Meet the Chikonde family! We are originally from Zambia and are now pursuing our calling to be missionaries to the United States! We are Justin and Mwiza, and our children are Moriah, Jay Jay, and Chelyn.

We have served with Poetice in Choma, Zambia, for the last several years. Justin has been the Missions Coordinator. Prior to that, he had a career in insurance but knew the Lord was calling him to full-time ministry. Mwiza has served as the Director of Prayer & Worship Leader and also has a background in finance.

As we transition to the USA, we will be working with Revive Wesleyan in Hamburg, New York, just outside of Buffalo. Revive Wesleyan is a multi-site church that has partnered with and supported Poetice for approximately 13 years. Our relationship is strong and such a blessing to us, and we are so excited to serve with them!

Justin will join the Outreach team at Revive and Mwiza will join the Worship team. We are looking forward to contributing the skills and talents God has given us to Revive and also learning from their teams. The collaboration is going to be life-giving.

Our stay in the USA will be entirely supported by fundraising. We are committed to this call God has placed on our lives and are so thankful for those who come alongside us to make this possible. Thank you for your generosity! We truly couldn't do this without you. 

We'll share periodic updates on our progress and our ministry. If you'd like to receive those, click the button below to sign up for our newsletter. Thank you!

YES TO THE LORD & YES TO THE MISSION FIELD!

Chances are you have met the Chikonde Family–Justin, Mwiza, Moriah, Jay Jay, and Chelyn. But if not, here is both an introduction and an explanation to share some of the journey their family has been on with the Lord.

Back in 2019, Justin encountered Jesus in what seemed like an ordinary Sunday church service. Little did he know this marked the beginning of a life turned upside down for the glory of God.

Though he had accepted Jesus as his Savior in 7^th grade, up to that point Justin’s life did not reflect what it means to truly follow Jesus. He had one foot in the things of God and the other foot in the world. On the outside, all appeared well, but on the inside he was a broken man. His life was in a state of confusion, and Justin desperately needed God to intervene.

One particular Sunday, the message was from 1 John 1:5-10 on “WALKING IN THE LIGHT!” Justin felt the conviction of the Holy Spirit and literally cried out for God’s help! This opened a new chapter in his life as a believer and follower of Jesus Christ.

After a season of counseling and seeking the Lord’s face, Justin and Mwiza felt the Lord calling their family into full-time vocational ministry. However, the financial impact and strain of this call was very challenging. It felt like such a huge step because it meant they would be cutting off 80% of their earnings, and naturally that felt hard. But again, they felt the Lord say, “Trust Me,” and “Depend on Me.” 

As Mwiza shares from her perspective, “When we heard the Lord calling us to full-time ministry with Poetice, I heard Him ask me to lay down my banking and finance degree and not apply to any other banks or financial institutions. That was very hard for me to do, but I heard the Lord ask me to trust Him. I have been with Poetice for five years and throughout this journey I keep hearing the Lord say, ‘Being in full-time ministry is what I have created you for–to minister the gospel of Christ Jesus; to make disciples of all nations; to worship Me in spirit and in truth; and to lead others to do the same.’” 

In 2020, the Chikondes had the privilege to join the ministry of Poetice, their church in Choma, Zambia. Mwiza joined staff full-time while Justin began as a volunteer. Eventually Justin left his full-time job as a Regional Manager for an insurance company and joined the Poetice staff as well. As they jumped deeper into ministry, it was then they felt like the Lord was preparing them to be missionaries to the nations.

In 2023, they made their first trip to the United States on a mission trip with fellow Poetice team members. It was during this trip that the Lord began to speak to them more specifically about going on mission to one particular nation – the United States.

In November 2023, Justin and Mwiza again felt the Lord calling them back to the US, now with a specific mandate to join forces with their brothers and sisters in America to advance God’s kingdom and to help bring liberty to those held in darkness by spiritual forces.

The Chikondes have been offered a rare opportunity by the Lord to go and serve alongside Revive Wesleyan in Buffalo, New York, for a 2.5-year term in advancing God’s kingdom. Mwiza will be serving on their worship and finance teams while Justin will be serving under their missions and outreach team assisting in both local and global ministries.

Part of this journey as missionaries is to walk in faith, relying fully on the donations of others in order to fulfill the calling they have been given. Would you prayerfully consider joining their support team in order to make this a reality? 

Blessings from the Chikondes,

Justin, Mwiza, Moriah, Jay Jay, and Chelyn