With One Vision: The Joy Of Working In Local Partnership In Loloma, Zambia
By Tim Beer
The privilege and blessing of Christian missions is seeing Jesus Christ’s preeminent power at work in this world. Therefore, the foundation of each commission should be absolute reliance on God’s ability to work out His purpose in our lives. The One who sends us into His harvest field stated, “Without Me, you can do nothing,” as well as “Follow Me, and I will make you. . . .” (John 15:5; Matthew 4:19)
These statements result in the freeing assurance that the Christian life does not depend on who we are or what we can do. Instead, it relies completely on who Jesus Christ is and what He can do. Our part is simply to be available for God’s use, being sure that we are living where He wants us to be and doing what He wants us to do.
For my wife, Joy, and me, that has meant serving in Zambia for about 25 years. Due to the diversity of needs and opportunities, our ministry decisions have usually been “what we are not going to do” rather than “what we are going to do.” One of the key things God has taught us is that people are more important than projects. This may be opposite to the Western mindset, but if the Lord’s work is to progress, then investment in local individuals must be understood and practiced.
At times, what may appear to be a wonderful idea from a Western perspective may later fall apart because it lacks proper partnerships with local people to ensure succession and sustainability. A hundred years from now, most of the current infrastructure that supports missions will likely no longer exist, but individuals won for Jesus Christ will surround heaven’s throne for all eternity. Therefore, any infrastructure must be seen simply as a means of impacting many lives for Jesus Christ. It is important to include committed national believers in the work and mentor them so they can see the joy of evangelism for themselves.
Here, we will share some of the opportunities that, by God’s grace, we have been involved in over the years. More importantly, we will discuss their continuation today, following our transition from in-country service to remote involvement last year.
Loloma Mission Hospital
Medical work is a key part of Christian missions. This ministry of compassion is a practical opportunity to share God’s love with many local people, resulting in large numbers being won for God’s kingdom.
The hospital at Loloma has been the foundation and means of our acceptance among the surrounding areas, allowing us to share the message of salvation. The warm welcome we receive in the village work is due to the medical care the local people have received at the hospital.
Initially, Joy and I assisted with the many practical needs that accompany maintaining a medical facility. Then, during the last 10 years, we have seen God build a strong management team of local African believers. Together, with one missionary nurse, they run this facility on behalf of the Zambian government.
The support from mission partners is still an essential component, and God is glorified through the quality medical care that is delivered on a strong spiritual foundation. One medical officer, Dr. Abel Chikuta, is a local believer who was the first to graduate from a medical sponsorship program. He is a great help not only in the hospital but also in the local assembly.
The hospital provides health care to a community of around 70,000 people. The staff participates in devotions two mornings per week, and they share the Gospel in the hospital wards through the public address system, morning and evening, and one-to-one patient visitation.
Village outreach
In His commission, the Lord instructed His disciples to go where the people are to make disciples. As a result of following this model in the Loloma area, we have seen God at work in many people’s lives. One blessing of life in Zambia is that the nationals are very interested in listening to the message of salvation in Jesus Christ, particularly when presented in their language. Therefore, learning one of the local languages was vital for Joy and me. It helped us understand how Zambians think and what they believe and ensured they would understand God’s amazing grace and salvation.
Translating the Two Roads and the Two Destinies chart into the local languages meant people could see for themselves their position before God. In the African mindset, seeing something with one’s own eyes is more important than hearing about it.
Each week, we visited villages in our area with the life-changing message of God’s grace and power revealed at the cross. Most years, we and a team of believers visited more remote areas for four to five days at a time. The concentrated time spent reaching people with this transforming message was a great blessing. The core team of Zambian believers we have worked with over the years continues this important ministry, and God continues to speak to the people in the Loloma area.
Ministry in local assemblies
Zambia is so open to evangelism that a multiplicity of false cults and churches exist. Some people in the more rural areas struggle to read and, therefore, to study the Bible, so they are vulnerable to false teaching. The small assemblies in these areas need help with Bible teaching, so we regularly visited them. Including some of the local believers in this work resulted in them developing their God-given teaching gifts. We are thankful they continue with this important ministry in our absence.
Kayombo Boarding School
In 2009, a great opportunity to run a new boarding school in partnership with the government came to our attention. While this was a huge step of faith, God gave us clear assurance. Following years of prayer, preparation, and interface with the department of education, the church management of the school began in 2015 with about 14 students.
The remote location, poor road conditions, lack of electricity, and a limited water supply brought challenges, but God has been faithful. Several years ago, the government recognized Kayombo Boarding School as a school of excellence.
The spiritual opportunities are amazing. First thing each weekday morning, all 350 students meet for a devotion. On Saturday mornings, there is a Gospel message, and on Sundays, they all attend the local assembly for the gospel meeting.
God has put together an administration team of Zambian Christians, whom He has greatly used to develop the school academically and spiritually. They come under the guidance of the church management board, which is made up of mostly local believers. Some of the school graduates are now being accepted into universities in Lusaka, and we know that God has a plan for them in the years to come.
Other ministries
Managing a nursery school for 60 children provides early education with a spiritual foundation. Children attend for two years before moving into first grade. Two committed Zambian Christians teach and look after the day-to-day running of the school, receiving a little administrative assistance from one of the missionaries at Loloma.
At our village for the elderly, we have been involved in caring for women—typically about 25. Each of them has no one able or willing to look after them. Believers share God’s Word with the women, and He consistently provides for their physical needs. Two Zambian men, who have helped us in this work for the last 8–10 years, faithfully continue it in our absence.
The community radio station’s broadcasts reach many villages within an 18-mile radius of Loloma. Each Thursday afternoon, the message of God’s salvation is systematically explained in the Lunda language. A Zambian brother, whom we worked closely with when we lived in Zambia, continues with this special opportunity to present the Gospel, and one or two others support him.
In good hands
Maintaining these ministries involves a lot of behind-the-scenes administration and practical support, including vehicle maintenance, plumbing, and electrical and construction work. Training nationals to take on the many aspects of the work is vital. Our stepping back from this work for an indefinite period, while we address family needs in North America, has not been easy. However, the same God who called us to Zambia is calling others to continue His work. He opened the way for us to be with our three children, now ages 20, 19, and 16, during their transition to Western life and to help care for Joy’s mother.
The Lord’s work in Loloma is dear to our hearts. We are thankful that we can maintain regular contact with the believers there, due to technology, and make occasional trips to Zambia. We praise God that, due mostly to the teams of Zambian believers whom we have been privileged to work and partner with, these special ministry opportunities continue. We greatly appreciate your prayers for all of them.
Tim and Joy Beer are commended from Ardsley Bible Chapel in Ardsley, Pennsylvania.
Originally published in Missions magazine, February 2023. For more content, sign up for a free subscription (US) to Missions at CMML.us/magazine/subscribe.
