Partnership Overview

Jeremiah and Faides are the key people on the ground in Kamatipa. They tend their own farm, lead the small church of about 100 people, and care for the orphans. Jeremiah is originally from Angola and from time to time goes back there to help his people and teach in the churches.

History of Partnership

For a number of years Jeremiah and Faides have been church planting in this community. They came here after training at GLO Training Centre at the beginning of the 90's. We met them again in around 2001 and we then heard their story. Soon after that we began to assist them by supporting the work. As the work developed their involvement in ministry compromised their ability to support themselves as farmers.

Beneficiaries

Jeremiah and Faides Chiyesu

What We Like About The Partnership

The high calibre of these people is very obvious. They have given their lives to their community and will do whatever it takes to reach them. Whenever people meet them they come away impacted by their character and hospitality.

Key People

Leadership Profile

Jeremiah and Faides have chosen to live in this area. Initially they went there to farm and to plant a church which they did successfully. The church is now functioning well with more than 100 people in it but of course, many orphans turned up in church as part of church families or attending Sunday School and other programmes.

They have four of their own children and numerous other children “live” at their place.

Jeremiah and Faides are both graduates of GLO Zambia and while there were challenged to give their lives in ministry which they have done. As Jeremiah is a refugee from Angola, he still yearns to go back but only for visits at the moment. 

Vision And Annual Strategy

The strategy here is to continue supporting this strategic couple as they work in their community and bring change and transformation into people's lives.

In 2013 BHW decided to set Jeremiah and Faides up with a business to enable them to be self-supporting. They were given a lump sum payment to help establish a solar retail business, and were also given a micro-loan to fund purchase of material for Faides' sewing business. It is therefore anticipated that after 2013 no further financial support will be needed from Bright Hope World. 

Personal Testimony

Real "Life Change" Stories

Here is the story of one little girl into whose life Jeremiah and Faides have intervened. She and her two sisters spend a lot of their time hanging around Jeremiah and Faides' home.

KATEMBA CHIYENGA
Grade 2  Age 7
Katemba lives with her father's elder sister. A few years ago her mother died and her father became mentally disturbed and left her and three siblings alone. Katemba and her two younger sisters started to stay with her aunty after they were found, her baby sister went to another aunty. Soon after this Katemba’s father returned to reclaim the children. The three girls went with him to Chingola where he had a job cleaning the public toilets.

Although Katemba’s father had a job he had no where to stay and so her and her two siblings slept at the toilets behind some large barrels of water. Rebecca (from GLO) got word that there where some children staying in the toilets so she went to see for herself. When she arrived there she found the girls begging from the people entering the toilets and being watched by the day time toilet attendant. Their father was out drinking. 

When Katemba’s father was found Rebecca demanded that he take the girls back to the village. He did take them back to live with their aunty who is old and sick and is no longer able to work in the garden. The family rarely has a meal. She wants to put the girls into an orphanage but doesn’t know where to take them.

Katemba likes to go to school. When she grows up she wants to be a teacher. She enjoys playing jack stones with her friends. She helps her aunty by carrying large loads of maize to and from the grinding mill.

Katemba had a cold when I talked with her. She was hungry and barely spoke above a whisper when asked a question. When observing her with the other children she sat alone on a log and didn’t move or interact with any of the children. She just stared into the distance. She desperately needs help.