Josephine Muleka
November 14, 1999

God is working the most wondrous miracles in our church. We have only had our church going since the end of April, beginning of June and we have about 500 people at every service. You wouldn't believe how awesome it is. Seriously though, before we came here, my life was completely screwed up and totally going in the wrong direction on the wrong path. I wasn't as bad as some people are but I definitely was rebelling or something. I did some pretty bad things. I was listening to non-Christian music (and letting it influence me in not exactly the best way) and I wasn't using the best kind of language a Christian should use either. Also, I was...um...shall we say...I wasn't acting like a Christian should be acting. Especially when I got around my friends and/or around guys. I snuck behind my parents backs a lot with the guy thing (and don't worry I still am a virgin and I even have "virgin lips" (as the saying goes) meaning I have never kissed a guy, but most of it wasn't physical, it was mostly mental, like mostly the way I flirted and acted around guys because I like didn't want my parents to like the way I was or something to that affect. I don't know, it's hard to explain, it's like I played with their minds for awhile by flirting and then when I got bored, I acted like I totally didn't like them or want to be around them anymore. The minute someone else who was cuter or something like that came around, they became my next target, it's hard to explain, whether I try to do it aloud or on paper. (Know what I mean??) And each and every time I did it I was caught red handed. Just like the saying in the Bible goes (I think it's in the Bible anyways); "Your sin will always catch up with you because you can never hide it from God no matter how hard you try." And my attitude was horrible. I mean I constantly talked back, aloud and silently, both. Looking back, (although it hasn't really been all that long since I left), I totally hate the way I was. It was especially bad when I was with my friends. I didn't handle peer pressure very well-only on the small things though. I never smoked anything, although I was offered an uncountable amount of times I always stood firm in that area-same with drinking. I never drank anything, even though I was offered tons of times, I always said no. If I said no once, they usually didn't even ask a second time let alone try to push me until I said yes. I don't know why I was like this. I guess it was because I was a P.K. (preacher's kid) and I hated not being able to do everything most of my friends did. Plus it didn't help anyone that most of my friends weren't Christians.

When I first found out we were moving to Zambia, I hated the idea -- and I just kept becoming worse and worse. When we finally did move, I don't know exactly what happened, I only know that I took an immediate liking to everything here in Zambia. As I saw all the miracles that were going on around me I began to realize just how un-Christian I was and just where I was headed if I didn't turn my ways around and begin again, immediately. Only this time I would be on the right path and headed in the right direction. So, right away I re-dedicated my life to God! It is so much better and so much more fun on the new straight and narrow path than it was the old broad and boring path that I was on before we moved and my life was radically changed. This time, I am going to heaven to be with my father, the Lord of Lords, King of Kings, Savior of all. And now that I am sure that God died on the cross for ME, for US. I love Him more than anything else in my life, knowing that He turned my life around and that thanks to Him I am here to be able to tell every one that I can, exactly what He can do for you, your family, and your friends. Before I got saved again I always doubted Him. I didn't believe that He really would come through for me in the end. I didn't believe that He could be the kind of best friend I was always looking for. I didn't see how praying to Him all the time and trusting Him with all of my problems could help me. I didn't know why He wanted me to tell Him everything when He already knew it before it happened. It just didn't make sense to me for some reason. But now that I am a Christian and I try to do it, I understand a little bit better. I have been trying to become the best kind of Christian I can be because I want it and I need it and because I love Him and I love the things He does and the things He can do. He is the best friend I ever have had and He is the best friend I ever can have. I love Him and trust Him with all of my heart. I have also been trying to pray more and to pay better attention in church. I also need all the prayer from other people that I can get because there is someone that I know that I am trying to win to the LORD. This person says that she is a Christian but watching the way that she acts and listening to her talk I can tell that she isn't. I am going to try winning her over to Christ.

Mom, Dad, I think you were right (though I could never admit it to your face) when you said moving to Zambia is the best thing that could ever happen to me. When I grow up, I want to go back to the United States for college and stuff, but I think that I definitely will end up spending a long time here after that or somewhere else that needs a "missionary kind of woman", Heck, who knows I might spend the rest of my life in some far off place. Anyway, I want to thank so many people for helping me get stronger in my walk with God. I hope that you know who you are. Thank-you and I love you.

        Ayron Cunningham
        Age: 15 years
        August 16, 1999

I still remember an incident where my friends and I were drinking beer. This place where drug dealers made deals and it can be nasty. It was around 03 hours (AM) when I was attacked by a prostitute who slapped me because I spilled some beer on her. The next thing my eyes saw was about 5 or 6 guys advancing towards me. I was forced to haul the prostitute, then pushed her and ran for my life. Unfortunately it was to late, the guys had started attacking us. We were to drunk to fight so most of my friends ran away. I tried, but failed because I was the target. Somehow I just got power to fight and made it through without being hurt.

Even when others were verbal to me I was physical with them. What amazed me is instead of dying or getting badly hurt, it was the opposite. I still remember calling myself a Christian, just because I seldom went to church and yet I was living in sin. Although I was sinning I felt something in my heart saying, "my son you stop doing that, there is a way." I believe every sinner feels that. After all God gave man the right to choose between light and darkness, good and bad, wrong and right.

It was early morning when I woke up (07 AM), had a stroll and on my way back, I saw a lady and a guy pushing the car. I walked over to give a hand. The battery was dead so we pushed the car till the engine started. The white man gave me a lift and he introduced himself as Pastor Tom Cunningham and I as a student electrician. So, he invited me to his home where I worked on his electrical problems and in due time I was challenged with his testimony about what God had done for him and his family.

So I gave my life to Jesus by confessing my sins in July 1999. And from that time what God has done for me is unbelievable. Folks, God is indeed weird (in a good way).

I have seen God doing miracles in our church. We have grown from a small number of 60 to over 500 in less than a year and people are getting saved, healed, delivered. Marriages are getting better and God is indeed great. We are reaching out at a high pace in Livingstone.

        Mich Jaani
        Age: 22 years
        January 18, 2000

My life of wasted years has turned into a life of fruitful days. Praise be to God for the knife edge messages of our Pastor, these messages have brought me closer to Jesus and have taught me how much God loves me and all mankind beyond human understanding. I have laid down my anger, my bitterness and those who have hurt me so much in life at the feet of Jesus.

I am now able to reach out with love to the lost and to those that hurt because of trials and temptations.

I recently led a young woman to the Lord who was very ill, she accepted Jesus Christ as her personal savior and a week later she passed away. Praise God this time I was not tongue-tied as I used to be in the past. The Holy Spirit helped me to minister to this dying young woman. I know the road I have chosen is not an easy road, but thank God my Lord Jesus Christ will always make a way for me as long as I trust and obey him.

    Gertrude Imbula
    Assistant Principal
    Nammatama Basic School
    May 22, 2000