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Northmead Assembly of God
Church is located at Plot 2131 Paseli Road, adjacent to
the Northmead Shopping Centre. The Church was established
in 1971, initially as a home cell-group, with a few
expatriate people including a family known as the Phil
Davis’ as its Founding Fathers.
The group
moved to a borrowed Church building (the Apostolic Faith
Church on Lubu Road) in Lusaka, where meetings were held
on Sunday afternoons when the building was not in use.
This arrangement proved satisfactory only for a short
time.
Being that
this pioneer work was started under the auspices of the
Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada (P.A.O.C) Mission, the
then P.A.O.C field Director Rev. David Purdie personally
set out to find a suitable building for an urban English
speaking Church. God worked a miracle that resulted in
the purchase of the present building by the Pentecostal
Assemblies of Canada Mission.
Since the
Church was devoid of Zambians, Rev. Purdie would
transport some Zambians from the surrounding areas as a
way of evangelism. About that time, Rev. E. Johnson, a
Canadian Missionary based in Kenya was brought in as
Pastor of the Church for a little over 9 months. A Sunday
School was established at the same time.
By the time
Rev. Vern and Belva Tisdalle came to pastor the Church in
August 1972, there were still just a few expatriate
families and only 2 Zambians, namely Mrs. Tembo
(currently the longest serving member) and Mr. Philip
Mudenda.
The Church
began to pray. God gave numerous words that this Church
would be full and prosperous. In the next 4 years, the
Church grew to a thriving congregation. Two buses had
been obtained that assisted in transporting many
University of Zambia student converts to and from Church.
In 1976-77,
the Tisdalles returned to Canada on furlough. The Church
was temporarily pastored by Rev. Winston Broomes for that
year.
After the
Tisdalles’ second 4 year missionary term, the Church was
Pastored by Rev. & Mrs. Gary Skinner, followed by Rev.
Elmer and Mrs. Sherry Komant who later passed on the
mantle to the then Assistants Rev. Watson Mutemi and his
wife Dorothy. The Mutemis were assisted for part of the
time by Rev. Ernest Chelelwa. The Church is now pastored
by Rev. Joshua Banda and his wife Gladys.
Under the
leadership of Rev.& Mrs. Banda, who assumed the pastorate
in 1995, Northmead Assembly has been enabled by the Lord
to surmount tremendous spiritual hurdles, especially
since 1999, and is now a growing congregation of over
2000 believers who are determined to Possess the
Land for Jesus Christ.
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