March 2024 Newsletter
Training Africa’s Next Generation of Spiritual Leaders
First Term of 2024 Successfully Complete!
We give all praise to our Lord as we successfully conclude our first trimester at AIU and now have a two-week break. The last few months have been incredibly fruitful with many opportunities for students and staff to glorify God through their work and studies. We are so grateful to all our supporters who make this ministry possible, and to our academic staff for the fantastic work they did throughout this first term. We continue to pray for our second-term professors, most of whom are from the United States, as they prepare to travel long distances to teach here at AIU.
Lasting Conditions of a Severe Drought - Please Pray!
We are thankful for your continued prayers for us as we struggle through the repercussions of the severe drought experienced here in Zambia and neighboring regions. Our rainy season this year did not commence until late December instead of mid-November. Consequently, most parts of the country received only one month's worth of rainfall rather than what would have normally been expected with three to four months of rain. This situation will likely result in further challenges as the year progresses. We already face a water scarcity issue on campus, with two of our wells having dried up. Insufficient water supply is negatively impacting critical areas such as the clinic, garden, kitchen, and poultry operations. As dry months persist, the situation may worsen. We are actively working on sustainable solutions, including conducting a comprehensive survey of the water table and drilling additional boreholes in areas where the water table is not excessively low. Your prayers and support are greatly appreciated as we continue our efforts to mitigate this crisis.
Outreach Highlight
Reaching local public schools for Christ!
At AIU, we are always delighted by opportunities provided by the Lord to share the gospel. Our outreach department recently launched the S.E.N.T Team program, enabling staff and students to actively engage in spreading the message of Jesus Christ to local public schools, churches, and villages, with a discipleship component for new believers. With a new school added to our ministry program, we are now involved in six local public schools, where AIU students visit weekly to share the gospel and initiate discipleship classes. We are grateful for the support of the school administration in this effort.
There has been great enthusiasm displayed by all involved. We anticipate transformation in the lives of many pupils as they engage with the Word of God and become equipped to thereby disciple others. The high attendance at these sessions reflects the students' hunger for God's Word. For our students, this initiative allows them to engage in practical ministry while pursuing education at AIU. We are encouraged by how many schools and churches have expressed interest in collaborating with our students and especially encouraged by the testimonies of individuals coming to know Jesus Christ!
One of our Junior students with the Chitemalesa Combined School for school ministry had this to say:
“I am grateful to AIU for this opportunity to teach and disciple pupils at this school. From the time we started teaching the gospel of Salvation through Jesus Christ here, we have seen many pupils come to faith. The character transformation of many of the students has been especially noticeable to their teachers and parents as their lives conform to the gospel and the fear of the Lord.”
Continue praying for our students and staff as they minister to others in our neighboring communities.
Daycare Ministry at AIU
A thriving and growing ministry!
AIU’s on-campus daycare ministry continues to be a source of gratitude for the community, benefiting both the campus and nearby villages with its growth in the number of children served through it. It provides essential early childhood education to Zambian children, especially those who may not have access otherwise. Most importantly, as a ministry of AIU, the daycare is a platform for discipling young children through God’s Word. Please pray for patience and wisdom among our daycare teachers and for spiritual growth among the young learners in their care.
STAFF SPOTLIGHT!
LAWRENCE & EDITH MPETA
Administrative Assistant to the Dean of Theology
Lawrence Mpeta, a 2018 graduate of AIU, has been serving as an administrative assistant to the Dean of Theology since July 2022. In addition to his role as an administrative assistant, Lawrence also works as a receptionist at the H. E Wyatt administration building, assisting students and staff with office supplies and managing printing and photocopying machines.
“I have learned how to effectively multi-task and problem-solve as part of a team. Such skills also make a great impact for me in my personal life and in my relationships with students, stakeholders, and AIU staff. I am delighted in that my job allows me to be a platform to help AIU students with the different academic challenges they face during their time of study here at AIU.”
Lawrence considers it a great privilege to serve the Lord in these capacities at AIU while gaining experience in Christian education management. He is enthusiastic about his job and is pleased to see AIU improve in academic excellence as it seeks to comply with the education standards set by the Higher Education Authority (HEA) in Zambia. Lawrence is also involved in co-teaching, grading student exams and research papers, and is part of the Master’s Class of AIU’s Distance Learning Program. Desiring to serve the Lord wholeheartedly while gaining administrative and operational experience for institutions of higher learning, Lawrence wants to help AIU continuously excel in fulfilling its mandate.
On September 17, 2022, Lawrence married Edith Mpeta for whom he is grateful to God. He describes her as kind, loving, and supportive of his work and always desiring to learn more from God’s Word. The two are thankful to the Lord for blessing them with their daughter, Alisha, born May 22, 2023. Pray with Lawrence and Edith that God would lead them in their marriage, raising Alisha, and in their ministry.
STUDENT SPOTLIGHT!
BRIAN LONGWANI
Sophomore
Brian, a sophomore at AIU, hails from Solwezi in the northwest of Zambia. He is the eldest among three brothers and one sister in his family. Growing up in a religious household, Brian enjoyed the experience of attending Church each Sunday and watching the people there sing. This inspired him to join the church choir. Despite his active involvement, he was not saved. One day he felt greatly dismayed about his eternal destiny while listening to a sermon about heaven and hell. Convicted by the fear of hell, he began a process of pursuing salvation. However, it was not until after completing high school in 2021 that he finally heard the gospel proclaimed clearly. In understanding that salvation comes only through faith in Jesus Christ, Brian was converted. In describing his testimony, Brain recalled that the pastor taught through the Book of Romans, emphasizing Romans 10:9 which states, “because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” This hereafter became one of Brian’s favorite verses.
Since then, Brian began to experience great spiritual transformation in his life, desiring to learn more about God’s word so that he would also be equipped to share with others the message of salvation. Through an act of God’s providence, Brian was introduced to AIU by a pastor at his local church.
“It is a such a blessing for me to be in a place where God provides an opportunity to study His Word. The courses I have taken here have benefitted me tremendously in my own life personally, and as I desire to teach God’s Word to others. In addition to this, I am so thankful for the valuable skills I have been gaining through my work scholarship department. ”
After graduating from AIU, Brian would like to get involved in pastoral ministry as he sees the great need and urgency of sharing the gospel with others. As part of his plan, he also wants to venture into agriculture to provide an income for himself, his family, and his ministry.
Brian's prayer is that God would continue to guide him wisely and in His strength to finish his studies well. Pray with Brian that God would continue to give him the desire to learn more from His word and grow spiritually.