THE IMM RECONNECTS WITH
CHAMBOLI UNION BAPTIST CHURCH (GLYN VIVIAN), ZAMBIA AFTER 33 YEARS
IMM's involvement in Zambia started in about 1950 when Mr George Smith, then working in what was Northern Rhodesia, contacted the Mission requesting help for the building of Baptist churches in the Copperbelt. He organised the building of 3 churches in Ndola, Chamboli (Kitwe) and Luanshya, all in mining areas.
The IMM General Secretary, Mr Kenneth Banham, visited the Copperbelt in the late 1950s and met George Smith at the Ndola church and gave a very positive report. Following the departure of George Smith in the 1960's Len Baillie, his successor kept things ticking over, but it was not until Mr Alan Ramsey, the Chairman of IMM UK went out personally to Zambia in 1983 that further ministry developed. He met Peter Chintala, the dynamic Secretary of the Zambian Baptist Association and IMM were soon involved in building more churches in the Copperbelt towns.
By 1988 serious money was being sent to Zambia as Peter Chintala drove the work forward. Sadly Peter left the Zambian Baptist Association and went to the USA for studies and the good relationship with the ZBA faded. Alan Ramsey fell ill and died in 1992 and it was felt by the IMM trustees that support should be withdrawn due to there being no proper supervision of the ministry to the miners taking place.
However, the link to IMM and the impact that the IMM had is such that to this day the Chamboli Union Baptist church still makes reference to Glyn Vivian in its name CHAMBOLI UNION BAPTIST CHURCH (GLYN VIVIAN).
In 2023, Greg Le Roux (IMM UK) was on a trip to Zambia and went in search of any trace of the IMM’s work left in Chamboli. To his delight, he met with the Rev. Godfrey Sam Ilunga the minister at the Chamboli Union Baptist church who was very keen to be reunited with the IMM.
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Rev. Godfrey Sam Ilunga, has been a Baptist minister in the Copperbelt province since 1988. In addition to leading Nampamba Union Baptist Church in Mpongwe District for almost 20 years, he planted 6 other churches in the region over this time . In 2005 Rev. Ilunga moved to Kitwe with his wife and 5 children and has pastored the Chamboli Union Baptist church since then. He is also serving as Kitwe District Pastor's Fellowship Chairman. Chamboli Union Baptist Church which was built in 1958 with the support of IMM, was the first Union Baptist Church in Kitwe and has gone on to plant over 34 other Union Baptist Churches in the region. |
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With IMM support, the Great Commission of Jesus Christ Evangelism ministry team will be hosting a Three Day Crusade in May 2025. The crusade will take place at the Overspill Union Baptist Church which is in the Luanshya mining area and there is great anticipation that many will come to faith.
Greg Le Roux
IMMUK Trustee
