NEW LIFE CENTER ZAMBIA - Key Persons


Emily Padilla

Job Titles:
  • Ministries Coordinator & Photographer
Emily Padilla joined the New Life Center team in 2013. She served as the Science teacher for the Tutoring/Extra Lessons until August of 2017. Since then she has been working in the office as the Ministries Coordinator, and still helps out anywhere else needed. She often is one of the designated photographers for ministry events and helps keep the social media communication updated. She also has been able to use her art and Zambian experiences to help illustrate a children's book series about a Zambian boy and his adventures. Emily was born to missionaries in the DR Congo but grew up in Indiana in the United States. She spent a year teaching at an international school in DR Congo right after college, and it was during this year that she met Delbert and Sandy Groves and was impressed with the work at New Life Center. Years later God ended up calling her there! She feels honored to be a small part of what God is doing in Zambia through NewLife Center.

Josephine Mbilishi

Job Titles:
  • Director
  • NLC Director
Josephine has been the Director of the New Life Center since October 2015. She joined NLC in 2009 as the Office Manager. She is a single mother with two sons and one granddaughter. She is a Specialist Teacher by profession and loves working with children who have special needs. She is also involved in social work and is an ordained Deaconess in the United Methodist Church. She has proven to be a jack of all trades and a wonderful fit as our NLC Director. She is available for any duty that is allocated to her. She oversees the NLC, manages conference center bookings, interacts directly with the project staff for their daily requisitions, and is also on hand to interpret and work with children for our kid camps. Sometimes she is also found in the kitchen cooking for the other staff. Is it because she enjoys cooking or likes eating? She gives a motherly touch to the NLC. She provides a friendly atmosphere both for staff and visitors with her positive public relations work. God help this wonderful woman as she continues to lead NLC in the future for many years to come!

Rev. Delbert Groves

Job Titles:
  • Resident Missionary

Rev. Loveness Mutwale

Job Titles:
  • Office Manager
Loveness joined the New Life Center team in June of 2019. She is a pastor at Chibuluma United Methodist Church. She has three grown children. She enjoys reading and tailoring in her spare time. Loveness brings a servant's heart, willingness to learn, attention to detail, and kind spirit to her work in the office as she handles many of the day-to-day financial transactions and other office work. She is thankful for NLC and the stability the job has given her in her life.

Sandy Groves

Job Titles:
  • Resident Missionary