A Letter to Church Leaders over the Constitution
Jubilee Centre November 26th, 2007
Down through our nation’s short history, Christian men and women have taken a stand for right. Sadly, today you cannot walk into a bookshop and find the biography of a Zambian Christian, focusing on how that person’s faith in God played an important part in the development of 
Zambia . Our children in primary, high school and college need stories of Zambian Christian leaders and statesmen that will build their faith and strengthen their trust in God for the future of our nation.
The making of a new Constitution provides an opportunity for Christian leaders (Bishops, Apostles, Pastors, Prophets etc) and Christians in public life (doctors, lawyers, judges, farmers, business people, politicians, accountants, teachers etc.) to play a role in setting up a Constitution for the nation that is fair and just for all. It also provides an opportunity for us to record stories for our grandchildren of Christian men and women making a difference for good. It is about time we started telling stories to our children of men and women who are inspiring examples of people who had a passionate love for our nation and who appreciate to the full that Zambia ’s shalom and security rest upon God.
If we fail to use this opportunity to provide the driving force in creating a new Zambia , shaping its destiny as a beacon of freedom and justice to Africa , opportunists and impostors will rise up and fill the void. Already, we are beginning to see ‘Bishops’ and ‘Pastors’ whose congregations are only their wives and children, yet who masquerade as spokespersons for the churches in Zambia . Paul says such men cause divisions through false doctrine and unrighteous practices. He further states that they are driven by self-interest and self-gratification, which is often seen in their pompous, extravagant and immoral lifestyle. Such men deceive the unsuspecting or naïve people (Rom. 16:17 -18
). Unfortunately, the naïve and unsuspecting people are in millions in our nation.
The making of a new Constitution provides an opportunity to put Christian heritage into our history books. In years to come our grandchildren will learn how our faith affected our life-changing decisions, how we chose to serve and protect the poor, the orphans and the widows.
Our grandchildren will see the long-term contribution we make for them today. Our stories of how we selflessly participated will build their faith and help them to know that in our nation’s history God has been the source of our light. An informed, intelligent participation in the Constitution making process, led by the Holy Spirit, may bring to our nation a collective heritage of faith in God, which will stand the test of time and provide for us a nation with strong Christian witness until the second coming of Christ.
The sons of Issachar had understanding of their times, to know what Israel ought to do. God has given us Bishops and Pastors who have earned the respect of those they lead. Please speak out over this issue and give your people pointers to the steps they ought to be taking. If you don’t, impostors and opportunists will mislead your people.
Lawrence Temfwe
