June 2024 Newsletter
Training Africa’s Next Generation of Spiritual Leaders
Practical Ministry Opportunities!
Evangelistic outreach in local markets.
AIU has been actively preparing its students for practical ministry through the Campus Pastor’s office and the AIU Outreach department, in addition to the theoretical knowledge gained in class. Alongside the usual Sunday outreach programs and school ministry, AIU introduced prison ministry and hospital ministries a few years ago to provide students with hands-on experience in practical ministry. The addition of these ministry opportunities has allowed students, accompanied by staff members, to visit hospitals and share the gospel with patients. AIU is grateful for the opportunity to engage in these ministries for two consecutive years, with the hospitals showing a positive response and a welcoming attitude towards the initiative.
This year, the Lord presented a new ministry opportunity to our students and staff as our outreach department began an outreach initiative to public marketplaces. In early June, a group of students visited a local market in a village to share the gospel. Many individuals accepted Christ after understanding the message and feeling the conviction of the Holy Spirit. People in the market were grateful, and Bibles were distributed to new believers. The hunger for God's Word in the markets is evident, and we ask for prayers for boldness and zeal to continue reaching the unreached with the message of salvation. We also seek prayers for our students to find joy in sharing the gospel with people from diverse backgrounds, and for God to increase their passion for spreading His truth.
Logos Bible Training!
A generous gift with great value for our students.
We are grateful for God’s continuous provision for our residential students. At the beginning of this term (second trimester), the junior class of 20 students received a generous gift of the Logos Bible Software, thanks to William Fiess. In both rural and urban areas of Zambia, many church pastors and leaders are unable to afford such valuable Bible study tools like this. The same is true for most of our students at AIU. This gift will be incredibly beneficial for our students in their future ministries. The Logos Bible Software offers various features that aid in the interpretation and application of scriptures, including Bible dictionaries, atlases, keyword study Bibles, and other valuable study tools.
Bill Fiess has generously dedicated his time to remotely conduct a ten-week orientation for our junior students, teaching them how to effectively utilize the Logos Bible software. We are grateful for his provision to the 2024 Junior class and appreciate William Fiess for his generosity and sacrifice in guiding our students through the software.
“The Logos class has been extremely beneficial to my class. It makes navigating through the Bible and understanding the context of the Scriptures easier. In particular, Logos has been instrumental in helping with writing research papers especially when it comes to exegetical papers. Since we started the Logos class, preparing sermons and Bible study lessons has become much easier.”
Expanding the Farming Initiative!
Self-sustainability grows with the procurement of a maize sheller.
The farming project at AIU is expanding as we seek to achieve greater self-sustainability on campus. Venturing into agriculture is a key component of this goal, and a few years ago, we installed hammermills on campus to support this initiative. The hammermills have not only benefited the campus but also the surrounding villages, providing a huge blessing for villagers who previously had to travel long distances to grind their corn.
A new ten-hectare field has been established on campus for cultivating corn, soybeans, and sunflower. The primary purpose is to produce chicken feed from processed corn and soybeans. With hammermills on site, maize can also be processed into cornmeal for cafeteria use, enabling self-sufficiency in crop production.
The chickens raised on campus are primarily fed chicken feed with corn as the main ingredient. However, it has been very difficult to shell large enough quantities of maize for processing into cornmeal and chicken feed. We have been praying for machinery to shell our corn, and thankfully, a generous donation has allowed us to procure a maize sheller capable of shelling at least one ton per hour. This acquisition is a significant blessing for our campus, and we are grateful to God for providing this timely solution. We are incredibly thankful to all sponsors who contributed to purchasing the maize sheller!
Our next step will be to install the maize sheller. This image shows the proposed site for a building to accommodate it, and we prayerfully seek assistance in securing funds for its construction. Please pray that we can quickly receive the necessary funds and consider how you might help contribute towards it. Your involvement will enhance the efficiency of our campus operations in this particular area.
A New water source on the AIU campus!
A new water bore increases our access to this essential resource.
Water plays a crucial role in the daily operations of our campus, especially as our campus population expands. However, the limited water sources on campus, coupled with minimal rainfall during the 2023-2024 rainy season, have led to water shortages and disruptions in campus activities.
Water consumption is most significant in our garden, staff residences, poultry, cafeteria, and student bathhouses, all of which are crucial for campus operations. The timing of this well installation is particularly advantageous as we enter the dry season in Zambia, where water scarcity often becomes a pressing issue.
We have been praying for an increase in our water sources, and by God's grace, we were able to dig a new commercial well that is 120 meters deep. We are grateful to God and our sponsors for making this well-drilling project possible!
The electric water pump will soon be installed in the well, along with a stand and water tank for storage, and connection to the power supply to make the borehole fully operational. The drilling machine used during the digging process is shown in the picture above, bringing joy to students and staff as an answered prayer. We ask for continued prayers as we complete the final works on the water borehole to ensure its prompt operation, and for the AIU community to care for this valuable gift responsibly.
STUDENT SPOTLIGHT!
KELVIN KABENA
Sophomore
Kelvin, a sophomore at AIU, hails from Blantyre, a town in the southern part of Malawi. He is the third of five siblings, with two brothers and two sisters. Raised in a religious family, Kelvin grew up in his grandfather's household, who was a dedicated pastor. While he regularly attended church and associated with Christians, even through high school, he did so without grasping the concept of being saved from the consequences of sin. Despite this, he always looked up to those who preached the word of God and aspired to be like them. Through his uncle's introduction, Kelvin discovered AIU, where he enrolled as part of the 2023 freshmen class. Hearing the message of salvation through faith in Christ at AIU, Kelvin recognized his need for a savior and placed his faith in Jesus Christ. His newfound faith has since fueled his passion to serve God.
Upon completion of his studies at AIU, Kelvin aims to embark on a career in Political Science while also advancing his theological education. His goal is to spread the gospel within his community, focusing particularly on women and youth. Let us join Kelvin in prayer for the successful completion of his studies and God's continued guidance and support in his endeavors.
“I have always considered it a huge blessing and privilege for me to be here. So far, my skills in the understanding and interpretation of God’s Word in context have greatly improved. The courses that I have been learning here at AIU are very helpful in my life and have helped me grow spiritually. I look forward to learning more during my stay at AIU. Outside of class at AIU, I have also been involved in a lot of other activities through work scholarship and other avenues that continue to shape me to be a better person.”
STAFF SPOTLIGHT!
SMART & ANNA MTONGA
Grounds Department Supervisor
Smart graduated from AIU in 2017 and was hired as a staff member in June 2018. From 2018 to 2022, he served as the Chifundo Clinic outreach director, overseeing school outreach and sharing the gospel in surrounding villages. In 2022 and 2023, Smart was transferred to the newly opened Salama Department, focusing on manufacturing eco-friendly stoves known as Salama stoves. The Salama Stoves initiative aimed to reduce deforestation and health issues caused by traditional firewood stoves, benefiting over fifty households before the department's closure.
Since January 2024, Smart has taken on a new position as the Grounds department supervisor at AIU. His main focus is ensuring the campus remains clean and well-maintained. In addition to overseeing students and setting budgets, Smart plays a crucial role in the campus's daily operations.
Since June 6th, 2020, Smart and Anna have been married. They have been blessed with two children, Emmanuel and Angela, who bring joy to their beautiful family. Anna's encouragement and dedication are a source of inspiration for Smart, describing her as kind, loving, patient, and supportive. Serving at AIU has been a significant blessing for Smart, where he has learned the values of hard work, treating people equally, and being patient and available for service. Anna also plays a vital role in managing the daycare, welcoming campus visitors, and helping at the teachers' lodge. Both Smart and Anna are committed to their growth as godly parents, seeking continued spiritual development and strength. They appreciate prayers for guidance, wisdom, and God's presence in their family and areas of service.