By Mickeal Quillman, Missionary to Zambia

Nestled deep in the southern province of Zambia, Africa, lies the chiefdom of Sekute — one of the 72 tribal chiefdoms in the region. Sekute is home to several tribal communities, including the Tonga, Lozi, and Tokaleya people, many of whom have yet to hear the Gospel of Christ. This remote region, formerly known as Northern Rhodesia, has become not only our home but also our passion. The people here are now our family.

For the past three years, we have been dedicated to bringing the Good News to these secluded villages. Within Sekute, named after the chief and his family, there are over 550 villages. The chief defines a village as a settlement with at least 10 families. However, many smaller villages with just 50-75 people may not be officially recognized, but they are still part of this vast area in need of the Gospel.

Navigating Traditional Leadership

One of the greatest challenges we face is the complex web of traditional leadership in the chiefdom. Before we can share the gospel with the villagers, we must first gain the approval and support of the chief, his council, and the senior headmen, along with the local village headmen and elders. These leaders are the gatekeepers of their communities. Without their blessing, it is nearly impossible to minister effectively.

In Sekute, all the land belongs to the chief, including the individual villages. This territory is considered part of his ancestral homeland, and the title of chief is typically passed down through the bloodline, usually to the firstborn son, though there are exceptions.

Over the past few years, we’ve invested countless hours building relationships with these local leaders, learning their customs, and showing deep respect for their authority. Our goal has also been to share the gospel with them, praying for their personal transformation. We are encouraged to see God at work in the hearts of these leaders. Several have begun to show interest in the gospel, and currently, we have seven local headmen who have professed faith in Jesus Christ. We pray that they will soon become champions of the faith, guiding their communities to know Christ.

A Heart for the People

Among the key leaders we’ve been working with is Chief Sekute himself. He has shown openness to our ministry, even inviting us to share the gospel at his home. We’ve met with Chief Sekute many times, and he is eager to see his people reached and discipled. Chief Sekute professes belief in the One True God — a term we use specifically, as witchcraft is widespread throughout many of the villages. In these areas, worshipping multiple gods, led by local witchdoctors, is common.

These witchdoctors wield power over their followers through fear, demanding monetary compensation for their services. Part of their worship involves praying to the spirits of deceased ancestors. Their belief system closely mirrors the question posed to Jesus in John 9 about the blind man: any illness, death, or misfortune is attributed to a curse brought on by wrongdoings in the family. These curses, they teach, can only be lifted by the witchdoctor in exchange for payment.

As we share the gospel, we emphasize that accepting the One True God requires rejecting all other gods. For some of our people, this conversion process involves burning the idols and totems they have received from witchdoctors. It is a powerful and transformative act, symbolizing their commitment to Christ alone.

Fruit of the Labor

As we continue our ministry within the Sekute chiefdom, we are beginning to see the fruit of our labor. Villagers are coming to faith, and we’ve planted our first church in a central location that serves 24 surrounding villages. We are also training local leaders to disciple and pastor these new believers. Currently, six men are being trained and discipled to become pastors, who will go on to disciple others and plant churches within their own villages.

The greatest joy of our ministry is witnessing the lost come to faith and watching them grow in their relationship with Christ. Our passion is not only to reach the lost but also to equip new believers to become disciple-makers who will multiply the Kingdom. It is a privilege to be a part of God’s work in the Sekute chiefdom, and we are excited to see what the future holds as local villagers begin to plant their own churches and spread the Gospel among their people.