Strengthening the Church for the Future in Zambia w/ Chopo Mwanza

Host Paul Akin welcomes Pastor Chopo Mwanza of Faith Baptist Church Riverside in Kitwe, Zambia, for a conversation about gospel ministry and church life in Zambia. Mwanza introduces Zambia as a peaceful, diverse nation of more than 70 tribes and languages, where English serves as the official language and tribal divisions are often less pronounced in urban areas. He discusses Zambia’s identity as a “Christian nation,” highlighting both the opportunities it creates for gospel ministry and the challenges of nominal Christianity and syncretism. Mwanza also describes life in Kitwe, a Copperbelt mining city shaped by the rise and fall of the mining industry. Finally, he shares the story of Faith Baptist Church—from its founding by missionaries in 1993 to its transition to local leadership—and reflects on the challenges facing believers today, including syncretism, corruption, and the call to live with integrity. Mentioned in this episode: Doctorate of Missiology at Southern Seminary