Excellence Christian Academy and Freedom

continued from Kanyama Bible College

From Lusaka, Steve and Tim pressed on to Kabwe, Zambia, home of Excellence Christian Academy. ECA’s Principal, Eugene Kalunga is another African national with several irons in the fire. In addition to his responsibilities at the school, he is involved with local Christian leadership and a prison ministry. He had arranged for Steve and Tim to speak to a group of local pastors and church leaders. At Tim’s suggestion, the ITMI team taught on the topic of personal evangelism using some practical suggestions from their earlier experiences. The pastors were very excited about what they had learned. One, in his broken English exclaimed, “This new way to share Jesus-it will work!”

In addition to delivering school supplies donated by school kids in the US, Steve was able to serve the ECA workers by taking family portraits and printing copies for them. While photographing the family of Mr. Banda, the Assistant Principal at ECA, Steve heard firsthand the story of Rachel Banda, his 14-year-old daughter who had been abducted earlier in the year.

Rachel had gone to a friend’s house one afternoon and never returned. She was held captive in a house across the street from her own for a few days before being transported to Lusaka. Her captors tried to brainwash her in preparation for entering sex-slave trade. Miraculously, a student at ECA found out where Rachel was being held. Kabwe and Lusaka authorities set up a stake-out to catch her captors and rescue her.

Rachel told Steve that the whole time she was in captivity, she knew that people were praying for her and felt the Lord’s presence with her. Now she wants to help other children like herself who have endured traumatic experiences. Before her abduction, Rachel was a regular 14-year-old. This horrible event in her life turned her into a modern-day Joseph, who was kidnapped in an act that was, “intended to harm…but God intended it for good.” Genesis 50:20 Praise the Lord for Rachel’s safe return and for her desire to serve Him!