Abson Carries God’s Mission to Work & Village

For most people, the work of an evangelist is left to those who are in full-time ministry. They are the ones who move from one village to another preaching the word of God. But that’s not what the Bible says. We are all called to partner with God in fulfilling His mission, whether in ministry or in the workplace.

Abson Muumbe (2005 alumnus) heard that clearly when he was being equipped for transformational leadership for the church and community at African Christian College.

Abson enrolled fresh out of high school: “All I knew was that I wanted to work for the Kingdom of God in preaching the gospel, but I was not sure what that looked like.”

He received quality education and was equipped for both ministry and vocation, but the emphasis was placed on what it means to be called to God’s mission. We are all disciples charged to preach the word of God, baptize others, and teach them to become disciples as well so that the Kingdom of God may grow. “I loved how the school incorporated tentmaking in our studies to ensure we started and ran self-sustaining ministries,” he recalled.

I loved how the school incorporated tentmaking in our studies to ensure we started and ran self-sustaining ministries…

Abson Muumbe, 2005 Graduate.

Upon returning home, Abson worked with several institutions like Namwianga Mission and a small Bible school in Nyawa village, where he met his wife, Sophia. Abson also pursued a career in teaching and was deployed to several village schools.

Recently, he was deployed to Ngabwe District, and he quickly realised there were few churches in the area. The need for a church in his community reminded him that he was not just a teacher, but a child of God carrying God’s mission wherever he goes. “It was clear that I had to plant a church because the closest one was about forty kilometers from my residence.”

“It took an integrative effort and collaboration with brother Chuulu, who was the first one to start the closest Church of Christ in the district. I also decided, on top of teaching, to volunteer as a chaplain and evangelist in the school, and that’s how I started reaching out to many people, including some students at the school,” he said.

Now, there are four churches that have been planted in the district, and Abson continues to utilize the opportunity that being a teacher in a village presents as he preaches the word of God in the school and plants churches.

In some villages, it takes more than just preaching the word of God; it also requires incorporating benevolence ministry. As Scripture says in the book of James 2:15–16, it is meaningless to tell a hungry person to go in peace without providing food. Having been equipped with tentmaking, Abson uses some of the agriculture skills he learned at African Christian College to provide food to the hungry and to also teach them how to grow their own food.

“When I was deployed to this village, I also identified a business opportunity of opening a printing shop through a skill I learned from Dr. Ira Hill, a lecturer, that a minister must be able to sustain his ministry. As a result, I have been able to buy a motorcycle so I can visit these congregations that are still growing and in need of constant nurturing,” he narrated.

Ngabwe District is no longer as dry as it was when Abson was first deployed to teach. The word of the Gospel is now being preached. God’s people can access the church without needing to walk long distances. A place that was meant to be a workplace turned out to be a mission field. Abson stepped confidently into that mission.