Fairview Reformed Baptist Church (FRBC) is located in the mining town of Mufulira which is about 400 km north of Lusaka and some 12 km nearest point from the Democratic Republic of Congo border.
Mufulira is one of six major towns on the Copperbelt with a population between 180,000 and 200,000. FRBC has a membership of 49 by end of January. Sunday morning services attendance fluctuates between 70 and 80 (about 45% of full building capacity) including children. Evening services average 30 people. We have midweek meetings: Tuesday prayer meetings, Thursday Bible Study and Saturday YP.
Challenges
FRBC has had many challenges in recent years. About three years ago, the church lost its entire eldership, as serving elders left the church for various callings within and outside Zambia, and the membership, which had been gradually declining from seventy sharply dropped to just about thirty. Attendance, too, dropped to between 45 and 50, church ministries collapsed, and the morale fell to its lowest level.
The last of the elders to leave then asked Kabwata Baptist Church for assistance and in mid-2006, Pastor Kapambwe Nsenduluka, who was then awaiting the outcome of the work permit application in Botswana, was temporarily asked to oversee work. Following the failure of the work permit bid and the subsequent handing over of the work in Botswana to Pastor Bonang Lekoba, Pastor Nsenduluka has continued to labour at FRBC to date.
Some Recent Improvements
For the past 2½ years, the Lord has been pleased to stop the downward trend and improve a number of things including attendance and membership which now stand at figures reported above.
Of the new inclusions to membership, 18 of them came through conversions and baptism at FRBC while four came through transfers. We also lost some six members through transfers and exclusion. In October 2007, a new elder, Mr. Mufulo Ng’andwe, was ordained. The diaconate is now five including three on trial. In September 2008, the church was accepted into the Sola 5 family. All these notwithstanding, a lot remain to be done especially revitalising of ministries and appointment of elders and deacons.
Pastoral Moves
Pastor Nsenduluka has received and accepted a call from Grace Reformed Baptist Church (GRBC) in Windhoek, Namibia and is once again waiting for the granting of a work permit applied for in December 2008.
Pastor Emmanuel Sakala, from Berean Reformed Baptist Church in Chililabombwe was, after an overwhelming yes confidence vote in November 2008, called to FRBC pastorate. He accepted the call and the call formalities are complete. He is due to take over the FRBC pastorate later this year.
The Nsedulukas (from the left): Kavuyi (daughter), Kapambwe, Sylvia (wife) and Mukupa (daughter)
Prayer Needs
- More conversions and FRBC membership to increase qualitatively and quantitatively.
- Revamping of ministries.
- Pastor Emmanuel Sakala to take FRBC further.