Reflections on leadership, loss, growth, and gospel work across Africa
At the beginning of 2025, Gideon Mpeni was walking the halls of Central Africa Baptist University as our Dean of Students. By the end of the year, we were standing with Kitwe Church as we sent Gideon and his family to Dar es Salaam for church revitalization at Oasis Baptist Church. That journey – from campus leadership to cross-border gospel work – captures much of what the Lord has been doing among us this past year.
As we stand at the threshold of a new year, calendars begin to fill, plans are made, travel is scheduled, and ministry responsibilities come into clearer focus. Yet before looking too far ahead, we want to pause and reflect on the year now behind us. That reflection brings great encouragement and instruction from the Lord.
CHRISTIAN PUBLISHING
This past year began in remarkable ways. Almost exactly one year ago, Saidi Chishimba and I traveled together to Dubai to attend the GRITI Christian Publishing training workshop. We traveled, learned, shared lodging, and dreamed together about what the Lord might do through Christian publishing in Africa. Solomon reminds us of God’s sovereign purposes: “Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring” (Proverbs 27:1). God chose to take Saidi home in May. As I prepare to travel to Orlando for this year’s publishing conference, I’m inspired by Saidi’s vision for African publishing. He envisioned a network of empowered Christian authors across the continent, and we are committed to carrying his dream forward.
MINISTRY GROWTH
The year was also marked by the encouragement of ministry partners who traveled to Zambia to serve alongside us. Many came to teach in block classes and at CABU conferences. In 2025, we hosted two inaugural conferences: the Writers Workshop, sponsored by Imbila Publishers, and the Educators Conference, hosted by CABU in partnership with BJU Press. Both were well attended, and the feedback was encouraging. Participants shared that they were better equipped for ministry as a result of attending. These gatherings reflect our ongoing commitment to invest intentionally in leaders for the African church, and we look forward to hosting them again in 2026.
Across the broader ministry, we saw deep and sustainable growth on many fronts. CABU recorded the largest enrollment in its history. We took significant steps toward launching Central Africa Seminary by submitting the MDiv program for accreditation. At the same time, we worked steadily to receive, catalog, and process over 50,000 books for the Kasonga Theological Library project – an enormous undertaking that will serve pastors and students for generations to come.
One particularly encouraging area of growth has been the Theological Studies by Extension (TSE) program. Trainers from among our faculty and alumni taught pastors and church leaders “on the job” at 37 training venues across the region. This year alone, we enrolled 995 new students and conducted 109 block classes. Our total number of trained individuals grew from 2,200 to 3,195. Since its inception in 2015, TSE has now operated in 13 countries, worked with 65 cohorts, and added 15 new cohorts this year. As the pastor of a recent class with the Mwiinilunga (Zambia) pastor’s fellowship said, “Thank you for coming, thank you for teaching us! I believe that my ministry will never be the same again. We look forward to more lessons from you.” The spiritual fruit and long-term impact of this ministry continue to humble us. To God alone be the glory.
One of the highlights of the year was the Equip Conference, our annual leadership training conference hosted on the CABU campus. This year’s conference saw the largest attendance in its history, with 650 participants. During the conference, the Board announced that Dr. Chopo Mwanza has been appointed as Vice Chancellor–Designate of Central Africa Baptist University. For the next year, we will serve together, and in 2027, I will continue to serve CABU as Founding Chancellor. I am so deeply grateful to God for providing faithful leadership for the years ahead.
MISSIONS MILESTONES
At Kitwe Church, we have also been busy laying foundations quite literally. This year, the church cleared newly acquired property and completed the foundation and concrete slab for our future church building just before the rains arrived in late October. The next phase will require trusting the Lord for the provision needed to complete the steel structure and roofing. Specifically, we are seeking to raise $120,000 for the steel structure and roof, which will be a crucial component in our construction efforts. Please pray for us. We are a growing church, and we rejoice to see the Lord building His church here in Kitwe.
This year also marked a special milestone in missions at Kitwe Church. We had the privilege of sending two families: the Chanda family to Kasama, Zambia, for church planting, and the Mpeni family to Dar es Salaam for church revitalization. Looking ahead, we are preparing to send the Domingos family to Angola in April to plant a church. All of this is far beyond our own capacity, and yet the Lord continues to provide as we seek to build people and establish a permanent church home along Freedom Avenue.
A PERSONAL NOTE
God has also been kind to our family this year. In February, Austin and Rachel welcomed their third child, Cyrus Dale. A few months later, Carman and David celebrated the birth of Lucy Ruth. Corban completed high school and moved to the United States, where he is now living in the Detroit area and is an active member of Resurrection Church in Lincoln Park. Cherith continues to lead the deaf studies programme at CABU and is seeing such encouraging growth. Ashlyn and Jesse are making plans to raise support and join the team in Zambia in 2026. Collin and Melissa are faithfully serving the Lord at Resurrection Church in Detroit. Tamaryn is entering her final semester at Cedarville and seeking God’s leading for next steps! Lori’s year has included physical challenges – beginning with an injury after food poisoning and ending the year with her fourth bout of malaria – but through it all, she has continued to love and serve our family faithfully, assist with ministry logistics, and support me in the many demands of travel and leadership.
LOOKING AHEAD
As you pray with us, we would especially value your prayers in these areas:
Central Africa Seminary – Train – for final accreditation approval, faculty preparation, and incoming students.
Church Building Project – Build – for provision for the steel structure and roofing for Kitwe Church, and wisdom as we move into the next construction phase.
Scholarships and Student Support – Equip – that God would provide resources to train faithful servant-leaders without financial hindrance.
Missions and Leadership Development – Send – as families are sent from Kitwe Church, leaders are trained, and churches are strengthened across the region.
If you would like to pray more specifically, receive any detailed updates, or learn more about any aspect of the ministry, please feel free to reach out. We would be happy include you in our monthly email updates.
Zambia Hunt 
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