May 23, 2025 • 26 mins
"Have you ever experienced what sitting under consistent bible teaching can do? Today, Pastor Ackson Kaonga shares his inspiring journey of faith, ministry growth in Zambia, and commitment to biblical truth on Plays on Word Radio."
The faithfulness of God shines brightly across continents as Pastor Fred Kenney, Jr., a.k.a Pastor Teddy, welcomes Pastor Ackson Kaonga from Zambia to Plays on Word Radio. Fresh from the East Coast Pastors Conference in Philadelphia, where their friendship began years earlier, this conversation reveals how God is working powerfully in Southern Africa.
Pastor Ackson shares the remarkable story of Calvary Chapel Ndola, which he's led since 2007. What began with a church full of "noisemakers" - young children who seemed disruptive - has transformed into a congregation where those same youth have grown into devoted followers of Christ, now serving in ministry. "As I look at them, I see future leaders in the church," Ackson reflects, recognizing God's patient work across generations.
Amid a landscape filled with false prophets misleading many Zambians, Pastor Ackson's commitment to consistent, straightforward biblical teaching has become a beacon for truth-seekers. "When you teach God's Word consistently, at some point people begin to follow, because out there, force cannot be sustained," he explains. Without gimmicks or spectacle, the simple power of Scripture attracts those hungering for authentic faith.
The most moving moment comes when Pastor Ackson shares his personal journey to faith. Born Catholic, he attended a Pentecostal service at age 16 out of curiosity, misunderstanding an altar call as an invitation to receive the Eucharist. Weeks later, on January 31, 1979, he finally understood the Caribbean missionary's message clearly, recognized himself as "a sinner, a candidate of hell," and experienced genuine conversion that filled him with God's peace and joy. Yet his path to pastoral ministry took decades, requiring divine persistence to overcome his resistance until he surrendered fully, realizing "I will never be happy in life until I obey God."
Join the worldwide prayer effort for this faithful ministry. Reach out through Plays on Word Radio to connect with Pastor Ackson and discover how you might participate in what God is doing in Zambia through consistent prayer and potential partnership.
Calvary Chapel Ndola Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/people/Calvary-Chapel-of-Ndola/100068029895805/
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Lord, you know you will now listen to Plays on Word
Radio.
Speaker 2 (00:03):
It's the best and, as a Catholic, when they said
those who would like to receiveJesus for me, receiving Jesus at
that time was receiving theEucharist, I just went out of
interest to see how theyreceived Jesus and they prayed,
but then, to tell you the truth,I did not receive Christ.
Okay okay, because my prayingwas not based on me having faith
(00:24):
or receiving God's Word.
Okay, okay, You're the onlything.
You're the only thing, you'rethe only thing.
Speaker 3 (01:00):
Hello and welcome to Plays on Word Radio, where we
discuss, analyze, work and playon the Word of God.
Thank you for joining us onthis excursion.
Today let's join Pastor Teddy,also known as Fred David Kenny
Jr, the founder of Plays on WordTheater, as he does a deep dive
into the Word of God.
Speaker 1 (01:21):
Amen, amen, well.
Plays on Word Radio family.
We are back, yes, from the EastCoast Pastors Conference out in
Philadelphia and, yeah, met abunch of my brothers.
It's such a refreshing time tobe with a whole bunch of
(01:41):
shepherds.
Time to be with a whole bunchof shepherds and I mean guys
were just lifted up,strengthened, healed, blessed,
(02:02):
encouraged.
Yes, pastors get discouraged andit was a fantastic time and it
was, oh man, it was just anincredible time of praise.
We, we, uh, two thousand guysjust going for it, you know,
singing these old hymns and thenew songs, um, I mean top of
your lungs, type praise.
It was just amazing.
It's always a blessing.
(02:22):
Well, one of the guys that Imet at this conference many
years ago I don't want to saymany years ago, I don't know,
maybe three years ago, somethinglike that is my dear brother,
axan Kaonga from Zambia.
Yes, and some of you have heardhis voice.
He said Merry Christmas to thiswhole audience group of people
(02:45):
in our Christmas clips where wehave people say hello.
So we interviewed him and I'vebeen wanting to interview him
and we are on our way out toZambia at some point we didn't
set a date, but we're gonna goout to Zambia and do a play, or
a couple plays.
Speaker 3 (03:00):
So check him out.
Speaker 1 (03:01):
I'm here with Axan Kaunga from Zambia and he is, so
check him out.
For our listeners that aregeographically illiterate, can
(03:24):
you explain where Zambia is?
Speaker 2 (03:26):
Okay, zambia is on the continent of Africa.
It is located in the southernpart of Africa.
Speaker 1 (03:34):
Yes, so there you go.
If you know where the continentof Africa is the southern part,
not the northern part it's notup near the Mediterranean, it's
way down south.
Now I ask everyone we've knowneach other for a few years now.
I first met you here inPhiladelphia years ago and I was
blessed to meet you and meetanother brother, and we've
(03:57):
stayed in contact throughout theyears and you even gave me a
greeting to put on the radiobroadcast for wishing everybody
a Merry Christmas, you and yourlovely wife.
How is she?
Speaker 2 (04:08):
My wife is doing well .
We were together here inAmerica in 2023.
Speaker 1 (04:14):
That must be when we met 2023.
2023, yes, amen, wow, man.
So you know, we talked aboutcoming to do a play for you and,
god willing, we're going tocome do a play for you in Zambia
, but tell us about the workGod's doing.
What's happening, what's goingon there?
Tell us what's God doing.
Speaker 2 (04:32):
I think what God is doing is an amazing work.
And, foremost, I think we haveexperienced the faithfulness of
God in his work among us.
Over the years, we have had anexperience of going through
(04:53):
difficulties, trials to do withacquiring land and also other
issues like the COVID, whichmade us stop meeting for some
time, but through it all andmany other trials that we have
gone through, we have seen thatGod has been very faithful to us
(05:13):
.
So then, the other thing thatGod is doing is that, when we
started, we had a lot of youngpeople in our church little
young children in our church,and, by the grace of God, most
of them have not left us.
They are still in the church.
And then what has happened istwofold.
(05:35):
Among them, they are physicallygrown.
They are young adults now.
Some of them are inuniversities.
But then the second thing thathas happened to them they are
young adults now.
Some of them are inuniversities.
But then the second thing thathas happened to them is that
most of them have given theirlives to the Lord.
We can certainly see the fruitof salvation in them.
They are walking with the Lord,and some of them are beginning
(05:57):
to learn to save the Lord inchurch.
So to me that is an amazingwork that God has done.
I remember some years back twopastors from Calvary Chapel of
Philadelphia, particularlyPastor Brian Weed and Pastor
Carlos Kausaki.
When we started therelationship with them, they
(06:18):
found these kids in the churchand they mentioned to me that
you have got too many childrenin this church.
Take care of them.
They are the future of thechurch.
I think at that time it reallydidn't dawn to me, because all I
was seeing is a bunch ofnoisemakers in the church.
But now they are helping me tosave and as I look at them I see
(06:38):
future leaders in the churchand I also see people who go and
plant other Calvary chapels inZambia through them, amen.
Speaker 1 (06:47):
Wow.
Speaker 2 (06:49):
The other thing that I see God doing in our church is
that I think, like manycountries in Africa, we have so
many false prophets arising andmisleading people, so that is a
very big problem in my country.
And now we have beenexperiencing in our local church
(07:10):
people who are truly born againjoining our church.
We are thinking that maybe theyhave just come to visit, but
after a couple of weeks theymake their intentions clear,
that we want to be a part ofthis fellowship.
And as I talk to them, thetestimony they give is that
(07:34):
there is so much falsehood outthere and we are encouraged by
what we are seeing here atCalvary Chapel of Undola,
because you are focusing on theteaching of God's Word.
Speaker 1 (07:46):
Now here's the thing there's nothing phony or fake
about the Word of God.
You just stick with that,you're going to be good.
Speaker 2 (07:51):
Here is the thing Sometimes, as Christians, we
tend to look at others who areworking in the Lord's field and
they are using certain means toattract a lot of people, and
then we may look down onourselves and think we are not
doing enough.
But the truth of the matter isthat when you teach God's Word
(08:12):
consistently, at some pointpeople begin to follow, people
begin to come, because out there, force cannot be sustained.
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Speaker 1 (08:22):
You don't need gimmicks, you don't need
anything spectacular.
The Word of God is spectacularenough.
Speaker 2 (08:29):
What Jesus Christ himself told Peter prior to his
ascension.
He told him three times Peter,do you love me Three times?
Peter kept answering that Ilove you Three times.
The Lord Jesus told him feed mysheep, take care of my sheep.
(08:50):
That is what Jesus Christexpects of us as under shepherds
of this flock.
He wants us to teach to feedthe flock, because the flock
grows by feeding.
He wants us to teach to feedthe flock, because the flock
grows by feeding.
Speaker 1 (09:04):
So I have a question If somebody listening right here
wanted to find out more aboutNdola or the work you're doing,
or wanted to find out how theycould support or how they can
pray for what's going on thework you're doing there, when
would they go?
Speaker 2 (09:25):
Okay, if you want to find out about what we are doing
, we are on Facebook, althoughthe Facebook page is not very
active, and what we are nowdoing is that we really want to
make it active so that peoplecan be informed.
Speaker 1 (09:41):
Okay, so we can pray for that.
Get the Facebook page.
The Lord would raise uptechnicians or whatever you need
to make it happen.
Speaker 2 (09:48):
Pastor Fred, we are working on that.
It's going to be very active.
Then the other thing is that weare also doing a newsletter,
which is actually produced everyquarterly, and I was here, we
were having a missionsconference and at our desk we
had people who were writingthose who would like to be
(10:08):
receiving newsletters.
They did that and I think,through you, pastor Fred, those
who would like to know what isgoing on you can help them
actually get in contact with us.
Speaker 1 (10:20):
Yes, if anybody's interested, you can reach out to
me through the podcast here.
We'll put a link to theFacebook page on there, but you
can reach out to me directlythrough the podcast and I am in
direct contact with this brotherthe work that you're doing and
you're seeing fruit in a wholegeneration of people there as
far as what are the biggestneeds that you find.
(10:40):
Like, if somebody came up toyou and said what do you need to
do the work you're doing, whatwould you say?
Speaker 2 (10:49):
Thank you, Pastor Fred, for that question.
I must be very honest here.
The biggest need that we haveis that we need your prayer
support.
That is the biggest need thatwe have.
The Lord has given us grace.
We are able to teach.
I've got an assistant pastorwho is also gifted in teaching
(11:10):
and I think what we need mostfrom other Christians is to pray
for us.
Speaker 1 (11:17):
We're at a pastor's conference right now, and years
ago one of my buddies from hereat Calvary, philly, he told me
that there are dedicated peoplethat are praying throughout the
entire time of this conference.
While this conference is goingon, there is prayer going on,
and that's one of the reasonswhy this conference is always
amazing.
(11:37):
Every year there's spiritualhealing that happens here.
Guys are being set free, guysare being encouraged and lifted
up, and prayer is essential tothat and that's something that
every one of you Christianslistening right now, and
everybody listening if you're inChrist, you can pray for accent
over in Zambia, and the Lordknows who you're talking about.
(11:58):
You can, you know, lift up thework that's going on there.
You can intercede, let theSpirit guide you and lift up the
work them up.
Lift up the work that's goingon.
Is there any specific prayerthat you need?
Anything specific?
Speaker 2 (12:12):
Okay, I said we need your prayer support, but if I
have to unfold it specifically,pray that souls will continue
being saved in our community,where we are.
Pray for us to be very goodrepresentatives of our Lord
Jesus Christ in our community.
Pray also that as we teachGod's word, that God's word will
(12:37):
be fruitful, that people willbe able to come to the saving
knowledge of Jesus.
Pray that those who are alreadysaved will experience a deeper
sanctification to become morelike Jesus.
So those are the specificprayer items that I can give.
Who experience a deepersanctification to become more
like Jesus.
So those are the specificprayer items that I can give,
and personally, on my behalf asthe senior pastor, pray that
(12:59):
God's anointing will continue toincrease upon my life.
Speaker 1 (13:02):
Amen, and I will pray that as well, and we're going
to get at least two or more.
Just one last question.
If I was to ask you and I askthis of people sometimes it
might require some thought, youmight have to think about it.
But is there any ministryexperience that really impacted
you?
Can you maybe share somethingwhere you saw the Lord work in a
(13:30):
magnificent way, or somethingthat really impacted you,
something that really impactedme?
Speaker 2 (13:34):
Yeah, I think the first thing that really impacted
me is my salvation.
Speaker 1 (13:41):
Yes, I think that is the starting point.
Speaker 2 (13:42):
Tell me about how did you meet this Jesus?
Yeah, the first thing is mysalvation.
I was born in a Catholic familyand I was Catholic from
childhood, and I came to thesaving knowledge of Jesus at the
age of 16.
At the age of 16, yes, beforethen, the only church I ever
(14:06):
went to was the Catholic church,and here is how I met the Lord.
I happened to find myself in anevangelistic meeting that was
going on in my compound and itwas being undertaken by the
Pentecostal Church.
Now, I'd never been in aPentecostal meeting.
(14:26):
So, they were in this buildingand then we heard people singing
and we went by the door to justcheck what is going on and we
found an usher there who usheredus inside.
He was very friendly, so we satthere, they were singing, and
then the singing the way theywere singing it was so lively.
I was used to the Latin kind ofsinging.
(14:47):
That was way back in 1979.
78 December to be specific.
So the way they were singing itwas so different from what I
was accustomed to.
And then, after singing, therewas the preaching of God's word.
The person who was preachinghappened to be an American and
(15:08):
he was a black American from oneof the Caribbean islands.
Okay, when he preached, I didnot understand what he was
talking about because his accentwas very different from what
I'm used to.
But, to fast forward, they hadthose meetings for many weeks.
(15:28):
They were happening once a week.
So the first meeting thathappened is they made an altar
call and I was in the company ofthree other friends.
We all went in front to beprayed for.
But the altar call was thosewho would like to receive Jesus,
let them come in front.
And, as a Catholic, when theysaid those who would like to
(15:50):
receive Jesus.
For me, receiving Jesus at thattime was receiving the
Eucharist.
So I just went out of interestto see how they received Jesus
and they prayed.
But then, to tell you the truth, I did not receive Christ
Because my praying was not basedon me having faith or receiving
God's Word.
But then I kept attending everyweek because they kept inviting
(16:14):
us.
They were so friendly.
I attended into the secondmonth, wow Okay.
And at that time I had answereda number of outer calls.
But then, on January 31st 1979,I was able to understand this
Caribbean pastor clearly.
Speaker 1 (16:35):
Oh, he was there the whole time doing H1?
He was actually working as amissionary there.
Speaker 2 (16:40):
Okay, okay, so I started to get him you started
understanding him a little bit.
Yes.
So when January 31st came, 1979, he preached God's word.
During the preaching, I came tounderstand that I was a sinner,
a candidate of hell.
(17:00):
When he made the altar call, Ivoluntarily went in front.
I was prayed for and I cried.
I was prayed for and I cried.
The days that followed werecharacterized by God's peace
just overflowing and the joy ofthe Lord.
They didn't ask me to startreading the Bible, the New
Testament Bible, which my schooldonated to me.
(17:23):
I started reading the Bible,and that was the beginning of my
transformation.
So that was the first changethat took place I became a child
of God.
Amen.
Speaker 1 (17:36):
Wow, I love it.
So how did you end up in theministry, though?
How do you go from being like,okay, wow, now I understand this
message, this gospel message.
Then how do you say, okay, Ithink I need to go either start
a church or pastor a church, orwhatever.
Speaker 2 (17:55):
That took many years.
If you heard what I said, Igave my life to the Lord in 1979
.
I became a pastor in 2007.
Okay, so he worked a long timewith you he worked a long time
because after finishing school,after doing my training, I
worked for many years.
I got married, but then,somewhere towards the end of the
(18:16):
90s, I began to have a hungerto preach.
Okay, good, okay, I had ahunger to preach.
Speaker 1 (18:24):
That's kind of around when the Lord started working,
I believe.
But that's when he startedchanging everything up on me,
Almost like he put a lightswitch on and was like, okay, we
have to get to work now and hestarted putting in my heart.
Speaker 2 (18:37):
But here's the thing I had a.
I loved to preach, but thenwhen the Lord started planting
on my heart to say I want you togo into pastoral, I resisted, I
didn't want.
I saided I didn't want.
I said, lord, I can work as alay preacher, but not to become
a pastor.
Speaker 1 (18:54):
I'm not trying to be a pastor.
Speaker 2 (18:55):
So it took a long time for the Lord to break me
down.
The Lord actually broke me down.
I surrendered.
I realized that I will never behappy in life until I obey God.
The moment I obeyed God, Ishared this with my wife.
My wife began to resist thecall Again.
(19:17):
It took some more prayer untilthe Lord convicted my wife.
She also understood that thisman has been called so somewhere
by 2006,.
We were all in agreement thatthis is the way the Lord wants
us to go.
Speaker 1 (19:41):
It's similar to me and Katie is because I was like,
well, okay, I felt like he wasdoing something, but there's no
way Katie's going for this.
And I remember saying, lord, ifit's of you, you'll make Katie
cool with this.
And in many, in all the casesof going into whatever, whether
it's plays on word or if it'splanning the church that we
planted uh, the lord went to herand she came to me and she said
(20:01):
I think, I think the lord wantsus to do this, and I was like,
oh, okay, there's, I'm gonnatake that as my confirmation,
lord.
So, yeah, I, I completely, Icompletely, I appreciate that.
So now you guys are all in, thechurch is there and the
surrounding community is awareof you guys and they're growing.
(20:23):
How long has the church beenthere?
Speaker 2 (20:26):
Calvary Chapel of Ndola was started in 2007.
Speaker 1 (20:30):
Okay, up to now, wow, okay.
Up to now Wow, yeah, that isfantastic.
Now, did you start that, or didyou take over for somebody?
Speaker 2 (20:38):
I took over from somebody.
It was originally started by anAmerican pastor from one of the
Calvary Chapels here.
Okay, and basically just cameto start.
The church Started and then hehanded it over to me and he was
with us for just about sixmonths, okay, and then he handed
it over to me.
Praise God, and that's how itbegan.
Speaker 1 (21:01):
Praise God.
Yeah, this is fantastic.
This is like the book of Actstype stuff.
You know, I just absolutelylove it.
If anybody wants to knowanything more about our dear
brother, axe and Cowl and Go orthe church there, or maybe you
even want to go visit, cananybody come visit you?
You're most welcome.
See, he said you're mostwelcome, just reach out to me.
(21:22):
You can reach out to me on thepodcast link there or the email,
whatever, and we can put you incontact with this guy.
If you want to help out,however you might want to help
out, you want to pray?
Please pray.
And I would ask the whole Playson Word family to be lifting
you guys up, our family overthere in Zambia.
We would be able to lift youguys up in prayer and the work
(21:43):
that the Lord's doing, and theLord would allow us to be part
of what he's doing over there.
That's fantastic.
So a lot he's doing over there.
That's fantastic.
So a lot of false teaching overthere, you've seen.
Is there any besides falseteaching?
Is there anything elsethreatening you guys don't have
like a big Muslim population oranything like that Islamic
population.
Speaker 2 (22:02):
I think the Islamic population is a problem that is
affecting the entire continentof.
Speaker 3 (22:07):
Africa.
Speaker 1 (22:08):
It's everywhere, it's everywhere.
Yes, the United States, texasis being taken over.
It's everywhere, it'severywhere.
Speaker 2 (22:11):
Yes, the United States, texas is being taken
over.
It's everywhere.
So we have that problem that isthreatening the Christian
movement.
So we just need to work hard,we need to be prayerful, we need
to actually reach out to thepeople.
Yes, we need to reach out.
I think over the years we, asChristians, we've been content
in staying within our walls andjust letting people follow us.
(22:33):
I think we need to be moreproactive, reaching out to
people with the gospel.
What we need to realize is thatthe gospel is God's power for
salvation.
Speaker 1 (22:43):
God's power, that's it, man, it's power.
Speaker 2 (22:45):
So it's powerful.
We are not just releasing itout.
We need to share it, and thenGod himself will be able to use
the gospel to break the heartsof people Right.
Speaker 1 (22:55):
Amen, amen to that.
Okay.
Well, there you go.
You guys have your marchingorders.
And Axon Kaunga, thank you forbeing on Plays on Word Radio
no-transcript.
(23:18):
My dear brother, Axan Kaunga,from Zambia, holding it down,
yes, holding down the wholecontinent there, man on the
southern part, you know what Imean.
So he's doing his thing and youguys can absolutely, from the
comfort of your own home, beinvolved in what the Lord is
(23:38):
doing there.
By lifting him up in thatcongregation, he gave us some
things that need prayer rightthere, you know.
So, yeah, man, I mean my dearmom.
She used to pray for areas andpray for places that seemed like
(24:00):
they would never allow thegospel to come in, but she
prayed anyway and she washard-headed about praying and
got other people praying withher and she the Lord, has
allowed her to live long enoughto see much of the things that
she was involved in when itlooked absolutely ridiculous,
(24:22):
looked impossible, but the Lordallowed her to be involved in
his eternal work.
That has glory implications.
People in eternity are going togo up to my mom when she gets
the glory and say, hey, thankyou for praying, hallelujah,
(24:43):
thank you.
I know it looked bleak, butthank you for praying, so I want
to encourage everybody elsehere to follow Norma Kenny's
example and pray, pray.
Pray for my brother, axonKowonga in Zambia.
Pray for our families overthere in Albania and all around
(25:03):
the world.
You know my man, isaac over inUganda.
Pray for us in Southport, northCarolina.
Yeah, that pastor there needsprayer and his wife, oh.
Pray for us.
Hallelujah, all right, pleasebe encouraged to pray and expect
the enemy to try to distractyou when you set your mind to go
(25:25):
do it.
Can I get an amen?
I'm not going to continuepreaching up in here, because
you know that's what we do untilwe hey.
Next week we're going tocontinue with this pastor's
conference because I got somemore interviews for you.
You're going to love them.
Till next week, though, theLord bless you and keep you.
The Lord make his face to shineupon you and be gracious to you
.
The Lord lift up hiscountenance upon you and give
(25:50):
you peace.
Speaker 3 (26:05):
This program was made possible by the Plays on Word
family of supporters.
To find out more, check out ourwebsite at playsonwordorg.
Lord, you know you will now listen to Plays on Word
Radio.
Speaker 2 (00:03):
It's the best and, as a Catholic, when they said
those who would like to receiveJesus for me, receiving Jesus at
that time was receiving theEucharist, I just went out of
interest to see how theyreceived Jesus and they prayed,
but then, to tell you the truth,I did not receive Christ.
Okay okay, because my prayingwas not based on me having faith
(00:24):
or receiving God's Word.
Okay, okay, You're the onlything.
You're the only thing, you'rethe only thing.
Speaker 3 (01:00):
Hello and welcome to Plays on Word Radio, where we
discuss, analyze, work and playon the Word of God.
Thank you for joining us onthis excursion.
Today let's join Pastor Teddy,also known as Fred David Kenny
Jr, the founder of Plays on WordTheater, as he does a deep dive
into the Word of God.
Speaker 1 (01:21):
Amen, amen, well.
Plays on Word Radio family.
We are back, yes, from the EastCoast Pastors Conference out in
Philadelphia and, yeah, met abunch of my brothers.
It's such a refreshing time tobe with a whole bunch of
(01:41):
shepherds.
Time to be with a whole bunchof shepherds and I mean guys
were just lifted up,strengthened, healed, blessed,
(02:02):
encouraged.
Yes, pastors get discouraged andit was a fantastic time and it
was, oh man, it was just anincredible time of praise.
We, we, uh, two thousand guysjust going for it, you know,
singing these old hymns and thenew songs, um, I mean top of
your lungs, type praise.
It was just amazing.
It's always a blessing.
(02:22):
Well, one of the guys that Imet at this conference many
years ago I don't want to saymany years ago, I don't know,
maybe three years ago, somethinglike that is my dear brother,
axan Kaonga from Zambia.
Yes, and some of you have heardhis voice.
He said Merry Christmas to thiswhole audience group of people
(02:45):
in our Christmas clips where wehave people say hello.
So we interviewed him and I'vebeen wanting to interview him
and we are on our way out toZambia at some point we didn't
set a date, but we're gonna goout to Zambia and do a play, or
a couple plays.
Speaker 3 (03:00):
So check him out.
Speaker 1 (03:01):
I'm here with Axan Kaunga from Zambia and he is, so
check him out.
For our listeners that aregeographically illiterate, can
(03:24):
you explain where Zambia is?
Speaker 2 (03:26):
Okay, zambia is on the continent of Africa.
It is located in the southernpart of Africa.
Speaker 1 (03:34):
Yes, so there you go.
If you know where the continentof Africa is the southern part,
not the northern part it's notup near the Mediterranean, it's
way down south.
Now I ask everyone we've knowneach other for a few years now.
I first met you here inPhiladelphia years ago and I was
blessed to meet you and meetanother brother, and we've
(03:57):
stayed in contact throughout theyears and you even gave me a
greeting to put on the radiobroadcast for wishing everybody
a Merry Christmas, you and yourlovely wife.
How is she?
Speaker 2 (04:08):
My wife is doing well .
We were together here inAmerica in 2023.
Speaker 1 (04:14):
That must be when we met 2023.
2023, yes, amen, wow, man.
So you know, we talked aboutcoming to do a play for you and,
god willing, we're going tocome do a play for you in Zambia
, but tell us about the workGod's doing.
What's happening, what's goingon there?
Tell us what's God doing.
Speaker 2 (04:32):
I think what God is doing is an amazing work.
And, foremost, I think we haveexperienced the faithfulness of
God in his work among us.
Over the years, we have had anexperience of going through
(04:53):
difficulties, trials to do withacquiring land and also other
issues like the COVID, whichmade us stop meeting for some
time, but through it all andmany other trials that we have
gone through, we have seen thatGod has been very faithful to us
(05:13):
.
So then, the other thing thatGod is doing is that, when we
started, we had a lot of youngpeople in our church little
young children in our church,and, by the grace of God, most
of them have not left us.
They are still in the church.
And then what has happened istwofold.
(05:35):
Among them, they are physicallygrown.
They are young adults now.
Some of them are inuniversities.
But then the second thing thathas happened to them they are
young adults now.
Some of them are inuniversities.
But then the second thing thathas happened to them is that
most of them have given theirlives to the Lord.
We can certainly see the fruitof salvation in them.
They are walking with the Lord,and some of them are beginning
(05:57):
to learn to save the Lord inchurch.
So to me that is an amazingwork that God has done.
I remember some years back twopastors from Calvary Chapel of
Philadelphia, particularlyPastor Brian Weed and Pastor
Carlos Kausaki.
When we started therelationship with them, they
(06:18):
found these kids in the churchand they mentioned to me that
you have got too many childrenin this church.
Take care of them.
They are the future of thechurch.
I think at that time it reallydidn't dawn to me, because all I
was seeing is a bunch ofnoisemakers in the church.
But now they are helping me tosave and as I look at them I see
(06:38):
future leaders in the churchand I also see people who go and
plant other Calvary chapels inZambia through them, amen.
Speaker 1 (06:47):
Wow.
Speaker 2 (06:49):
The other thing that I see God doing in our church is
that I think, like manycountries in Africa, we have so
many false prophets arising andmisleading people, so that is a
very big problem in my country.
And now we have beenexperiencing in our local church
(07:10):
people who are truly born againjoining our church.
We are thinking that maybe theyhave just come to visit, but
after a couple of weeks theymake their intentions clear,
that we want to be a part ofthis fellowship.
And as I talk to them, thetestimony they give is that
(07:34):
there is so much falsehood outthere and we are encouraged by
what we are seeing here atCalvary Chapel of Undola,
because you are focusing on theteaching of God's Word.
Speaker 1 (07:46):
Now here's the thing there's nothing phony or fake
about the Word of God.
You just stick with that,you're going to be good.
Speaker 2 (07:51):
Here is the thing Sometimes, as Christians, we
tend to look at others who areworking in the Lord's field and
they are using certain means toattract a lot of people, and
then we may look down onourselves and think we are not
doing enough.
But the truth of the matter isthat when you teach God's Word
(08:12):
consistently, at some pointpeople begin to follow, people
begin to come, because out there, force cannot be sustained.
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Speaker 1 (08:22):
You don't need gimmicks, you don't need
anything spectacular.
The Word of God is spectacularenough.
Speaker 2 (08:29):
What Jesus Christ himself told Peter prior to his
ascension.
He told him three times Peter,do you love me Three times?
Peter kept answering that Ilove you Three times.
The Lord Jesus told him feed mysheep, take care of my sheep.
(08:50):
That is what Jesus Christexpects of us as under shepherds
of this flock.
He wants us to teach to feedthe flock, because the flock
grows by feeding.
He wants us to teach to feedthe flock, because the flock
grows by feeding.
Speaker 1 (09:04):
So I have a question If somebody listening right here
wanted to find out more aboutNdola or the work you're doing,
or wanted to find out how theycould support or how they can
pray for what's going on thework you're doing there, when
would they go?
Speaker 2 (09:25):
Okay, if you want to find out about what we are doing
, we are on Facebook, althoughthe Facebook page is not very
active, and what we are nowdoing is that we really want to
make it active so that peoplecan be informed.
Speaker 1 (09:41):
Okay, so we can pray for that.
Get the Facebook page.
The Lord would raise uptechnicians or whatever you need
to make it happen.
Speaker 2 (09:48):
Pastor Fred, we are working on that.
It's going to be very active.
Then the other thing is that weare also doing a newsletter,
which is actually produced everyquarterly, and I was here, we
were having a missionsconference and at our desk we
had people who were writingthose who would like to be
(10:08):
receiving newsletters.
They did that and I think,through you, pastor Fred, those
who would like to know what isgoing on you can help them
actually get in contact with us.
Speaker 1 (10:20):
Yes, if anybody's interested, you can reach out to
me through the podcast here.
We'll put a link to theFacebook page on there, but you
can reach out to me directlythrough the podcast and I am in
direct contact with this brotherthe work that you're doing and
you're seeing fruit in a wholegeneration of people there as
far as what are the biggestneeds that you find.
(10:40):
Like, if somebody came up toyou and said what do you need to
do the work you're doing, whatwould you say?
Speaker 2 (10:49):
Thank you, Pastor Fred, for that question.
I must be very honest here.
The biggest need that we haveis that we need your prayer
support.
That is the biggest need thatwe have.
The Lord has given us grace.
We are able to teach.
I've got an assistant pastorwho is also gifted in teaching
(11:10):
and I think what we need mostfrom other Christians is to pray
for us.
Speaker 1 (11:17):
We're at a pastor's conference right now, and years
ago one of my buddies from hereat Calvary, philly, he told me
that there are dedicated peoplethat are praying throughout the
entire time of this conference.
While this conference is goingon, there is prayer going on,
and that's one of the reasonswhy this conference is always
amazing.
(11:37):
Every year there's spiritualhealing that happens here.
Guys are being set free, guysare being encouraged and lifted
up, and prayer is essential tothat and that's something that
every one of you Christianslistening right now, and
everybody listening if you're inChrist, you can pray for accent
over in Zambia, and the Lordknows who you're talking about.
(11:58):
You can, you know, lift up thework that's going on there.
You can intercede, let theSpirit guide you and lift up the
work them up.
Lift up the work that's goingon.
Is there any specific prayerthat you need?
Anything specific?
Speaker 2 (12:12):
Okay, I said we need your prayer support, but if I
have to unfold it specifically,pray that souls will continue
being saved in our community,where we are.
Pray for us to be very goodrepresentatives of our Lord
Jesus Christ in our community.
Pray also that as we teachGod's word, that God's word will
(12:37):
be fruitful, that people willbe able to come to the saving
knowledge of Jesus.
Pray that those who are alreadysaved will experience a deeper
sanctification to become morelike Jesus.
So those are the specificprayer items that I can give.
Who experience a deepersanctification to become more
like Jesus.
So those are the specificprayer items that I can give,
and personally, on my behalf asthe senior pastor, pray that
(12:59):
God's anointing will continue toincrease upon my life.
Speaker 1 (13:02):
Amen, and I will pray that as well, and we're going
to get at least two or more.
Just one last question.
If I was to ask you and I askthis of people sometimes it
might require some thought, youmight have to think about it.
But is there any ministryexperience that really impacted
you?
Can you maybe share somethingwhere you saw the Lord work in a
(13:30):
magnificent way, or somethingthat really impacted you,
something that really impactedme?
Speaker 2 (13:34):
Yeah, I think the first thing that really impacted
me is my salvation.
Speaker 1 (13:41):
Yes, I think that is the starting point.
Speaker 2 (13:42):
Tell me about how did you meet this Jesus?
Yeah, the first thing is mysalvation.
I was born in a Catholic familyand I was Catholic from
childhood, and I came to thesaving knowledge of Jesus at the
age of 16.
At the age of 16, yes, beforethen, the only church I ever
(14:06):
went to was the Catholic church,and here is how I met the Lord.
I happened to find myself in anevangelistic meeting that was
going on in my compound and itwas being undertaken by the
Pentecostal Church.
Now, I'd never been in aPentecostal meeting.
(14:26):
So, they were in this buildingand then we heard people singing
and we went by the door to justcheck what is going on and we
found an usher there who usheredus inside.
He was very friendly, so we satthere, they were singing, and
then the singing the way theywere singing it was so lively.
I was used to the Latin kind ofsinging.
(14:47):
That was way back in 1979.
78 December to be specific.
So the way they were singing itwas so different from what I
was accustomed to.
And then, after singing, therewas the preaching of God's word.
The person who was preachinghappened to be an American and
(15:08):
he was a black American from oneof the Caribbean islands.
Okay, when he preached, I didnot understand what he was
talking about because his accentwas very different from what
I'm used to.
But, to fast forward, they hadthose meetings for many weeks.
(15:28):
They were happening once a week.
So the first meeting thathappened is they made an altar
call and I was in the company ofthree other friends.
We all went in front to beprayed for.
But the altar call was thosewho would like to receive Jesus,
let them come in front.
And, as a Catholic, when theysaid those who would like to
(15:50):
receive Jesus.
For me, receiving Jesus at thattime was receiving the
Eucharist.
So I just went out of interestto see how they received Jesus
and they prayed.
But then, to tell you the truth, I did not receive Christ
Because my praying was not basedon me having faith or receiving
God's Word.
But then I kept attending everyweek because they kept inviting
(16:14):
us.
They were so friendly.
I attended into the secondmonth, wow Okay.
And at that time I had answereda number of outer calls.
But then, on January 31st 1979,I was able to understand this
Caribbean pastor clearly.
Speaker 1 (16:35):
Oh, he was there the whole time doing H1?
He was actually working as amissionary there.
Speaker 2 (16:40):
Okay, okay, so I started to get him you started
understanding him a little bit.
Yes.
So when January 31st came, 1979, he preached God's word.
During the preaching, I came tounderstand that I was a sinner,
a candidate of hell.
(17:00):
When he made the altar call, Ivoluntarily went in front.
I was prayed for and I cried.
I was prayed for and I cried.
The days that followed werecharacterized by God's peace
just overflowing and the joy ofthe Lord.
They didn't ask me to startreading the Bible, the New
Testament Bible, which my schooldonated to me.
(17:23):
I started reading the Bible,and that was the beginning of my
transformation.
So that was the first changethat took place I became a child
of God.
Amen.
Speaker 1 (17:36):
Wow, I love it.
So how did you end up in theministry, though?
How do you go from being like,okay, wow, now I understand this
message, this gospel message.
Then how do you say, okay, Ithink I need to go either start
a church or pastor a church, orwhatever.
Speaker 2 (17:55):
That took many years.
If you heard what I said, Igave my life to the Lord in 1979
.
I became a pastor in 2007.
Okay, so he worked a long timewith you he worked a long time
because after finishing school,after doing my training, I
worked for many years.
I got married, but then,somewhere towards the end of the
(18:16):
90s, I began to have a hungerto preach.
Okay, good, okay, I had ahunger to preach.
Speaker 1 (18:24):
That's kind of around when the Lord started working,
I believe.
But that's when he startedchanging everything up on me,
Almost like he put a lightswitch on and was like, okay, we
have to get to work now and hestarted putting in my heart.
Speaker 2 (18:37):
But here's the thing I had a.
I loved to preach, but thenwhen the Lord started planting
on my heart to say I want you togo into pastoral, I resisted, I
didn't want.
I saided I didn't want.
I said, lord, I can work as alay preacher, but not to become
a pastor.
Speaker 1 (18:54):
I'm not trying to be a pastor.
Speaker 2 (18:55):
So it took a long time for the Lord to break me
down.
The Lord actually broke me down.
I surrendered.
I realized that I will never behappy in life until I obey God.
The moment I obeyed God, Ishared this with my wife.
My wife began to resist thecall Again.
(19:17):
It took some more prayer untilthe Lord convicted my wife.
She also understood that thisman has been called so somewhere
by 2006,.
We were all in agreement thatthis is the way the Lord wants
us to go.
Speaker 1 (19:41):
It's similar to me and Katie is because I was like,
well, okay, I felt like he wasdoing something, but there's no
way Katie's going for this.
And I remember saying, lord, ifit's of you, you'll make Katie
cool with this.
And in many, in all the casesof going into whatever, whether
it's plays on word or if it'splanning the church that we
planted uh, the lord went to herand she came to me and she said
(20:01):
I think, I think the lord wantsus to do this, and I was like,
oh, okay, there's, I'm gonnatake that as my confirmation,
lord.
So, yeah, I, I completely, Icompletely, I appreciate that.
So now you guys are all in, thechurch is there and the
surrounding community is awareof you guys and they're growing.
(20:23):
How long has the church beenthere?
Speaker 2 (20:26):
Calvary Chapel of Ndola was started in 2007.
Speaker 1 (20:30):
Okay, up to now, wow, okay.
Up to now Wow, yeah, that isfantastic.
Now, did you start that, or didyou take over for somebody?
Speaker 2 (20:38):
I took over from somebody.
It was originally started by anAmerican pastor from one of the
Calvary Chapels here.
Okay, and basically just cameto start.
The church Started and then hehanded it over to me and he was
with us for just about sixmonths, okay, and then he handed
it over to me.
Praise God, and that's how itbegan.
Speaker 1 (21:01):
Praise God.
Yeah, this is fantastic.
This is like the book of Actstype stuff.
You know, I just absolutelylove it.
If anybody wants to knowanything more about our dear
brother, axe and Cowl and Go orthe church there, or maybe you
even want to go visit, cananybody come visit you?
You're most welcome.
See, he said you're mostwelcome, just reach out to me.
(21:22):
You can reach out to me on thepodcast link there or the email,
whatever, and we can put you incontact with this guy.
If you want to help out,however you might want to help
out, you want to pray?
Please pray.
And I would ask the whole Playson Word family to be lifting
you guys up, our family overthere in Zambia.
We would be able to lift youguys up in prayer and the work
(21:43):
that the Lord's doing, and theLord would allow us to be part
of what he's doing over there.
That's fantastic.
So a lot he's doing over there.
That's fantastic.
So a lot of false teaching overthere, you've seen.
Is there any besides falseteaching?
Is there anything elsethreatening you guys don't have
like a big Muslim population oranything like that Islamic
population.
Speaker 2 (22:02):
I think the Islamic population is a problem that is
affecting the entire continentof.
Speaker 3 (22:07):
Africa.
Speaker 1 (22:08):
It's everywhere, it's everywhere.
Yes, the United States, texasis being taken over.
It's everywhere, it'severywhere.
Speaker 2 (22:11):
Yes, the United States, texas is being taken
over.
It's everywhere.
So we have that problem that isthreatening the Christian
movement.
So we just need to work hard,we need to be prayerful, we need
to actually reach out to thepeople.
Yes, we need to reach out.
I think over the years we, asChristians, we've been content
in staying within our walls andjust letting people follow us.
(22:33):
I think we need to be moreproactive, reaching out to
people with the gospel.
What we need to realize is thatthe gospel is God's power for
salvation.
Speaker 1 (22:43):
God's power, that's it, man, it's power.
Speaker 2 (22:45):
So it's powerful.
We are not just releasing itout.
We need to share it, and thenGod himself will be able to use
the gospel to break the heartsof people Right.
Speaker 1 (22:55):
Amen, amen to that.
Okay.
Well, there you go.
You guys have your marchingorders.
And Axon Kaunga, thank you forbeing on Plays on Word Radio
no-transcript.
(23:18):
My dear brother, Axan Kaunga,from Zambia, holding it down,
yes, holding down the wholecontinent there, man on the
southern part, you know what Imean.
So he's doing his thing and youguys can absolutely, from the
comfort of your own home, beinvolved in what the Lord is
(23:38):
doing there.
By lifting him up in thatcongregation, he gave us some
things that need prayer rightthere, you know.
So, yeah, man, I mean my dearmom.
She used to pray for areas andpray for places that seemed like
(24:00):
they would never allow thegospel to come in, but she
prayed anyway and she washard-headed about praying and
got other people praying withher and she the Lord, has
allowed her to live long enoughto see much of the things that
she was involved in when itlooked absolutely ridiculous,
(24:22):
looked impossible, but the Lordallowed her to be involved in
his eternal work.
That has glory implications.
People in eternity are going togo up to my mom when she gets
the glory and say, hey, thankyou for praying, hallelujah,
(24:43):
thank you.
I know it looked bleak, butthank you for praying, so I want
to encourage everybody elsehere to follow Norma Kenny's
example and pray, pray.
Pray for my brother, axonKowonga in Zambia.
Pray for our families overthere in Albania and all around
(25:03):
the world.
You know my man, isaac over inUganda.
Pray for us in Southport, northCarolina.
Yeah, that pastor there needsprayer and his wife, oh.
Pray for us.
Hallelujah, all right, pleasebe encouraged to pray and expect
the enemy to try to distractyou when you set your mind to go
(25:25):
do it.
Can I get an amen?
I'm not going to continuepreaching up in here, because
you know that's what we do untilwe hey.
Next week we're going tocontinue with this pastor's
conference because I got somemore interviews for you.
You're going to love them.
Till next week, though, theLord bless you and keep you.
The Lord make his face to shineupon you and be gracious to you
.
The Lord lift up hiscountenance upon you and give
(25:50):
you peace.
Speaker 3 (26:05):
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family of supporters.
To find out more, check out ourwebsite at playsonwordorg.
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