Location of conference gathering: Lord's Mountain Orphanage, Zambezi, Zambia
Dates of conference gathering: Sept. 15-19
Officiating bishop: Bishop Kasap Owan Tshibang
Guest speaker: Nathanel Mubukwanu, Northwestern Province of Zambia Provincial Minister
Number of people ordained, commissioned or received into associate membership:
The Rev. Matildah Yifwanda was the only female pastor ordained at the conference; age 60.
Pastors Herbert Kawala and Gabriel Mususwa were received on probationary membership, ages 42 and 35, respectively.
Did your conference elect new delegates for the special 2019 General Conference?
No new delegates were elected; delegates who attended the 2016 General Conference were re-elected.
Number of people retired: The Rev. Anderson Kanema is the only pastor who retired this year.
Membership stands at 13,200, up by 200 from the previous year.
Worship attendance stands at 800, down 100 from the previous year.
Professions or reaffirmations of faith for 2017 was 200, down by 90 from 2016.
Adults and young adults in small groups for 2017 was 700, up by 100 from 2016.
What did your annual conference do to reinforce the Four Areas of Focus, and what commitments has the conference made for the coming year?
The bishop called on the conference to move together in his vision, which characterized the vision of John Wesley. The bishop also promised that schools and health centers will be built.
The conference has made strides in the following areas to reinforce the Four Areas of Focus:
The building of VIP toilets, installation of six boreholes, training of more than 20 community-based volunteers in Mwaiseni, a township of Kitwe town. The project is being done with support from Betty Tchala, General Board of Global Ministries missionary.
The sinking of boreholes in the following towns and places: Masala Market, Kawama Clinic, Kawama United Methodist Church in Ndola Town, St. Peter United Methodist Church, Baluba United Methodist Church in Luanshya Town, and Grace United Methodist Church in Kitwe through the Kafakumba Borehole Program.
The construction and modernizing of Jean Kalonga Memorial United Methodist Church in Kitwe, and Mt. Sinai United Methodist Church in Ndola.
Sinking of a borehole and water tank at Jerusalem United Methodist Church in Solwezi.
Women empowerment skills in tailoring and design and catering programs and youth empowerment in teaching methodology skills facilitated through New Life Center.
Installing an office of the conference and purchase of office equipment and office vehicle facilitated through the bishop and partners.
— John Chikuta is a United Methodist communicator in Zambia.
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