I have been in a rather philosophical mood lately and have found the desire to summarize our
ministry from this nostalgic viewpoint.
We began work in Zambia in 2010 after working with another ministry there and discovering
this fledgling ministry supporting 65 orphans with almost no financial support. My sister and I
opted to come alongside them at that time and were grateful to bring a few more supporters
into the fold fairly quickly. Since that time, she has had to step away from the ministry, but it has
continued to grow with God’s blessings.
We now have two schools, 17 staff teachers, 6 cooks, just over 500 students, and one very
confident and visionary pastor who leads the charge. Every one of them is special.
…two schools, 17 staff teachers, 6 cooks, just over 500 students, and one very
confident and visionary pastor…
I remember at the onset that many of the 65 students were undernourished; some have
since died from AIDS. We still remember their precious faces and wish that more could have
been done to save them, but their disease was very advanced by this point. With improved
nutrition, Pastor John and his wife Judith were able to save four of the children.
Zambia has been and still is a peaceful country, but unemployment is at 80%, and most orphans
have little hope of a career, let alone a future. They were fed one meal a day at our ministry
center and either slept on the ground or possibly had a guardian. None were in school. Life was
focused on sustenance. Life was difficult and their general health was poor.
I look at the growth now and see healthier children, smiles, and a hope in their future. God has
blessed them so much. Our school is a Christian Academy, and we are so grateful to have this
ability to teach the children as we desire. A few years ago, we asked the students to write their
life stories and what they hoped to be when they grew up. We would never have asked them years
ago as they weren’t able to speculate about the future.
I look at the growth now and see healthier children, smiles, and a hope in their future.
Some still refused to write their story as it was too painful, as you can imagine being orphaned.
But many talked of their life, and the most thrilling part for us was reading that they all had
dreams and hopes for a future, not just to live another day. Many wanted to return to the
school and teach in the place that saved their life. Some want to be lawyers and bring justice to
a country that is struggling.
What we see in this also is a desire for them to have an identity. I regret that it took me so long
to realize this. When we work there, we are exposed to hundreds of them at a time, and they are
in matching uniforms, so yes, we are guilty of seeing them as a group, not an individual. I’m so
grateful that Pastor John has pointed this out to us so that we can be more aware of this need
to slow down in our hustle while there and embrace them individually.
So much of ministry is seeing the total picture.
So much of ministry is seeing the total picture, having a correct vision for the needs of the
community. At Stir the Fire, we are tasked by God with the care of nurturing these amazing
children of His. We take it very seriously and pray always for the ability to see the whole picture
and see them each as individual children of God.
