Ministry Overview

Thank you for taking a few moments to read this and get to know our family and ministry. My name is Damon Matacchiera, and I have had the privilege of serving the Lord in Zambia since 2000, when I first came to serve along- side my father. In 2006, my wife Lisa and I began serving here together, and over the years Zambia has become home to our family. God has given us a deep love for the people here, and that long-term investment has shaped the way we look at ministry, missions, and the work of the local church. As a second-generation missionary, the Great Commission was part of my life long before God brought me to Zambia. Over the years, the Lord has used both that heritage and more than 25 years of ministry here to shape my burden for gospel ministry, biblical discipleship, and strong local churches.

As we prepare to come back on furlough, my desire is not simply to give an update from Zambia, but to encourage God’s people back home that the Great Commission is still the calling of the local church and that every believer has a part in it. One of the burdens I carry is to help people see that missions is not something distant or reserved for a few, but something that every church can be part of.

The work God has given us here in Chipata includes preaching, teaching, discipleship, evangelism, leadership training, family ministry, youth ministry, and helping strengthen the overall life of the church. Over the years, my burden has grown not merely for activity, but for depth. I want to see people truly grounded in the Word of God. I want to see believers grow in spiritual maturity. I want to see men trained to lead faithfully. And I want to see local churches strengthened in a way that produces lasting fruit. 

One of the important developments in our ministry has been the formation of Hope Zambia International. In many ways, Hope Zambia reflects the combined efforts of our missionary team as we labor together here in Chipata with shared goals, shared values, and a common burden to further the Great Commission. Rather than approaching the work as isolated individuals, we have sought to build a team that can labor alongside one another in unity, strengthen one another, and move forward with greater purpose. I’m thankful for the way the Lord has brought that together, and I believe it has helped give greater clarity and stability to the work here. 

Through all of this, one of my strongest convictions is that missions should not create unhealthy dependency or revolve around temporary excitement. Our desire is to invest in the kind of ministry that helps build faithful believers, strong churches, and lasting gospel influence. We want to do more than stay busy. We want to be part of work that will stand the test of time and continue bearing fruit for years to come. 

As we travel on furlough, we would count it a privilege to visit churches, reconnect with faithful supporters, and meet pastors who have a heart for the Great Commission. If the Lord allows our paths to cross, I would simply want to be a help and an encouragement to your church. Whether through a presentation, a testimony, a Sunday school hour, or time spent in fellowship, my desire would be to strengthen your people’s burden for missions and give them a Christ- centered view of what God is doing here in Zambia. 

Missions is not just about what we want to do or what we can accomplish from the American church outward. It is also about building healthy partnerships with churches and believers in other countries, cultures, ethnic groups, and languages. God is raising up His people all over the world, and they should have a seat at the table as we think through world evangelism together. If we are going to reach the world with the gospel of Jesus Christ, we need to work together with humility, wisdom, and a shared commitment to the Great Commission. 

Thank you again for taking the time to read this. We are deeply grateful for the churches and individuals who pray, give, and stand behind missionaries around the world. It is a blessing we do not take lightly. If you would like to learn more about who we are, what we believe, and the work the Lord is allowing us to do here in Zambia, I would encourage you to visit our website at hopezambia.com. That is also where we post our newsletters and ministry updates. Please pray for us as we continue serving here and as we prepare for this upcoming furlough season.