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John Symons: A Biographical Sketch


Symons, John (1978 - 1979) Fifth pastor of Lusaka Baptist Church. He has also served a pastor at Kitwe Chapel, Portswood Church in the UK and Mkushi Christian Community in Zambia. 

John Symons was born on 21 March 1943 in Plymouth in England. He was brought up in Bristol, England of a Christian background that was mostly Brethren. He became a Christian at Southampton University in England where he was studying Geography. He later did a teaching certificate at Bristol University. He taught Geography and other subjects in a comprehensive school in Bristol. Symons has three sisters all who are Christians. One lives in the USA and the others in the UK. He married Gwyneth in 1975. This marriage was blessed with four children all who were born in Zambia. One of them is Andrew. The last born has a Zambian name Mwila. 

Symons was convinced of the need to serve as a missionary overseas while teaching Geography in Bristol. The sense of being called went as far back as his conversion and also encouragement from his parents. He trained at Dorothea Mission Bible School in Pretoria, South Africa as a self-sponsored student. Symons was asked to become pastor of Lusaka Baptist Church in 1978 after the church had been without a pastor for a year. His role during his pastorate was more of encouragement, direction setting and building unity. 

Symons played a leading role in developing a church full of youths zealous for the Lord who later had leadership roles in the country. The first Zambian elders, Joe Simfukwe (who later become pastor of the church) and Cephas Yandila were appointed at this time. In the first twelve months, many became Christians and almost sixty-six getting baptized as believers. 

Symons has also been pastor of Portswood Church in Southampton, UK in 1986, Kitwe Chapel and Mkushi Christian Community in Zambia. Symons has been pastor of Mkushi Christian Community since 2002. He has been instrumental in planting local churches in Mkushi and Serenje. Gwyneth, the wife has been assisting with managing the finances in the Church. 

Symons has a heart for evangelism and urges those seeking the ministry to be prayerful and given to the study of God’s word. He has preached from the Gospels, Acts, Romans, Ephesians and most Pauline epistles. Other books preached on are Genesis, Psalms, Song of Solomon, Daniel and other prophets both.  Symons was one of the preachers preached during the Golden Jubilee celebrations for Lusaka Baptist Church in 2000. He preached on "The Content of the Gospel". Symons visits Zambia regularly. 

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