What exactly is going on with ACTION Zambia? Let Tricia tell you...

I've learned during our 8 years in Zambia that change is the only constant for our team. A big part of mission work is people coming and going. We have gotten very used to saying "hello," but far more used to saying "goodbye."

That said, we are saying goodbye to Andy and Jennifer Ott and their kids this month. Andy and Jennifer will be continuing ministry in Zambia with an orphanage in Choma. We want to thank Andy and Jennifer for their service with us and wish them all the best in their new ministry!

That leaves us, the Huckaby family, as the remaining missionary family on the field on the ACTION Zambia team. That doesn't mean we are alone - we have great national staff on our team who help with our ministries. However, we are HIGHLY interested in focusing on recruitment. In light of this, we wanted to give you a thorough look at our ministries as they currently stand and our teammates, as well as some prayer requests to put to you.

Pastoral Leadership Development (PLD)

ACTION International Ministries has two primary foci and Pastoral Leadership Development is one. In Zambia we have the ACTION Pastors College (APC), which is currently being coordinated by Tracy Singleton. He is visiting Lusaka periodically to conduct the program with around 20 pastors.

AZ also runs Discipleship 2:7, which is a discipleship program for pastors and church leaders. Many of the pastors that go on to APC complete the one-year D2:7 course first. Our D2:7 leaders are Pastor Wozifera Ngoma and his wife, Easter Ngoma, and Pastor Cosmos Tembo. There are also pastors around Lusaka and beyond who completed D2:7 in the past and continue to use that program with new leaders. AZ assists participants who have completed the program and want to go on to teach another group by providing materials and conducting graduations.

Tracy Singleton teaching an APC class.

Pastor Cosmos Tembo, D2:7 Leader

Pastor Wozifera Ngoma, D2:7 Leader

Easter Ngoma, D2:7 Leader

Churches Ready to Overcome Silence and Stigma (CROSS) is another kind of training we offer the churches. Because HIV is impacting Zambia in such a monumental way, we provide an in-depth training course to churches about a gospel-focused response to HIV. Eta Imasiku and John Chitambo are the teachers and have been with AZ for many years.

Eta Imasiku, CROSS Teacher

Pastor John Chitambo, CROSS Teacher

And at Ciyanjano of course, (an area close to our hearts) we have pastor trainings and conferences which we try to hold two or three times in a year. Jailos Sakala helps coordinate the camp and conference area.

Jailos Sakala, Ciyanjano Manager

We can't stress enough how important training and discipleship is for church leaders in Zambia. Understanding of and love for God's Word is sorely lacking in the churches, beginning with the pastors themselves. Please pray for:

1. The funding we need to continue these programs.
2. A missionary unit to join our team on the field to coordinate and expand this ministry area.
3. For Zambian pastors and church leaders to grow in knowledge and understanding of God's Word and to give themselves to teaching and preaching well so that congregations will also grow in faith and knowledge. Also, please pray against rampant false teaching.

Children in Crisis

ACTION's second ministry focus is Children in Crisis. In the past at ACTION Zambia we have served orphanages and community schools, sponsored and conducted Bible Clubs and outreaches, worked with church-based street kid ministries, helped with feeding programs, opened a little library, and held kids' camps. We've also run the Champs program at Ciyanjano, discipling youths for service in children's ministries. 

Currently we have NO missionary or national staff devoted to this ministry area! This area of ministry is very dear to us. Kelly and I have tried to run a variety of programs as the Ciyanjano Coordinator, but without more help, this area will be difficult to maintain... Kelly can't serve as the Director of AZ and run all the different ministries for children that we would like to see happening for our field. Please pray for:

1. The funding we need to continue running outreaches and kids' camps. 
2. Wisdom about which ministry areas to focus on - we want to know what the Lord's will is for AZ. We want to be obedient in serving vulnerable children, but HOW would he have us serve at this time?
3. One or more missionary units to join our team to coordinate and expand this ministry area. The opportunities are endless!!!!! And the children are ready and waiting!!!!
4. A missionary unit for Ciyanjano for camping and conferences. This is our favorite ministry... but we are a little biased.

ACTION Zambia Administration

This is an area that doesn't get a lot of press, but is SO important. The administration of a mission is a lot of work and pretty complicated. Bureaucracy. Bureaucracy. Bureaucracy. It's hard to spell and even harder to deal with... but that is a huge part of Kelly's job now. John Chitambo serves as Deputy Director and assists with some administrative tasks. We also have a Zambian Board of Directors that assist in some situations. And, very important, we have an accountant that helps us run the mission. Akson Weza, has been a great asset to our team. Please pray for:

1. The funding we need to pay Akson Weza!!! I know it's hard to believe, but our accountant needs to be paid to work for us. It is much too big of a job for a volunteer and because the unemployment rate is so high, volunteerism isn't a thing here.
2. That we can expand our Board of Directors and that our Board would help us build more connections with churches and help us with a lot of big decisions.

   

   Akson Weza, AZ Accountant

The Huckaby Family

We're still here! God called us to Zambia and we feel God is calling us to stay. Our decision to follow the call was because Jesus Christ is our Savior and greatest friend and we want to share the good news about Jesus with other people. None of that has changed. We love ACTION Zambia's ministries and all the people we've built relationships with here. We are excited for what God is doing with this team and we are amazed at his faithfulness and power. It hasn't been easy, but it has been very good. Please pray for:

1. Our plans for our regular furlough to the States next year. We are thinking mid-May to mid-September, but it's quite hard to start thinking about those details when there is so much going on in the here and now.
2. A good transition for our family to a new sending church. Our dearly loved Oikos church has recently dissolved and we have been adopted by Communion Church in Mount Vernon, Washington. Praise God for his provision and care for us!
3. So much wisdom from the Lord about how to lead and build up ACTION Zambia.