Forgotten Voices' Mission:

"Demonstrating the love of Jesus Christ by equipping local churches in southern Africa to meet the physical & spiritual needs of children orphaned by AIDS in their communities."

Friday, August 27, 2010

Keeping the dreams alive

It's exactly two weeks and three days before schools open and on behalf of all local pastors and school going children in Ndola, Zambia, I want to say THANK YOU for making it possible to have over 500 children continue with their education. Yes, their dreams of becoming teachers, nurses, doctors, engineers and police officers continue to be a reality as they get back into school on the 6th of September. They will enter the classroom without worrying about where school fees, books uniforms and shoes will come from because, just yesterday I was privileged to hand over your donations to pastors that are working hard to see to it that these orphans continue with their education without worries. The church has become the "father and mother" of these children and every new term brings challenges to the local pastor as to where support will come from to have "his children" continue with school.

Your donations, through the ministry of Forgotten Voices with local churches here in Southern Africa, is making this possible. Without these donations, a number of the children would have dropped out of school, as simple as that. Yes, their journey would have ended and their dreams of becoming somebody would have been no more. We cannot even imagine how vulnerable they would have become.They would have been exposed to all sorts of evil and abuse.

I urge you not to grow weary of the good works you are doing; "God...will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you helped his people and continue to help them", Hebrews 6: 10. Donate today through FVI and help keep their dreams alive!!

Your fellow servant in God's ministry,

Remmy.

Monday, August 9, 2010

Giving Voice to the Brethren in Christ Church, Copperbelt

The BICC Copperbelt Orphan Care ministry is currently assisting about 100 orphans and other vulnerable children through their schooling. A regular supply of food supplements has also been extended to some of these children's homes because of their HIV status. About 10 members of the church are to be trained as home based care givers. The church also intends to empower widows, most of whom are HIV positive and not in formal employment, through small loans that will help them to run sustainable businesses like vegetable gardening and poultry farming. This initiative is intended to be a revolving fund to help the needy members.

Listening to the local church pastor narrate story after story of how poverty is ravaging the community around, then you understand the meaning of God's calling. God calls us to be defenders of the vulnerable in society and most of these do not have enough to eat, let alone take their children to school. But through the partnership with FVI, ministry has been made much more bearable for these forgotten men and women of God.

Be part of the ministry of Forgotten Voices and make a difference to a child's life in Africa as you demonstrate the love of Jesus Christ.

You can give today at www.ForgottenVoices.org to help us keep this project going! We need to raise $4,000 by midAugust. Thanks for your consideration.

Sincerely,
Remmy Hamapande, Program Director - Zambia
ForgottenVoices.org

Thursday, August 5, 2010

Mpongwe Outreach with Cure International

It was a cold night and the journey seemed not to be ending as we were winding through the thick forest along the dust road to the camp. It took over an hour of driving from the main road and we finally got to our camping site just before midnight. It was in the middle of nowhere; only the bright moon and the stars in the sky gave the light; though, however, at the camp we were also greeted by a large camp fire and a group of youths singing some welcoming choruses for us. It was a joyous moment for everyone and after greeting friends and would be friends, it was time to be served with some hot food prepared from one of the many fires on the camp. After our meal, it was time to bid each other good night as we looked forward to a long day the following morning. Every morning, for the next five days, we had our early morning devotions before we set off for the village to village evangelism.

A team of some pastors partnering with Forgotten Voices International's ministry work in Ndola, Zambia and I, joined with Cure hospital Spiritual ministries team for an evangelism outreach in rural Ndola. The latest outreach was in the villages of Mpongwe, about 120km from Ndola town. We were camping at one of the Copperbelt Brethren in Christ church, whose some of the orphans are currently under the support of the BICC Copperbelt Orphan care ministry, in partnership with FVI for their educational requirements. It is always a joy and indeed part of our focus to witness Christ together with those we offer financial assistance in outreaches like these.

We enjoyed sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ with the locals as we crisscrossed the village paths walking for over an hour from our base in some instances as we visited villages. The villagers were very welcoming and very receptive to the Word. Over seventy people received Christ as their personal Saviour by the end of six days of our stay.

The whole outreach reminded me of God's commissioning of Isaiah, in Isaiah 6:8, "Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?' And I said, "Here am I. Send me!". The Lord is calling on you and me to answer His call of ministry either through donating to Forgotten Voices' ministry in Southern Africa, or to go out in person and be part of the harvesters; yes, the harvest is plentiful, Matthew 9: 37!

Your fellow servant in God's ministry,

Remmy.




Sunday, August 1, 2010

Giving Voice to Kabushi Evangelical Church of Zambia

Kabushi ECZ is located in one of the densely populated townships of Ndola, in Zambia. The local church's orphan care ministry is currently assisting 60 children continue with their education. Most of these children had dropped out of school, but when Forgotten Voices became partners with the church, hope was rekindled in the lives of these children as a number of them went back to school. However, the need is always growing and many more still need help to continue with their schooling.

Due to water problems around the community, the church is planing to dig a well at the church compound. This will alleviate water problems the community is currently experiencing. According to the pastor, this will help over 100 households, translating to an average of six hundred people.

I always admire Pastor Benjamin Mashonga's love for the church and his community, he is the oldest pastor among local partners so far Forgotten Voices has in Ndola, but one of the most active in the area of visiting his members. Your continued help through the ministry of FVI in this part of Africa will help pastors like Benjamin meet some of the physical needs of their flock.

You can help Kabushi ECZ and other projects like it by giving today at www.ForgottenVoices.org.  We need to raise $1,500 this week to keep this project going for 3 more months.

Thanks! Sincerely,
Remmy Hamapande, Program Director - Zambia