"Many, O Lord my God, are the wonders you have done. The things you planned for us no one can recount to you; were I to speak and tell of them they would be too many to declare." Psalm 40:5 

Last month, LIFE International traveled to Zambia to participate in the Pan-African Conference for Life and to visit associates there, Edward and Barbra Mwansa, who partnered with LIFE to sponsor the conference. The conference drew hundreds of people from across the continent of Africa. The Lord’s hand was clearly evident on this trip as He protected and provided for attendees, the LIFE team, the Mwansas, and their ministry, and as He opened doors for ministry through prayer.

The LIFE team arrived in Zambia a few days before the conference began to spend time in prayer for the conference and to visit the five ministries begun by the Mwansas—each ministry an expression of God’s heart to care for and love His children. With a video crew from Harvest Media, a partner ministry that produces media tools to serve missions, the team visited the Nehemiah Boy’s Ranch, the Sara Rose Maternity Home, Silent Voices Pregnancy Center, the Children’s Feeding Program and the Sara Rose Orphanage. These ministries are a beautiful picture of God’s people responding to His command to take care of the orphans and widows. The Boy’s Ranch is committed to transforming young men from the street life into warriors in God’s Kingdom, while the Maternity Home, currently housing eight young women and seven babies, helps women prepare for motherhood and continue their education. The Pregnancy Center has seen 15 abortion minded clients choose life for their children already this year, and the Feeding Program provides two meals a day for over 40 children. The Orphanage is the only one in Kitwe that will accept children with AIDS and is currently caring for two children with AIDS.

529 people registered for the conference from eight surrounding countries, and attendees included an interesting mix of pastors, medical professionals, government workers and even workers from the prison system. As the participants joined together, the Spirit of God did what only He can do to bring His truth through His message of Life. The gathering together of multiple Christian denominations was ground-breaking because there is little cross-denominational work that happens in African countries like Zambia. The need to unify for life-giving ministry was proclaimed and received.

Relationships were formed among various groups at the conference. The Harvest Media team attended the conference and conducted many valuable interviews for the documentary they are creating about worldwide abortion issues, LIFE staff made new connections with people who are excited to take the message of life into their spheres of influence, and our friends at Silent Voices were able to network with many individuals and organizations too. The day following the end of the conference, Barbra Mwansa reported that her phone was ringing off the hook with requests for help in life-giving ministry.

Presentations at the conference covered topics such as the sanctity of human life and fetal development related to abortion. Issues were broached that had never been discussed before, even in the churches. Barbra shared her own story, speaking of the importance of telling the truth and of the freedom and power that is released as a result. People were soberly silenced and called to repentance as truths about immoral ancestral traditions that have bled into the African church were exposed.

In many ways, this conference was an awakening. Lies were exposed and replaced with truth. Pastors admitted that they do not talk about abortion in their churches. Many were called to take a stand for life.

The LIFE team was able to give away 20 backpacks filled with books, training materials and life-affirming ministry tools at the conclusion of the conference. Barbra began to dance as she observed the participants receiving the backpacks; she understood the far reaching impact the materials would have. Each recipient was prayed over before leaving the conference, equipped with Truth and tools to help affirm and communicate that Truth in their own homes, churches and towns.

None of this was accomplished apart from the work of the Spirit of God. The conference began with a day of prayer and was bathed in prayer and worship throughout. On the first day of the conference, 100 people responded to an invitation to join for prayer at the front of the room. Many confessed to having taken part in multiple abortions in their lives. Teams were also available for prayer ministry each day during the conference. Over 70 people received personal prayer ministry during the conference— people were saved, healed, set free and encouraged in the Name of Jesus Christ!

Impact

The Pan-African Conference for Life could not have taken place at a more opportune time. Currently in Zambia, abortion is illegal except to save the life of the woman, to preserve mental or physical health, in the case of fetal impairment, or for economic or social reasons. The International Planned Parenthood Federation is working with members of the medical community to expand access to abortion in Zambia. Truly, there is a very real need for the truth about the sanctity of life and a powerful work of God in this nation!

Perhaps this pastor best summarizes the impact of the Pan-African conference through this note he sent to LIFE upon his return home:

"I traveled well back home and immediately got to work. I shared the ideas to five of my friends and we all agreed and to go out and just interview people on the issue of abortion and how free people are to talk about it.

It was the most difficult topic to motivate people to talk about. We interviewed 60 people and only five were able to speak freely about it. Amongst the 60, 26 were pastors, and all of them have never preached or taught against abortion. ‘Strange.’

[We plan] to do the following:

-Talk about it
-Create a place to meet troubled mothers and girls
-Mobilize teaching materials on abortion
-Bring pastors from all over the nation to sensitize them on the matter
-Get into theological colleges, and bible schools to make sure that issues of abortion are talked about when training pastors.
-Mobilize funds to help young mothers to start small income generating activities to help them with new babies.
-Talk to nurses and traditional birth attendants to know the evil of abortion
-Put posters all over to create awareness
-Identify provincial Christian leaders who can mobilize people in their local areas
-Identify partners to work with.

Thank you Kurt for introducing me to this work. I will do all I can to get the message out there. I am talking to my friends in South Africa, Malawi, Tanzania, Democratic Republic of Zambia and Botswana."

On this side of eternity, we will never see all that results from the truth spoken and resources shared during that week. We have full confidence that what God began will be carried on to completion, and that life-giving initiatives will begin as a result of this conference!