Justin — Rescued from Witchcraft in Zambia

In a small Zambian village, seven-year-old Justin was about to be brutally burned by a group of villagers. He had been forced by his witch grandmother to take part in cultic practices, including sleeping in graveyards.

Because of the rampant witchcraft in his family, the angry villagers wanted him dead and were poised to harm or even kill the young boy. But by God’s grace, Justin was rescued by a staff member of Emma’s Kids orphanage. On his first night at Emma’s Kids, the staff prayed over Justin all night long, thanking the Lord for his life.

During his first weeks in the orphanage, Justin woke up paralyzed by fear. But as the leaders continued to comfort and pray with him, Justin too learned to cry out to Jesus. Now, through the atmosphere of love and effectual fervent prayer at Emma’s Kids, Justin’s life has been turned around completely. This once lonely boy whose very life was at risk has a large group of friends at Emma’s Kids. He has grown into a healthy, well-adjusted young man who loves soccer. And through the ministry of the Holy Spirit, he has begun putting his past behind him and is growing in Christ.

Today, approximately two-hundred needy Zambian children regularly come to Emma’s Kids to find the love, protection and support that Justin has found. Here precious children receive an education, nutritional and medical care, and are ministered to spiritually and emotionally.

For twelve years Emma’s Kids has served as a light in this community, serving these basic needs of children. An on-site school provides classes for the forty resident orphans as well as approximately one-hundred and fifty children from the surrounding villages. An on-site clinic provides medical care and Emma’s Kids partners with a local pastor to operate a church nearby. Recently, a program called Widow’s Mite was founded to help widows and their children secure housing and land for farming.

World Challenge has partnered over the years with Emma’s Kids, reflecting this abiding biblical witness: “Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world” (James 1:27).

We desire to continue helping Emma’s Kids touch the lives of orphans and other precious children in this community. We so appreciate your support in helping bring the life-changing reality of Jesus to them. For many like Justin, the difference is literally a matter of life and death. Thank you for helping to make that difference.