Missionaries

Jason and Cintia Kumalo

Jason and Cintia Kumalo have served as house parents for Eric’s House, an in-home facility for orphaned or abandoned children and young adults, since 2013.

Jason and Cintia met while in high school in Victoria, British Columbia. Jason later attended Abilene Christian University and studied electronic media with a minor in youth and family counseling. Cintia worked as a resident care aid/medication care manager and later completed training in make-up artistry. Jason worked for an Abilene TV station before moving to Hollywood and becoming a videographer and assistant director in the film industry. Cintia worked as a make-up artist for weddings, print work, and film. After the birth of their first daughter Marisa in 2012, Jason and Cintia decided they wanted a different lifestyle and moved to Zambia to serve at Eric’s House. They welcomed another daughter, Arya, in 2015.

Jason and Cintia say this about their life at Eric’s House:

"As house parents we deal with the day-to-day lives of these young adults just as any family would. We give them education and a safe environment to live in. We share all aspects of their lives from school, to heartaches over broken relationships, to triumphs in life goal accomplishments, to dating issues, to answering questions about faith and the purpose of our lives, to connecting with them and developing a relationship that will help us all grow as we daily strive to live for the kingdom. We laugh, we cry, and we live as a family."

Jason and Cintia have initiated several projects to increase the sustainability of the orphan care ministry at Namwianga. There are garden plots to provide vegetables, and poultry and livestock production for meat and eggs. The latest addition is a workshop where kids can learn light metalwork and woodwork for basic life skills that they can carry with them for a lifetime.

Jason and Cintia do not have a sponsoring congregation. They love the work they are doing, but in order to continue and they need a committed church community to support them financially.

Roy and Kathi Merritt

Roy and Kathi Merritt are long-time missionaries at Namwianga. Roy is the son of early missionaries Dow and Helen Merritt and was born at Namwianga in 1944. He has lived in Zambia all of his life except for his college years at Harding University where he obtained his bachelor’s and master’s degrees.

Roy began teaching math and Bible at Namwianga Christian Secondary School in 1968. Later he moved into administration and then into supervising the orphan care ministry at Namwianga and coordinating outreach efforts. Currently Roy considers himself Grandpa and Fundraiser for orphans at The Haven, Namwianga’s in-home orphan care ministry. Roy is also actively involved in teaching Bible classes on the Namwianga campus and in teaching basic English and math at the Kalomo Prison. He is an elder at the Namwianga congregation and preaches there often.

Kathi is a Nebraska native and has lived at Namwianga since 1977. She is credited with beginning Namwianga’s orphan care ministry and now serves as Haven manager. Her days are filled with banking and grocery shopping for The Haven, teaching high school Bible classes, making Tonga and English songbooks, and serving as Grandmother and Mom.

Roy and Kathi have been married since 1993 and have three adult sons: Jason Kumalo, Andrew Kumalo, and Sterling Merritt, plus several children they raised while serving as house parents. They also have 13 grandchildren and countless other Zambians who call them Mum and Papa.

The University City Church of Christ in Gainesville, Florida, and the College Church of Christ in Searcy, Arkansas, provide support for the Merritts and their ministry.

Shepherd and Ruhtt Mbumwae

Shepherd and Ruhtt Mbumwae have been missionaries at Namwianga since 1995. Shepherd serves as the administrator for Namwianga Zonal Health Center, and Ruhtt works with student sponsorship and community development programs for helping orphans, widows, and vulnerable children. Both Shepherd and Ruhtt are involved in disciple making, planting churches, and developing church leaders.

Shepherd and Ruhtt are graduates of Abilene Christian University. Shepherd has a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science and a Master of Science degree in Organization and Human Resource Development. Ruhtt received a Bachelor of Arts in health sciences and community development. Shepherd previously served as a Bible and computer science teacher at both Namwianga Christian Secondary School and at George Benson Christian College. Ruhtt helped to start and develop the library at George Benson Christian College and also coached volleyball and athletics at GBCC. They continue to work with Namwianga teenagers and youth in soccer and athletics.

The Mbumwaes have three children Miguel, Melina, and Manuel.

Sheri Sears

Sheri Sears has served as an English teacher at Namwianga since 1979. She began her career at Namwianga Christian Secondary School and later became a lecturer and head of the English department at George Benson Christian College. She recently retired from classroom teaching, but still remains active teaching and tutoring children at Eric’s House and teaching college ladies’ Bible classes on Wednesday evenings.

Sheri is from Des Moines, Iowa and received her bachelor’s degree in English from the University of Iowa. She later studied at Abilene Christian University for her master’s degree in education.

Sheri has two adopted Zambian daughters. Lois Mwananshiku and Sarah Syalunga. She also has one grandson, Kyle Mapalo.