HOW WE STARTED
The story of New Start Christian Academy began when New Beginnings Christian Church, Reedy Creek sent over a flat pack shed to Pastor Charles Banda in Lusaka, Zambia in 2011.
From the very beginning we have seen the hand of God on this outreach. Our Reedy Creek congregation raised the funds for a shed, so Ps Charles could construct a church building on land owned in Lusaka. A large, brand new, steel-framed shed was provided by friends at cost; we couldn’t afford walls but thought “that’s OK – it’s Africa! But then Bunnings Nerang pulled down 2 massive sheet metal walls which they gave to us – the walls for the building!!
A missionary friend Chris Shadbolt working in Zambia, organised shipping of the shed to Lusaka and gathered a team to transform the bits-and-pieces on-site into a church building for the Lusaka congregation. The primary purpose of the building was church services and ministry training.
In April 2012, I went to Africa on my first missions trip with a team of 7 people led by David and Ros Van der Vooren, and we visited New Beginnings Christian Church Lusaka. There we saw 22 of 35 children gathered inside the corner of the ‘Bunnings Shed’ having school lessons. As I watched and took photos, they danced and sang, praising the Lord for all He had done for them. Then they sat on the raw, dusty concrete floor, waiting to hear from the musungu (white person). Tears streamed down my face – I was so moved by this scene.
They had no books, pencils, chairs, tables, nothing. The two teachers were not trained teachers, simply mothers from the congregation willing to teach children from the community whose parents/carers could not afford to send them to school. They just taught the kids from the knowledge in their heads. One of these women had a baby strapped to her back.
I asked God to help me help them and shared my desire with the other team members. Before we left Africa we had supplied them with blackboards, chalk and tables. Since then we have supplied them with their National Curriculum books, keeping them on par with Government schools.
They have achieved much in their productivity and enthusiasm. A fundraiser they held didn’t raise much money, but the community was so impressed with the school, even more children were enrolled. Now there are not 35 but 130 children, so the school’s needs have grown yet again.
Along the way we helped them sink a bore right beside the building – a huge blessing to the entire community of Garden House Lusaka!
In 2013 we were blessed to learn our application to partner with Global Development Group (GDG) for this project had been approved for a 1-year Pilot Project. Donations are thus tax-deductible. The school is now registered with the Government. Ps Charles and the teaching team have taken ownership and are very proud of what they are achieving, yet at the same time are very grateful for the help from Australia. Our aim is to give them a hand-up and only do what they cannot.
There is much more to do and ongoing costs for the children’s resources. There are 8 untrained teachers now, and a schedule is set for regular, on-site training by a qualified teacher. Eventually we hope to raise enough funds to sponsor some of the teachers through teacher training college.
If you would like to join with us to further educate these children and give them a chance at a better life it would be greatly appreciated!
You may donate here: https://www.gdg.org.au/GiveToJ555N
God bless you!