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Recent activities reflect growth of The Salvation Army.
A lot has been happening in Zambia. Western Territory officer Major Beryl Pierce, who serves in Zambia as territorial editor, publishes a regular newsletter on The Salvation Army’s work there. Following are excerpts from some recent reports.
In late April, about 500 people attended the dedication of the new Mandevu Corps hall, where Pierce is a part-time corps officer. For the local officers and soldiers, this is a great achievement; for more than five years they have been giving and working to reach this goal. During the dedication, 24 new junior soldiers were enrolled. Future property work will include a wall for security, electricity, flush toilets, and officers’ quarters.
On April 6, over 1,200 witnessed the welcoming of 25 new cadets to the Prayer Warriors Session. Several members of the crowd responded to Territorial Commander Colonel John Wainwright’s appeal for future officers. Colonels John and Dorita Wainwright were installed in March as Zambia’s territorial leaders.
Also in March, Zambian Salvationists celebrated a youth day with a theme of “Promoting partnership between youth and other stakeholders for national development.” Major Metson Chilyabanyama, territorial secretary for personnel and special guest for the occasion, challenged the youth, the majority from around Lusaka, to be faithful in spite of hardships and to be future leaders. Besides recreation activities, the youth taught each other, covering topics including: goal setting, assertiveness, peer pressure, and the HIV/AIDS Awareness Campaign.
During Easter week, close to 3,500 people attended activities around the Zambia Territory. The Easter weekend included a great number of rejoicing seekers.
Pierce will soon be on homeland furlough for a few months, having completed her first three-year term in Zambia. In a note at the end of her most recent newsletter, she wrote: “Zambia is now in my blood! I no longer wake up with the words and music to American hymns running through my mind; now I am singing Tonga choruses in the morning.
“Sill for me the greatest blessing is worshipping with the Zambians. I have not traveled the world; in fact, coming to Zambia in 2005 was my first time to leave my home country—but I am convinced that in heaven the Zambians will lead the worship service.
May God continue to bless his people here in Zambia!”