🎤 Alumni pastor interview: Pastor William Lwando on hosting a Rhema student outreach

Outreach has always been central to Rhema’s mission—equipping men and women not only with biblical knowledge but also with practical ministry experience.

During the second year of study at Rhema Bible Training Center Zambia (RBTCZ), students get paired with churches led by Rhema alumni to experience outreach first-hand.

In June 2025, a team of Rhema Bible Training Center students partnered with Good Morning Family Church in Lusaka, led by Rhema alumnus Pastor William Lwando (Class of 2024). In this conversation, Pastor Lwando shares how the outreach affected his church, the students, and the wider community, while also highlighting the importance of partnerships between alumni churches and current students.

Please introduce yourself and tell us a bit about your journey since graduating from Rhema Zambia.

My name is William Lwando, and I am a 2024 Rhema graduate. My coming to Rhema was a journey of self-identity. Having gone through the Rhema journey, my purpose, vision, and mission became clearer. Immediately after graduation, I launched Good Morning Family Church on 2nd February 2025. By the grace of God, today we have a church attendance of between 100 and 150 members.

How did it feel to have Rhema students come and serve at your church?

The students coming in to assist served as a blueprint and motivation to the church.

What areas of ministry did the students support during the outreach?

They established the women’s and children’s ministry, trained the praise team, and built capacity within our church leadership.

What stood out most about the students’ involvement?

The team’s organisation was exceptional. They went above and beyond—not only providing ministry but also purchasing chairs for the church and assisting us with rent for three months. That act of kindness will always be remembered.

How did the outreach impact your congregation and the wider community?

The evangelism initiative is still bearing fruit today, as people from the community continue joining the church.

From your perspective, why are student outreaches important for both the church and the students?

From the church’s perspective, student outreach shows care, love, concern, and parenthood from Rhema. For students, it provides an invaluable opportunity to gain hands-on experience, particularly in areas such as church planting.

Did you observe growth or maturity in the students as they ministered?

Yes. They exhibited a lot of maturity. Throughout their outreach, they even sacrificed their meals to dedicate more time to teaching people.

What role do you believe alumni churches can play in mentoring current Rhema students?

There is a great need for alumni churches to constantly engage graduating students in church activities and establish long-term partnerships with them.

How do you see this kind of partnership strengthening the Rhema family?

Where there is unity, God commands a blessing. Continued partnership and collaboration will create lasting relationships among all stakeholders.

What encouragement would you give to other alumni pastors about hosting a Rhema student outreach?

As alumni pastors, we must never forget where we are coming from. Hosting students enables us to be identified even by the members we are leading. It also brings confidence and clarity to our pastoral office and reminds us of our Rhema foundation.

Conclusion

Pastor Lwando’s testimony reflects the heart of Rhema’s vision—equipping leaders who, in turn, equip others. The outreach at Good Morning Family Church not only strengthened the local congregation but also provided students with the invaluable experience of serving in a real ministry context. As Pastor Lwando reminds us, partnerships between alumni and students create a ripple effect that impacts lives, strengthens churches, and keeps the Rhema family united in its mission to reach the world with the love of Christ.

Next steps

• If you are looking for biblical and practical ministry training, we encourage you to apply to Rhema Bible Training Center Zambia (RBTCZ) today.
• If you are a Rhema Zambia graduate in a leadership position at your church and would like to be considered for the next Rhema student outreach, we encourage you to join the RAAZ Ministers Fellowship.