The Local Church-Hope for the World
Jubilee Centre August 19th, 2008
My wife and I were privileged to attend the Leadership Summit (August 7-8) at Willow Creek in the USA. “The summit is founded on the core belief and vision that when you change a church leader, you can change a church, when you change a church you can change a community. And when numbers of churches are working together to change their community, you can affect a region, a city, a state, a country, and eventually the world for Christ’s sake.” (Leadership Summit Program p.9)
This year’s Summit was broadcast live in over 100 cities in USA and Canada with an estimated attendance of over 100,000 church leaders. True to its core values, the carefully selected speakers from the church, business community, thinkers and innovators all spoke about the church as being the hope of our nations to stem the cycle of poverty, HIV/AIDS, crime, racism, drugs and unemployment. The speakers called on the Church to recapture its passion for the historical, orthodox truths and practices of Christianity-apostles teaching, caring for and speaking out for the orphans, the poor, the widows and those who suffer injustices because of race or tribe.
What was interesting about the Summit speakers is that there was no divide on their delivery of the message, whether they are Christian leadership providers in the church, or they are leaders in society or in business. They were in agreement that as leaders they were called to serve through following the examples of Christ, envisioning and equipping their followers to be change agents in their church, society or business. Each speaker emphasized the importance of being relentless in ones calling. Bill Hybels said, “Don’t say you can’t … Out last the problem.” Chuck Colson declared, “God’s blessing is not for our sake but so that the world may know that I am God.” John Burke retorted, “Jesus did not come to make sure we are safe, but to make us brave.” Gary Haugen encouraged us, “If you want your leadership to matter lead in things that matter to God.”
Zambia has enough Christians deeply rooted in matters of faith and professional competent to salt the society. Yet our capacity to bring change in our community, towns and nation appears dismal. Take the example of University of Zambia which is again closed and the junior doctors who have gone on strike. These professional people have been going on work stoppage regularly since 1991. Where are our Christian professionals and technocrats who should be providing creative solution to issues affecting our two institutions and the wider society? As a church we must find ways to affirm our professionals and technocrats in their callings and to prod them become more proactive in infusing kingdom virtues in their lines of work. One strong statement that has continued to echo in my spirit ever since the Summit is that “The local church is the hope for the world.” God wants to show up in your local church to make it happen. As a leader, are you ready to be changed, that you change professionals and technocrats … that they bring change at our university and hospital?
Lawrence Temfwe
