Making fishers of men

Inspired by the missionary work started by David Livingstone around central Africa's lakes, Operation Mobilisation is equipping Christians in local villages in the task of sharing their faith.

Its mission base in Mpulungu, in Zambia, is serving as a training hub for locals as well as people from further afield, like Congo and Tanzania, which border the southern part of Lake Tanganyika.

OM takes the approach that these men and women are able to reach their own people far better than any foreigners could, having intimate knowledge of the cultures and languages.

The two-week training course gives them the opportunity to learn the skills that will help them to spread the Good News.

Classroom topics include discipling others, supporting the local church, roles in marriage, and evangelism training.

In the first few days, the participants go fishing together on the lake to practise sharing the Gospel with each other, an exercise they can reproduce on their own when they spend long hours at night working with fellow fishermen.

The level of commitment to the training has astonished OM workers. One participant walked eight hours over difficult terrain just to take part.

For most of the participants, taking part is a sacrifice as many of them are subsistence fishermen and women.

But the reward will be changed lives and changed villages.

"After the training and further follow-up sessions, these people will become self-sustaining missionaries, equipped to bring light to the hundreds of village communities around Lake Tanganyika," said OM.

"They'll work not only as fishermen, but also as fishers of men."