“I feel part of a global, interconnected body”
– first women enrolled at St John’s Anglican Seminary, Zambia

“I feel part of a global, interconnected body” – first women enrolled at St John’s Anglican Seminary, Zambia

St John’s Anglican Seminary in Kitwe, Zambia has started writing a new chapter for itself and the wider Anglican Church in Zabia, enrolling its first two female students: Paxina Banda and Audrey Kamukwamba. Here is an extract from a letter Paxina wrote to ABM supporters introducing herself:

My name is Paxina Banda. I’m 29 years old, a good age, I think, for the path I have chosen: old enough to have seen a bit of the world, but young enough to still serve with energy and dedication … Before I entered the Seminary, I had a very different life [working] as a secondary school teacher. I taught business studies and commerce, trying to instill a sense of pride and critical thinking in my students.

Paxina Banda is breaking new ground as one of St John’s Anglican Seminary’s first female students © Paxina Banda, used with permission.

… now I realize that God was preparing me a calling. The patience needed to teach a restless class, the love for truth and discipline of academic study – all of it laid the groundwork for the life I lead now. The classroom was my first Ministry and the Pulpit is my second … I have been in the Seminary for three months now. It is a world away from the classroom, a space of intense spiritual and intellectual discipline.

My absolute favourite subject is Homiletics because it teaches me how to preach, deliver a good sermon and relate to the congregation. The best things about studying at St John’s Anglican Seminary are two-fold. Firstly, the rich communal life. Living, praying and studying alongside brothers from different tribes and backgrounds is a constant lesson in unity and mutual respect. Secondly, in the Anglican balance of Scripture, tradition, and reason, we are encouraged not just to believe, but to think deeply and critically about our faith. It creates a robust, intellectual, and deeply spiritual formation. However, it is not without its challenges. The primary difficulty is the sheer weight of the academic load combined with the spiritual demands. Furthermore, being the first female that St John’s has admitted to study, it is sometimes lonely and sometimes I’m homesick, but I hold fast to the purpose.

Paxina is joined by the second female student enrolled at St John’s Audrey Kamukwamba. They will graduate after 4 years of study and then be ordained.

Audrey Kamukwamba is joining Paxina in breaking new ground as the first two female students at St John’s Seminary’s © St John’s Anglican Seminary, used with permission.

[Once ordained] I know that I will be sent where I’m most needed, [in] theDiocese of Northern Zambia. I pray it is a place where my teaching background can be useful, perhaps a rural mission congregation with a need for mentorship. What excites me most about parish ministry is direct, tangible contact with the people. The Seminary gives us theory, the parish is where we apply the Gospel to reality, offering pastoral care to the grieving, preparing couples for marriage, celebrating the sacraments, and crucially helping people connect their Monday-to-Friday lives with their Sunday faith. I want to build communities that are centres of both spiritual nourishment and practical support.

Paxina, Audrey and their fellow students will play a vital role in the Anglican Church in Zambia as it reaches far beyond the walls of the church to deliver holistic development:

The future clergy of the Anglican Church in Zambia. These students are studying at St John’s Anglican Seminary in Kitwe, Zambia. © St John’s Anglican Seminary, used with permission.

We run numerous schools, providing quality education, especially in underserved rural areas. We manage hospitals and clinics, often being the only source of medical care for many communities. We are a strong voice for justice, integrity, and good governance, speaking out on behalf of the poor and marginalized. In short, we are committed to both the spiritual salvation and the earthy well-being of people in Zambia. It is truly inspiring to be part of the Anglican province, the Church of the Province of Central Africa that is made up of many countries: Zambia, Botswana, Zimbabwe and Malawi. It feels like being part of a large, vibrant family that crosses borders. What this means to me is a powerful sense of shared mission and resilience. We share common challenges, like poverty and disease, but also common strength, like deep faith and community spirit. It reminds me that my ministry is not just local, but part of Christ’s global body.

I would like to tell the Australian Anglicans about the vibrancy of our worship and the sense of community. Our services are often filled with singing, dancing, and heartfelt testimony. It’s an expressive faith. When we gather, it’s not just an hour on Sunday, it’s an event. Furthermore, our Church is central to the whole community. When an Anglican Church is planted, it’s quickly followed by a school, a clinic, or a bore hole. We don’t separate the spiritual work from the practical work of development; it’s all holistic ministry. I’d also want them to know about our reliance on prayer. We have prayer meetings every day, sometimes before dawn. In Zambia, life can be difficult – access to resources is a daily challenge – so our faith isn’t an abstract theory, it’s a daily lifeline.

I would like to convey my deep sense of gratitude for the partnership between ABM and St John’s Seminary. We benefit so much from the resources, the training, and the prayer support we receive from our brothers and sisters across the Anglican Communion, including Australia. I feel part of a global, interconnected body.

My final message is a plea: please continue to pray for our growth, for our resources, and for the wisdom of our leaders as we work to share the Gospel in this part of Africa. And know that we are praying for you, too.

Thank you for reading my story.