Home Sweet Home

Finding a church home on the mission field can take some time. We have been in Zambia for almost seven years and in the past year we believe we've found a congregation where we can plant ourselves.

Twin Palm Baptist Church has been pastored for less than five years by Emile Masabarakiza and his wife Florence, and is situated on the campus of Baptist Theological Seminary where I teach. (Only a two minute walk from our house!) It is a congregation of over 200 people, half of them children.
  
TPBC was the place of worship for the late President Levy Mwanamwasa, whose widow continues to attend here. The president was also baptized in the pool pictured at the left. In fact, the former residents of our house discipled him, the third president of Zambia.

Currently the church is renting the chapel at the seminary, but is building its own church on a plot of ground south of here. The foundation is poured, and the pillars are going up!

Why do we like where we're at? While no church is perfect, we are delighted that there is a mixture of old hymns, contemporary choruses, and songs in the vernacular. Children are considered important here and there is Sunday school, children's church, and they take a regular part in worship. Pastor Masabarakiza ministers to our soul each Sunday, and the spirit of worship is energizing. He truly has a shepherd's heart, and on several occasions he has made pastoral visits.

One of the ways to pray for your missionaries is that they would find a church home where they can be ministered to and fed spiritually. It's not always easy to locate one, and it can sometimes be a frustrating experience. But, God is faithful and He does provide!