DISTRICT ANNOUNCEMENTS
1st February, 2014
(a)
There will
be a Seminar for Church Treasurers, Church Auditors, Elders In-charge of the
departments and Administration Elders, called by the Lusaka Conference Chief Financial
Officer, tomorrow, Sunday, 2nd February,
2014, at Libala Church, from 08:00 - 13:00 hours.
(b)
There
will be Lusaka Conference Interdepartmental Seminar at Libala Church from 8 -
9th February, 2014. All serving church officers are to attend without fail.
More details will follow.
(c)
There
will be Elders Board on 16th February 2014 at Chilenje Main SDA Church.
(d)
Reminder of
the Zambia Union Conference school of Evangelism program at Andrews motel from
24th February to 1st March, 2014. For those that paid, there are adjustments on
the fees.
a). K1,650.00 for those sharing room
b). K1,980.00 single occupancy
c). K510.00 day scholars, this includes registration
and lunch
(e)
There will
be the first ever Southern Africa Indian ocean division(SID), AMO RALLY in
Zimbabwe, at Solusi University from 1st - 5th April, 2014. Registration fee is
USD 55.00. Meals and accommodation is USD 270.00. Pay through the Conference.
Deadline for payments is 28th February, 2014.
(f)
Churches and Companies are required to register their
congregations with the Registrar of Societies.
(g)
Churches are requested to buy modems for the Laptops/Computers as
this year, reports will be electronically.
February is a Stewardship
Month. The list of preachers and
preaching materials for 1st
February, 2014 and singing groups for 8th February,
2014 are attached hereto.
There will be a
meeting for AMO Leaders and their Secretaries today, 1st February,
2014 at Chilenje Main Church. Kindly come with the time Managements for the
local churches. Time: 14:00 hours.
There
will be a meeting for all Camp Meeting Chairpersons and Elders in Charge
tomorrow Sunday, 2nd February, 2014 at Arakan Church. Time: 09:00
hours.
There
will be a District Music Workshop tomorrow Sunday, 2nd February,
2014 at Rockfield Company. All Church
and Company Music Directors, choristers, and leaders of singing groups to
attend. Time: 08:30 to 16:30 hours. Carry packed Lunch.
There will
be week of prayer for family ministries in all churches from 8th to 15th
February, 2014. For materials and procedure on how it will be conducted kindly contact
the District Pastor. Choose your own presenters
(a)
The deadline for the
payment of the registration fee (K10.00) for Church Heritage Exams is 8th
February, 2014.
(b)
There will be a S.I.D.
Camporee in Livingstone from 14th to 21st April, 2014 for
the Pathfinders. Registration fee is
KR430.00. The deadline for payments is
31st January, 2014 and payment should be done through Local Church
Leaders.
CHILENJE MISSION DISTRICT
PREACHERS
FOR 1st FEBRUARY, 2014
|
|
CHURCH |
|
PREACHER |
CONTACT NO. |
|
1 |
APEX COMPANY |
|
BR. J BWALYA (CHIFUNDO) |
0955443946 |
|
2 |
ARAKAN CENTRAL COMPANY |
|
BR. M. SIANAGOWA(HILVIEW PARK) |
0977427510 |
|
3 |
ARAKAN CHURCH |
|
BR. H. HIMOOYA(OVERHILL) |
0977617482 |
|
4 |
CHIFUNDO CHURCH |
|
PASTOR MWANSA |
0978695411 |
|
5 |
CHILENJE CENTRAL CHURCH |
|
BR. P MUNYENYA(OVERHILL) |
0978652407 |
|
6 |
CHILENJE MAIN CHURCH |
|
BR. N. CHITENGE(ARAKAN) |
0971824707 |
|
7 |
CHILENJE TRADES COMPANY |
|
BR. M MUNAKAAMPE |
0977454563/0955454563 |
|
8 |
HILVIEW COMPANY |
|
BR. M MWAMI(NJANJI) |
979480507 |
|
9 |
HILVIEW PARK CHURCH |
|
BR. V. TEMBO(CHILENJE MAIN) |
0966726687 |
|
10 |
LUYANDO COMPANY |
|
BR. R MUBANGA(NJANJI) |
0950004523 |
|
11 |
MUYOOMA CHURCH |
|
BR. K MUCHINDO(CHIFUNDO) |
0979625736 |
|
12 |
NJANJI CHURCH |
|
PASTOR SHIMUNZHILA |
|
|
13 |
OVERHILL CHURCH |
|
BR. A MOONGA(CHILENJE) |
0977808172 |
|
14 |
ROCKFIELD COMPANY |
|
BR. HAMUJINKA(CHILENJE) |
0977587287 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
RESERVE PREACHERS |
|
|
|
|
1 |
ELDER CHABU |
|
|
|
|
2 |
ELDER NG'ANDU |
|
|
|
|
3 |
ELDER BUUMBA |
|
|
|
|
5 |
ELDER MPOROKOSO |
|
|
|
|
6 |
ELDER WAMUNYIMA |
|
|
|
|
7 |
ALL ADMIN ELDERS & COMPANY LEADERS |
|
||
|
CHILENJE MISSION DISTRICT |
|||
|
SINGING GROUPS FOR 8th FEBRUARY 2014 |
|||
|
|
CHURCH |
|
SINGING GROUP ASSIGNED |
|
1 |
APEX COMPANY |
|
OVERHILL CHOIR |
|
2 |
ARAKAN CENTRAL COMPANY |
BURNING LAMPS |
|
|
3 |
ARAKAN CHURCH |
HOLY ECHOES |
|
|
4 |
CHIFUNDO CHURCH |
HILLVIEW PARK CHOIR |
|
|
5 |
CHILENJE CENTRAL |
HILLVIEW COMPANY CHOIR |
|
|
6 |
CHILENJE MAIN CHURCH |
NJANJI CHOIR |
|
|
7 |
CHILENJE TRADES |
CHILENJE CHOIR |
|
|
8 |
HILVIEW COMPANY |
AMBASSADOR - NJANJI |
|
|
9 |
HILVIEW PARK CHURCH |
GOLDEN CITY |
|
|
10 |
LUYANDO COMPANY |
ARAKAN CHOIR |
|
|
11 |
MUYOOMA CHURCH |
ARAKAN CENTRAL CHOIR |
|
|
12 |
NJANJI CHURCH |
SOUL COMFOTERS |
|
|
13 |
OVERHILL CHURCH |
ROCKFIELD CHOIR |
|
|
14 |
ROCKFIELD COMPANY |
|
CHILENJE TRADES CHOIR |
|
|
|||
LUSAKA
CONFERENCE
STEWARDSHIP
MONTH OF EMPHASIS
FEBRUARY 2014
01, 08, 15, 22
THEME:
Dear Stewards of our LORD God,
You are now holding
materials for the four Sabbaths of February 2014.
The Theme is “Celebrating God’s
Goodness!”
With theme song: 569 SDAH –“ Pass me not, O
gentle Savior” (local # 88).
As one of the channels
through whom God would like to create the Great Revival in His Church this
2014, listen to the Holy Spirit’s promptings and then, using these sermon
outlines speak to His glory. Please note that you are free to add more details
and illustrations appropriate to your audience.
May the good LORD lead His
Church to higher heights for His glory.
Shangala Faxon
Sabbath, February 2,
2014
Title: The Wilderness
Example
Introduction
The two movements separated by hundreds of years apart seem
to share common features. One movement revolves around the freed slaves held
against their will in the Egypt to the Promised Land; while another one is
raised from men and women shell shocked by the non appearance of their Lord to
prepare the world for the soon return of the Lord Jesus. One journeyed to the
earthly Canaan and the other is on its way to the heavenly one. Both were
raised by God for a specific purpose. The latter can learn a lot from the
former, hence the title, ’The Wilderness Example. What is that example God’s
last day movement can learn from the Exodus movement?
Exodus 25:1-7 is a
conversation God had with Moses. God says to Moses, “Tell the Israelites to
take an offering for Me. You have to take My offering from everyone whose heart
stirs him to give.”
After God had spoken what He wanted to be given to Him, He
then tells the purpose of the offering people were to give.
In Exodus chapter 35
verses 20-29, we see the children of Israel leaving the presence of Moses
after the bill of quantity has been read in their hearing. They left Moses
heading to their homes to collect their offerings and they brought the gifts
back to Moses. But the question could be, who exactly participated in giving?
The Bible states that, “Both men and women came, all who had willing hearts …”
From what we have heard so far, what can the Remnant Church
Movement learn from that early movement? I know that all of us here have our
own lessons we have drawn from this story but allow me to share with you what
we can collectively learn from this magnificent story.
How would we react if our pastor or elder asked us to give
whatever we have before telling us what need to be done? How many of us would
be willing to give if money or materials were announced first before the
project to be funded is mentioned? Wouldn’t some us call for a point of order?
Would we say that the procedure is wrong?
Friends, we sometimes question the methodology as a way of
running away from giving. In many cases it is not the methodology to blame but
hearts not surrender to God. It may not be methodologies to blame but our
unwillingness to part with what has been entrusted to us. It may not be
methodology to blame but failure to realize that whatever we have belongs to
God.
There are many people with means who do not give anything to
the Lord. On the other hand, there are many less fortunate believers who give
from the meager resources they have. The Israelites were immigrants who had all
excuses not to give at their disposal but they ignored all that and gave to the
cause at hand. Brothers and sisters, it is not only a question of ability to
give that prompts people to give. What drives people to give is a willingness
to do that. The last day movement is a blessed movement. We are not immigrants;
we are residents, and are citizens of our respective countries. Look through
the window and see the type and number of cars parked outside? With all this,
can we say that we are poor in the very sense of the word? The issue is not
methodology but unsurrendered hearts to God.
The Israelites knew where the command to give came from.
Their eyes saw beyond Moses. They could have had differences with Moses but
that never stood in the way of their giving because they knew that it was God
who wanted them to give.
One reason many fail to give is because their eyes never see
beyond the instrument. Their eyes never see beyond the elder, the stewardship
leader or the pastor. When the last day movement begins to see beyond the God’s
instruments, means will flow in the treasury to accomplish the mission Jesus
left us do.
The question each one of us need to ask is, ‘who do I see
whenever the appeal to give comes?’
Those Israelite migrants knew that giving cannot be the work
of others. They knew that giving is for all those blessed by God with means.
Women and men stood shoulder to shoulder in giving. What about here in this
church? Which age have we relegated giving to? Have we relegated it to those
above 65 years? Or is it a preclude of those in the 40-6o age bracket while the
rest wait until they reach that age?
What about the gender of givers? In this church which gender
tend to have more givers than the other? Is it men who give more than women? Or
is it women who give more than men.
Conclusion
The work will never end until all genders rally to the work
of God. This work will not end until all men and women see it as their
responsibility to give. The work will not be done until the youth stand by
their parents in giving. The work will not be over until family members join
hands in giving. How many of us here want to emulate the first movement’s
pattern of giving?
Sabbath, February 9,
2014
Title: One Reason The
Church Is Where It Is
Introduction
There is a correlation between cause and effect. It can
safely be said that to every effect there is a cause. If one is sick there
should be cause for that sickness. If one is angry there should be cause for
the anger. If a wife has lost her precious temper chances are that the husband
caused that. There is no such a thing as ‘I get annoyed naturally without any
reason.’ In like manner the church finds itself hands full with unreached
people groups over 150 years from inception. Because something is not right
somewhere. What has caused this? Let us read from 1Chronicles29:6-9.
From the passage above, we can draw the following lessons.
1. Giving Has A
Hierarchy
Here we see the giving hierarchy. Some people disdain the
hierarchy wherever it is but no one I guess is uncomfortable with the giving
hierarchy. A great work needed to be done, battle lines for action were drawn
and instructions for combat of giving clearly defined. But who were to be the
first to go to the giving floor? Were slaves to be the ones to open the floor?
No. Were the children with their innocence honoured to take the leading role?
No. What about the women leading out, after all they have majority shares in
numerical statistics? But the answer still was No. Were men not going to lead
out in this venture given the fact that the majority of them were soldiers?
Again, the answer is, No.
Leaders should no only enjoy the respect and honour that come
with position but also shoulder the responsibility that goes with the office
one occupies. In our church today, we need the hierarchy of giving. We die to
see our elders leading in giving. It does not matter how much they give. What
matters is their faithfulness in giving. We die to see church board members
leading in giving. It is not very important for them to vote on how to share
what has been given. What is more important is the share one has in what has
been given. We die to see all church officers leading in giving. It is not a
matter of life and death that officers are voted into office, what is more
valuable is for those officers to be registered in heaven as faithful givers.
We praise God because our pastors stand at the hierarchy of giving in the
church.
2. Leaders Should Set
The Standard High.
Can those with calculators and those with electronic minds
figure out how much in dollars and Kwacha, 185 tonnes of gold is worth? Can
they again find out how much 10 000 drachmas of gold and 675 tonnes of silver
is worth?
When leaders raise the standard high in giving, followers
will do all they can even if it means standing on stools in order to reach that
standard. When leaders give honourable gifts, followers will know that God
requires no less from them than from their leaders.
These leaders gave the best from the best they had. They did
not give brass in the place of gold. A leader should not give a goat when he is
able to give a cow. Do not give a K5 note when you are able to give a K50 note.
Do not give tithe only when those you lead are on 10% + 10% +. Members will always endeavor to match the
giving of their leaders.
But when leaders give meagerly, followers ignore completely
calls to give because leaders have not set the pace. When leaders complain that
they are too poor to give, members take that as their own excuse for not
giving. When leaders refuse to lead out in giving, followers lead out in
selfishness.
I am asking every leader present in this church to answer two
questions before I deal with the next point. First, if every member gave as you
give, how many people would still be in darkness? Secondly, if everyone gave as
you do, would we still be here on earth?
No one should accept to be a leader if such a person does not
believe in the hierarchy of giving. The church is where it is today because
many of our leaders in our church do not give.
3. When Leaders Are
Faithful In Giving, Member Rejoice
“The people rejoiced because of their leaders’ willingness to
give, for they had given to the LORD with a whole hear.”
Could it be that our churches are like funeral palours
because leaders are not givers? When leaders start giving, faces of members
lighten up because they are led by men and women enjoy God commendation. How
long will it take us to have our leaders in our local churches realize that
their example in giving is a matter of life and death? How many sermons and
bible studies are to be given before all church officers know that the
salvation of those they lead depend on their example? When will our churches
ring high with voices of joy because of the example set by leaders?
Conclusion
How many leaders present here today want to emulate leaders
in David’s church? Leaders who will not be satisfied by what their followers
give but by what they too give. Church elders, church clerks, head deacon and
head deaconess with all others officers, is it your desire to lead by example
in giving? If so, I ask you to stand as I call on members to stand as a demonstration
that they too desire to follow you in giving.
Sabbath, February 16,
2014
HOW MUCH SHOULD I GIVE AS OFFERINGS
Introduction
Many have asked us in the
stewardship department to tell them how much they should give as offerings.
While it is not the intention of this article to prescribe how much an
individual can give as offerings, it is hoped that it will challenge all
readers to evaluate their giving pattern.
In the Old Testament guidelines were given as to what
constituted acceptable offerings. In this regard we read from Leviticus 22:21
that, “And whosoever offereth a sacrifice of peace offerings unto the LORD to
accomplish his vow, or a freewill offerings in beeves or sheep, it shall
be perfect to be accepted; there shall be no blemish therein.”
Free will offerings were part of offerings to be given
to God and for them to be accepted they were to be perfect. In the New
Testament the equivalent to that verse might be what Paul wrote concerning the
generosity of the Macedonians.
“But
this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who
sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. So let each one give as
he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a
cheerful giver,” 2Corinthians 9:6-9.
The Adventist Believe on pages 305-306
reads,
The Israelites probably contributed as much as one fourth to one third
of their income to religious and charitable purposes. Did such a heavy
contribution lead to poverty? On the contrary, God promised to bless them in
their faithfulness (Mal.3:10-12;
Patriarchs and Prophets, 530; “Tithe,” SDA Bible Dictionary, rev, ed., 1127).
Today too, the Lord calls for liberal giving as He has prospered us.
Offerings are needed to build, maintain, and operate churches and set up
medical missionary work, demonstrating the practical significance of the
gospel.
Should we give as much as did the
Israelites, or are their patterns of giving no longer applicable? (italics
supplied) In the New Testament Christ had laid down the principle of true
stewardship-that our gifts to God should be in proportion to the light and
privileges we have enjoyed. He said, “For everyone to whom much is given, from
him much will be required; and to whom much has been committed, of him they
will ask more” (Luke 12:48). When Christ sent His followers on a mission, He
said, “Freely you have received, freely give” (Matt.10:8). This principle applies
to all the sharing of our financial blessings as well.
The authors further went on to
write that, “’Nowhere does the New Testament repeal or relax this system. As we
compare our privileges and blessings with those of the Israelites, we see that
in Jesus our share has clearly been greater. Our gratitude will find a
corresponding expression through a greater liberality so that the gospel
salvation can be extended to others’ (Testimonies
for the Church, vol. 3, 392). The more widely the gospel is proclaimed, the
greater support it needs.”
Since giving is proportionate to the light and
privileges received and that as “we compare our privileges and blessings with
those of the Israelites, we see that in Jesus our share has clearly been
greater;” this should make us give more than they did. If with their less light
and privileges, the Israelites managed to give between a quarter and a third of
their income, how much should we give today with our unlimited privileges and
blesssings entrused to us?
It should also be stated that human beings are not
givers by nature. By our selfish nature, we are prone to lean more on receiving
than giving. Probably this is what led Jesus to state that, “It is more blessed
to give than to receive” Acts 20:35.
Consider the
following Counsel from Ellen G. White
“In determining the proportion to be given to the
cause of God, be sure to exceed, rather than fall short, of the requirements of
duty. Consider for whom the offering is to be made. .. When Christ is the
object of our affections, those who have received His pardoning love will not
stop to calculate the value of the alabaster box of precious ointment”
(Testimonies for the Church, vol. 4, 484).
Another quotation reads, “In that day those who think
that God will accept meager
offerings and unwilling services will be disappointed. God will not put his
superscription upon the work of any man…that is not done heartily, faithfully
and with an eye single to His glory (Testimonies
for the Church, vol. 2, 666).
Conclusion
Since the Israelites gave
between a quarter and one third of their income because they did not have the
light and privileges that we have, “how much would they give if they lived in
our time?” The answer you have given should be your goal to reach in giving.
Sabbath,
February 24, 2014
Title: What
All Of Us Should Know
Introduction
What is it that all of us should know? Is it knowing how to
walk in the church? What is it that we should all know? Is it eating and
drinking to the glory of God? What is it that we should know? Is it praying in
tongues? What is it that we should know? Is it knowing how to conduct good
church weddings?
Let us turn to 1Chronicles 29:14-16 and hear what the Bible
has to say.
The builders of that magnificent structure which was one of
the seven wonders of the then world gave as they did because of two factors
they knew so very well.
Factor 1
They Knew Who The ‘Real’
Boss Was
They said, “we have given You only what comes from your own
hand….everything belongs to you.”
Unless we know who the real boss is, we are bound to paly
boss ourselves. They read the bible alright that God is the Creator and hence
owner of everything that there is here on earth. Probably, they also head their
king remind them from time to time the words of Psalm 24:1 and Psalm 50:10-13.
Yes, they possessed animals but the real owner of those
animals was God. They had land but the knew that the real owner of the land was
God. They had gold and silver but they knew that the real owner of gold and
silver is God. This knowledge led them to regard what they had as mere temporal
blessings. They saw themselves as mere stewards of God’s possessions. It is for
this reason that they were able to give God gold and silver because that
belonged to Him.
When you know who the real boss is, you will never enter into
an argument with Him. The New Testament has an illustration here. When Jesus
sent His disciples to go and get the colt, He told them to tell the owner
should he ask them where they were taking it that the master wants it. Its
interesting that it turned out exactly as the Lord had said. But when the owner
was told that the Master wants it, he never resisted. That owner recognized the
real boss.
We argue over tithe and offerings; we go here and there in
search of singers and preachers to help us raise money for our church building
projects because we deliberately choose to forget who the real boss or owners
of what we possess is. For how can we explain the speed with which we finish
building our super Nigerian engineered houses single handedly and yet fail to
complete a church building with only one big room and two or three small ones?
The day this church will know that all it has belongs to God,
we will witness what we have never seen before. Its time we realized that this
world has an owner; that there is an owner to the cattle you have even though
you do not return tithe from them. There is an owner to that fat bank account
you have even though you donot acknowledge it. There is an owner to the one,
two or fleet of cars you drive. And above all there is One who claims ownership
you too.
Factor 2
We Are Foreigners And
Sorjourners
Ancient people regarded themselves as sojourners and
foreigners in this world. May be we need
to ask the question, ‘does the self understanding of somebody determine how
they look at life?’ the answer to that question is an outright, Yes. Since they
were sojourners and foreigners, they could not cling to the little things they
are given to use during the days of their sojourney. It is when we forget that we are strangers in
this world and that this is not our home that we begin to amass wealth and see
it as an end to the means.
A sojourner passes through a territory and he can ‘tarry but
for a night.’ He or she may admire certain things during this journey but those
things cannot be allowed to detract him/her from pursuing the goal.
Could it be that we have forgotten who we are and where we
are going that we have begun settling for the temporal things of this world?
Have we forgotten the parting promise of our Lord Jesus that He will come again
to take us to Himself? Have we forgotten Paul’s words that in 1corinthians 2: 9
that “eye has not seen and ear has not heard what God has prepared for those
who love Him.” There is good food here on earth but it can’t compare to the
heavenly one. There are nice buildings in Japan and Dubai but these can’t
compare with what Jesus went to prepare for us. There are smooth roads in the
States and surely even here in Zambia but these can’t compare with the streets
of gold there at home. There are
beautiful cities here on earth like Cape Town, Los Angeles and many others but these
can’t compare with New Jerusalem whose builder and maker is God.
Friends let us never forget that because we are strangers,
what we do not do today, may never be done tomorrow. Because we are strangers,
what we do not say today may never be said tomorrow because circumstances would
have varied.
Conclusion
What all of us should know is that God is still
the owner of everything here on earth and that we are strangers here on earth.
Therefore, whatever we have to do let us do it quickly. If it is giving, let us
give quickly. If it is showing mercy, let us show mercy quickly. If it is
reaching people with the message of salvation let us reach them quickly. If it
is returning tithe and offerings, let us return that quickly. And if it is
accepting Jesus as personal Saviour, let us accept Him quickly for tomo