For more than 15 years, Yuda spent his time practicing Nyau cultural beliefs like worshipping ancestral spirits and learning magic. People in his community of Katete in Zambia loved his magic and the dances he performed as part of the Nyau beliefs. Though he knew about God’s Word, he didn’t spend time going to church or reading the Bible as he felt it was useless. Instead, Yuda became more and more entrenched in Nyau traditions.

Then, he became sick. The doctor told Yuda he only had a few weeks left to live. This opened Yuda’s eyes. He knew something needed to change. He began reading the Bible and Romans 8:28-39 made Yuda realize God could forgive him and use his life for good. And that’s what God did when He healed Yuda.

But life wasn’t easy for the new believer. Yuda faced backlash from his friends with whom he did the cultural dances. They felt Yuda betrayed them. He reveals, “Our leaders threatened and mistreated me. They even wanted to kill me. But thank God their plans failed.”

Even through the threats, Yuda persevered in his new faith. Not long after accepting Christ, the married father of six developed a passion for planting churches.

So when he heard about Bible League’s Church Planter Training, Yuda knew it could help. He notes, “Church Planter Training was essential because it gave me hope and trust in the Lord Jesus Christ. I saw that God was really at work in my life because I acquired skills and knowledge on how to plant churches. My wish in life was to have such a ministry.”

Today, he is using Bible League’s Project Philip Bible studies in his church planting efforts. Yuda knows Bible League’s training and materials are so important to people in his community as many in Katete don’t have Bibles and can’t afford to purchase them. He explains, “People thirst for the Word but lack access to any copy of the Bible or literature since we are in a remote rural area. Bibles are so expensive to purchase when they reach our sites. Hence, people don’t own a single copy for the family.”