcrowding some children were moved to Jesus Cares in Mutendere. The difference between the children who were moved from FOH and those who were already there was clearly apparent to the Centre authorities. This led to them inviting LBC to start to work among the children at that centre. This was the birth of the Friday Ministry. Some of the children desired to continue to come to LBC on Sunday Morning. Initially they were not allowed but eventually the Centre authorities granted them permission.

Currently the Ministry has meetings on Wednesday and Friday evening at Fountain of Hope in Kamwala and Jesus Cares in Mutendere. It is a time when we share the gospel with the children. On Sunday morning we have Sunday school and a vernacular service.

 Current Situation

The greatest need that any human being born of Adam has is that of a Saviour and this was and has been the primary goal of the Ministry, to lead these children to the Lord.

However, in the words of James 2:16 If one of you says to him, “Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it?

We have discovered over the years that there are other needs that we cannot ignore; psychological, emotional, material and social needs. What the children go through whilst on the streets in something I would not want anyone to go through. We have tried as best as we can to attend to some, but we are limited in what we able to do. We face a constant struggle as a Ministry; we ask ourselves are we doing enough? One thing that is readily apparent as we Minister in the two centres is the lack of proper care of the children. The conditions under which these children live are pathetic to say the least. Their lives remain largely unsupervised and they are open to all manner of vices. In addition just like we are allowed to work among them, others are also allowed to do so. Some of them are from cults others are atheists who teach the children that there is no God. In this life their future seems hopeless. The only hope we can give them is for a better life to come.

In our work we have known the grace of God. We have seen the hand of God in our midst. The joy of seeing once glue sniffing boys, re-integrated into school and eventually finish grade 12 is nothing short of miraculous and it is because of such mercies that we continue today. At times there is that feeling as to whether we are having any effect on the children, but it is at such times we see the hand of God, He graciously reminds us that our labour is not in vain.

Challenges

The Ministry has faced a number of challenges, some I believe we did not foresee at the beginning. However in the process we have also learnt some lessons.

  • The Ministry has been growing over the years. This growth has followed the growth of the children as the children have grown from young 10 year olds to teenagers challenges have emerged. Those of you who are parents are very much aware of these. Special challenges are posed by the teenage group among the children.
  • As the children get older, they cannot stay forever in the centres, however nothing is done to prepare them to be self sustaining, this is surely a time bomb waiting to explode.
  • More labourers are needed both for teaching and in giving support. There is need to share the work and build relationships with the children. So that we are able to attend to their needs.
  • We face an ever changing group of children. New faces come and go very frequently, the fact that we do not know how long we have the children this means that we have to ensure that we extract maximum benefit in the short time we are with them.

 What More Can We As A Church Do?  

  • Those that are able can help in meeting the challenges I have highlighted.
  • The Church should pray earnestly to the Lord for this work. That the gospel will bear much fruit. This is a Church Ministry and not restricted to members of the Ministry
  • As a Ministry we are grappling with what our long term vision should be. We ask the church to pray with us even as we seek Gods guidance. The big question after 10 years is where are we going?
  • Not everyone can be present, but we can all do something to support the Ministry. As a Ministry we shall be forever thankful to the invisible members of our Ministry. We thank God for you.

 Conclusion

Dennis2 ran away from home due to the poverty situation. He ended up at Jesus Cares where he was re-integrated back into school. He passed his grade 7 and is now in grade 8. Through the Ministry of LBC he came to know the Lord. At the beginning of this year he was repatriated home. During the time he was away, his father passed away. The situation that he ran away from is now worse. However, returning to the street is no longer an option, all he desires is to continue and complete his education.

Psalm 68:4 – 6

Sing to God, sing praise to his name, extol him who rides on the clouds — his name is the LORD — and rejoice before him. A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling. God sets the lonely in families, he leads forth the prisoners with singing; but the rebellious live in a sun-scorched land.

We worship a God who is a father to the fatherless and a defender of widows , all we can do is but serve Him by tending to such as these.

1 Not his real name.

2 Not his real name.

Other ministries at LBC are as below:

o Men's fellowship
o Church Conference
o Baptism
o Couples Fellowship
o Missions
o Senior YP
o Elbicites
o Kambule Baptist
o Trinity Baptist
o Transport
o Home Fellowship Groups
o Mansa Central Baptist
o Widows/Widowers & Orphans
o Evangelism
o Discipleship Class
o Evangel Baptist
o Maintenance
o Finances
o Special Projects
o Church Workers
o Intermediate Class
o Church Contracts
o Opening the Book
o Emmasdale Baptist Church
o Ministry to Orphans
o Library
o Sanctuary
o Urban Outreach Churches
o Choirs
o Intermediate YP
o Stewarding
o Adult Bible  Class
o Electronic Media
o Sunday School
o Ladies Fellowship  & Visitation
o Junior Church
o Junior YP
o LBC School
o Chiyanjano Baptist
o LBC Record
o Church Bulletin
o Church Notices