The 51-year-old pastor John Phiri is a good-humored man whose kindness and patience attract many people. In addition, he is a good storyteller. Wonderful qualities which he needs to carry out his work as a pastor.
In Zambia, however, it is almost impossible to have a high enough income just as a pastor to focus entirely on that task. Therefore, he is also working as a lecturer at the university. Less than two years ago, NET Foundation came on his path and since that time, he feels he has been called to diligently fulfil his role as a NET Foundation coordinator.
‘There are now NET Foundation study centers in Lusaka, Chipata, Petauke and Ndola. Conferences are held there every year. Each conference lasts 3 days and deals with one of the 10 courses of the NET Curriculum. I get to organize and direct those conferences, which means I travel a lot through the eastern part of Zambia. This past week we had a three-day training in Chipata around the New Testament course. Each time I am amazed at the students’ drive to get to know the Lord more and more and then be able to pass this on to their church members.
We were able to hear rich testimonies from the participants. Pastor Mbanga, one of the students, said that taking the courses had changed him regarding how he interacted with church members as well as with his family. He had received good guidance on how to tell the Good News in the right way, which now even enabled him to share the Gospel in different countries.
Time and again, the testimonies reveal that students are incredibly grateful that the courses are based on the Bible and not a particular denomination. For example, Pastor Botta told me that by focusing on Christ and His finished work on the cross, pastors are brought together and it is clearly felt that everyone appreciates each other and has love for each other. All of this gives me so much joy that I hope I can do this work for a very long time.’
There are a few moments of silence before Pastor John Phiri continues.
‘Yesterday was a very special day: the certification ceremony of 34 students who took all NET Foundation courses and are now entering the field fully equipped. Family, friends, church members and a group from the Netherlands witnessed the certificate and Bible presentation. How touching it is to see the joy and passion of these students. I hope and pray that out of this group may come new trainers to reach even more pastors in Zambia, and through them again hundreds of church members, so that God’s Kingdom may expand. Will you pray for a rich blessing on NET Foundation’s work here in Zambia?’