Answers to Prayer

1 The growth of the Church during the 1980s accelerated in the 1990s, helped by President Chiluba's public Christian confession and the opening up of public institutions and media to the gospel

Challenges for Prayer

1 President Chiluba openly dedicated Zambia to God as a Christian nation at his inauguration in 1991. The outworkings in public life have been disappointing, with many in the government becoming ostentatiously wealthy while half the population live in dire poverty

2 The widespread poverty and lack of economic progress could lead to unrest or worse

3 The massive growth of Protestant and Independent churches has been encouraging

a) Superficiality and lack of real understanding of the grace

b) Lack of indigeneity

c) Too much multiplication of churches by acrimonious divisions

4 Rural churches vary widely in spiritual quality and vigour

a) The many thriving evangelical congregations in the northwest

b) The fruitful work of the Brethren in Christ and Churches of Christ among the Tonga peoples in the south;

c) The Reformed Church among the Nyanja peoples in the east,

d) The Lozi and southwestern peoples and the Bemba and northern peoples, who have few evangelical congregations

e) The PAoC, Pentecostal Holiness Church, SIM, Brethren and Churches of Christ who have all commenced work in the less evangelized northeast

5 The Evangelical Fellowship of Zambia (EFZ) has become an important focal point of fellowship and cooperative efforts for denominations and agencies

6 The AIDS crisis is overwhelming the health services (80% in hospitals have AIDS), the pastoral work of churches (many funerals) and family life

a) All seeking to bring about real change in sexual behaviour, attitudes to victims and heart attitudes in order to check the spread of the disease

b) Medical workers who have to face the daily challenge of so many needing help but who lack resources

c) Children

Geography

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Area 752,614 sq.km. Landlocked, forested Central African country.

Population (2000) 9,168,700 +2.27%AGR

Capital Lusaka 1,695,000.

Peoples

Bantu 98%; Foreign-origin 2%.

Literacy 78% (declining; functional literacy under 25%). Official language English. Trade language Bemba and Nyanja spoken by large minorities of the population. All languages 41. Languages with Scriptures 15Bi 8NT 3por 3w.i.p.

Economy

Copper mining and refining has long been the major source of foreign exchange. HDI 0.431; 151^st/174. Public debt 148% of GNP. Income/person $370 (1% of USA).

Politics

Independent from Britain in 1964.

Religion

Kaunda's socialist humanism was government policy.

Churches in Zambia

Missionaries from Zambia

228 in 22 agencies to 18 countries

Missionaries to Zambia

566 in 66 agencies from 24 countries

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