The Chikonde Family
Revive Wesleyan Welcomes Missionaries to Our Staff & Church Family
Justin and Mwiza Chikonde join Revive Wesleyan staff for a 2.5 year term
Revive Wesleyan has been given an exciting opportunity to Participate with how the Holy Spirit is moving. We will be welcoming two new people to our team from our Heart Check partner, Poetice, in Zambia. We have long participated in sending people, but this time we get to host!
Justin and Mwiza Chikonde are joining us for an initial 2.5 year term. They currently serve on Poetice’s leadership team. Over the last year, they felt a call to be missionaries to the United States. When Justin and Mwiza visited the USA in the fall of 2023, this tug on their hearts was clarified. They sensed a deep need for the Gospel in Western New York and approached Revive as their friends and partners about making the transition from Zambia to the USA.
The skillsets that they possess aligned with several of our needs as well. So, we discussed and prayed about the opportunity, and we are very excited to welcome them to our team! They are both bright, vibrant, and dynamic leaders with a passion for Jesus and sharing the Gospel. They bring a fresh perspective and energy with them that our whole church family and community will benefit from.
They arrived at the end of September 2024. As missionaries, they will be raising the funds needed to support their stay here.
About Justin & Mwiza
Justin has a business degree and was working as a regional manager in insurance in Zambia while volunteering with Poetice. Ultimately, the Lord called him to leave the business world and pursue full-time ministry. Since then, Justin has been the Missions Coordinator for Poetice. Mwiza has a finance degree and a passion for worship. She is on staff at Poetice as the Director of Prayer & Worship Leader and does administrative work as well. They have three children – Moriah (11), Jay Jay (5), and Chelyn (1).
Working with Revive
Revive will be blessed by the years of ministry experience and knowledge Justin and Mwiza bring to our team. Justin will join our Outreach team, which helps to fulfill Christ's mission to seek and save the lost through partnerships locally and around the world. Bjorn Webb, our Outreach Pastor, says, “I have been friends with Justin for two years and have seen his infectious love for the Lord pair with his evangelistic and discipleship giftings. Justin will serve with Revive in our various outreach efforts and help to train and equip those the Lord sends locally or globally.”
Mwiza will join our Worship team, so you’ll see her leading the congregation in worship on Sundays at McKinley. She will also work with our finance team. “After talking to Mwiza and hearing her story and how she desires to see a genuine move of the Holy Spirit, we know she will be a great addition to our team,” said Josh Schoellkopf, Executive Director of Worship and Creative Arts.
Our Lead Pastor, Paul Gartley, is also excited to have them aboard: “Justin and Mwiza will enrich our staff and church family with their presence and leadership. Combining worship and ministry as typically done in Africa with what we typically do here will be energizing. I can’t wait to see how the Lord works through them and our partnership.”
Revive has valued the process of training, equipping, and sending people into the world to be God’s messengers for years. This is an opportunity to help train and equip a family that is being sent while also learning from them.
Please be praying for the Chikondes as they embark on this adventure that God has called them to!
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