Christmas Sunday at Emmasdale Baptist Church

EMMASDALE BAPTIST CHURCH – 25^TH DECEMBER 2011

The congregation listening to the children singing

Christmas though has a pagan background; we have taken advantage of that in sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ in that he was born of a virgin birth to come and be a savior of the world.

Mr. Misheck Daka leading the worship service

While growing up in Kitwe, I knew Christmas to be a day that came once a year and as a family we would be sharing Christmas presents and cards, it was a time to receive and give. I remember one day in my Sunday school days at Kitwe Chapel, when we were asked a question about what comes first, Christmas or New Year, we always thought it was Christmas since we celebrated Christmas a week before the New Year.

Part of the congregation listening to the Sunday school children singing

Pastor Muwowo being interviewed by Mr. Daka

For many people, Christmas is a time of sorrow. They don't have the extra money to buy presents for their children, family, and friends. Many are saddened at Christmastime when they think of their loved ones who will not be able to come home for various reasons. Turkey dinners may be only a wish and not a reality for some.

Pastor Muwowo and his wife

Many people in this age today do not really know the true meaning of Christmas, some look at it as a day when they should drink their heads off, others it a time to enjoy life by sleeping around. There is more of sexual immorality on Christmas Eve than any other days of the year. Others look at Christmas as a day to go to church and have a Christmas service while others will just stay home with their families.

On Sunday the 25^th December 2011 at Emmasdale Baptist church, we were privileged to have Pastor Andrew Muwowo from the United Kingdom as our guest speaker. He was our Pastor at Kitwe Chapel for 10 years from 1993 to 2003 after which he and his family moved to the U.K. He was interviewed by Mr. Misheck Daka before he preached the Word of God.

Pastor Muwowo preaching

He preached from Matthew 1: 18 – 25 and two (2) things that he brought to our attention concerning our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Firstly, he talked about Jesus Christ being fully God and secondly he talked about Him being fully man. In Pastor Muwowo’s preaching, Christmas meant two (2) things to him as he was growing up in Muyombe; Firstly, it meant new cloths and secondly, it meant having a good meal, in this case rice with chicken

My parents were also visiting Emmasdale Baptist church and it was a great family reunion. The Sunday school boy and girls sang some Christmas carols and later on did some memory verses; it was amazing how the young boys and girls could memorize not only a verse but big passages of scripture. One of the girls recited a passage of scripture from Psalm 119 for about 8 minutes, it was really a challenge to the youths. I personally don’t think I could have done what these young boys and girls did.

After the church service, we had some interaction as the ladies were preparing the food and it was a time to talk more about Christmas and its true meaning. We really had a great time. 

Mrs. Muwowo sports Racheal my wife

Mrs. Febby Muwowo sported my wife and she said. “I knew it was her from her pictures on facebook”. I introduced my wife to her and she congratulated me for my wedding and also expressed her heartfelt condolences for the loss of Precious my elder sister. 

Mrs Muwowo expressing her condolences to mum & dad for the loss of Precious

Mum explained to her what really happened to my late sister. Pastor Muwowo and his wife left shortly after the interaction and it was really a blessing to have them among us on Christmas day.

Mum explaining to Pastor Muwowo how Precious passed on

The program continued and we had fellowship as we shared the food. I personally managed to interact with a number of people that I normally see every Sunday at church and just say hi to them. The program finished around 14: 30hrs.

Family reunion

Pastor getting a picture of his wife after the service

Fellowship with the food

Former classmates at David Kaunda Tech Sec School

My wife being served after the service

The church Building

Pastor and his wife leaving Emmasdale Baptist

Sharing precious moments

Mrs. Daka talking to Mrs Chunda after the church service

The men being served by the ladies

Mr. Maseka with his two daughters

United Nations - Human rights day

“Celebrate Human Rights Day”

Patrick Mangoma

Patric Mangoma is a very good friend of mine and a close workmate, we work together at Tata Zambia. Though we are in different departments, we share alot of things and he is one in a million. This is what he had to say about the Human Rights day Celebration:

The 10^th December marks the day when we join the rest of humanity in celebrating the Human Rights day which were enshrined in the United Nations charter in the year 1948 with the aim of promoting and protecting the dignity of human life. Each year we continue to do so with deeper reflection, evaluating ourselves in our various communities and organizations.

This day is an invitation for all of us to go into the deep recess of our hearts and ask the following questions:

(a)        Do I and my neighbor have freedom and which freedom?
(b)        Is the environment conducive to allow life to be born, blossom and have 
             integral human development?
(c)         Is my current way of relating; promoting the dignity of human life?
(d)        Do I have the right to be heard or rather do we listen to each other?
(e)        Do we easily communicate?

These and many other questions may help us to reflect better if we put this in the context of families, local communities, work places, business places, Governments, war zones and in areas were competition over resources is the stiffest.

May I remind you that while you and I maybe straining our minds trying to have new solutions to the Human Rights Problems, amid ourselves are a few culprits whose insatiable quest for power and domination has not failed to leave others injured.

As a church we are challenged to live exemplary lives to the extent that others look up to us for moral guidance. It is our role in the society to remind everyone that any human life in its every status and form deserves dignity (perhaps this is a challenge to mothers who exercise abortion and leaders who mistreat people who are in desperate situations)

As we celebrate this day, lets do it with people who have being released from the shackles of social and political oppression. With people who are free at last.

However let’s not relent in our efforts to fight for justice for those who are not yet free. And I believe the best way of remembering those who are oppressed is to try and transform those who oppress them.

 May the God who created man and put everything under his domain awaken man’s mind to be responsible for the creation of his master. Amen

Our Wedding Day

After 6 months of intense planning, finally the day we had been planning, praying, hoping and patiently waiting for arrived. It had not been an easy road, there were many constraints that caused us to doubt the success of this day, many dark nights that left us looking up to heaven for solutions, many dark voices that for sure didn’t want the day to succeed, and indeed many toils and snares and yet Yahweh provided many kind hearts that were ready and on hand to help, they helped, they supported, they comforted, they encouraged, they gave their time, their money their resources and their all. We thank God for the people that He raised for such a time as this such people as our parents, our brothers, sisters, cousins, nephews, nieces, friends, church mates and neighbours, they really did a great job and ensured the success of our wedding.

The brides maids arrive in church

26^th November, 2011 marked our transition from bachelorhood and spinsterhood to holy matrimony. The day started as early as 04hours for us, the ladies were having the hair done as early as 04hrs and it was a busy morning for all of us. Much as we had tried to plan every detail to the letter, it didn’t turn out that way and people began to panic. Like the florist was expected to start decorating the cars at 06hrs but she only showed up at 08hrs and the service was scheduled to begin at 09hrs, it was two hrs of panicking and questioning and doubting and anger and many negative emotions flared but Yahweh still granted the grace and it was so sufficient.

The best men match to take their positions in church

Waiting in church for the bride, I began to wonder whether she was still coming, whether she had changed her mind for she was late. But at 10hrs, the cars ferrying the bridal party hooted and there was excitement in anticipating the marching in of the woman we were all waiting for. The bridal party matched in to Cece Winans “it wasn’t easy” and they looked so lovely with the ladies in their olive green knee high dresses punctuated by a lovely cream belt and ribbon and golden sandals and jewellery and the best men in their gray suits, white shirts adorned with jade green waist coats and ties and they just looked so beautiful, the flower girls were indeed looking like flowers in their knee high white dresses with long green belts and the page boys in black suits, white shirts and maroon ties, the setting was so lovely, so elegant and so blissful, it came out so well.

The bridal party matching in church for the Wedding blessing

The Bridal party took their places in front and immediately the instrumental “Here comes the Bride” was ringing in every corner of the church, the members of the audience got to their feet, the atmosphere was fully charged, my heart was beating, everyone wanted to see the bride long anticipated. In she came by the hand of her father, she look so radiant, so nervous and ever so beautiful, she was glowing, there were ululations as she walked down the aisle to me the waiting groom her eyes fastened on her bouquet obviously too nervous to look in peoples' faces, she was smiling, she was beautiful, it was a wonder, she looked like a dream. My heart was racing, it skipped several beats, my bride was coming, she was handed over to me and oh was she sweating. She was beautiful and she remains beautiful.

The men waiting for the Bride to walk in

The service progressed well and we were finally pronounced husband and wife. We wrote down our own vows and they sounded warming and comforting as they rung out from the both of us. I meant every bit of every word as I read out the following vows to her, “I, Obvious, take you Racheal, to be my wife, my partner in life and my one true love. I will cherish you and love you today, tomorrow and forever. I will trust you and honour you; I will laugh with you and cry with you. I will love you faithfully, through the best and the worst, through the difficult and the easy. What may come, I will always be there. As I have given you my hand to hold, so I give you my life to keep“

It was a solemn service, it was a beautiful day, and it was a beautiful beginning for the both of us. It was brighter than we had imagined it to be. 

After the service, we went for photos and then lunched at the matrons; we all got ready and headed to the Bridal shower venue. This bridal shower was unique in the sense that the first one hour of the shower, men were present and there was the cutting of the cake, it was beautiful, the bridal party graced the audience with their well rehearsed dance routines, the cakes were presented to the parents from both sides and then some cut to give to the guests.

The wedding line up pose for a picture

Obvious & Racheal Kamanga

The men were excused and the actual shower started. It was just as successful and Yahweh really spoke to people and they brought my bride many presents to help her start her new life and home.

Cutting of the cake with Mrs Mwanza the Matron

We both thank Yahweh Almighty that in our time of need, He never left our side, He stood by us, He encouraged us, he comforted us, He calmed our fears, He was our closest friend, Our Father indeed, He raised so many supporters and helpers for such a time as this and He provided for our every need that it was amazing how great His love is to us wards.  

Racheal arrives for her Bridal Shower

The groom bringing the fruit basket and flowers

We are now in our own home just the two of us and we thank Yahweh that He remains faithful through it all, May He forever be the third strand in our marriage as a cord of three strands is not easily broken. And my earnest prayer is that He may continue to bless our marriage and to grant us every grace to stay faithful and loving towards each other.

Exchanging of gifts

Mr & Mrs Kamanga