Reflections from the Zambezi

Introduction Some trends usually sound and look attractive that young people never stop to think whether they are right for them. Youths normally find it easy to fall prey to the attractions of peer pressure. “All my friends are doing it” is the catch phrase. Youths fail to analyse the consequences of their actions. I make the above statement because of the trend of boys and girls in secondary school to have girlfriends and boyfriends. Some boys and girls think that it is abnormal not to be in a relationship with a member of the opposite sex when they are in school. But is it really abnormal? This pairing up of boys and girls is more common in co-educational schools. Pupils somehow think that the very fact that they are in a co-educational school means that they must have a boyfriend or girlfriend. Those in boys only or girls’ only schools will make efforts to have girl or boy friends in some neighbouring or sister schools. The writer recalls whilst attending a boys’ secondary school, ...

By Chikondi Phiri “Be not conformed to this world : but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God” (Romans 12:2) Introduction Christianity has been beset by a number of worldly amusements over the last few centuries. What the early Church considered abominable is now the darling of modern Christians. It is not uncommon to find pagan rituals and days being incorporated in the Church. Some argue that this is not wrong because “we are doing it the Christian way”. Others say that the new generation in the Church will not accept anything less than what the world is offering in terms of music, celebrations and dressing. This is not strange because the enemy of our souls is working night and day seeking whom he may devour (1Peter 5:8). Valentine’s Day, just like Halloween in United States of America, has found its way in the Church. If one was talking about cults it is no big bother but many so called evangelica...

As told by Dayle Medgett, son to Basil Medgett, second pastor of Ndola Baptist Church The church was started as a free church (non-denominational). I believe the first pastor was Maurice Darroll (1952 to 1954). At least he was the pastor before my dad, Basil Medgett (1954 to 1960?). Darroll was the one that transitioned the church from non-denominational to Baptist and he also built the first building which he describes as 20’ x 50’ with two ante-rooms and a stage. At the end of December 1953 he says the attendance had an average of 40 - 50 people. He received a call to Durban where he went in May 1954. I don’t know what happened to him after that. Basil Medgett had been an associate pastor at Salisbury Baptist Church (now Central Baptist Church) working in Umtali (now Mutare) and he married my mother in May 1954 and moved that month to start work in Ndola. He pastored there until moving to start the Bible College at Fiwale Hill and be the director of the Lambaland Mission in about 1...

By Charles Kidwell During 1955 my wife, Nora, and my daughter, Eleanor, moved from Port Elizabeth in South Africa to Lusaka, Zambia, (at the time known as Northern Rhodesia), as I had taken up an accounting position with the Motor Firm, Duly & Company Ltd, the then Ford Dealers in Zambia. Lusaka was at that time described as a "one horse town" but soon was to flourish into a pleasant Capital City. We soon linked up with the Methodist Church and I taught in the Sunday School, as there was no Baptist Church in Lusaka at the time. Duly & Co. gave us a warm welcome and housed us in a flat owned by the firm. After a few months I decided to advertise in the newspaper to locate any other Baptists who may be living in Lusaka. A Mrs Bain, originally from England, responded and also a lady from Durban who was teaching in the same Methodist Sunday School as I was. During this time my wife and I adopted a little girl, Zoe, making us a family of four. It was during 19...