News Press
Marketplace Ministry Training Seminar
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| Bishop Nelly Chikwanda, Overseeing Apostle of GCN, SA, seated at left, observes Lubinda’s teaching. |
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| Lubinda facilitating the information |
Lubinda’s work in Zambia has proved very successful, as he has begun to develop a reputation amongst local Christian leaders for his work in training ministers for ministry. In February, Lubinda trained local leaders in Christian Leadership and in June he trained his students in the spiritual gifts and their function in the local church.
Lubinda has planned one more workshop for the year, which will focus on prayer and intercession. Join us in praying for the work that we are pursuing in Zambia, an African nation that declares its Christianity in the nation’s constitution. We feel confident that this is the start of something big, and only God can do the big things that we hope to see happen in Zambia.
CVTS Biblical Israel Study Tour
Watch video and view photos from the CVTS Biblical Israel Study Tour by visiting our blog. This Google map offers links and photos to the various sites the tour covered.
View CVTS Biblical Israel Study Tour in a larger map
Q&A
CVTS, S.A. to take holistic approach to help all believers
In a recent trip to Ndola, Zambia, we had the pleasure of meeting with Pastor Lubinda Akamandisa, a prolific teacher who will serve as the overseer of Christian Vocational Training School, Southern Africa (CVTS, S.A.). We decided to introduce Pastor Akamandisa through a special feature on www.cvtsonline.org so that our stateside CVTS family and friends can learn a bit about him. Although it will be some time before he is able to visit us in person, Pastor Akamandisa has begun plans to organize CVTS to serve those in and surrounding Ndola. Pastor Akamandisa was ordained as a pastor through Global Change Network, Southern Africa (GCN, S.A.), and is a member of the inaugural group. Though he was ordained as a pastor, Pastor Akamandisa recognizes that his principal gift is teacher. In this Q&A, discusses Zambian culture as well as his plans for CVTS, S.A. –Pastor Antwan Jefferson
Name: Lubinda Akamandisa, also known as "Pastor Aka" 
Age: 37
Birth date: December, 11, 1970
Family: Wife, Glendah, and two daughters, seven-year-old Lifasi (which means “the world”), and three-year-old Sepo (which means “Hope”).
Education: Pastor Akamandisa received a diploma in biblical studies at the U.S.-based Faith Institute; he also earned a diploma in theology from the U.S.-based Global Ministries Bible Institute (Global Ministry and Relief, Inc.); and he received a certificate in missions from the Missions Exposure and Training (MET) in Pretoria, South Africa.
What is life like in Zambia?
Zambia is a Christian nation. Life in Zambia can be approached from the social, economical or environmental contexts. From the environmental context, Zambia is endowed with plenty of natural resources, and we have all four seasons demarcated. Generally, the weather is good. We have a lot traditional ceremonies annually. Economically, Zambia is one of the poorest third-world countries. We have droughts occasionally, and sometimes floods devastate people and crops. We still have high levels of animal disease. We have the pandemic of AIDS affecting our country. There are about 500,000 AIDS orphans presently in Zambia, and there are the problems of single-parent homes, children running homes and street kids.
There is the problem of unemployment; there are no jobs. Many of the companies are closed, and people can only get jobs in government. However, it is not possible for all of the high school graduates to get jobs with the government.
Ministry-wise, most of the ministries are town-centered. Traditional churches and cults are prominent in remote rural areas. Most of the pastors approaching ministry are not trained because it is very expensive to afford college fees.
It is very easy to approach ministry in Zambia. From the President down, nearly everyone confesses that they are Christian. The gospel is freely preached in Zambia; there is no opposition to the gospel being preached. Among central African countries, Zambia is the most peaceful. Zambians are peace-loving people, and we have not experienced war.
How can CVTS serve fellow believers in Zambia and throughout southern Africa?
CVTS can be a launching center to train ministers who will go into rural areas for missions as well as impact the community within their sphere of influence. As pastors are trained, they can be equipped to do the work better than they were doing it, and as a result we can have growth in the Kingdom of God. It is not only really the training of pastors. CVTS will also equip believers and build them up so that they can better serve God and they can identify their ministry calling and flow in the gift that God has given them.
What plans do you have for CVTS, S.A.?
CVTS will impact local churches in town and also the churches in rural areas. We are not going to focus on formal ministry training alone. We will have a holistic approach to ground believers in the church so that they can serve God at their own level. Some of those sitting in the pews have ministry to their neighbors at home; some have ministry to children. The holistic approach is so that they can do better what God has called them to do. Therefore, our plan is to equip ministers to minister the word of God through training, mentoring, and social interaction. When I say minister, I am talking about everybody, the priesthood of all believers.
If you wish to contact Pastor Akamandisa to encourage him or to learn more about him, you may reach him via e-mail at akam70@yahoo.com.
