A PROPOSAL FOR A MISSIONS TRIP TO ZAMBIA
MIKE MCLOUGHLIN, AUGUST, 1993
To read about the outcome of this proposal please visit the following links.
Or visit Mike's Web site at
PURPOSE
The purpose of this proposal is to outline the details of a mission outreach to Zambia, Africa by Mike & Sue McLoughlin and family. The proposal will describe the objectives of this outreach, the anticipated activity and the desired results. Also included are a plan and budget for the accomplishment of these objectives.
INTRODUCTION
A CHILDHOOD DREAM
Ever since her childhood, Sue has had a desire to go to Africa as a missionary. This dream has had a profound influence on her life. She entered medical school so that she could train to be a Doctor and go to the mission field in Africa.
Mike had no intention of being a missionary in Africa. His childhood dream was to be an astronaut. However, things began to change when he received Jesus Christ as the Savior of his life in the fall of 1981. When we were married in June 1983, Mike was still adamant that despite Sue's dream he was not going to Africa. He had said to Sue, "It's Africa or me!" Sue chose marriage to Mike but still held a hope that God would change his heart.
God did change Mike's heart. In August 1983, Vancouver hosted a congress of the World Council of Churches. The Patriarch Kayuwa Tshibumbu wa Kapinga attended this meeting as a representative of his church, a large independent Protestant denomination in the country of Zaire. He visited Regent College and met with Ward Gasque, a professor at the College and elder at Granville Chapel. The Patriarch invited Ward and members of his congregation to come to Zaire and visit him and his church. His desire was to see Blacks and Whites living along side of one another showing the love of Christ.
Professor Gasque happened to be speaking that Sunday in church and mentioned the invitation. We attended Granville at that time and heard about the Patriarch. Mike suggested that we meet with the Patriarch and explore the idea of visiting him as a part of Sue's elective program in fourth year medicine. The Patriarch liked our idea and extended us an invitation to visit him. We decided to go in the summer of 1984 after Mike had finished his Masters in Business Administration at the University of British Columbia.
Mike was much more comfortable with a short trip to Africa with a fixed time period and defined activity. The thought of spending a life time serving God in a foreign culture as a missionary was too overwhelming for him. However, if we went to Zaire for only eight weeks we would gain a good experience. This experience would better define God's calling for us to further missionary activity.
OUR 1984 VISIT TO AFRICA
In the summer of 1984, We visited the country of Zaire for a period of approximately 8 weeks. The visit occurred upon the invitation of the Patriarch Kayuwa Tshibumbu. We stayed as his guests at his home in the city of Mbuji Mayi, a diamond mining town in central Zaire. We reached Mbuji Mayi after a 1000 mile journey by truck, bus and train from Lusaka, Zambia, the country directly south of Zaire. The missionaries of the African Evangelical Fellowship provided us with accommodation and transport during the trip. For 8 weeks we participated in the life of the local church. Sue spent time at the local hospital as a part of her elective period of her fourth year of medical school. We observed the activity of the local church and Mike assisted in some administration at a medical clinic.
A SHOCKING EXPERIENCE
The experience was shocking to say the least. The reality of the living conditions and situation of the people was appalling. The cultural habits and characteristics of the people were frustrating and sometimes offensive. The expectations and ideals we had of missionary life were shattered by the hard facts of the tension and suspicion between the white missionaries and the nationals. In general, it was not a pleasant nor comfortable experience.
THE NEEDS OF AFRICAN CHRISTIANS
The members of the African Church blessed us with their love and fellowship. We encountered an obvious and sincere devotion to Jesus Christ and a desire to spread His love and joy to the people. The church was growing with many new believers being added to the local fellowship weekly. There were significant needs in terms of facilities: the local congregation of about 400 met in an open courtyard with no roof. Also, there was no organized equipping of pastors and leadership. We were only aware of one pastor in the entire church of 200,000 that had been to Bible School!
We quickly grew to love the people and "Papa" as the Patriarch is affectionately known. The church's burdens became our burdens. When asked about returning we said "God called us to go there and we met many dear brothers and sisters. The Lord willing we will return."
So when we returned to Canada we determined to do something about the needs we encountered in the church in Africa. The need we felt most strongly about was the lack of Bible training for African Pastors.
DEREK MUTUNGU AND FAMILY
When we returned to Vancouver in the fall of 1984 we approached the leadership of Granville Chapel with the idea to assist third world pastors in Pastoral Training. Granville is involved at Regent College. So with the help of Ward Gasque and others Sue worked to set up a fund that would assist third world students to come to Regent and take a course of studies. One of the recipients of this assistance was a student named Derek Mutungu from Lusaka, Zambia. His desire was to come to Canada to be trained so he could then teach at a Bible School back in Zambia that trained African pastors.
Derek had enough funds to come on his own but he was unable to bring his wife and children. We were able to provide accommodation for his family at a subsidized price so then he was able to bring his family. They lived with us in the basement suite of our house on 13th Ave in Vancouver.
He arrived with his wife Gladys and two children in July 1987 and began a Masters program at Regent College. During their time here in Canada we have developed a strong friendship with Derek and Gladys. For one year the Mutungu family lived in our house and the two families ate the evening meal together. Before we moved to Kelowna in 1988, our firstborn son Samuel was like a brother to their two boys who were near to him in age. Our son Benjamin and their third son Lumuno were born one day apart several months after we arrived in Kelowna.
Derek recently completed his Masters degree in Theology. He will return to Zambia in September 1993 and begin to teach at The Theological College of Central Africa. He will be one of only a few Zambians to be on the teaching staff at the College. The staff is predominantly expatriate missionaries.
Figure 1 - Map of Africa: Location of Zambia & Zaire
THE ZAMBIAN SITUATION
Derek's graduating thesis was a study of the Christian Faith in the context of African culture and its positive influence on the development of African society. He concludes that the Christian faith, if allowed to permeate the society, would profoundly change that society for the better. The current situation in Zambia is desperate. It has one of the world's highest per capita debts at $1,000 for each of it's 8 million people. The average annual income per person is less than $500. It also has one of the highest rates of AIDS in the world with 20% of the population believed to be infected with the HIV virus. Only God can save Zambia from descending further into ruin and He has been at work in the people there.
In Zambia, the Christian Faith has had a strong appeal with about 65% of the urban population professing to be Christians. However, there are a lot of nominal Christians and the task for the Church in Zambia is one of "re-evangelization" and discipleship. The current President of Zambia is a born again Christian and recently declared the country a "Christian Nation" much to the consternation of the local Muslims. The door is open for God to do a great work in that country. Derek's vision is to see Biblical values integrated within the daily lives of the Zambian Christians so that God can bring about the healing of this nation.
A VISION FOR MISSIONS
In January of 1992 Mike attended a Leadership class taught by Wes Campbell who is the Pastor at New Life Vineyard Church. As a part of the class Mike had to write out a vision statement. It became clear to Mike in prayer as he prepared this vision statement that God had plans for him and his family that involved more than just a comfortable life and career in the sunny Okanagan!
As Mike thought and prayed about the future he felt a very strong leading from the Lord that we should return to Africa. God had showed us the needs of His people there and now He wanted us to return. Over the past nine months He has confirmed His direction by giving us a measure of freedom from financial commitments. Mike is a self employed business man and is able to move without much difficulty. Sue has spent three years working at the Westbank Medical clinic as a Family Physician. She left that job to be at home with the children. Our children are old enough to travel and yet young enough that we could easily adapt to a new living situation. It is time for us to make the move as a family.
Thus the plan is for us to return to Africa in January 1994. We want to establish ourselves alongside the Mutungus in Ndola, Zambia. Also, we want to travel to Zaire and visit our friends there but that will depend on the political situation in Zaire. The plan is to stay for a period of two years and then, the Lord willing!!! We will return to Canada.
Figure 2 - Africa is the Destination!
MISSION PURPOSE
To visit Africa for a period of two years to build relationships with African Christians there, support their work and encourage their faith in God.
MISSION OBJECTIVES
· To Build Relationships with African Christians
Our initial objective will be to support, assist and encourage Derek Mutungu and his family in the work God has called them to at The Theological College of Central Africa.
This will involve moving our family to Ndola, Zambia where the College is located and establishing a home base in that community near the Mutungu's. It will involve participating in the life of a local church and encouraging the faith of Christians in the local community.
We want to make contact again with the Patriarch in Zaire and visit him and his family so as to renew our relationship. The political situation in Zaire is very unstable so we do not know when we will be able to visit.
Figure 3 - Black & White working together
· To Minister in The Marketplace
For the past several years Mike has operated a marketing firm specializing in assisting Small Businesses. He has prepared business plans and helped new entrepreneurs start their businesses. In Kelowna he facilitated a training course for new entrepreneurs called Planning a Successful Small Business.
There is a very great need for small business skills in Africa. Many countries are adopting a free market system in their economies. Zambia has recently moved to a free market system. The influx of population into the urban areas has created many small trades and service businesses in the urban centers. These businesses will form the backbone of economic growth in these countries. However, there is a great need to assist enterprising Black Africans in developing their new businesses. This assistance includes training in business skills.
Although Zambia has declared itself to be a Christian Nation, the Christianity practiced by its citizens is very nominal. Hence there is a great need for Zambian Christians to be "re-evangelized" and discipled in their faith.
Therefore Mike has a vision to put to use his small business training experience in the Zambian marketplace and use it as a vehicle to "re-evangelize" Zambian Christians, disciple them in their faith and assist them in the development of their small enterprises. In short the goal is: To disciple three Small Business Entrepreneurs in the Christian faith and in Biblical Business practice over a two year period so that they "may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which they shine like stars in the universe.(Phil 2:15)" and so that in turn they may disciple others in the Christian faith and in Biblical Business practice. Mike plans to do this through providing a six week Biblical Business Seminar that introduces business people to biblical business practice and provides small business skills. The seminar principles will begin with an exposition of Wisdom from the scripture and will include skill development in small business practices.
Figure 4 - Market Place Ministry
· To teach Zambian Children about the Gospel and Good Health Care
Since our first visit to Africa Sue's views on medical missionary work have been evolving. Treatment aimed at established disease is a loosing battle in countries such as Zambia. In underdeveloped country's prevention really makes the difference. Immunization and teaching about basic hygiene, health care and nutrition will save more lives than medical care for established disease. This was underscored once again during Sue's recent trip to the Philippines.
Sue's desire is to go to Zambia with a view to equipping children and families to live healthy lives, based on sound principles of disease prevention. To do this, she plans to begin a children's program meeting once or twice weekly with children ages 8 to 12. The meetings will incorporate fun, projects and teaching from the "Child to Child" curriculum. This program has been used in many underdeveloped nations. It seeks to teach children basic principles of health and involve them in caring for their younger siblings and other children in the community. Sue will also incorporate teaching about the gospel and perhaps do some "King's Kids" activities such as songs and skits presenting the gospel message to other children. The objective is: To reach children with health care and the gospel so that they will bring not only physical healing but also spiritual healing to their families and to their community.
Figure 5 - The Two Handed Gospel
· To strengthen our Family
Another objective will be to strengthen our own family as we face life in a different culture and circumstance. We will encounter difficulties together and depend upon each other for support and encouragement. Our children will build friendships with African children and learn to live in a different culture away from the materialism of Western culture. The result will be closer family relationships and unity based upon shared family experiences. Also, the educational experience of living in the African culture will be very valuable for our children in their future years.
Figure 6 - A Strong Family Bond
· To see God's Africa
Another objective will be to explore Africa and gain an appreciation of the majestic beauty of God's creation in Africa. This will involve overland trips to see great natural wonders such as Victoria Falls, the Zambezi River and Lake Tanganyika. In addition we want to visit the game parks to see all the variety of wildlife in its natural setting.
Figure 7 - African Wildlife: A Zebra
· To be open to the Leading of the Holy Spirit
Associated with these objectives we want to be open to the Spirit's leading for us to encourage and minister where we are needed. For example, Mike would like to advise the College with Fund Raising in a consultant role. He is also interested in opportunities to preach the gospel and share from God's word. He has experience in Lay leadership in the Church, in house group leadership, in prayer ministry, and in social issues. Our eight year old son Sam will also minister and share the gospel with the children Sue has a gift to lead worship and to use drama to tell the gospel story. We desire to minister to the local church as a family unit.
Figure 8 - The Holy Spirit as a dove
PLAN OF ACTIVITY
The McLoughlin family will arrive in Ndola, Zambia in early 1994. We will spend the first few months getting settled and learning the tribal language. The rainy season lasts from November to April. School is in session from January to November. In April we plan to start our mission activity in the Marketplace and with the children. During the later part of 1995 we will seek the Lord's direction as to our next steps. Our plan is to return to Canada in early 1996.
THE RESULT AFTER TWO YEARS
For our part, after two years there, we will consider our trip a success if we have established and renewed relationships with African people that will endure. These relationships will come through our work along side of the Mutungus, through our involvement in the local church and the Theological College and through our activity within the community: Mike's work with Zambian business people and his discipling them in their business and in their Christian faith; and Sue's work with the Zambian children teaching them about the gospel and good health care.
We want God to change our hearts and teach us to love like we have never loved before. We want to know the meaning of Christ's example to His disciples when He washed their feet and commanded them to do likewise. Most of all we want God to be glorified so that the world will know that we are Christians by our love for one another.
" By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another" (Jesus) John 13:35
PARTNERS IN MINISTRY
Relationship is the key and the theme of the mission to Zambia. We plan to involve many more people whom we know and who have relationship with us here in Canada. These people would become our "partners in ministry". We would form a support network for our mission trip: praying for us, holding us accountable and supporting our financial needs. We are communicating with them about our vision and are receiving much encouragement from them. We will continue to inform them, seek their counsel as we move towards Zambia and as we work and minister there.
MISSION BRIDGE FROM CANADA TO ZAMBIA
New Life Vineyard Fellowship is very interested in providing short term mission opportunities for their members. These opportunities would be for periods of up to several months on the mission field. We would be very interested in facilitating these opportunities in Ndola, Zambia during our stay there. This will enable both the church and our family to build bridges between African Christians and Canadian Christians.
THE MISSIONARY MANTLE
The McLoughlin Family undertook a Crossroads Missionary Training School with Youth With A Mission from January to May of 1994. The school is located at the University of the Nations Campus in Kona, Hawaii. It involved twelve weeks of lectures on the Character of God with the theme of "Knowing God and making Him known." Then we traveled to Okinawa, Japan and the Philippines for a cross cultural outreach experience. We learned many valuable lessons during this time that will benefit us greatly in our mission to Zambia. In particular, we were encouraged by the example of a number of Missionary families who ventured out into the mission field at about the same stage in life that we presently find ourselves. One family who has worked in Thailand for the past 13 years, Art and Ellen Sanborn, taught the last week that we were in class. The Sanborns prayed for us and God spoke a word of encouragement to us through Art and Ellen. The Sanborns laid on us the mantle of missionary as part of the prayer and asked that we might have a double portion of God's anointing to do the work He has called us to do. It is important to include this item in our proposal. Many times we have wondered whether or not we are presuming upon God in our desire to go to Zambia. We were very encouraged and strengthened by the example, the words and the prayer of the Sanborns.
A MISSIONARY COVERING
One of the missing pieces in our plan to go to Zambia has been the absence of a mission organization that we could be a part of. Our local church, New Life Vineyard Fellowship, is very enthusiastic about our plans and will commission us as our church covering. We feel that it is important that we seek a covering as well from a mission's organization that is working in Zambia and that can provide us with guidance and hold us accountable. It is important that this organization have a vision similar to our vision and hold similar values as we do. .
We have considered approaching the Theological College of Central Africa for this type of covering. However, this is a theological college and not a mission's organization and the work we want to do as well as our background in business and medicine does not fit within the college's scope. We are in the process of applying to Youth With A Mission for a covering from their base in Kona. This base is pioneering a new initiative in Business and Missions that will very much complement our purposes in Zambia. The proposal would be to go on staff at the Kona Base and be commissioned from that base to Zambia. We would report to the leadership of the Kona Base but we would also network with the YWAM base in Lusaka, Zambia.
RISK ASSESSMENT
With any undertaking such as this there are risks. We trust that God will undertake to protect us as he does he here in Canada. The risk that is foremost in our thoughts is that of disease. We have given careful consideration to the potential diseases that we may face in Zambia. Besides having our own resident physician with us (Dr. Sue) we are taking several precautions. We will continue our BC Medical for the first year in the country and purchase supplementary insurance. We have already received shots for various tropical diseases. We will be taking our own supply of medicines including the latest anti malarial drugs. We are aware of the risk of AIDS and we will not be involved in high risk activities such as surgery or hands on health care. Some have raised the possibility of infection by biting insects. The research we have gathered on this subject has shown that this is not likely.
Although Zambia has had political troubles over the past few years it is now relatively stable. A recent state of emergency has been lifted. The new government is proceeding with many free market reforms under the guidance of the World Bank. Zambia is a former British Colony so it has a good legacy of democratic institutions.
In terms of personal security we will be relying on our friends, the Mutungus, to help us avoid problems. Their assistance in our transition into the culture will be invaluable.
Through prayer and proper precautions the risks involved in this undertaking can be minimized and controlled. However, should there be problems we trust that God will undertake for us and that he will guide us as to what we are to do.
SUMMARY AND THE NEXT STEPS
We are ready to go now, but Derek Mutungu has wisely recommended that we wait until he and his family have settled in the country for several months before arriving. He is planning to return in September of 1993. Thus the soonest we can go is January 1994.
In September we plan to reside in the Vancouver area. Sue has applied to take a course with Youth with a Mission in Principles of Children's and Youth Ministry. Mike plans to take several courses at Regent College that will compliment his vision for working in the business community in Zambia. One course is entitled "Vocation, Work and Ministry" and covers the subject of tent making. Another course is a guided study in applied theology in which the subject will be Business and Missions.
Upon arriving in Zambia it will take several months to settle in and get used to our new surroundings. School starts in January for the children. We would reside in Ndola during the School year and plan our out trips during school break. Our plan is to spend 1994 and 1995 in Zambia and travel back to Canada in early 1996.
LIST OF APPENDICES
APPENDIX A - "Bible 'final authority' in Zaire" Christian Info
APPENDIX B - Location Map for Ndola, Zambia
APPENDIX C - Resumes for Mike & Sue McLoughlin
APPENDIX D - Biblical Business Course Plan Outline
APPENDIX E - Commissioning Word
APPENDIX F - Mission Budget
APPENDIX G - Mission Values Statement
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