Reid Trulson - On this rock...

It is a scene that we have observed in the D. R. Congo and again in Zambia -- women or children seated alongside the road breaking stones into smaller building stone or paving gravel. Hammers or pieces of iron are pounding tools for some. Others may have no tool and must simply break one stone upon the other. This was the case for six orphaned children that I met today. The oldest of the children cooks for the younger, and an impoverished aunt does what she can to help. But the pile of gravel and the yet unbroken stones in front of the children's mud wall house testifies that this is the work that provides the small income for the children.

Yet in the midst of this deep poverty, one can see a sign of the kingdom. The Kabanana Baptist Church makes regular visits to these children bringing assistance out of their own meager resources. The congregation located in a township on the outskirts of Lusaka, is a member church of our partner, the Baptist Convention of Zambia. Pastor Joseph Sabala and the members of the Kabanana Baptist Church believe that God has called them to care for the wellbeing of their whole community. They seek out those who are vulnerable, attempt to keep family ties intact, and bring what resources they can to promote wellness in the name of Jesus. They conduct community classes for these children, all of whom are too poor to pay school fees, buy books and uniforms that are required in order to access "free" public education. The church wants the children to have basic "three R" skills to equip them for survival.

Who is to say how many of these children may grow to become followers of Jesus? Caregivers to others? Leaders within the community? Bearers of the good news to other towns, languages, or nations? Upon the rock of confession that Jesus is the Anointed One of God, Lord and Savoiur, God is building the church. Among the women and children breaking stones into piles of gravel, one can see the power of the Rock of Ages and signs of God's kingdom.