Mainga didn’t believe in God—but through God’s workers, he glimpsed the hope of eternal life.

Mainga’s life was a stark picture of brokenness. His community knew him, but only as a bully and an addict. When we held evangelistic meetings in his town, he showed up drunk, shouting and creating a disturbance. For three nights in a row, he disrupted the services, violently objecting to the preaching. Despite his behavior, our team prayed for him, hoping for a turnaround.

The change came after only three days. On Wednesday night, he approached one of our team members and said, “I’ve been coming to disturb your meetings, but you haven’t given up. Please visit me tomorrow. I want to know where your love and boldness come from—how you keep going without fear. I want to know more about the God you speak of in these meetings.”  

When we came to visit, we learned why Mainga had tried to break up our meetings: A local leader from a Sunday-keeping church had promised him money if he could drive us away. Despite this, God’s Spirit had been working on his heart. Our Bible workers took a keen interest in him. They patiently walked him through the Scriptures, explaining that God sees everything, and nothing is hidden from His eyes. 

Mainga didn’t believe in God—he thought death was the end. But during the meetings, he glimpsed the hope of eternal life through Jesus Christ. When he heard this strange yet hopeful message, something awakened within him. Day by day the patient Bible workers led him through the everlasting gospel of Revelation 14, and each study seemed to deepen his desire to know more about Jesus and His plan of redemption. The Bible workers treated him as if he were the only soul in need of salvation. They never belittled his questions, no matter how simple or complicated. Slowly, Mainga’s eyes opened to the truth, and he began reading the Bible for himself. The changes in him surprised even our most experienced Bible worker!

One Sunday morning, Mainga asked a moving question: “I’m in a wretched state—I’m a drunkard. You say God forgives, but can He really forgive me?” Tears filled his eyes. “My whole community has rejected me. I don’t even have clothes to wear to church.”

“Of course God forgives you,” our team assured him. Then they pooled their money to buy him clothes and a pair of shoes.

Mainga’s eyes filled with tears again when he saw the clothes. “This is practical religion,” he said. His interest in the gospel grew, and he asked to join the Bible workers in their home visits. 

At the end of the evangelistic campaign, Mainga was baptized, and his commitment has inspired many. Once written off by society, counted out of salvation, and bribed to drive the gospel message away, this former drug addict has been restored. The Lord gave him a new identity!

When God assigns us to a mission, He does the work of saving souls. The neglected, the rejected, the addicts and alcoholics—these are the people Christ seeks. As we work, He connects us with the individuals He is drawing.

Mainga is just one of many whom God is bringing to accept His last day message. As we continue planting churches this year, we need your support. We urgently need Bibles and Bible studies to guide new believers. We also need funding to construct church buildings at 30 plus evangelistic sites. Our theme this year is “Plant a Church, Harvest Disciples.” Will you us help bring in the harvest?

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Location
Zambia

Author
Hilary Moonga is the pastor of many churches in the Monze district of Zambia. 

How You Can Help
Pray for the evangelistic work Pastor Moonga and his team of Bible workers are doing in Zambia, especially the mass evangelism that is planned for this year.

Pray for Brother Mainga Michelo as he begins his new life in Christ and shares Christ’s message with others!

Give. Funds are needed to provide Bibles to new believers, build churches, support church planters, and purchase a light duty truck to transport workers and equipment. Send your check marked “Zambia,” “Zambia Bibles,” or “Zambia Workers” to:

Mission Projects International
PO Box 237 
Kirksville, MO 63501

To give securely online, visit: 
www.missionspro.org/donate