Rev. Moses Masese, Zambia Men’s Ministries Director, Contributing Writer
Rev. W. A. Mills, Jr. General Men’s Ministries Director, Editorial Writer
IPHC Men’s Ministries started in Zambia in 1990. Those days of small beginnings have led to exponential growth in recent times, with vast numbers of men engaged at the local church, district, conference, and national levels. After assuming the role of General Men's Ministries Director in July 2018, W. A. Mills and Moses Masese developed a long-distance mentoring relationship. This relationship culminated in a National "Guard This Man" Men's Conference, November 21 – 23, 2019, at the City Miracle Center, an IPHC campus in the capital city of Lusaka, Zambia.
At the time of their first introduction via Instant Messenger, Moses was serving as the Men’s Ministries Director of the Southern Conference in Zambia. He was elected in the summer of 2019 to serve as the National Director of Men’s Ministries, providing leadership for Men’s Ministries to the six conferences in the nation with more than 800 IPHC congregations.
After months of prayerful planning and promotion, more than 250 men gathered in the capital city for the first National Men's Conference in their history. It was a defining weekend for the men of Zambia, many of them testifying that their lives would never be the same again. The men worshiped unashamedly and unabashedly with open hearts and raised hands as they expressed their devotion to Christ, the perfect man. They sat with rapt attention as every speaker shared timeless principles from the Word of God, accentuating the conference theme of "Guard This Man," taken from 1 Kings 20:39. The men ate together, shared, and prayed together during these days of Holy Spirit outpouring.
Bishop Chilumba Chrispin Zulu, National Overseer for Zambia, preached the principal address on Thursday evening from 1 Kings 20:39, setting the stage for the teaching and training that would unfold the next two days of the conference. Bishop Zulu prophesied the next great revival coming to Zambia would rest upon the shoulders of the men. Devotional speakers included the conference superintendents of Zambia and other visiting leaders from South Africa and Tanzania. Rev. W. A. Mills, General Men's Ministries Director, Rev. Bob Russo, Men's Ministries Missions Director, Rev. Moses Masese, Zambia Men’s Ministries Director, and Rev. Joe Delport, World Missions Ministries Regional Director for Southern Africa taught training sessions addressing the subjects of men's discipleship and leadership with proven strategies and suggestions for a viable men's ministries in the local church.
There was an air of excitement from the welcome given the USA Team at the airport in Lusaka, marked by pomp and circumstance that included a Royal Rangers parade and presentation of gifts to the charged atmosphere of every service and training session. The USA Team departed for America with new friendships made, strengthened by the bonds of brotherhood that unite men from every tribe and nation in the pursuit of authentic manhood, men who reject passivity, accept responsibility, lead courageously, and expect the greater reward, God's reward.
Moses Masese, Director for Zambia, said, “All the men of Zambia present at the conference responded to the call and went back home revived. Zambia will never be the same. Men present included every level of leadership in the nation, pastors, and lay ministers who came hungry for information, inspiration, and impartation.”
Joe Delport, Regional Director for Southern Africa, said, “We had a very blessed Men's Ministries Conference in Lusaka, Zambia. Bishop Gideon Ingwane, the South Africa National Men's Ministries Director, also attended the conference. A big thank you to the Zambia Men's Ministries Director, Moses Masese, for an event very professionally arranged. I believe the men of Zambia will never be the same.”
Missionary Bob Russo expressed his enthusiasm saying, “Amazing things happened in Zambia’s first National Men’s Conference with hundreds in attendance, plus great worship leaders, and preaching by the leaders from Zambia, South Africa, and the Bishop of Tanzania. Moses Masese, Zambia's National Men's Ministries Director, and his board, along with Bishop Chilumba Chrispin Zulu, were the most gracious hosts. They all made great sacrifices to accommodate everyone in attendance. Blessings to these men and the nation of Zambia!”
W. A. Mills, General Director of Men’s Ministries, observed, “The Guard This Man Men's Ministries Conference in Lusaka, Zambia was nothing short of phenomenal. It was exhilarating to see God calling forth so many of His mighty men in Zambia. Commendations to Bishop Chilumba Chrispin Zulu, the National Overseer of IPHC Zambia, Moses Masese, the National Men's Ministries Director for Zambia, the Zambia Men's Ministries Board, Conference, District and Local Men's Ministries Directors for mobilizing their men to be a part of this dynamic and united Men's Conference. The overwhelming support of the Zambia Leadership, Conference Superintendents, and General Board was astounding. I leave Zambia encouraged, exhilarated, and enlarged to believe God for a mighty awakening among the men of the International Pentecostal Holiness Church, an awakening that will cover the earth as the waters cover the sea. This trip was my first visit to Africa, but God willing, it will not be my last. Special thanks to Missionary Bob Russo, who serves as the Missions Director for Men's Ministries International and Rev. Joe Delport, World Missions Ministries Regional Director of Southern Africa for their respective roles in teaching, training, advising, and preaching. Hats off to Elder Moses Masese for his efficient and proficient leadership of the men in Zambia. Heartfelt thanks to all those who invested financially in this endeavor. The best is yet to come!”
Funds raised in the United States for the sponsorship of the Zambia trip came primarily from a Men's Ministries golf tournament held last March near Dunn, NC. Each man paid his own travel expense, but the funds raised from the golf tournament helped with lodging and the underwriting of the conference, which was shared by USA Men's Ministries and Zambia Men's Ministries.
Plans are already underway for a national men's conference in Tanzania, July 13-22, 2020, to be hosted by Bishop Berrings Mlambya, the National Overseer of Tanzania. Bishop Mlambya attended the Men's Conference in Zambia, sharing a personal testimony with the men present. A Men's Ministries Golf Tournament will take place Friday, April 3, 2020, in Eastern North Carolina to raise funds for the 2020 Men's Conference in Tanzania.
For more information about how you can support the mission outreach of IPHC Men's Ministries abroad, please call 405.792.7131 or email Director W. A. Mills at wmills@iphc.org.
The Zambia National Men’s Ministries Board are seated. Bishops from Zambia, the USA Team, South Africa Team and Tanzania are standing.
Rev. Mills lays his hands under a heavy anointing on Rev. Moses Masese, the National Director of Zambia.
Men’s Ministries Missions Director, Missionary Bob Russo ministering on the Heart of Discipleship. Many men responded with tears as they wept before God, with hearts and minds determined to follow Christ as His disciple, committed to making disciples.
