MEMPHIS — A team of 10 missionaries from Memphis Christian Church traveled to Zambia from Aug. 18–25, leading a youth camp that reached 1,715 children and young adults with worship, teaching, and fellowship. The trip was the result of years of relationship-building and a partnership with Wonder Valley Christian Camp in Salem.
Associate Minister David Bigelow, who led the team, said the mission grew out of connections first made in 2017. After years of communication and support, the church stepped in to help ensure this year’s national youth conference in Lusaka could take place. The Memphis team consisted primarily of young adults, all of whom had ties to Wonder Valley Christian Camp, either as staff, leaders, or former campers.
Support from Wonder Valley was central to the mission. Campers there raised funds throughout the summer, prayed for the effort, and hand-wove bracelets that were carried to Zambia. During one of the final evenings, the team tied the bracelets on the wrists of every student, telling them they were loved. “It was a special night,” Bigelow said. “For many of them, it was the first time receiving a gift from someone in America. It tied two worlds together.”
The conference quickly grew beyond expectations, starting with 800 attendees on the first night and climbing to more than 1,700 by midweek. Some traveled for hours or even days to attend. Students were drawn not only by worship and teaching, but also by the chance to share three meals a day — something uncommon for many of them. A team of 16 local women cooked nonstop over charcoal fires to prepare food for nearly 2,000 people.
Recreation was another highlight, with the Memphis team bringing games like spike ball and nine square to share alongside Zambia’s national passion for soccer. Matches between regional teams drew thousands of spectators and added to the sense of celebration.
Bigelow emphasized that the mission was not about imposing an American model of camp, but partnering with Zambian leaders already at work. “This was where we partnered with what the local churches and the local convention was already doing in Zambia,” he said. “God multiplied it just as he does with loaves and fish. It’s a beautiful picture of God’s church in action.”
Wonder Valley’s involvement, Bigelow added, was a lesson for local youth about serving others, even those they may never meet. “Without their partnership, this would not have happened,” he said. “Thousands of kids here prayed, gave, and made bracelets. That is God’s mission through his people.”
