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Nearly half the population of Zambia are living along the rail line between the Congo and Zimbabwe borders. Most of Zambia's food is grown by farmers using basic farming methods. Food production is low, shortages are constant, and malnutrition is common. In some districts, one-third to one-half of children are suffering from malnutrition. The government is encouraging a better marketing scheme for cash crops, and is also trying to foster cooperative groups for basic social services. Nearly all Zambians are Bantu, which includes more than 70 different tribes. Three out of four Zambians consider themselves to be Christians, with a fairly even split between Roman Catholics and Protestants. The country was declared a Christian nation by President Chiluba when he came into office in 1991. The South Africa General Mission, later known as Africa Evangelical Fellowship and now as SIM, entered Zambia in 1910. Today the churches planted are organized into the Evangelical Church of Zambia (ECZ). Ministries of mission and church include hospitals and community health, primary and secondary schools, media, prison ministries, theological education at various levels, Christian Education resources for the church, discipleship seminars, agricultural development, and aviation. The ECZ has sent national missionaries to unreached people within Zambia. Church leaders recognize the great need to help immature believers grow and to help build healthy families. Insurgent Islam,
partially due to immigrants from Muslim areas, is creating a present
challenge to the church. The HIV/AIDS pandemic is a major problem. It is estimated that 1.6 million children have lost one or both parents to AIDS. That's 23% of Zambia's children, and nearly 16% of the entire Zambian population. 75% of Zambian households are already caring for at least one child, related to them, whose parents have died. The burden of care falls on aged grandparents. Please pray
for:
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