This summer we held a Youth Camp experience for 83 of our sponsored children in Ethiopia. The camp was organized by about 20 older teens and adult leaders from my home church - Covenant Fellowship in Pennsylvania - where a summer Youth Camp is an eagerly anticipated annual tradition. We asked the American team to give our sponsored teens a similar experience, with our in-country staff and church partners helping us adapt the Youth Camp concept for the Ethiopian context.

Throughout the 4-day camp, our sponsored kids participated in games and activities, enjoyed growing in relationship with one another, and encountered the Gospel daily in sermons, songs, and discussion groups. It was a beautiful expression of partnership as well, with about half the messages preached by visiting pastors from America and half by our Ethiopian partners. 

Please join me in praying that the Gospel seeds planted in our Ethiopian youth will bear much fruit in the months and years to come as lives are being changed for time and eternity.

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Doug Hayes is the Executive Director of Covenant Mercies in Glen Mills, PA.

In my capacity as Executive Director of Covenant Mercies, I’m typically on the African continent three times in a year. Since 2020 was not exactly a typical year, it’s been refreshing to resume my normal travel routines in 2021. In June, I had the pleasure of visiting Liberia for the first time. It was such a pleasure to get to know Dyonah Thomas better (along with his beautiful family), and such an encouragement to see the great work the Lord has begun there through Gracelife Church and all its associated ministries.

Dyonah’s kingdom ambition seems to be wonderfully matched by the leaders and co-laborers the Lord has raised up around him.  In addition to their normal church life, they are engaged in pastoral training through Gracelife Seminary, and the education of young people through Gracelife Academy.  Construction is underway on an ambitious new facility for the seminary, which will position this church well for its church planting goals both in Liberia and in neighboring West African nations. 

From Liberia I traveled on to Zambia, where our friends at Christ Community Church (CCC) in Ndola continue to find their footing after the shocking loss of their Sr. Pastor, Wilbroad Chanda.  All things considered, the church is doing well.  Wilbroad’s name comes up in routine conversations almost every day, many times through tears.  But across the board – from the surviving eldership to the newest church member – our brothers and sisters in Ndola are trusting God and persevering in their mission as a local church.  

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The full post Moving Forward in Africa originally appeared on the Emerging Nations blog on August 2, 2021. Emerging Nations exists to serve the pioneering work of Sovereign Grace Churches around the world.

Doug Hayes is an elder at Covenant Fellowship Church and travels frequently to Africa as the Executive Director of Covenant Mercies. He and his wife, Rachel, have three daughters and reside in West Chester, Pennsylvania.

This post Remembering Wilbroad Chanda originally appeared on the Covenant Mercies blog on January 19, 2021. Covenant Mercies exists to serve orphans in collaboration with indigenous local churches in the developing world. Wilbroad was the first Sovereign Grace Pastor officially ordained in Africa.

Dear friends of Covenant Mercies,

I have the difficult task of informing you today of some very sad news in the Covenant Mercies family. Our dear friend and brother, Wilbroad Chanda, has gone home to be with the Lord. He became ill last week, was hospitalized over the weekend, and by early Monday morning his eternal soul had flown from this world into the presence of his Savior.

Wilbroad is survived by his dear wife Zicky and their four sons, two of whom are home in Zambia and two of whom are presently in the United States. I called and spoke to Zicky this morning. She is obviously quite shocked and grieving deeply, but already surrounded by family and close friends. Our African brethren excel at supporting one another in times of sorrow, so we take comfort in the fact that she is well cared for. Wilbroad was the founding pastor of Christ Community Church in Ndola, Zambia, and co-founder (with Zicky) of Lighthouse Christian School. Just yesterday I was updating a partner church on the ministry of Covenant Mercies, and talking about what an integral part of our ministry this dear couple is. Wilbroad will be sorely missed.

Personally, I still can’t quite believe that my friend is gone.  Please join us in lifting Zicky and the entire Chanda family up in your prayers. We will have more to say in the near future about the beautiful, lasting legacy left behind by our dear friend and brother.

Grieving with hope,
Doug

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Following the sad news, Doug Hayes traveled to visit the family and friends of Wilbroad Chanda.

Enjoyed a deeply meaningful time with my dear brothers and sisters at Christ Community Church in Ndola, Zambia. Remembrances were shared. Praises were sung in a “sorrowful but always rejoicing” kind of way. But most of all, the word of God was at the center. Just as their dearly departed pastor would have insisted.

Doug Hayes is an elder at Covenant Fellowship Church and travels frequently to Africa as the Executive Director of Covenant Mercies. He and his wife, Rachel, have three daughters and reside in West Chester, Pennsylvania.