Kabwe, Silvester
This person is a candidate for the GMF INT’L Track and is expected to be confirmed by October 31, 2024.
Silvester Kabwe is an international Global Mission Fellow with the United Methodist General Board of Global Ministries, engaged in a two-year term of service.
The Global Mission Fellows program takes young adults ages 20-30 out of their home environments and places them in new contexts for mission experience and service. The program has a strong emphasis on faith and justice. Global Mission Fellows become active parts of their new local communities. They connect the church in mission across cultural and geographical boundaries. They grow in personal and social holiness and become strong young leaders working to build just communities in a peaceful world.
Silvester is a member of St. Mark’s United Methodist Church, Matero, related to the Zambia Annual Conference. He earned a certificate for “train the trainer” at Work 4 A Living, South Africa, and a Diploma at Chalimbana University in association with Phoenix Research Institute, Zambia. He focused on public administration.
Silvester’s mother is a Christian, and his father was a nonbeliever. “It was confusing [to know] what to follow,” he recalled, “because my dad was telling me that going to church is a waste of time and that whether you go to church or not, things will be the same.
“I was so lucky to have Mum by my side. She was always there to tell me about Jesus Christ. Every evening she was having Bible study with us as a family. Before we would sleep, we prayed together.”
By the time Silvester was a high school junior, he was active at both local and district levels of the church. “Most of the time,” he said, “I was worshipping in different churches, which enabled me to learn more about church, and it really helped me to learn more about the Bible.
“Since I was a child, I have loved helping people. I love serving, and whenever I serve, it gives me peace of mind and happiness.
When I was youth president, my committee and I started to help our fellow youth who gave up on their [education] because of finances, peer pressure and words spoken to them by their parents and teachers.
“We organized ourselves and shared the vision with youth from different churches in our district. We started teaching them the importance of education. People started to help by contributing the little they could afford, and we were able to begin supporting our friends in need.”
They expanded their efforts by visiting people in hospitals, retirement homes and prisons. “We shared meals with them and preached to them, according to the greatest commission that Jesus gave us,” Silvester explained. “We have to do God’s will, and in doing so, I think it opened my eyes to see things in a different aspect .”
He is excited about becoming a Global Mission Fellow and using his leadership and tailoring talents in social justice projects.
“I feel that when I’m given the chance,” Silvester said, “I will have the opportunity of learning new things and having new experiences, which will help me grow in every area of my life. My worldview will definitely change, and this will enable me to deepen my Christian life and share what I know.”