Departments

Education

One of the main focus of Riverside is its educational aspect. The School of Evangelism focuses on equipping laity to serve effectively in ministry and outreach. The four-month program combines class work, supervised practical work in local churches, and participation in an evangelistic series. Graduates from this program are doing evangelism in connection with established churches, serving as pioneers in unentered areas, and working as church pastors under the guidance of the different field offices.

The Christian Woman Seminar places its emphasis on the training of women to have a positive impact on the church and the society around them. Those who attend this program receive a training in tailoring, natural remedies, healthful cooking, and mother-child health care.

The Scientific Gardening Seminar divides the students' time between the classroom and the actual work of growing a variety of vegetables. By becoming acquainted with the diversity of plants and their deficiencies and diseases, students strengthen their ability to provide for their families in Zambia's rural setting.

The Lifestyle Educator Course is designed to give the students practical skills in treating a  varieaty of diseases. The course includes instruction in massage, hydrotherapy and natural remedies. Then, diseases, their causes and cures are taught as well as anatomy and physiology. In addition to the theoretical class work students spend two weeks in rural and urban settings putting their skills into practice.

Riverside operates three Bible schools, two in rural areas and one at Riverside. Luyando and Lusyomo, Riverside satellites, work to reach people in remote and primitive villages. Their staff is trained at Riverside and are willing to dedicate their lives to the work of the Lord.

Besides these courses aimed at adult students, Riverside operates two elementary schools, one on campus and another in a neighbouring village.

 

Farm Department

For many years the banana fields provided a steady and dependable income. A virus disease forced Riverside to destroy all the bananas in 2005. Now, new virus-free plants from tissue culture have been imported from South Africa and are being planted with the goal of replacing the lost acreage. Vegetables are grown for local consumption and sale to resellers.

The local community benefits from Riverside in several ways. One main benefit is through work that is available to the people of the community. Our seasonal work on the farm gives a much-needed economic boost to the area. Riverside employs several hundred workers.

 

Mill

A mill grinds wheat and maize into flour, the latter a major staple in Zambia. Some of the maize is grown at Riverside while the rest is bought at the end of the growing season, when prices are low. By stocking and then grinding it, value is added and this income helps support the institution.

 

World Food Program

Riverside is also deeply involved in the distribution of aid maize during times of hunger. This is done in cooperation with the UN World Food Programme. In 1999, Riverside distributed approximately 23,000 50kg bags of maize to the elderly, the sick, and to those who could work, in exchange for community development work. In 2002-2003 we did similar work, this time with a case load of 145,000 people a month. This meant a distribution of approximately 8,000 tons of maize every month. For the season 2005-2006 we are involved in another relief program, catering to 5540 households (approximately 33,240 beneficiaries).

 

Health Outreach

Riverside operates a dispensary, two mobile bush clinics and will soon open a lifestyle center. The dispensary works with two full-time and one part-time nurse and serves a population of about 10.000 people. The mobile clinics go to rural areas to help with medical needs. Even before opening the center, Riverside has had people come to the farm for “mini-health” retreats. There is an increase in lifestyle related diseases in Zambia. Diabetes, hypertension and obesity are becoming more frequent in the cities. HIV-AIDS continues to grow as a threat to the health of many Zambians. The new lifestyle center has the potential to meet the needs of those afflicted with these and other illnesses. While the clinics attract the general population, the lifestyle center targets professionals from the city.