In late September, as golden dust rose from the plains of Zambia, a team of five arrived at a remote African village. The village, separated from the rest of the world by more than just distance, was hungry for truth.
As the team passed out Bibles, spoke face-to-face with villagers who didn’t know the God of Hope, and even talked with the village’s medicine man, a heart-stirring question arose. When Merlin Martin (Administrator for Heralds of Hope Canada) returned from the trip with these experiences fresh in his mind, he shared this question with the team:
“Can God reach even the most resistant heart — even the heart of a medicine man?”
Merlin Martin, Maynard Gingerich, Amanda Martin, and Nevin and Tanya Weber recently spent a week in Zambia — collaborating with Heralds of Hope’s local radio partner, One Love Radio, and traveling to villages to distribute Bemba- and Tonga-language Bibles.
One Love Radio is a local Christian broadcaster airing Heralds of Hope programs in Bemba and other languages. Heralds of Hope provides Bibles and resources, while One Love coordinates local distribution. Through this partnership, we hope to see the Gospel reaching even to the remote corners of Zambia.
The purpose of the trip was twofold:
Merlin describes Zambia as vastly different from other places he’s visited. The cities were clean; the people were warm and welcoming. Within minutes of leaving the city, the landscape changed—small, scattered villages in the middle of nowhere. Merlin describes these remote regions of Zambia as “no man’s land.”
“You would be driving through the most remote region of Zambia, and suddenly you would come into a village of people. It was such a strange feeling.”
Hospitality runs deep in Zambian culture. Merlin says, “They brought stumps to sit on as honor seats while they sat on the ground. No matter what situation they’re in, they give you their best.”
Within the cities, Merlin also observed growing cultural tensions caused by the expanding presence of Chinese industries. But outside the bustle, in the simplicity of village life, there was a quiet yearning for God’s Word.
In these villages, there was a profound hunger for Scripture. In some cases, an entire village might have a total of one or two Bibles for hundreds of people.
“We depleted what we had every single day,” Merlin shared. Over the course of the trip, the team distributed one thousand Bemba-language Bibles and five hundred Tonga-language Bibles.
Villages ranged in size from a few dozen to over two hundred people. In one village of approximately 250 people, the team planned ahead and was able to provide a Bible for every adult and older youth.
The enthusiasm of the villagers was contagious.
“People came out of their homes; word spread from village to village — everyone wanted a Bible.”
In one of the most remote places they visited—a flat, open stretch of desert where the horizon seemed endless—the team witnessed something unforgettable: a glimpse of God’s power at work in both the seen and the unseen.
About sixty people gathered to listen as Merlin shared—men, women, and children. One man stood apart from the group, dressed in white. Unbeknownst to Merlin, he was the village’s medicine man—the one people turned to for healing, wisdom, and fortune.
Merlin spoke about witchcraft, drinking, and the way God can free us from our own evil desires. As he spoke, he sensed something unusual.
“There was just something different about this group,” he said. “It was as if God took over and gave me the words.”
When the message ended, the man in white was one of the first to approach. He walked forward, embraced Merlin, and accepted a Bible. Only later did Merlin learn who the man was.
“I believe God put a shade over my eyes so that I could share freely. It was only when he came over to give me a hug that I began to clue in about who this guy was.”
This powerful moment stayed with Merlin long after they left the village.
Many in that village had never owned a Bible, but they knew what the Bible was. Some had already heard the Gospel through the Heralds of Hope broadcast on One Love Radio.
In the grand scheme, we often don’t see the everyday impact of our ministry. The details of how the Bible teaching connects with someone’s heart, or the way they feel when they place their hands on a Bible for the first time. During this trip, the team got to see a glimpse into the joy and hope these villages experience when the light of the Gospel enters.
Heralds of Hope exists to use media and make disciples. Although we cannot see the ripples of our ministry, God can. He can use the media we create to reach hearts in the uttermost parts of the world. That is what we are called to.
It wasn’t only the large moments that left an impression—it was the quiet ones.
Amanda, Merlin’s daughter, was deeply moved by the children she met.
"She picked up a little girl and loved her,” Merlin said. “She saw past the dirt and poverty and poured out love."
There were also moments that revealed the deep longing of the people: the joy in their eyes when they received a Bible and the excitement about the visitors.
“I’m here because God loves me, and God loves you,” Merlin told them. He could tell the villagers had an understanding of God. “Even if they didn’t own a Bible, often they knew what the Bible was.”
The work in Zambia continues, but there are real, practical needs. One Love’s immediate needs include:
Above all, the people of Zambia need your prayers.
If you’re interested in supporting One Love Radio or our Zambia Partnership, contact us here or email Merlin Martin at [email protected]. And, above all, pray for the people of Zambia. God can work in the hearts of anyone, anywhere. No one is beyond His reach, not even the medicine man of a small village in Zambia, Africa.
