Zambia Hunt

Twenty years ago today, September 4, 2004, we gathered in Kakolo to officially open Faith Children’s Village Orphange. This past Saturday, we gathered again, this time to celebrate 20 years of God’s faithfulness.

From 2004 until 2013, I served as the Director of FCV, together with an incredible team of men and women who labored in the work day in and out. I’m grateful for men that God brought, especially for Joe Mbewe, who served as the manager for the first ten years.

On Saturday, I stood to remind those gathered for this celebration, the vision that birthed this ministry, and to thank God for a history of God’s gracious work in the lives of 161 children who have called FCV their home. Here is what is said…

Speech at the 20th anniversary of Faith Children’s Village

31 August 2024

James 1:27… “Pure religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.”

Our Purpose

Faith Children’s Village exists to lead children into a relationship with Jesus Christ, disciple them to be Christ-like in actions and attitudes, and equip each child with life skills that will allow them to become productive Christian citizens.

Our Mission

At Faith Children’s Village, we are called to a higher purpose that intertwines earthly care with eternal significance. Our mission is deeply rooted in James 1:27, which commands us to care for orphans in their distress. Yet, we see this care not merely as meeting physical needs but as a gateway to fulfilling Christ’s Great Commission.

Our primary goal is to lead children into a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. We believe that true orphan care goes beyond providing shelter and sustenance; it involves nurturing souls for eternity. As we tend to the physical needs of our precious children, we create a foundation of trust and love that opens hearts to the Gospel.

We are committed to discipling each child in the ways of Christ, molding their actions and attitudes to reflect His character. Our daily interactions, teachings, and community life are all centered on this sacred task of spiritual formation. We strive to create an environment where faith is not just taught but caught – where children witness and experience the living reality of Christ’s love.

Alongside this spiritual nurture, we equip our children with essential life skills. Our aim is not just to raise survivors but to cultivate thriving, productive Christian citizens who will impact their communities for Christ. We believe that by addressing the needs of the whole person – body, mind, and spirit – we are preparing these young lives for a future of purpose and Kingdom impact.

Faith Children’s Village is more than an orphanage; it is a mission field, a training ground for disciples, and a launching pad for future Christian leaders. Our work is a testament to the transformative power of Christ’s love, as we witness vulnerable lives being reshaped into powerful instruments for God’s glory.

As we care for the most vulnerable, we do so with the conviction that each child in our care is a potential world-changer for Christ. Our ultimate success is measured not just in lives improved but in souls saved and disciples made for the Kingdom of God.

Our History

Below: Official Opening of Faith Children’s Village, 4 September 2004

Faith Children’s Village has its roots in the compassion of Faith Baptist Church in Riverside during the 1990s. Our church family was moved by the plight of young people who had lost their parents, but more importantly, by the urgent need to guide these precious souls to Christ.

When a young lady named Natasha was entrusted to our care after her mother’s passing, we saw not just an orphan but a child of God waiting to be nurtured in faith. This experience, along with other families caring for orphaned relatives, ignited a flame in our hearts. We realized that our calling was not just to provide shelter but to create a haven where the love of Christ could transform young lives.

Guided by this vision, our leadership sought God’s will through prayer, consultation with local authorities, and the wisdom of our congregation. The result was a commitment to establish a different kind of orphan care – one where the Gospel would be at the center of everything we do.

From the very beginning, our primary goal has been to provide spiritual care for each child. We strive to create an environment where they can not only come to know Jesus Christ as their Savior but also grow to be His devoted disciples. This mission is rooted in Christ’s Great Commission in Matthew 28:19 and the timeless instruction of Deuteronomy 6:4-9, which calls us to impress God’s commands on our children’s hearts.

When we acquired the plot for Faith Children’s Village in 2002, we saw it not just as land, but as spiritual ground where young lives would be planted in the rich soil of God’s Word.

On September 4, 2004, we officially opened the Village. The ceremony, held under the Insaka at the center of the Village, was a moment of celebration for all involved—a testament to the grace of God and the collective effort that brought this dream to reality. Our hearts were overwhelmed with joy because we knew that each house would be more than a shelter; it would be a sanctuary where children would learn to pray, study Scripture, and grow in their walk with the Lord. 

God’s provision continued, and in August 2006, He blessed us with an additional 20 hectares across the road, further expanding our capacity to serve.

Today, as we celebrate 20 years of God’s faithfulness, we stand in awe of His work. We see here FCV family members who are now adults, many serving the Lord with their lives—living testimonies to the power of Christ-centered discipleship. These individuals embody our deepest hopes: that the children in our care would know Christ and follow Him faithfully all their days.

We’re deeply grateful for the Christian house parents and staff who have poured their lives into these children over the past 20 years. Your dedication to modeling Christ’s love and teaching His ways has been the heartbeat of our Village.

To the next generation of the FCV family, we say this: Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength. Let your lives be a testament to His grace. As you’ve been discipled, go forth and make disciples.

As we look to the future, our commitment to the spiritual care of our children remains unwavering. Yes, we provide for physical needs, offer education, and teach life skills. But all of these are in service of our highest calling – to lead these precious children to Christ and disciple them in His ways.

May Faith Children’s Village continue to be a beacon of God’s love, a place where children find not just a home but become part of God’s eternal family through a living faith in Jesus Christ.

May God bless every child, staff member, and graduate of Faith Children’s Village. 

May God continue to bless Faith Children’s Village for another 20 years or however long we have before the return of our Lord Jesus Christ.

What Next?

As we move forward, Faith Children’s Village aims to:

1. Expand their capacity to care for 100 orphaned children, we currently have 89.

2. Further develop the educational programs to prepare children for success. This includes a vision of adding a high school to Amano Academy.

3. Enhance our healthcare services and community health initiatives through Faith Community Clinic

4. Increase agricultural production for self-sustainability and potential income generation on the 20 Hectares of farmland next to the Village.

5. Strengthen our community outreach and discipleship programs for orphaned and vulnerable children.

Through these efforts, we strive to fulfill our biblical mandate to care for orphans while making a lasting impact on the Kakolo community and beyond.

How You Can Help

One of the most important ways you can help is to become a sponsor for a child at Faith Children’s Village. We need $200 of sponsorship each month for a child. This covers the cost of housing, care, medical and schooling. If you live in the USA you can go to http://www.faithinzambia.com and click “Sponsor A Child” and select which child, and how much of their sponsorship you will cover.

You are also welcome to contact the Director, Mukuka Chilando, and schedule a visit to the Village. Come and see the work of God firsthand, meet the staff and the children who call FCV home.

Please request to be on our monthly mailing list, and uphold this ministry in your faithful prayers. Thank you for your partnership in this work!