A testimony of gospel perseverance, faithful labor, and God’s provision, as told by Pastor Pius Chanda
Faith Baptist Church of Kwacha stands today as a testimony to what God can do through ordinary believers committed to the Great Commission. Its story is not one of sudden success, but of steady, faithful obedience marked by evangelism, sacrifice, and the gradual building of a gospel-centered church.
A Burden is Born (1999–2000)
The story begins in 1999 at a missions conference hosted by Faith Baptist Church Riverside. The preaching of God’s Word stirred the heart of Pius Musonda Chanda, compelling him to obey Christ’s command: “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations…” (Matthew 28:19–20).
From that moment, Pius carried a growing burden for Kwacha Township in Kitwe—a community shaped by traditional religion, charismatic prosperity theology, and Jehovah’s Witness influence. What began as a burden soon became a calling.
With support from his pastor, Philip Hunt, his wife Bridget, and a small group of co-laborers, the work began. In January 2000, a team of evangelists from FBC Riverside committed to consistent outreach. Every Saturday, from morning until midday, they went door-to-door and street-to-street, sharing the gospel. Among the early laborers were Steve Kalichi, Cornwell Tepa, Esther Huni, Pius, and Bridget. This faithful work continued week after week, laying the foundation for what would come.
From Evangelism to Discipleship (2001–2003)
By 2001, the fruit of this evangelism appeared. People who had heard the gospel asked for more teaching, so a weekly Bible study launched.
Meetings were simple: a young couple opened their home, and the group gathered under a mango tree. While the Bible study met, others continued evangelizing, directing new believers to the gathering.
The ministry grew. That same year, the first baptisms took place, marking the start of a visible body of believers.
Yet progress faced challenges. When the hosting family relocated, the group lost their meeting place. For a season, they returned to pure evangelism, transporting interested individuals to Faith Baptist Church Riverside for worship and discipleship. Even in uncertainty, the work did not stop.
Establishing a Foothold (2003–2005)
By 2003, it was clear: this was no longer just outreach—it was the beginning of a church.
Under Faith Baptist Church Riverside’s direction, efforts secured land in Kwacha Township in Kitwe. Initial attempts failed, but eventually, a play park was acquired through the Kitwe City Council. This space became a ministry center, including a youth and sports outreach that still serves the community.
In 2004, a major step forward came: FBC Riverside purchased a house near the field, providing a permanent place for Bible study and gatherings.
Then, on January 30, 2005, the first official Sunday service of Faith Baptist Church Kwacha was held. The gathering exceeded expectations, with well over 124 people assembling in a small house. What began as a handful of believers under a tree had become a functioning church.
Building Together (2005–2007)
A growing congregation needed a permanent structure. The model was simple yet powerful: partnership. FBC Riverside provided materials and financing for the foundation and slab, while local believers owned the labor—digging foundations themselves. Men from Kakolo assisted with construction using locally made blocks. Len Dunphy joined the ministry team in 2005, as Pius Chanda continued serving as a deacon at FBC Riverside.
In December 2005, the Steve Pettit team visited, working with Lu Arce and the Kwacha brothers to construct the roof. This was followed by a dedication service where Steve Pettit preached and officially opened the new meeting place.
In September 2007, Pius Chanda was formally commissioned as the missionary church planter, recognizing years of faithful service. The church now had both a people and a place.
Pastoral Leadership and Growth (2010–2020)
In 2010, after reporting back to Riverside, Pius returned to Kwacha at the congregation’s request and was officially called as pastor.
Under his leadership, the church matured—discipling believers, training leaders, and maintaining a gospel witness in the community. A key focus was developing indigenous leadership, such as Salim Mpambanya, who was discipled in the church and trained at Central Africa Baptist University (CABU).
By 2019, after nearly two decades, Pius prepared the church for transition, giving notice to step down and extending service into early 2020.
A Season of Transition (2020–Present)
The years after Pius’s leadership brought transition. He discipled Salim Mpambanya, whom FBC Kwacha and Riverside sent to CABU. In January 2019, Pius gave a year’s notice. Though the church pleaded for more time, he resigned at the end of March 2020.
The church initially considered Salim as pastor, but concerns about his youth led to only 75% affirmation in the vote. He served as interim before FBC Riverside sent him as church-planting pastor to Faith Baptist Church, Twatasha, Kitwe. Greenwell Mwamachiya was called next but stepped down within a year.
The church then turned to Martin Mwamba, a CABU graduate and Faith Radio general manager. After serving as interim pastor, Martin was formally called as lead pastor, bringing stability and growth.
A Legacy of Faithfulness
From door-to-door evangelism to a local church with trained leadership, Faith Baptist Church Kwacha exemplifies God’s faithfulness through ordinary means. The church has been shaped by:
- Consistent gospel proclamation
- Sacrificial service from sending and local believers
- Commitment to discipleship and leadership development
- Strong partnership with Faith Baptist Church Riverside and CABU
Notably, every pastor at Faith Baptist Church Kwacha has been trained at CABU, underscoring theological education’s role in church health.
From a mango tree to a permanent home…
From a small evangelism team to a church raising leaders…
This is the story of Faith Baptist Church Kwacha—a work built not by human strength but by God’s steady, faithful hand.
Zambia Hunt 
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