September - October 2008 Newsletter
Jubilee Centre November 26th, 2008
A Harvest of Hope for People on the Margins
In a nation still shaken by skyrocketing food prices 160 families in the chronically hungry communities who farm on tiny plot of land have hope for a harvest that will double, producing enough for the family and leaving some for sale. “The difference” says sister Agnes who is a widow and a mother of eight children “Is the provision of fertilizer and other farming inputs provided by JC.” The needy families that were identified by church leaders from 56 churches JC is working with included 30 Child Headed Households (CHH), 90 People Living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA), and 40 volunteers. It is expected that after the harvest these people will improve their households with food security.
Photo: Sister Agnes stands in her maize field ready for harvest in Mapalo.
Micah Network on HIV/AIDS Consultation:
Pastor Martin Kapenda - Micah Challenge Campaign Coordinator and Agnes Sakala Zalila - HIV/AIDS Coordinator were part of the participants who attended the Micah Network Global Consultation on HIV/AIDS held in Thailand from 21-24 October. The participants came from 53 countries worldwide. Pastor Kapenda gave two presentations. The first presentation was co-presented with two Tearfund Staff (Ms Joana Watson and Mr. Tom Baker) under the theme: why advocate on HIV. During this workshop the focus was on laying a biblical foundation on advocacy and gave a case study on how Jubilee Centre was empowering churches and community leaders in the fight against HIV and AIDS. During the plenary session he gave detailed case study on how Jubilee Centre applied pressure for the adoption of the National HIV/AIDS Policy. He highlighted how JC how JC mobilized communities that they hold there elected accountable in HIV/AIDS delivery services in their constituencies.
Photo: Sister Agnes at the Micah Network Global Consultation on HIV/AIDS with pastors from Thailand and India
Sister Agnes had this to say on the consultation, “The powerlessness of women and girls has allowed the disease to spread in Africa. Women live in the fear of violence, disgrace and moral scandal, and because of these, comply with male wishes. Tragically, these things happen in the church as well. Then, women with HIV and AIDS receive poorer health care, the blame for the disease, and an increased burden of care for more sick people. Faithful marriage may not protect women or men from HIV. Christians must not remain silent to this injustice. Women need men who love and fear God and understand that women are also made in God’s image. We need men in Africa who will rise up and speak out in Jesus name against injustices on women and girl children. I am glad that I saw such men at this consultation.”
Equipping the Youth for Action
Youths in our churches rarely hear a message about HIV and AIDS. One reason is the assumption that youths in our churches are free from sexual activities. Jubilee Centre in its role to support churches that serve in communities where youths are most affected by HIV/AIDS, poverty and unemployment has continued to train and equip the youths with spiritual and physical reasons to resist sexual pressure and helping them to create a vision for their future. JC conducted two seminars on 17th to 19th August 2008 in Chibuluma and George compound in Lusaka. In Lusaka 20 youth leaders in 12 churches 30 from seven churches were trained from Chibuluma
The youths also held a youth rally in Chifubu in Ndola and 150 youths took part. The objective was to promote abstinence and to encourage them to go for voluntary, counselling and testing. At the end of the youth rally 30 young people gave their lives to Christ and others made commitment to abstain from sex until they get married. Leticia stated, “I have learnt to take care of my body because am accountable to God.”
Photo: A youth competes in an eating challenge during a youth rally in Chifubu.
Training Church Leaders in Advocacy
Jubilee Centre held two days workshops for pastors on their prophetic within their communities in which they serve. The workshops where conducted in all the four communities in which JC is serving. In Lusaka the workshop was blessed with the presence of Dr. Paul Robinson a professor from Wheaton. Dr. Robinson shared from the passage where Jesus feed 5,000 and told the pastors, “Jesus did not ask the disciples what they needed but what they had. Even today Jesus is asking you what do you have not what do you need.” After the workshop Lusaka pastors wrote, “Many of us before this enlightenment did not consider advocacy to be the rightful role to do. But like it was clearly stated during the workshop, we are the most affected by incidents of poverty, HIV/AIDS, unemployment, oppression and injustices and it should be us who should be taking the necessary steps to respond. And one way we can do this is through advocacy.” In Chibuluma, after the workshop the pastors have taken on an advocacy role to lobby the government to improve the health facility in their community. 120 church leaders attended the workshops in all the four communities that were conducted by Pastor Temfwe and Kapenda.
JC Prayer Requests:
· Continue to pray for the need of $39,000 required to complete the conference and resource Centre. We urgently need to complete this centre to enhance or training program for pastors, youth leaders and HIV/AIDS volunteers.
· We need to fill the one positions of a church mobilization coordinator. Please pray that the right person be found soon.
Website:
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Become a friend of the Jubilee Centre:
We would like to encourage you to become a friend of JC by giving regularly to support our work. In return we will keep you regularly updated on our work and ministry. For those in the USA and UK we have tax efficient ways you can give to Jubilee Centre:
USA: Please send tax-deductible checks to Jubilee Centre, c/o Dr Bryan Boatwright MD, 2704 Hartlee Ct, Denton, Texas 76208.
UK: JC now has an account with the Stewardship account where you can give tax efficiently. Please use the Stewardship account form found on the website www.jubileecentre.org/support
Within Zambia: Please send cheques and money to us at the address below.
Jubilee Centre
‘Daring to be Salt of the Earth and Light of the World’
Website: www.jubileecentre.org
Email: ltemfwe@jubileecentre.org
Tel: +260 (0)2 681 482 / 681 172
Address: PO Box 70519, 30 Lualaba Road, Kansenshi, Ndola, Zambia
child counselling…
There is obviously a lot more than this. Would you mind telling me how long it took you to gather your content?…