Interestingly, the Minister of Defense was quick to acknowledge that external support for HIV and AIDS programs was waning, especially for prevention. Does it surprise us that external support is diminishing when donors hear that wife beating is a cultural practice? Why should they support something we do not want to change? External support for HIV and AIDS programs ought to decrease as we stay on course toward our specific priority of stopping new infections by implementing proven prevention strategies. If we are ineffective at meeting our specific outcome goals we must start asking ourselves strong questions. For example, is the problem of gender based violence and prevalence among the educated included in the government’s specific objectives? Which leaders have been given the resources and the authority to meet this objective? Are the outcomes being monitored and measured regularly?

On May 23, 2003, President George W. Bush signed into law the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). When Bush signed PEPFAR into law only 3,500 on AIDS treatment in Zambia and today we have 455,000. PEPFAR has shown that government, under right circumstances, can be effective. At the time, Bush had a strong team, specific goals and accountability. Zambia was blessed with a leader who had deep empathy for PLWHA. In 2004, late President Levy Mwanawasa declared HIV and AIDS a national emergency and committed to provide anti-retroviral to more people and by the end of 2005 over 100,000 people were receiving free treatment. Two leaders from two different countries demonstrating true compassion with rigor and excellence were able to launch an initiative that has been a great compassionate achievement. This success story also provides a lesson for the Zambian church. As the Body of Christ (Ephesians 2:19-22) our role as the Church in the world and our roles as believers in this Body is to go around doing good and healing all who are under the power of darkness (Acts10:38).

As the Body of Christ, the Church is doing amazing work in eradicating AIDS. Churches in the JC network are contributing significantly to the decline in HIV prevalence among young vulnerable women through their commitment to treating them with dignity and through a preference for educational sponsorship. Churches are working with determination to ensure that PLWHA are not stigmatized and gender based violence is addressed as a criminal offence. They are helping children understand their rights as citizens, how to know abuse, and where to report it. In the process, the churches are discovering the full power of the gospel to change lives and infections are declining. We commend the initiative to launch “Brothers for Life.” We pray this call to action takes them out of their homes, offices and churches to walk with the poorest of the poor in our nation. We pray this causes them to be generous with their skills and financial resources that this generation benefits mightily from their courageous and brilliant contribution. We thank God for PEPFAR and The Global Fund and for churches abroad and their financial generosity. We ask God to give this team a clear burden for the eradication of AIDS and for fighting extreme poverty. We pray that Christ change their lives.

Lawrence Temfwe

He further stated that, “In democracy, the purpose of public office is not to fulfill personal ambition. Elected officials must serve a cause greater than themselves. The political winds blow left and right. Polls rise and fall. Supporters come and go. But in the end, leaders are defined by the convictions they hold.”  Bush is not the first president to have a library dedicated to the work he did when he was president. In the bible all the kings had a library. This is what is said about David, “David son of Jesse was king over all of Israel. He ruled over Israel forty years. He died at a good old age, having enjoyed long life, wealth and honor.” And then the bible states that, “As for the events of King David’s reign, beginning to end they are written in the records of Samuel the seer, the records of Nathan the prophets, and the records of Gad the seer, together with the details of his reign and power and the circumstances that surrounded him and Israel and the kingdoms of all the other lands (1 Chron. 29:26-30).

Leaders who lead with conviction and love for their nation want history to remember them for the dedication and love they showed to their nation.  Therefore, they are willing to leave a record for future generations so they too can learn from their leadership skills and the vision they were pursuing.  Sadly, in Africa we remember leaders by the “palaces they build through unrighteousness and corruption.” Jeremiah questions the kings of Israel who built themselves great palaces with spacious upper rooms and paneled them with cedars and decorated them in red.  He asked them, “Does it make you a king to have more and more cedar? (Jeremiah 22: 13-15). African nations are losing our history and culture not because we have embraced English as our official language, but largely because we are not good at keeping written records and most of us lack a longer view than building palaces for ourselves.

Take the case of Zambia. We recently re-named Ndola International Airport as Simon Mwansa Kapwepwe and Livingstone International Airport as Harry Mwaanga Nkumbula. Our Hip Hop culture guys are asking, “Man who were these dudes?  When we re-named those airports we should have had celebrations at both airports that included a creative re-telling of their historical significance in the advancement of our nation.  In our short history we have had four former presidents. Two are living and two have passed on. We need to build a library that will ensure that the works of Kaunda, Chiluba, Mwanawasa, Banda, and the teams of men and women who served with them are preserved and used to help future generations learn from their experiences. What was their vision, how did they establish a democracy, how did they expand education, fight corruption, and how did they confront HIV and AIDS?

“Does it make you king to have more and more cedar” is also directed to Christian leaders. Jeremiah warns that Christians must not boast in their riches. On the contrary, he encourages us to boast that we understand and know the Lord-that He is the Lord who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth (Jer. 9:23-24). When all is done may our record state that we served the Lord and we are no more. Even if no one remembers us, may our hearts be at peace that the Lord will remember us.

Lawrence Temfwe

In December 2012, the church raised two thousand kwacha and bought foodstuff and second hand clothes to help the needy in the community and members. Fifteen families that are affected by HIV and AIDS, widows and those taking care of orphans received 25Kg mealie, sugar and cooking oil.                                              Picture: one of the leaders giving foodstuffs to needy

Bitwell is one of the pastors who received agriculture support inputs from Jubilee Centre in October last year, as a beneficiary of the agricultural support. He is expecting to harvest 20X50 Kg of maize this season. He says this is enough to feed his family for this year and he hopes to sell the rest and save some money for next year in input.

“Through the same expectant harvest I will be able to sell some and boost my motor vehicle tires business. My vision is to see that I help two or three orphans from the business profit by the end of this year” said Rev. Bitwell.

Picture: Rev. Bitwell’s maize field

“The church is all about the priesthood of all believers and every Christian ought to do the ministry. I am very excited to see believers using their spiritual gifts in the church” said Bitwell. The church has out grown the classroom in which it meets. Further weekly programs are affected as they have no central place to meet during the week. Pray with them as they seek God’s intervention for land to build a worship centre.

One of the major challenges to the advancement of the gospel in Africa is our cultural values and traditional beliefs that compromise biblical discipleship. Indeed we do have many positive cultural values, but when Adam fell in the Garden of Eden his culture was also stained. As Christians therefore, we need to commit ourselves to the task of transforming hearts but and cultural practices that do not match up to what the Bible teaches. The church in Africa needs to be doing more to help Christians think the way God thinks about ethnicity, politics, education, sicknesses, curses, sexuality, urbanization, technology, arts, science and literature. We can no longer blame all our problems on demons, ancestral spirits or curses. We need to broaden our biblical understanding in light of the world we are living in and apply biblical thinking to the practical problems of our life. We must embrace our role in renewing a culture that has been static for years.

As we seek to renew our culture, the church in Africa must not fall into trap of failing to distinguish between what is the kingdom of God and what is our culture. If we do this, we will fall into the same dilemma of the church that brought the gospel to Africa. Thinking they were Christian nations they neglected their backyards and went to the ends of the earth. They should have done the latter without neglecting their Jerusalem. Therefore, as Africa gets blessed with extraordinary church growth, let us also keep the zeal of the Great Commission and commit ourselves to the task of renewing our culture.

The African church has a role to play in bringing a new hope in Christ to the nations of Europe and Middle East and South East Asia. For our missionaries to be effective they must not carry the excess baggage of local culture that is good for our context but may be a barrier to others.  The apostle Paul put it this way, “To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law” (1 Cor. 9:20). As we do so let us not forget our own backyards of disgruntled youths, villages bound in traditional beliefs and people living in urban poor communities.  

Lawrence Temfwe

What are Kenyatta, Sata or Museveni saying to us when they make these public statements? Are they saying that they want to go beyond attending church services and on to what God has designed them to do? Do they want to develop a culture of justice, integrity and hard work? Are they saying they want to spend their time and energy imitating Christ (Ephesians 5:1-2)? Are these proclamations a public commitment to Christ like sacrifice and love?

Whatever the case, we must applaud them for standing up for what they believe. Following Christ in public office is not an easy task! They will need a local church and Christian leaders to assist them in understanding the interplay of faith and public life. They will need discipleship to understand their ultimate allegiance is not to their nation state, but to the one in whom all nation states are held together. The church must not end at ululation when leaders confess sins of corruption and bribery. We must help leaders understand that repentance requires restoration of what was broken.

Picture: The late President Fredrick Chiluba of Zambia, who first declared Zambia a Christian nation.

Finally, as church leaders we must not trust in political power to enforce a more Christian way of living. We should celebrate the dedication of our leaders to lead by God’s principles, but let us not place exaggerated confidence in the ability of Christian leaders to influence society by political means. Society will be transformed when hearts are transformed. Hearts are transformed when the church breaks into the lives of corrupt leaders, drunkards, witchdoctors, homosexuals and drug addicts with the sacrificial love and service of our Savior Jesus Christ.

Lawrence Temfwe

Breaking the Cycle of Poverty

“I love my church. It is has been preparing me on how to come out of my poverty status,and change my circumstance” says John Chungu a youth leader of Apostolic Faith Mission in Lusaka. John is one of young people who have attended training in how to start business that help solve personal poverty. After he added the seminar that was conducted by Jubilee Centre the church recommended him for 

Picture: John Chungu at his fish pond

an agriculture grant. With this grant John was able to start fish farming. Through the fish farming John was able to raise enough funds to help him go for driving lessons after which he got a public vehicle driver’s license. Today John is employed as a taxi driver and has continued to do fish farming.

In the last four years churches in JC network have been identifying individuals with skills in business and farming, which are then trained by JC and helped with either cash grants or farming implements. This initiative has helped close to 400 people so far.

John who is a 25 year old single, and lives in George Compound, Lusaka stated, “Three years ago, I would not conceive that God would use my local church to help me come out of extreme poverty and bring spiritual well-being.” He stated that his pastors’ preaching about working hard and dreaming coupled with training from Jubilee Centre has totally transformed him to start looking at himself being more than a conqueror in Christ.

Another person who has benefitted from the grant and training of Jubilee Centre, Abraham Phiri from Mapalo Bread of Life, stated, “Jubilee Centre is a servant of the church, helping us to be to committed followers of Christ, hard working and responsible citizens.”. Abraham, who is 24 years old, has been farming since he was 10 years, helping his parents. In the last three years Abraham has received instructions in farming and entrepreneurship. Last year he started vegetable gardens. From the sales he got from the vegetable gardens he planted maize seed early and harvested to sell and feed his family and is also now a regular tither.” Abraham attributed his change of life to the church’s teaching which is helping to think, to work hard and to be generous. . “Someone sacrificed to be what I’m today, it is now my time to pay back by helping someone,” concluded Abraham.

                                                                                                                                       Picture: Abraham Phiri in his maize field

“John and Abraham are two young people whose lives have been transformed because of the church commitment to bringing the whole truth of the gospel. I am humbled that as Jubilee Centre we can be a gift to the church serving it to bring holistic hope” said Japo Mbetwa, the Acting Executive Director.

The Church Bring Hope to the Community

“We are grateful to the church in this community for the positive contribution they make to this clinic”, stated Mrs. Irene Biemba the sister in charge of Mapalo Clinic after the Reformed Church in Zambia Mapalo congregation cleaned the clinic on Women’s Day. Mrs. Biemba praised God for this faith in action that saw the maternity ward and other rooms cleaned.

On Youth Day, youths from Bread of Life in Mapalo went to the Police Station and the Local Court premises and cut the long grass which was a breeding ground for mosquitoes. After they completed the work they held a prayer rally at which they sought God for the peace and prosperity of their community. They prayed for more job and education opportunities and for a community free from HIV and AIDS infections. At the close of work, prayer and fellowship Pastor Chikoseleshi told the 40 youths that he was excited that they were putting faith into action. He testified to them, “God is answering your prayers. Two youths from our community are now studying in prestigious colleges and by the grace of God they will be interning in our schools in the community next term.” He further reminded them about the Kennedy Phiri soccer academy that is being supported by the churches in the Jubilee Centre network. The academy has loaned soccer players to the premier Zesco United and has sold a player to Nkana United. He stated that Kennedy who is handicapped is now running a successful academy which has received attention from Zambia national team soccer coach, Herve Renard. Further Kennedy is a committee member in the team that oversees the Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola.

Daniel Daka the Youth Coordinator responding to these exciting testimonies had this to say, “Since its inception Jubilee Centre’s ultimate goal is to help the church win the next generation. I am so happy that our investment in leadership training through It Takes Courage Curriculum, responsible citizenship, educational support and great commission is bearing fruit. It is my prayer that churches in each community throughout the nation will work together and address local community needs. Because really the church is the hope of our community”

Edith Receives Training in Support Group Mobilization

Edith Charma, a church member at Jehovah Jire Church was one of the people who attended a workshop on how to run an effective support group at a local church that was recently held at Christian King’s church.

Edith shared, “The workshop has helped me to see an opportunity available to start an HIV and AIDS support group at my church that will bring freedom to Christians who are bound with mental stigmatization because of infection.” The workshop that focused on responding to HIV and AIDS more effectively attracted 60 people of which 45 were infected. Edith was encouraged to see so many people who are infected and are living their life to the full because of the freedom they have in Christ.

Picture: Edith Charma

She learned how to accept herself and her situation and how to live positively in Christ. She also appreciated the importance of meeting regularly together with other people who are in similar situations. “I do not know why I have been carrying this burden of infection alone, when there are so many wonderful people in my community who are willing to help lift my burden. God is indeed good” she said. Edith promised that she was going to start a support group as soon as her pastor gives her the go ahead.

UMOJA training workshop

“Thank you so march for encouraging me to attend UMOJA which has brought transformation in my life and my church” wrote Pastor Bitwell Njovu from Lusaka network churches after attending the UMOJA workshop in Mumbwa. UMOJA is a ministry that focuses on mobilizing churches to work together in addressing the needs using their own resources. Three of the church leaders in the JC networks who have successfully completed the JC Transformation Course have now been recommended to participate in UMOJA with view to strengthen this concept. Pastor Phiri of Apostle Revival, Rev, Singoyi of Christian Bible church and Pastor Njovu of Baptist Church recently attended the third phase of the training that focused on them being trainers in how to identify and mobilize resources for community transformation.

                                                                                             Picture: Pastor Singoyi giving devotion at the UMOJA/CCMP workshop

During this workshop they were also able to give reports back on the trainings that had already been carried out, of which, 30 church members and leaders had been envisioned on the Umoja concept so far from the 3 communities, Mapalo, George and Chifubu. Charles Mumbi, one of the attendants of these trainings used some of teachings of using surrounding resources to improve his gardening technique. He used the droppings of his chickens in his vegetable garden and reduced on the amount he was spending on fertilizer.

Jubilee Centre

‘Daring to be Salt of the Earth and Light of the World’

Website: www.jubileecentre.org

Email: mail@jubileecentre.Org

Tel: +260 (0)2 681 482 / 681 172

Address: PO Box 70519, 30 Lualaba Road, Kansenshi, Ndola, Zambia

Picture: Martha Temfwe standing were Martin Luther King Jr. stood

While in DC we had the opportunity to visit three historical landmarks-Mounts Vernon, the former home of the first President of the USA, George Washington, the Lincoln and the Martin Luther King Memorial sites. We learned that Washington was a hero of the revolution and legacy remains of him being among the greatest in American history. At Abraham Lincoln’s memorial they have his second inauguration speech grafted on wall next to his statue. This theologically intense speech is widely regarded as one of the most remarkable documents in American history. A statement in the speech that got our attention was, “With malice toward none; with charity for all; with firmness in the right, as God gives us to see the right, let us strive on to finish the work we are in; to bind up the nation’s wounds; to care for him who shall have borne the battle, and for his widow, and his orphan–to do all which may achieve and cherish a just and lasting peace, among ourselves, and with all nations.” At the statue of Lincoln, Martha stood where Martin Luther King delivered the “I have dream speech” and prayed “Father in heaven give me a dream for Zambia.”

Lastly, we were taken to the imposing statue of Martin Luther King. At his memorial site we were exposed to several of his quotes written across the wall. One quote that touched us most was, “The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.” We asked ourselves what challenges and controversies do we overlook as we seek to be like Christ in our life and in our service? As we reflected on this statement we were motivated to be of courage from the words of the Apostle Paul, “However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me-the task of testifying to the gospel of God’s grace” (Acts 20:24).

What touched us most about this experience was the large number of children between the age of 8 and 16 years who were also visiting the memorial sites. We thought about Zambia and we asked, where can we take our children to experience the history of our country come alive and be inspired to grasp the hope for a better Zambia? Where can our children go to get insights about the lives of the late President Chiluba and Mwanawasa or Rev. Fostone Sakala? Will our children learn about the courage and humility of Mwanawasa who accepted Christ as Lord when he was president of Zambia and was willing to be baptized in humble baptistery outside a church building? Will we ever have memorial dedicated to former President Chiluba depicting him declaring Zambia Christian Nation? Who will tell our children about the life and service of Rev. Sakala to the church of Christ and the nation?

We have such a great history that we can learn from to help guide our future? The Zambian dream won’t just happen. It must be worked for and it must be started on the godly foundation our fathers and mothers laid for us. Zambia has a rich history of men and women who over the years have courageously and faithfully contended for the good of our nation and the truth of the gospel. Who is telling their stories to our children?

Lawrence Temfwe

Over Easter weekend we attended four different church services and listened to three different Easter preachers. Each service was uniquely focused on the cross as the ultimate symbol of the kingdom of God. Each of the pastors labored to express one aspect of how the cross defines what The Kingdom looks like. One common theme was that Christ’s self sacrificial life and death are essential to life in The Kingdom. All three were clear that the wondrous love of Christ was seen in that He was willing to die for His enemies.

One pastor shared about his own struggle regarding why God allows bad things to happen to good people. He shared about gifted and committed Christians who died before their time. He went on to say he finds some comfort in the idea of poetic justice. He said that poetic justice does not merely require that vice be punished and virtue rewarded, but also that good eventually triumphs over evil as evidenced in Christ’s resurrection. When it looked like evil had triumphed…the resurrection!

A good example of poetic justice is found in the book of Esther. Haman, the highest noble of King Xerxes, insists that every royal official must kneel down and honor him. However, Mordecai, a Jew who had been taken captive to Babylon “would not kneel down or pay honor to him” (Esther 3:1-2). In anger, Haman set out to destroy Mordecai and every Jew in the Persian Empire. He made the king sign a decree authorizing the destruction of all Jews, and he started building a gallows where he planned to hang Mordecai. Ultimately, Haman himself was hanged on the gallows he prepared for Mordecai.

On Good Friday 2000 years ago a good man died so the guilty could go free. Or as the Apostle Paul says in 2 Corinthians 5:21 “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” This is grace. Christ invites his followers to the same. But how does this look like in practice? We were told that as followers of Christ we are to seek to do good and to proclaim the gospel to all who are oppressed by the devil (Acts 10:38). We are to lift up the lowly and honor them by serving them in any way we can (James 2:15-17). We are to do this not out of duty but out of the love shown to us by Christ on that wondrous cross.

Jesus ministry was not always done at the Temple but in every day places where people are found during the week. His ministry was done at tax collectors’ booths, places where prostitutes were found, in fishing camps and at recreational places where children were playing. In Africa we have several places that await the presence of Christ. In politics and business we have leaders who are arrogant, selfish and corrupt. In the highways we have men and women who knowingly and willingly infect others with HIV and AIDS. In our homes we have people who continue to abuse orphans and vulnerable children. These are the places Jesus is inviting us to join Him to help people love God, themselves and others with the God kind of love. The poetic justice of the cross transforms hearts and changes the world!

Did you communicate the message of the wondrous cross? Did the church survey the wondrous cross on which the Prince of Glory died? Were the members confronted with their pride, corruption and greed, and brought to their knees in repentance? Were they challenged to be the evidence of the Kingdom of God in their vocation? May we regularly encounter the wondrous cross and remember that Christ demands our souls, our lives and our all, wherever we are found.

Lawrence Temfwe

On Youth Day, Bread of Life Church youth group in Mapalo went to the Police Station and the Magistrate Court to cut the grass and eliminate breeding grounds for mosquitoes. Afterwards they held a prayer rally which sought God for the peace and prosperity of their community. They prayed for more jobs, better education, and for a community free from HIV and AIDS. At the close of work, prayer and fellowship Pastor Peter Chikoseleshi told the youth he was excited that they were putting faith into action. He assured them, “God is answering your prayers. Two youths from our community are now studying in prestigious colleges and by the grace of God they will be interning in schools in our community next term.”

He further reminded them about The Kennedy Phiri Soccer Academy that is supported by churches in the Jubilee Centre network. The academy has loaned soccer players to the premier Zesco United and has sold a player to Nkana United. He stated that while Kennedy is physically handicapped he is running a successful academy which has received notice from Herve Renard, coach of Zambia’s national team. Further, Kennedy is a committee member for the Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola.

Daniel Daka, Jubilee Centre Youth Coordinator, responded to these testimonies; “Since its inception Jubilee Centre’s ultimate goal is to help the church win the next generation. I am so happy that our investment in leadership training through It Takes Courage, responsible citizenship, educational support and the great commission is bearing fruit.”

At another Youth Day gathering, Lawrence Temfwe jr., Jubilee Centre Communication Officer, and Chairperson of the Ndola Youth development coordinating Committee in Ndola District was the featured speaker. He told the over 1500 people that “One of our major challenges as youth is laziness. We cannot continue to blame government and every other external hindrance. We cannot use unemployment as an excuse to indulge in alcohol abuse and sexual immorality. We must take responsibility to change the situation in our community and our nation.”

Picture: Lawrence Temfwe jr (fourth from left)

The church is a dominant social factor in every nation. Bill Hybels, senior pastor of Willow Creek Church, has often said, “the church is the hope of the community when it is doing things right.” We do not know what spiritual harvest will follow the initiatives on Women’s Day and Youth Day. Regardless, these communities are being changed by the active involvement of churches. Malaria and HIV and AIDS infections are reducing; youth who had no opportunity to enter college now have a chance of doing so. Young people are learning creative and innovative ways to address poverty, injustice, immorality and faith. Are you planning your Easter service to demonstrate that Christ came in order that the people walking in darkness may see a great light by your faith in action? (Isaiah 9:2).