1945 - WELS Synod Convention agrees to send two pastors on an
exploratory journey to investigate possibilities in Africa.
1953 - Worship services begun in Lusaka.
1954 - The first worship services were held at Lumano village, the
future site of our Central African Medical Mission.
1957 - After four years of missionary presence, the LCCA has 18
preaching stations, one organized congregation and an average weekly attendance
at worship services of over 1,000 people.
1960 - Another chapel is begun. Plans for a Bible Institute were also
begun in Lusaka.
1962 - The name was changed from "Rhodesian Lutheran Church" to
"Lutheran Church of Central Africa."
1964 - The Mission opened its Bible Institute in Chelston, east of
Lusaka to begin training African men for the African ministry. The first synod
convention of the LCCA meets with 12 lay delegates, 10 religious workers, 4
missionaries, and 4 visitors.
1968 - A "Publications Building" was completed and dedicated.
1969 - A Lutheran Seminary was added to the worker training system.
1978 - The LCCA takes initiative toward self support by voting for a
5% reduction of subsidy to national pastors each year until the congregations
are paying 100% of their pastors' salary.
1987 - Pastor Salimo Hachibamba, one of the first students of our
Bible Institute and Seminary is called to head those same schools in Chelston
near Lusaka.
1988 - The LCCA elects its first African man to serve as chairman of
the synod an important step in the direction of self-administration.
1992 - In order to facilitate a more efficient system of
administration and smoother flow of activities, it was agreed to divide into 2
conferences: the LCCA-Malawi Conference and LCCA-Zambia Conference.
1996 - The LCCA-Zambia Conference proposed a 5% reduction of all
subsidy received from WELS each year, challenging itself not to cut programs and
projects by raising those needed funds from LCCA -Zambia congregations. The LCCA
decides to place the Bible Institute in Lilongwe, Malawi and the Seminary in
Lusaka, Zambia.
2000 - Pastor Sam Kawiliza was replaced by Pastor Bismark Kalyobwe as
Chairman of the LCCA.
2003 - Two missionary positions are cut due to budget constraints. The
Urban Ministry Coordinator position is created to reach out to a developing
upper and middle class of people in Zambia.
2004 - Pastor Mpofu, currently serving as the Seminary’s Dean of
Students, is elected to Chairman position.
