Precious Kunda has found a new calling in life that is taking her back to the basics of her faith.

Affectionately known as Pressy by her family and friends, the 30-year-old from Ndola, Zambia, juggles many responsibilities. She is a wife and a mother. She is employed as an accounts clerk at the hospital in Ndola. She serves as a Sunday school teacher at Living Stones Church International.

And now Pressy is among 883 teachers in Zambia who have received training to teach The Greatest Journey to children in her African nation.

“I love talking about Jesus to children, but one thing I was praying for is to have an opportunity for me to be trained in the area of my calling,” she said. “The coming of The Greatest Journey materials and the training we underwent was a dream come true and a prayer answered.”

Pressy is one of the very first teachers from Zambia to be trained in the Operation Christmas Child discipleship program curriculum. She attended a one-week training conference last August in Kenya with other Operation Christmas Child national leadership teams from across Africa. She returned home to serve as a master trainer, and is now preparing other teachers to lead the discipleship course in churches and classrooms.

Like many of the course instructors, Pressy has a passion for teaching children about Jesus. She might not have formal training in primary education or children’s ministry, but what she does have is a love for the Lord and a desire to see boys and girls come to faith in Christ as she did at the age of 18.

The Greatest Journey curriculum, first implemented in Latin American countries in 2010, is now sweeping across Africa and Eastern Europe. The program will be launched in Asia next year as more of the materials are translated into local languages.

After shoe box distributions, children are invited to enroll in the 12-lesson Bible course taught at area churches. Students who complete the classes participate in a graduation ceremony, where they receive a New Testament and a personalized certificate.

As children begin their journey of faith, they in turn often lead family members and friends to Christ. In some cases, the children have been the catalyst to bring their parents to church.

That impact has been noticeable in Pressy’s church. The number of children attending Sunday school increased from 80 to 120 in the five weeks after an Operation Christmas Child shoe box distribution was held at Living Stones Church. The average regular attendance for adults and children at the worship services jumped from 230 to about 300.

Now that The Greatest Journey Bible lessons are underway, church leaders are eagerly anticipating the coming spiritual harvest.

“Experiencing growth in Sunday school has become a very exciting Gospel opportunity because we now have what it takes to maintain such growth,” Pastor Chris Mulenga said. “These are very unique materials which have not been used by many churches in Zambia, including Living Stones Church, and now most of the churches have access to the materials.

“The children are the agents of change. We believe that they will not only preach to fellow children, but even to their parents, family members, and anyone who interacts with them.”

Samaritan's Purse , Zambia , Greatest Journey , Sowing the Seeds of Faith