Charles serves with the Baptist Convention of Zambia in the areas of educational ministries and leadership development. Sarah works with vulnerable and exploited women and children at risk.

 Imagine a school constructed of plastic bags and 2 wooden sticks on three sides with the wall of a house providing the fourth. Then picture more than 60 pupils trying to learn in that environment with just one teacher. That is what Charles and Sarah West saw in the city of Lusaka soon after they began their work in Zambia with International Ministries in 2006. While Charles devotes his time to training future church leaders, Sarah ministers primarily to vulnerable women and children. When she learned that the community school described above was recently abandoned by a struggling congregation, Samaritan Baptist Church, she and her husband began dreaming God’s dream. They wanted to help meet a critical need. “It’s very easy to come alongside our Zambian brothers and sisters,” Sarah says, “because they do ask for help.”

The result of that help is the Well-Spring of Faith and Hope Center, which is both a small community school and orphanage. The name of the center is based on two verses in Proverbs — Understanding is a wellspring of life to the one who has it. (16:22) and the wellspring of wisdom is a flowing brook. (18:4) “A wellspring is an abundant source,” Sarah explains, “a fountain of life. Our prayer is that the center will be the source of an abundant life in Christ that might not otherwise exist for these children.”

 

·        Pray for Charles and Sarah as they minister for Christ in Zambia.

·        Pray for the Well-Spring of Faith and Hope Center as those who minister there seek to bring the abundant life in Christ to the children of Zambia.