Good News II Ministry History

2000: Coen and Suria visited Lake Tanganyika for the first time and saw the spiritual need of the area. The Lord gave them a vision for a boat to be put on the lake to reach those living in villages along the shores around the lake.

2000-2004: ProChristo started praying for the lake, a boat, and people and for a ministry strategy.

Through research they discovered the history of the Good News Boat that was put on the lake by the London Mission Society after a plea by Dr. David Livingstone. From 1896 – 1908, this ship brought the good news of Jesus Christ to the people living in the remote villages along the shores of the lake, until sleeping sickness caused the people to move away from the lake and the ship fell into disuse.

2005: The first missionary team of six people was sent to Mpulungu to build relationships with the existing churches in the town. ProChristo called this ministry at Lake Tanganyika “Good News II”

2006
May: The du Plessis family joined the team of five (Jessie, Samuel, Morgan, Lucy and Lameck). Callen Silwamba got married to Lucy and they joined the team as a couple.

Jun: During our visit to the different churches in Mpulungu, we saw that very few churches have programmes for children and youth. We invited members from all denominations and started a weekly training for Sunday school teachers. We taught and presented Bible lessons and assisted with the preparation of teaching aids. Once a month the teachers brought their children for a practical lesson. Training was well attended and we continued with it up to Dec 2007.

Jun/Jul: A plot next to the lake was bought. It will be used as a docking place for the future boat, for buildings for ministry purposes, and for the erecting of a possible Cooler Rooms to generate funds for the ministry

July: We conducted the initial research on the Zambian shores of Lake Tanganyika, from D.R. Congo to the Tanzanian border. We went from village to village by boat, asking question and determining the needs of the people. We found hardly any churches, schools or clinics. None of these villages can be reached by road. There is need in every village, but the Lord showed us 4 villages: Tongwa, Nzovwe, Katete and Miamba village. We bought a local wooden boat, the "Good News II", to be used as transport on the lake.

Aug: Prayer and intercession training after which we started with a focused prayer strategy: prayer walks through the streets on Mondays, praying at specific places of bondage on Wednesdays and prayer for the ministry in the prayer room on Fridays. This programme still continues.

Aug/Sept: Two different outreach groups visited the ministry, to get mission exposure, to help us with the ministry and to reach out with the Jesus Film. The outreach teams are from the South African Congregation in London and from Reebok in South Africa. Both these groups have committed themselves to make it a yearly outreach (visit).

Oct: TTN (To the Nations) came with a Jesus Film Outreach. TTN does evangelistic outreaches and training throughout Zambia and they work with a Zambian Gospel band who accompanies them on their outreaches. (A year later the outreach was held in Nsumbu.)

2007: More members join the ministry and the first missionaries were sent to live in the villages on a permanent basis – Lewis Musonda and Muhandu Muhandu were sent to Tongwa and Gift Malambo and Judicious Musonda to Nzovwe village. Ethel Shibeleka started with Children’s Ministry.

Apr: The Good News Library and Reading Room was opened in partnership with Mpulungu Town Council. They provide a building and a librarian, we provided the bookshelves and tables and together we contribute books. Good News II receives many books from different resources.

April: EE kids training (Evangelism Explosion for children) was hosted to further train missionaries and Sunday school teachers in child evangelism.

During our research the previous year, a village close to Nsumbu, Katete, was also identified. Up to this time we did not have enough missionaries to start work there. Joseph Mwanaliti and Charles Chansa with his family join the ministry and together they settle in Nsumbu, building relationships with churches.
Work amongst youths also picked up as Cullen Silwamba started with a focused youth ministry program.

May: We started an interdenominational prayer house in order to get the Christians in Mpulungu to pray for their community 24/7. Although none of the churches was interested in joining, we persisted and are still praying there on a weekly basis.

Jun: During discipleship teachings Div was challenged by a scripture to start reaching out to those in prison. We started sharing a message to those in the holding cells and feeding them three days per week. Prison ministry was born. In June 2008, we receive vegetable tunnels in order to grow food for the ministry and also to provide an income so that the ministry can become self-supportive.

Aug: For a long time orphans have been on our hearts. Research has shown that the best way is to start a Day Care Centre to provide a place where children can receive food, education, Christian input and love. We also provide facilities where they can be bathed and where they can wash their clothes. The children will be identified through our involvement in the Children’s Ministry groups and local churches. God opened the way for the ministry to buy buildings for the Orphan Day Care Center and School. In November we took occupation of the center and building of outside toilets (long drop) started soon afterwards. In February 2008 we started with a play group. In September we started with the building of an outside kitchen and dining hall for the preparation of the food for the prison ministry and for the children of the Day Care Center and School.

Nov: We received money from Mosaic church in America for the buying of a boat. We bought the hull of an old fiberglass boat to be restored and used for Good News II to serve the missionaries in the villages

Dec: Cullen attended Teen Street training with OM in South Africa after which the youth ministry started to become practically involved in the community. The youth ministry also grew in numbers. During 2008 Good News II and the youth group initiate different activities, by hosting a 4-day youth camp, participating in the Global Day of Prayer and serving the elderly through practical jobs in their houses and preparing a meal for those in hospital.

2008: Three more missionaries joined the team to start work in Katete: Peter Syfert, Donald Mwape and Kennedy Mwape. Donald and Kennedy are the first two missionaries sent to Katete, a village close to the Congo border. Although they are not allowed to stay in the village, we know it is the start of the work in this village.

April: Kids Games Training with Sunday school teachers and missionaries where the Gospel message is conveyed through games.

May: Good News II hosted first interdenominational Global Day of Prayer in Mpulungu.

Jul: We start with the building of a Jetty on the plot through manual labour.

Aug: The printing of the first Good News II newspaper.

Oct: The schools in Mpulungu, were given money from World Vision to start Scripture Union in the schools again. They asked the Good News II ministry to conduct the program. There is also a revival in the Prayer room where three different churches in Mpulungu wanted to start a prayer room and asked if they could use our facilities.

Oct: We bought an old boat that will be used as the Good News II Mobile Clinic (to have a mobile clinic was part of the original vision for Lake Tanganyika). During the same trip we also shipped the first medical supplies for the future clinic which will be developed in partnership with TTN, to Nsumbu.

Lake Tanganyika - November 2008

A while back, we have been asked to look back to the day that Good News II ministry started at Lake Tanganyika. We are amazed at how God has been working since the beginning. We would like to share this with you and ask that you will rejoice with us and give God the thanks. We would also like to thank you for being involved with us and with the ministry. Please pray that we will continue to be obedient to God in our calling. We also want tothank God for everyone He has given us to work hand in hand with us in the ministry.

We praise God for Holly's work permit that was improved. We will be on the road from Friday 5 Dec to Lusaka. Mariska is going for a visit to her cousin. Nicole is also going home after assisting Mariska in her schoolwork the past 2 months. Thank you very much Nicole for all your work.
When coming back, Holly will be with us.

"May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our LordJesus Christ." 1Thes 5:23

Du Plessis Family