Inflatable ministry

The IMB has had ongoing work in Zambia for many years. But as missionary Kevin Rodgers explored and surveyed the area around two important rivers, he found pockets of unreached people in areas that were very hard to get to.

At first he focused on going to the people he could reach by truck. He also hiked into remote areas and worked for a few days at a time. However, with so many people who had never heard of Christ, Kevin began to pray for an easier way to reach these remote areas.

The more he prayed and surveyed the area, the more he realized that a boat would provide the best way to minister to the people who lived in the remote areas on the rivers. With a boat, he believed he could effectively begin witnessing and planting churches.

In 2007, his prayers were answered through generous gifts to Lottie Moon. For $4,000 Kevin purchased a Quicksilver inflatable boat with a 15hp Mercury outboard motor. The boat is small enough to maneuver tight spots on the river, durable enough to survive sharp rocks, crocodile teeth and hippo bites, and portable enough to fit in the back of his truck.

Ministry along the rivers has exploded. With the boat, Kevin can accomplish in one day what took several days before. In 2007, two churches existed along the river. By the end of 2009, 12 churches were meeting! How many more boats will it take to reach the remote areas where people have never heard?

Are you willing to give so missionaries like Kevin can bring the Good News by boat, by air, by truck—whatever it takes?

IMB

http://www.imb.org/main/give/lmw/Story.asp?StoryID=8756&LanguageID=1709