Mumena, Zambia

In 2005, Brian and Sondra Davis and their two boys, Noah and Bryson, moved from Cape Town, South Africa to Mumena, Northwest Province, Zambia to begin a new church planting effort.  The Chief of this area, after getting to know members of Hillcrest via the Southern Zambia Medical Mission, had invited the Hillcrest church of Christ to begin a church planting mission among his people, the Kaonde tribe.

Located about 30 miles southwest of the mining town of Solwezi, the Kaonde of the Mumena Chieftaincy number about 50,000.  A delegation from Hillcrest led by Cleddy Varner and Kelly Hamby accepted this invitation on Hillcrest’s behalf.  The Chief provided land for the Davises (and what would become a church planting team of several families) on which homes could be built in close proximity to the local villages.

Since 2005, the following families and individuals have served in this effort:

• 2005 to 2013 – Brian and Sondra Davis: Noah and Bryson
• 2005 to 2012 – Leonard and Mary Mujala: (their 9 children)
• 2006 to 2011 – Don and Rita Boyd
• 2006 to 2008 – Bart and Stacey Bruington: Lane, and True
• 2007 – Rachel Mellor
• 2007 to present – Rick and Karen Love: Matthew, Lydia, Emily, and Caleb
• 2006 to 2008 – Douglas and Lillian Siampongo: Nobu
• 2008 & 2009 -Phil and Paula Sullivan
• 2011 to present – Sam and Ellie Rodriguez
• 2011 to 2012 – Jeremy and Whitney Davis
• 2011 to 2012 – Jason and Erin Davis
• 2013 to 2014 – Caleb Callari

Sixteen churches have been planted since 2005, and now we are seeing local congregations planting new congregations themselves.  Since 2009, the local churches have been organizing their own indigenous and 100% sustainable Bible school for church leadership development.

The school, called The Servants of Jesus Bible College, gathers the mature church leaders along with the up-and-coming church leaders for four weeks of intensive study each year.  These weeks are organized between the times of planting and harvesting fundamental to most of the village farmers.

Each year these church leaders invite guest teachers from Hillcrest and other supporting congregations to participate with them in the searching of the Word.  These leaders will use these times of study to plan their lessons for the rest of the year as they return to feed their respective congregations.

Along with the church planting, Hillcrest sends over a campaign group each year to work alongside of the missionaries in Gospel outreaches and holistic ministry including medical clinics, dental clinics, eye wear clinics, education seminars, agricultural development exchanges, entrepreneurship workshops, and clean water development projects.

Cam Hurst baptizing a young man who responded to the Gospel in one of our Gospel campaign outreaches.

At present, Rick & Karen Love and Sam & Ellie Rodriguez are the full-time missionaries on site.  They are supported by the Cedar Hill congregation in the Dallas, Texas area.

Hillcrest is helping to support the newest member of the team, Caleb Callari, in a two year apprenticeship under Rick Love.  Caleb served in a summer internship at Mumena in 2009.  After graduating from Harding University with a degree in missions, Caleb has taken on the challenge of apprenticing in this frontier church planting movement.

You can learn more about the history and current activities of this effort on their team blog:

www.mumenamissions.org

To follow Caleb’s blog: calebcallari.wordpress.com/