When McDonald Chanda graduated from African Christian College in 2015 and returned to Zambia, he saw how difficult it was for ministers to prepare sermons, teach sound doctrine, and shepherd believers. They lacked the tools needed for ministry.
“I was trained and received a strong biblical education, but not everyone has the opportunity to attend African Christian College,” he explains. “Many people were already leading congregations without formal training.”
McDonald put his experience and skills to help as a teacher at a formal Bible college. But many church leaders could not enroll because of financial limitations, educational barriers, or family responsibilities.
Yet, they still needed help to strengthen their ministries.
A lack of resources made the vision of helping seem impossible. Until McDonald encountered the NET Foundation, an organisation providing informal theological training for church leaders. Its mission is simple but powerful: to equip local leaders with accessible biblical training so they can confidently teach Scripture and lead healthy churches.
He launched a training program in his hometown, and the response was immediate. The classes grew quickly. And church leaders from nearby towns began traveling long distances to attend.
Today, McDonald serves as Copperbelt NET Foundation Coordinator, where he leads informal theological training for church leaders throughout the Copperbelt region. He is currently training over 200 ministry leaders.
Through his involvement with the organisation, McDonald is now involved in several NET Foundation programs across Zambia and helps train more than 500 church leaders each year.
For many, the training became life-changing. They could now preach with confidence, study Scripture more faithfully, and serve their congregations without fear of misinterpreting God’s Word.
“It is deeply humbling to see how God used African Christian College to equip me so I can come and help empower leaders who would go on to reach thousands more with the gospel in my country,” McDonald concluded.