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Meet John and Jane Maleya—leaders of the church in Zambia
Vida Li Sik • Sep 20, 2021
"We're willing to go anywhere and do anything for Christ"
John and Jane Maleya lead the church in Lusaka, Zambia. They were baptised in 1991—three days apart—and didn’t know it. John became a disciple on 7th of July and Jane on the 10th, but they only discovered this on their first date five years later.
How did you become followers of Jesus?
John:
I came to know about the church through my best friend in the world and one I could say was my “partner in crime” considering the worldly life we both lived. One Saturday afternoon we chatted about which church we’d like to visit because my mum had watched my life and seen how dangerously I was living. She’d spoken to me about finding a church I could commit to. So this friend of mine talked about his cousin invited him to—the Nairobi Christian Church. That following Sunday, we went to check it out, and the service, the sermon, the joy and the enthusiasm of the young people I met convicted me.
I had my own worldly appointments to attend to that afternoon, but the impact of the service was great because when I was invited to a Bible talk that following Tuesday, I readily accepted, and started studying the Bible. Five days later, I was baptised into Christ. My heart was ready even though I didn’t know it, and God used someone who wasn’t even a disciple to bring me to church, and I’m grateful to God. In July, I celebrated 30 years in the kingdom of God. During this time, God showered his grace upon me incredibly, moulding me into the person I am today.
Jane:
I was invited to church a month earlier on two different occasions by two different sisters, at the same spot on the street near where I worked. My friends tried to dissuade me from going, spreading rumours that the church was a cult. But I visited to see it for myself. After that first visit, I started studying the Bible, and was baptised a month later.
How did your love story come about?
John:
We had been in the church for five years and had never gone on a date. One Saturday afternoon, we met on a group date, and afterwards we shared a bus ride to town. As we spoke, we realised we’d never spent time together, even though we’d both been around for five years. So we set up a date, which happened to be on her birthday, and realised we had so much in common. That was the beginning of our friendship that grew into a dating relationship four years later, and we got married three years after that in May 2003.
Jane:
We’ve been married for about eighteen-and-a-half years, and have three children and two grandchildren. Sheila is our eldest. She’s 30, married, and has two children, (nine-year-old Michelle and Leo who is nine months old). Our son Jayson will be 17 in two months’ time and our daughter Jewel is 15.
How long have you been in the ministry?
John: I’ve been in the ministry 29 years, and Jane for 22 years. We’ve led different ministries in Nairobi, and by God’s grace also led ministries in different cities in Kenya, and discipled other churches under the East- African family of churches.
As a couple, this is our guiding scripture and principle:1 Corinthians 9:22b–23 “…. I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some. I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.”
We are willing to go anywhere and do anything for Christ.
Which person in the Bible do you relate to the most and why?
John:
For me, it’s Timothy, because his background and character reminds me so much of myself. His grandmother’s faith and love for God as Paul writes, reminds me of my own grandmother’s faith and love for God. She was a prayer warrior and such a genuinely loving and generous old lady. I see the same in my mom who got baptised as a disciple four years after me. She’s also a prayer warrior and has deep faith in God. Their influence formed a powerful foundation for my Christianity. Timothy’s timidity and fear in his early ministry times and Paul’s mentoring reminds me of my weaknesses, and how it has taken great brothers to help me get to where I am now.
Jane:
For me, it’s Priscilla (Acquila’s wife). I love her heart to help many know Christ and her hard work in the missions helping Paul and moving from one city to the other spreading the gospel. I’ve also moved around for the sake of the gospel, and I’d love to have the same impact Priscilla had.
What does your family like to do for fun?
We love traveling. Road trips are our favourite pasttime. We also do love our family times together, especially game nights where our competitive nature’s clash.
How does it feel to also have your son as your spiritual brother?
Our son’s baptism was a highlight in our family, and we thank God so much. Relating with him as our brother in Christ is awesome but also weird because of the father/mother and son relationship. However, it means so much to see your child make this all-important decision.
What is the church in Zambia’s biggest strength?
Love for one another. During the pandemic we’ve seen so much empathy and compassion displayed by disciples towards the infected and affected. We still need to grow more in love for the lost so we can win Zambia for Christ.
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