Mpulungu UCZ builds

By Derrick Sinjela in Mpulungu, Northern Province

AFTER spending K200 million on a Church building project the United Church of Zambia (UCZ) Mpulungu Central Congregation in the Northern Province is scouting for K20 million meant to complete its worship edifice.

Mpulungu Central Congregation Church Building Project Committee chairman, Wilfred Kalimosi said in an interview with the National Mirror in Mpulungu that an estimated K20 million was required for furnishings to their church building built with contributions from members.

Mr Kalimosi said already window panes had been bought for the task including 32 benches which were purchased at a total cost of K4.8 million.

“The project we are dealing with is to make sure that we finish our church building and is estimated at K20 million. We have spent K4.8 million on the purchase of 32 benches at a cost of K150, 000 each and are expected to complete fitting window panes as soon as funds are made available,” Kalimosi said.

Kalimosi, who spoke in the presence of past project chairperson, Stanley Simfukwe and minister-in-charge, Reverend Eve Mulenga was confident that members would continue to support the church construction exercise.

Giving a historical perspective of the project, Mr Simfukwe said that the initiative began in 1989 with a resolve towards using stones in the construction and steel as roofing material.

Mr Simfukwe said that the 14-year lull in completing the project arose as a result of the collapse of the building which had then reached window level after which members had shown a reluctance to participate.

Simfukwe also explained that members slowly regained confidence and participated in seeing the project to its current level with the help of Sopelac management who contributed to raising the initial 926 blocks used.

On future plans, Simfukwe said a self-contained chalet and a conference centre were expected to be constructed soon after the main church project was completed.

Rev Mulenga who was assigned duties on December 30th 2003 observed that membership figures had increased since her being posted straight from Kitwe Theoloigical College.

She pointed out that from the registered membership figure of 440 at her posting numbers had risen by 55 to 495 within the Women’s Christian Fellowship (WCF), Men’s Christian Fellowship (MCF) and youth groups among them the Boys Brigade, Girls Brigade and two choral groups Mount Sinai and the Disciples.

Rev Mulenga cited other groups as the Young Christian Fellowship, prayer groups, who are all involved in prayer groups, with the WCF meeting every Thursday and Tuesday afternoon.

Apart from group meetings the WCF is involved in ministering to the sick through hospital visitation, offering fellowship to bereaved families and have since adopted a ward at Mpulungu Central Hospital.

The UCZ minister-in-charge said that an HIV/AIDS activity had been established at Consistory level aimed at empowering communities with information on sexuality issues.

Rev Mulenga said the pulpit reserved a Sunday Service on HIV/AIDS each quarter during which information on issues surrounding the subject was shared amongst the 495 members.

Rev Mulenga paid tribute to the Health Communications Partnership (HCP) for empowering her and other ecumenical leaders with information on HIV/AIDS through a two-week psychosocial educational engagement.

The Reverend observed that the educational exercise by HCP was dispensed in partnership with the Academic for Educational Development (AED), the HIV/AIDS Alliance, Save the Children, the John Hopkins Bloomberg Centre for Communication Programme and the United States Agency for International Aid (USAID).

Rev Mulenga further explained that the psychosocial counsellor’s workshop drew attendance from the UCZ, the Assemblies of God, Baptist Church, and New Life Church MInistries.

Others include the Islamic Council of Zambia (ICZ), the African Methodist Episcopal Church (AMEC), the Seventh Day Adventist Church (SDA), the New Apostolic Church and the Catholic Church.

Life and Living New arrivals with a hyena

With Jay Shamboko

RECENTLY I was in Chief Chamuka’s area via Mphango Hills in Chongwe district, where I had gone to conduct a revival meeting for one week at Matuba Fyafulu streams.

The programme was disturbed due to the general meeting at a village of Muntemba.

The villagers were angry as a result of the new man who had come to settle in the village from somewhere in the Southern Province. The aged man was suspected of practicing witchcraft and was using his juju hyena to catch and devour the local people’s animals especially goats to feed itself.

Subjects from the surrounding villages complained bitterly to the headman for allowing such a situation to continue without any serious action being taken against the culprit. The people demanded for new laws and advocated for new conditions in a bid to protect their livestock that they believed was being eaten by the suspected wizard.

A head deacon of Matuba Fyuulu also confirmed the allegations, saying that he had already lost about 10 goats as a result of this new mysterious hyena.

Deacon Habunga complained that the hyena came several times and snatched at least one goat each time it came and that it was also heard in the dark at night roaring after consuming its prey. And the Chairperson of the village productivity committee, Mr Mainza also confirmed the allegations as being true and real.

He explained that at one time a certain farmer wanted to kill the hyena as it approached the goats kraal. He took his shotgun and aimed at the beast, when suddenly he saw it shake its body and heard a man’s voice spoke out saying, “Osayetsa” meaning that do not try. As he was puzzled, he saw a figure of a shadowy person in front of the barrel, and later disappeared in the night.

People have suspected the new man to be the one behind the magic because this was happening for the first time in the village.

The villagers suggested that the new law should deal with letters of transfers from the places of their origins which would help in knowing the biographies of the new arrivals.

Those who would fail to come with recommended letters from their chiefs would not be accepted into the new area.

The new arrival, an aged man, was also present at the meeting but was speechless – Headman Muntemba was also present but made no comment either.

People are still living in fear as a result of this development. For the period of one week, I was camping in a temporally enclosure thatched with grass but I heard no roaring of a hyena.

I spent my nights in prayer with two youths, while the others only attended the Bible study lessons and Bible studies during the day.

When it was dark, they went back to their homes.

What every child of God should know is that witchcraft is a product of Satan and is unconditionally condemned by God.

“For God has not given us the spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” (2Timothy 1:7).

Satan and his angels are at war with God. Their plan is to implant the spirit of fear into men’s hearts so that many men will live in bondage to heathen customs and never know the freedom enjoyed by a true child of God.

“What human nature does is quite plain. It shows itself in immoral, filthy and indecent actions, in worship of idols and witchcraft, people become enemies and they fight, they become jealousy, angry and ambitious…those who do such things will not possess the kingdom of God.” (Galatians 5:19-21)

Stella Maris Catholic Church educates Mpulungu

By Derrick Sinjela in Mpulungu, Northern Province,

STELLA Maris Catholic Church located in Senior Chief Tafuna’s area in the Northern Province with a membership estimated at 2,700 is offering education services to 500 children of Mpulungu District.

The development was communicated to the National Mirror by parish priest, Father Nicholas Kaliminwa who indicated that the resolve to educate children emanated from an ecumenical desire to supplement government efforts.

Father Kaliminwa explained that since assuming responsibilities as parish priest on June 6th 2004 after a stint at Kasama’s Malole parish the Catholic faithful at Stella Maris had been providing education services to children in Mpulungu.

The educational initiative that is administered by three trained teachers and one laity involves baby, middle, reception and grades one to four classes offered to children between two to 10-year-olds.

“I came here on June 6th 2004 from Malole Parish in Kasama and the 2,700 members have been providing educational services to children.

“Our desire is that of supplementing government effort in the education sector,” Fr Kaliminwa explained.

Fr Kaliminwa confirmed with Stella Maris Parents Teachers Association (PTA) chairman, David Milambo that of the K150 million required to put up one-five-classroom block K15 million had been raised.

“We have raised K15 million of the K150 million required to extend our educational services. This is being constructed elsewhere and already a foundation has been laid,” Fr Kaliminwa said.

Stella Maris Church was built in 1981 with the then Bishop of Mbala Diocese, Adolf Fasternberg opening it a year later in 1982 after which Father Guido as a Parish priest in Chinsali took over as first spiritual head of the church.

Fr Kaliminwa pointed out that though the Catholic Church was a minority after the United Church of Zambia (UCZ), the Africa Methodist Episcopal Church (AMEC) and various Pentecostal denomination affiliation its membership was growing with latest figures placed them at 7,000 in Mpulungu district.

Areas in which most Pastors lack integrity (Part 1)

”Who can discern his errors? Forgive my hidden faults. Keep your servant also from wilful sins; may they not rule over me. Then will Ibe blameless, innocent of great transgression. May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer” (Psalm 19:12-14).

TWO weeks ago I began a series of sermons that is very difficult because it is meant for people like me - men of the cloth. It is a series of sermons on the subject of integrity. Very few people will want to deal with such a subject because of skeletons in our wardrobes. But someone has to talk about it. In the last two weeks wehave seen what integrity is and why it is so important for those of us who are pastors to be men of integrity. This week (and the week tocome) I want to deal with some areas in which we pastors lack integrity.

As I deal with this area I only ask one thing; thatpastors reading this column should, like the psalmist quoted above,pray to God saying, “Search me, O God, and know my heart today; so that the words of my mouth and meditations of my heart may be pleasing in your sight, my Rock and my Redeemer.” May God’ssearchlight help us to see ourselves and make serious amends!

OUR BEING SECRETIVE

The first area I want to deal with in which we fail to exhibit integrity in ministry as pastors is in our failure to be transparent. Most of us are very secretive and in this secretiveness we undermine the true nature of fellowship. The Bible says, “If we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another,and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin” (1 John1:7).

Christian fellowship is about walking in the light. As we share our lives with others we experience Christian fellowship with them,even as they also share their lives with us. Sadly very few pastors are willing to share their lives with others. They will not share,for instance, any difficulties they are going through. They will not even share it with fellow pastors with whom they are prayer partners.They pretend that all is well until... until news leaks that the pastor’s wife has run away from him after years of difficulties. Verysad!Another area in which this hypocrisy manifests itself is in handling pastoral moves. A pastor will be applying all over the place for a new job and his fellow pastors and Church leaders have no clue about it. Pastors relate to their holy calling the way in which the world out there handles its movement from one job to another.

We must be open about the way we sense the Lord leading us so that others can pray together with us. Finally, in this are of hypocrisy, it is how we spend our time when those who pay our salaries are at work. If you throw a stone in Cairo Road today, you will either hit a street kid or a pastor! My question is, what are all those pastors doing in thecity centre while their church members are working? Pastors waste time in activities that are not related to their work while the Church is paying them at the end of the month as if they were involved in church work. That is a lack of integrity, brethren!

AREA OF PASSIONS

Another area in which pastors are failing to exhibit integrity is inthe area of their passions. The Bible says, “Put to death, therefore,whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity,lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. Because of these,the wrath of God is coming” (Colossians 3:5-6). Many pastors have fallen into sexual sin because of entertaining secret immoral relationships with members of the opposite sex. They have alsodeveloped a lust for money to the point where they are helping themselves to church money secretly. Surely this is wrong. It is not living a life of integrity!

I will serve well - Rev Mulenga

By Derrick Sinjela

NEWLY inducted United Church of Zambia (UCZ) Trinity Church minister in charge, Agnes Mulenga is confident of serving the church well in appreciation of the commitment towards achieving gender balance displayed by the Synod.

Reverend Mulenga’s desire to perform according to expectations was made on June 26 soon after Lusaka Presbytery bishop, Lackson Chibuye inducted her as the first female minister in charge at Trinity Church congregation since establishment over 75 years ago.

Rev Mulenga explained that the performance of female ministers cheered the Church hierarchy who had encouraged her colleagues to enroll for theological studies at Kitwe Theological College (KTC).

“I promise to serve better in appreciation of the UCZ’s Synod hierarchy who are encouraging more females to enroll as theological students,” Rev Mulenga said.

The induction service was witnessed by Council of Churches in Zambia (CCZ) General Secretary, Reverend Japhet Ndhlovu, his wife, Caroline Oweg-Ndhlovu, UCZ General Secretary, Professor Teddy Kalongo and Bible Society of Zambia (BSZ) Executive Director, Reverend Mpundu Mutala.

CCZ prepares to toast 60th anniversary

By Precious Mwewa

AS the Council of Churches in Zambia (CCZ) prepares to celebrate its 60th anniversary this September, special focus is being placed on the achievements and failures of the council.

Recognizing that the 21 century has brought a lot of challenges to the Church in Zambia and the world over, CCZ General Secretary, Reverend Japhet Ndhlovu has expressed worry at the lack of unity among churches in Zambia noting that the council has seen more divisions in the Church during its 60 years of existence.

Speaking in an interview in Lusaka recently, Rev Ndhlovu explained that one of the greatest challenges for the council has been to keep the Church in Zambia united.

“We can only celebrate one unity which is the United Church of Zambia (UCZ). Our mission having been to unite the Church, we would have liked to see like minded churches or churches with similar doctrines uniting but instead we have witnessed more divisions than unity,” he said.

With this year’s theme reading, “Celebrating 60 years of Christian unity”, Rev Ndhlovu noted that whereas the Church in the country has worked together for national unity, the greatest challenge for the council was to facilitate such unity among its 22 Church members.

He said the call to national duty on the Church, as a whistle blower, has been magnified and seen the Church coming together in actualizing the fight against poverty and also on the matter of the constitution.

The Reverend also observed that the council has had to face a lot of challenges along the way such as that of HIV/AIDS.

“However, apart from the aspect of Church unity, we have recently seen the Church coming together and agreeing on various national issues. Our call to national duty as whistle blowers especially in the fight against corruption is a big challenge because we have to see how we can actualize the fight against poverty and the constitution fight is still eluding us.

“HIV/AIDS is also another big challenge. We have to reveal our moral force on how we can assist especially with the offshoot of orphans and widows,” Rev Ndhlovu said.

Bishop Ndashe condemns ‘condom preaching’

By Hone Liwanga

CHURCH of God World Missions National Overseer Bishop Joseph Ndashe has lashed at some church leaders advocating for the use of condoms as the best alternative to fight HIV/AIDS pandemic.

In an interview with the National Mirror, Bishop Ndashe said that encouraging the use of condoms in fighting the disease was tantamount to promoting sin, as sex outside marriage was against Biblical Statutes.

He urged young people to ensure that they abstain from sex until they reach the right time to marry and that those in marriages should observe fidelity to avoid contracting and subsequently dying of HIV/AIDS ailment.

“I am not trying to fight my fellow clergymen but to merely remind them of our call to this ministry. Our approach should be preaching/ pursuing the world to realize the importance of abstinence and faithfulness. We should make them realize and value their lives presently and in future.

“I strongly feel that the preaching of use of condoms by the Church is not the best approach. To me, it means compromising with sin. The Bible accompanied by the Holy Spirit is the best and very sophisticated tool to use when approaching this global fight,” Bishop Ndashe said.

ZAOGA grows to 30,000 members

By Derrick Sinjela

ZAMBIA Assemblies of God Africa (ZAOGA) Bishop Frank Mwiinga has attributed the 30, 000 membership growth in the last 15 years since inception to grassroots oriented evangelism.

Bishop Mwiinga told the National Mirror that winning people to Christ through groundwork evangelistic crusades had contributed to ZAOGA’s growth in Zambia.

Bishop Mwiinga, who has just returned from a preaching assignment in Windhoek, Namibia said despite having no presence in the Western Province ZAOGA had managed to plant 310 congregations throughout Zambia.

“We have now gone beyond 30,000 in the last 15 years having began with only 1,000 members. Our increase in members is because of winning people to Christ through grassroots’ oriented preaching of the word of God. It is only in the Western Province that ZAOGA is yet to get established. Although we have established a total of 310 congregations I feel that we still have a lot of work to do as many people need to be drawn to the teaching of Christ,” Bishop Mwiinga said.

ZAOGA is an affiliate of ZAOGA International which is headquartered in Zimbabwe and headed by Archbishop, Ezekiel Guti and regards construction of pastoral houses as a challenge in increasing its presence in Zambia.

Bishop Mwiinga indicated that construction of pastoral houses posed a challenge as most of the 270 pastors working in Zambia needed accommodation, while 24 pastors had left to serve in Zimbabwe, Botswana and Namibia, while two were yet to go to Congo Brazzaville.

“We have set our eyes on constructing pastoral houses as most of our 270 pastors do not have adequate accommodation. Of the ministers trained by ZAOGA, 24 pastors have gone to Zimbabwe, Botswana and Namibia, while two are yet to serve in Congo Brazzaville,” Bishop Mwiinga said.

He explained that the huge missionary numbers reflected was as a result of a deliberate couple theology training introduced by ZAOGA in the last 15 years of existence in Zambia.

“We always train couples as pastors because we realize that in order for a pastor to be effective, a spouse must understand the spiritual calling of either a wife or a husband,” Bishop Mwiinga said.

Bishop Mwiinga pointed out that due to increasing interests in Namibia it had become incumbent upon his leadership to encourage more people to enter theological training to meet spiritual requirements by the extended Body of Christ.

He was accompanied by Pastor Chibale and their spouses during the pastoral work in Namibia.