N e w s l e t t e r Issue 2 | April - May 2017

A St Andrews UCZ Publication

Social Media
Helpful or harmful ?

4
things you need to Understanding ... United Voice Radio My favourite A journey
know about good Identity Spotlight Bible verses in Education
communication
 My favourite Bible verses
By Grace Namute

Molly Kaumba Gertrude Simwinga

Favourite verse: Jeremiah 29:11
Reason: I am looking for direction
in life, but I know God has a plan
for my life
Favourite Verse: Psalm 146
Reason: Its a pledge that I will
praise God all my life. It also
assures us that God is always
there. He is eternal.

Mulenga Mukanu
Favourite verse: Psalm 1
Reason: I love it because it was the
passage that the Reverend S. D.
Silwenga preached from when I was Keith Waddell
baptised on 28th October 2007. Every
time I read it, it reminds me of the Favourite Verses: Hebrews
privileges of the Christian life (bearing
11:1-16
fruit in season), the promise of God (the
Lord watches over the path of the godly), Reason: In the Bible it talks
and the responsibility of the believer about people that were
(not sitting in the seat of mockers and surrounded by past witnesses.
meditating on the law of the Lord) and
Thats the same way I feel here
I am always encouraged by this Psalm.
in Zambia that I am surrounded
by the people of faith and
this makes me feel at home,
Honest Chizu Scottish people and Zambian
people are good people.
Favourite verse: Proverbs 22:1
Reason: Its difficult to build a good
name but very easy to destroy it.
When you have a good name its easy
for people to associate with you. Even
when you die the good name will still
live on.
Nelo Kasote

Favourite Verse: John 14:1-3 and

Bernadette Bwalya John 11:35.
Reason: I am assured that Jesus
Favourite verse: Romans 8:28 has gone to prepare a place for
Reason: In our human day me in heaven (John 14:1-3) and
to day life, sometimes you in John 11:35 it reminds me that
face such big challenges that Jesus wept for my sins and died
you even lose hope but the so that I could be saved.
one true God we worship will
turn that challenge to your
advantage.

Masauso Mbewe
Favourite passage: Psalm37
Reason: Its talks about Gods
protection, therefore I feel
assured that I will always be
protected by God.
Chiziya Kashimu
Favourite verse: Psalm 42
Reason: It talks about those who
are thirsty for God, and it inspires
me to be one of them
Bible Insights
Q: What is the ultimate/greatest comfort and hope of all true
followers of Christ?
A: My ultimate comfort is that I am not my own1, but belong
body and soul, both in life and in death2 to my faithful
Saviour, Jesus Christ3. He has fully paid for all my sins with
his precious blood4, and has set me free from the tyranny
of the devil5. He also watches over me in such a way6 that
not a hair can fall from my head without the will of my Father
in heaven7; in fact, all things must work together for my
salvation8. Because I belong to him, Christ, by his Holy Spirit,
assures me of eternal life9 and makes me wholeheartedly
willing and ready from now on to live for him.10
Scripture references:
(1) 1 Cor. 6:19-20 (2) Rom. 14:7-9 (3) 1 Cor. 3:23; Titus 2:14
(4) 1 Pet. 1:18-19; 1 John 1:7-9; 2:2 (5) John 8:34-36; Heb.
2:14-15; 1 John 3:1-11 (6) John 6:39-40; 10:27-30; 2 Thess.
3:3; 1 Pet. 1:5 (7) Matt. 10:29-31; Luke 21:16-18 (8) Rom. 8:28
(9) Rom. 8:15-16; 2 Cor. 1:21-22; 5:5; Eph. 1:13-14 (10) Rom.
8:1-17
[Adapted from Heidelberg Catechism of the Dutch Reformed
Church]
Certified Skills Training
Courses coming to St Andrews
IT goes without saying, skills development is very
important, and well-crafted education programmes will
sharpen your skills and enable you to perform tasks
more productively. And more productivity means more
financial independence.
To help promote education and vocational
empowerment, the Mens Christian Fellowship (MCF)
of St Andrewss congregation in Lusaka has come up
with skills training programme that will provide mostly
agriculture focused courses: horticulture, poultry, fish
farming, and others.
These will be TEVETA certified courses, run in partnership
with Chipembi Farm college. They have brought the
courses nearer to us, and the evening classes will be
held at St Andrews congregation in Woodlands, at the
corner of Independence Avenue and Ash Road.
The goal is to commence the programme in the second
quarter of 2017. This programme is open to any church
members and to all eligible candidates within Lusaka.
For further information contact the congregation
chairperson Rev Alex Mwalilino or MCF Chairman Mr
Jack Masaka.
Remember, the more skill, the less effort needed for any
task!

The Preachers Priority

Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, 2 and by which
you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to youunless you believed in vain.

3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the
Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, 5 and that he
appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. 6 Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of
whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. 7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. 8 Last of all,
as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me. 9 For I am the least of the apostles, unworthy to be called an apostle,
because I persecuted the church of God. 10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace towards me was not
in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me. 11
Whether then it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed.

- 1 Corinthians 15:1-11 (ESV)

Edify Newsletter Produced by Communications Department Mr Lawrence Chakondwa

St. Andrews UCZ Congregation, Lusaka members: Mr Imboela Kufanga
Minister in Charge: Reverend Alex Mr Kambole Chituwo (Editor/ Ms Chanda Mulenga
Mwalilino Convenor) Ms Agness Chakondwa
For comments and queries: Mr Chisha Chola (Secretary) Mr Zindaba Philemon Muyunga
standrewslusaka@yahoo.com Ms Grace Namute (Treasurer) Mr William Kapembwa
0211263486 (Office) Mr Jack Masaka
Cover photo by Mr Kalenga Kanganja Mr Benjamin Mulenga Mwango Join us online:
St Andrews UCZ Lusaka Facebook Page
Designed by Ab Benson Lets Build St Andrews Youth Facebook Page

3| Edify April - May 2017

 A Journey
in education
Based on an interview conducted by Natasha Kwangala
Veteran teacher and educationist
Isabell Katongo Nambela Nakawala
Simukonda is a long standing member
of the UCZ. At age 74 years old, she
has a lot of experience to share with us,
and we would do well to listen to the
stories of our earliest church members
and glean some wisdom for our own
journey, and give thanks for what God
has been doing over the years.
Isabell was the name of a little girl
belonging to a couple that employed her
late father as a gardener. He was raising
money for his studies since he was a
student at Fordson Technical College
at the time, with a young wife who was
expecting. The couple that employed
her father had to return to England,
and little Isabell wanted her father to
go with them. When they later heard
that he had a baby girl they said, Now
you have your own Isabell, look after
her. She was born on 6th March 1942.
Isabell means sworn to serve God.
After completing his studies, her
dad was posted to Lunzuwa, south
of Abercrombie (now called Mbala).
4| Edify April - May 2017
He taught carpentry, thatching and
woodwork.
Mrs Simukonda shared her favourite
memories growing up. My favourite
childhood memory was the place
Lunzuwa. We had a lot of rain in the
rain season and worked in the field and
grew a lot of food. God gave us a lot
of wild fruit, a lot of wild mushroom,
so we were never hungry in Lunzuwa.
Now when we dont have so much rain,
I remember Lunzuwa. She then added,
The way we were growing up was
different. Time was spent working on
the land or grinding millet or collecting
firewood with your mother. With you
[nowadays], you have water in your
houses, you have electricity, and you
dont have to go to look for these things.
That makes its easier to have more time.
At age nine she was sent to attend
a boarding school at Lunzuwa. She
proved to be a dedicated pupil and was
then selected to go to Chipembi girls
secondary school, near Broken Hill
(now Kabwe), from form one to form
four. We arrived a week early and
had to work for food we were told
to flatten [or dig up] some anthills! A
week later they got into their normal
school programme. Other girls arrived
and I was put in form 1A, the group
that would learn Latin, while the other
class learned French instead. I didnt
know what Latin was, but I was happy
to get into that class.
Life was simple in those days, and
manual labour was intense. This
insight should make the modern
child reconsider when they complain
about chores and homework! Teacher
Simukonda narrated, We lived in 18
houses and I was house mother in house
number 13. Before I finished I ended up
as deputy head girl. As house mother,
I was responsible for distributing
firewood, for making sure everyone
came back safely from collecting
firewood. The school tractor helped us
transport the wood. We all cooked our
own food according to the houses. There
was no dining hall.
Her path in education would not end
there. In those days, the educated
woman would most likely either become
a nurse or a teacher. Since her father
was a lecturer and had taken his job to
heart, it seemed a natural choice to join
the teaching profession, and indigenous
teachers were trained at Chalimbana. A
small group of six boys and four girls
were crafted into secondary school
teachers.
It was no surprise when she was
posted to teach English, Geography,
History and Physical Education back
at Chipembi, and the teachers were
very happy to have her back! The
government of Northern Rhodesia paid
her salary, but the other teachers were
missionaries.
The missionaries were under the
Wesleyan Methodists, and Chipembi
girls was opened in 1913. The brother
school, Kafue boys, was under the
Primitive Methodists and was opened
in 1914. Both schools now fall under the
United Church of Zambia. Education
was a very important tool for evangelism
and transforming society. Literacy is
important for personal development,
and when you learn to read and write
you can teach yourself almost anything.
The church was very serious in what
they intended to do, even though they
had very little. For instance, I will
mention education. The church took
education very seriously, although they
didnt have much at that time. That is
why they opened many primary schools
all over the country, because they wanted
to educate as many children as possible.
After independence, the government
took over primary schools. This poses a Working as a bridge between UCZ
challenge to us today, to give education and the government, they had to
the attention it deserves. introduce school boards as instructed
by government. They schools also had
Growing up, Mrs Simukonda associated to become more self-reliant and a
with the Church of Scotland because number of them introduced agricultural
her mother came from Lubwa mission activities to supplement their finances.
station, and in Lunzuwa, the London
Missionary Society was the strongest In the course of her career Mrs
Christian influence. Later at Chipembi, Simukonda received a number of
the teaching of the Wesleyans had a awards including the Governors
great impact on her, especially the late Youth Leadership Award, from the
Reverend Goodhope. Northern Rhodesia Governor, an
NGOCC Award for work that helped
The example of the missionaries had women achieve more, and an award
a great impact on her life. I was received during Zambias golden jubilee
impressed and I took an example from celebration for work in the civil service.
them that come fire, come rain, if I
know what I am doing is right before
God I should stand firm and not pack
up and go. If you really believe you are
a Christian and you want to work like
the Lord Jesus Christ, love people, love
children. Every evening you have to sit
down and ask yourself, what have I done
for another person? In the girl guides
we said Do a good turn every day.
Do more than just talk about being a
Christian. Lets see your Christianity
through work.
Mrs Simukonda had three faces at
Chipembi. As a pupil, a teacher and
later on, she worked for the Ministry
of Education from 1964. Then after
retirement, she became the Education
Secretary for the UCZ, supervising This story must surely challenge us make
the UCZ schools Chipembi, Kafue education a priority and to remember
boys, Njase girls, Masuku co-education how the small beginnings in learning
school and Sefula co-education school. can impact a lifetime.
5| Edify April - May 2017
 Are you
AN EFFECTIVE
COMMU
NICATOR
4 things about good communication ?
Based on a session given by Chisebwe Fumbeshi
at a Communications Department training programme

1 What is communication?
3 The Prerequisites to
communication

Proper attitude (1Corinthians 13: 4-7)

Do not make assumptions (Proverbs

Communication can be defined as
a process that allows enables us 15:28)
to share knowledge or experiences
with anything outside of ourselves. Stay Pure in Speech (Ephesians
Common forms of communication 4:29)
include speaking, writing, gestures,
touch and broadcasting. Control your anger (Ephesians
4:26-27)
Effective communication occurs
when the following are all the same:

4
(a) What we mean to say (b) What
we actually say (c) What the other
person hears (d) What the other
person thinks he hears.
So it is not enough to speak or send
a message. It needs to be effective.
The work of communication
Communication should be timely,
not too late or in the wrong meeting.
Listen, dont be too quick to speak.
Know how to hear, understand and
interpret information.

Calmly give information. Even if

2
The need for Communication
in the church
For Bible Study and evangelism
(Romans 10-10-17)
To Work together (Acts 8:14)
To settle disagreements (Acts 15:6-
10)
Rate yourself on the next few
points and find out if you are a good
communicator
you are upset or provoked, give a
clear message and discuss issues. If
people are too emotional, postpone
the discussion.
Truthfully communicate. Resist the
temptation to lie to make it easier
to conclude a matter. We are called
to speak the truth respectfully. Do
not bear false witness!
Patience is essential. Some
people exaggerate the sentences
and parables when they are only
expressing one point. Be patient
with others as you want them to be
patient with you

6| Edify April - May 2017

 UV Spotlight
UCZ GENERAL SECRETARY PRODS CHURCH
LEADERS
By United Voice Radio Staffer
The United Church of Zambia General Secretary
Dr Peggy Mulambya-Kabonde has appealed to
Church leaders to be loyal to God and the Church.
Giving her Charge during the Induction Service
of Bishop Mwape Rodwell Chomba as Lusaka
Presbytery Bishop at St Pauls. United Church
of Zambia on 18th December 2016, Rev Dr
Kabonde challenged Church workers to avoid
being on what she called Gospel Highway by
not giving time to their families and the flock.
She called on church workers to avoid tearing at
each other, saying this hindered Gods work.
Rev. Dr Kabonde appealed to the Inductee,
Bishop Chomba, to have an open heart to learn
from fellow Christians as well as leaders.
The induction service was attended by Justice
Minister Given Lubinda, Minister in the Vice-
Presidents Office, Sylvia Chalikosa and several
Church workers and leaders and dignitaries.
STORY: COURTESY OF UNITED VOICE RADIO
UVRS ACQUIRES OUTSIDE BROADCAST KIT
By United Voice Radio Staffer
St Andrews Congregation have scored a first by
being the first congregation to sample an outside
broadcasting kit acquired by United Voice Radio
Station.
THE UNITED VOICE RADIO STATION
Fulfilling the Great Commission
Looking for a platform to advertise your goods and services . . . ?
United Voice Radio Station offers you the best.
Why United Voice Radio?
Because we have a captive audience;
Our rates are affordable and competitive;
We provide a platform for discussion of economic and social issues;
We promote Christian and social values.
And are you a singer or choir about to enter a recording studio?
Our state-of-the-art recording studio offers the best facilities.
Come and sample our facilities.
St Andrews Congregation have sampled the
outside broadcast kit by transmitting a live
church service on Christmas Day.
The Bluepack Cellular Tool has been bought
from the United States of America and would
enable the United Voice Radio Station (UVRS) to
broaden its audience and financial bases.
UVRS Board Secretary Joy Lubinga has appealed
to congregations to take advantage of the kit to
broadcast worship services and other church activities
to help win more souls to Christ.
RECORDING STUDIO ATTRACTS CHOIRS
By United Voice Radio Staffer
The state-of-the art United Voice Radio Station
recording studio has continued to attract choirs and
solo artistes.
The recording studio was launched together with the
radio station on 30th November 2016.
Choirs such as Holy Cross Choir from Kasama and the
famed Mt. Sinai from the Copperbelt, have recorded
at the UVRS studios.
Fees for recording and making instruments are
competitive.
Inquiries have been received for recording in the New
Year from choirs and the UVRS Management has
promised clients the best service they could possibly
bargain for.
Contact us on:
0211-255125/0977-777-6194
Or call at Plot 1714B, Burma
Road, next
to St Pauls United Church of Zambia
Email: unitedvoiceradio@gmail.com
Face book: United-Voice-at-92.7FM
United Voice Radio - Giving You A Voice!
7| Edify April - May 2017
 Photo Focus

Vice President Visit to

United Voice Radio Station LCC Youth Outing BB Junior Camp
held in Kafue

MCF and CDSJ visited Mr and Mrs Siwale

Mr and Mrs Graber from St Annes

Lusaka Central Consistory
Bishop Chomba at his
Inauguration at St Pauls
Parish in Scotland, on an exchange
Sunday School Teachers
visit, visited the first Republican
GB Enrolment at at a Training Seminar
President Dr Kenneth Kaunda
St Andrews

Heritage - Stained glass window

reminding us of the Lamb and
the Cross Lifeskills Training - Junior Team Lifeskills Training - Senior Team

8| Edify April - May 2017

 Identity
The question of identity has been a
prominent question in Scotland over the
last few years. There was the referendum
in 2014 when Scottish people voted on
whether or not Scotland as a nation should
remain in the United Kingdom. Both
sides tried desperately to appeal to voters
by putting the question of leave or stay
into terms of identity. It was a question of
deciding between a Scottish identity and a
British identity.
Now the whole of the UK is facing another
referendum about whether or not the UK
should remain in the European Union.*
Once again this is a question of identity.
This of course is not a specifically Scottish
problem. In the United States, people often
struggle to have a distinct identity. Do they
identify with their State or with the Nation
as a whole? Or do they identify with their
ethnic heritage as Germans, Scots, Italians,
Asians, or Africans?
In lieu of these types of identities people
often turn to other sources of identity. The
find their identity in a sports team, in the
school they went to, in the university they
attended, in the career they have chosen,
in the group of friends they have, or in the
family they are a part of.
Many times these identities are harmless
interests, but sometimes they are a part of
a desperate attempt to answer a question
that we all have: Who am I? What is my
Identity?
It is a question that, while it seems so
important, is all but impossible to answer.
The fact is that we are nobody without others.
Without others we cannot know if we are
friendly, loving, kind, or compassionate.
Without others, we simply do not know.
Thus the question of Identity becomes a
question of belonging.
It is a question of who or what do we belong
to. Do we belong to our family, do we
belong with the people around us, do we
belong to our country, do we belong to a
club or society? Where do we belong and
who do we belong to?
While we can all say with confidence that we
belong to God, we do not always understand
exactly what that means. What does it mean
to belong to God, to be his, to be in him? In
other words, what is our identity?
In our reading from Romans 11:11-22 and
in our reading from the John 15:1-5 we are
provided with two explanations. Both use
the metaphor of a grafted vine.
John 15.1-5
15I am the true vine, and my Father is the
vine-grower. 2He removes every branch in
me that bears no fruit. Every branch that
bears fruit he prunes to make it bear more
fruit. 3You have already been cleansed by
the word that I have spoken to you. 4Abide
in me as I abide in you. Just as the branch
cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in
the vine, neither can you unless you abide
in me. 5I am the vine, you are the branches.
Those who abide in me and I in them bear
much fruit, because apart from me you can
do nothing.
Romans 11.11-22
11 So I ask, have they stumbled so as to fall?
By no means! But through their stumbling
salvation has come to the Gentiles, so
as to make Israel jealous. 12Now if their
stumbling means riches for the world, and if
their defeat means riches for Gentiles, how
much more will their full inclusion mean!
13 Now I am speaking to you Gentiles.
Inasmuch then as I am an apostle to the
Gentiles, I glorify my ministry 14in order to
make my own people jealous, and thus save
some of them. 15For if their rejection is the
reconciliation of the world, what will their
acceptance be but life from the dead! 16If
the part of the dough offered as first fruits is
holy, then the whole batch is holy; and if the
root is holy, then the branches also are holy.
17 But if some of the branches were broken
off, and you, a wild olive shoot, were grafted
in their place to share the rich root of the
olive tree, 18do not vaunt yourselves over
the branches. If you do vaunt yourselves,
remember that it is not you that support the
root, but the root that supports you. 19You
will say, Branches were broken off so that
I might be grafted in. 20That is true. They
were broken off because of their unbelief,
but you stand only through faith. So do
not become proud, but stand in awe. 21For
if God did not spare the natural branches,
perhaps he will not spare you. 22Note
then the kindness and the severity of God:
severity towards those who have fallen, but
Gods kindness towards you, provided you
continue in his kindness; otherwise you also
will be cut off.
9| Edify April - May 2017
It is an image that is very evocative. In the
States, there was a person known as Johnny
Appleseed. In the days of the frontier he
travelled west ahead of the pioneers with
apple seeds and planted those seeds wherever
he went, sometimes years and generations
before settlers would ever arrive. The idea
was that the trees would grow to maturity
and that someday people would settle there
and have apples to eat.
There was a problem though. Planting
apples from seed does not always work out
so well. Often times the trees grow, but they
do not bear any fruit at all, or they will bear
very bitter fruit that cannot be eaten.
If you really want to have good trees that
produce good fruit, what you really need are
cuttings from a tree that already bears good
fruit. These can be planted themselves, but it
will take years for the tree to reach maturity.
However, if you have an apple tree that does
not produce fruit or simply has fruit that has
gone bad, you can cut into the tree and place
these cuttings into the bark of the tree.
These cuttings then grow produce good fruit
from a tree that has gone bad or produced
no fruit at all. It is an incredible process, but
the new branches that produce good fruit
are completely dependent upon the once
useless tree.
The author of Romans focusses on this
image of good branches replacing bad
branches, and both passages focus on the
fact that any new branches depend on the
root and stock of the tree into which they
are grafted in for their nourishment and life.
While both passages are concerned with the
question of what it means to belong to God,
the passage in Romans is more specifically
asking the question: How do we belong to
the covenant community of faith; how are
we grafted into that? Jesus, in the gospel
reading is answering the question: How are
we grafted into him? The first is a question
of tradition. The second is a question of
relationship. And both are good questions
10 | Edify April - May 2017
for us as a church today.
When Romans was written, one of the key
issues facing the church was the question
of its Jewish identity and the place that
Gentiles, or non-Jewish people, had within
the church. Jesus came from a Jewish family.
He came as a Jewish Messiah, foretold by
Jewish prophets, to fulfil the promises of a
covenant that God made with Jewish people.
It was years before the Roman government
recognized Christianity as being anything
other than a sect of Judaism. Yet, suddenly,
the gifts and the promises of God were being
promised to other people as well; and people
wanted to know how that was possible.
There were and have been all sorts of
theories. Perhaps the Jews were too sinful,
so God cut them off. Perhaps the new
covenant replaced the old covenant. Perhaps
the new covenant is only good because of
the old covenant. Perhaps the new covenant
is just an extension of the old covenant.
People look for all sorts of continuities and
discontinuities between the old and the new,
and they forget the words of Jesus, I did not
come to abolish the Law. I
We are often tempted to think of salvation
in all too human terms. We think of the
Garden of Eden as perfection. We think of
sin as mistake. We think of the banishment
as a consequence. We think of the old
covenant as a solution. We think of the
old covenant being an imperfect solution
that needs fixed. We think that Jesus came
to clean up the mess that sin and the old
covenant left behind. And we think of the
Holy Spirit as someone who is here to make
sure that we dont make another mess for
God to clean up.
Those are human terms. That is what
happens when I cook. I spill things. I make
messes. I clean them up.
But when we are talking about salvation. We
are talking about the God of the Universe,
and he does not make mistakes.
We can sit here, cast judgment, and say that
the Jews were sinful and that God cut them
off. But the fact is that we are sinful, and yet
God has accepted us. We are not any better
than they were. We have no reason to be
proud. We have no reason to be confident.
Because the plan of God has always been
the same. It is the same yesterday, today, and
forever. It was the same in the old covenant
as it is in the new covenant: namely to unite
Gods people to himself. It was not a mistake
for God to make a new creation. It was not
beyond his control that they fell. It was not
a mistake that God called Abraham to be his
own. It was not a mistake when God gave
Moses his law. It was not a mistake when
God inspired prophecy of Israels salvation.
It was always Gods plan to send his Son to
be one with us. It was always Gods plan
to be present with us by his Spirit. It was
always Gods plan for us to be his children
and his people.
As the author of Romans goes on to say in
the same passage, the gifts and the calling
of God are irrevocable. No amount of
wandering in the wilderness, no amount of
disobedience, no amount of backsliding can
ever negate, diminish, or destroy one iota of
Gods good and perfect will for us and all
people.
This is why when Jesus addresses the same
question of belonging he is not concerned
with our other belongings. He is not
concerned about our national identity. He
is not concerned about our ethnic identity.
He is not concerned with our personal
identity. He is not concerned about our
church identity or our spiritual identity. He
is concerned about our identity in him.
When Jesus is speaking to his disciples in
the upper room before their last Passover
meal, before he will be betrayed, before he
will be tried, before he will be beaten, before
he will be crucified, before he will be raised,
he wants them to know that they and all of
those who came before them and after them
belong to him.
[Continued on the last page...]
 8
Positive use of social media
things you need to
know about social media
1. To connect with long lost friends and relatives
There was a time when, if a relative travelled to another
country, you could receive a letter once in a while, and
maybe even receive a phone call on special occasions. But
you were basically cut off from their lives. But now, with
social media, you can stay in touch every day and even talk
face to face with video calling facilities. Staying in touch has
never been so easy!
2. To research and learn more
Once upon a time, we had to depend on outdated libraries
for research. And unless you were studying classic literature,
you were stuck with outdated science and history books.
Now there is greater access to research and opinions of
others. (Though not all sources can be trusted). Some have
learnt how to play an instrument, a sport or run a business
using online information.
3. To express yourself to a wider audience
Many celebrities made their first steps to becoming well
known on social media. Videos shared across many groups
exposed their music, poetry or uplifting messages to wider
audiences. Before the coming of social media, we depended
on mass media (radio and TV), but there is an alternative
that anyone can afford.
4. Common interest groups
There are social media groups for soccer players, musicians,
counselling, SMEs for every kind of business, school clubs,
and the list is endless! People
In the end it becomes a question of identity, and what approval
matters most in your life. Social media is a good servant and a
cruel master if it takes over your daily routine!
Negative use of social media
1. Anti-social behaviour
Have you ever seen a room full of people, but each is busy
with their phone instead interacting? This happens even in
homes! Many find it hard to pack all the phones and laptops
and switch off the television and simply interact.
2. Bad company and crooks
Some social media groups are formed because of having
bad habits in common, dangerous and addictive behaviour.
Also people can be too free to share personal details and
conmen and all kinds of crooks can take advantage of
people this way. Everything from drugs, violence to cult
teaching can be spread more easily.
3. Killing time
Many people waste away several hours a day on social
media. You can easily lose three to four hours in combined
time to aimless social media surfing. If there was a certificate
for social media surfing, that would be great. But remember
there is none!
4. Searching for spotlight
There is a lot of pretence on social media. I remember
seeing some girls posing next to a car for a photo, one lady
had her hand on the door handle. A few moments later they
walked away it wasnt their car, it was just good for a social
media picture! And then others begin to feel pressured to
portray such exciting lives as well! This is the point where we
need to be a bit discerning.
11 | Edify April - May 2017
Instead of focussing on anything else,
he focusses on the question of ultimate
belonging, which is belonging to God, in
Christ, and by the Spirit.
Jesus says to his disciples: Abide in me as
I abide in you. Just as the branch cannot
bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the
vine, neither can you unless you abide in
me. I am the vine, you are the branches.
Those who abide in me and I in them bear
much fruit, because apart from me you can
do nothing. Here Jesus becomes and is the
place where his disciples live and where we
are called to live. He is the only source of
their productivity and the only source of
our fruitfulness. He is the vine. He is the
one who is rooted and strong. He is the
one who provides food, water, and nutrients
for us to grow. We are given the identity
of branches, people who are utterly and
entirely dependent upon him for our life, our
work, and our well-being. Without him we,
not only can do nothing; but without him
we are nothing. It is this nothing that makes
this a matter of identity.
We too, like those in Rome, find ourselves
as inheritors of a tradition. We too serve the
God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. We too
serve the God of Sinai and the God of the
prophets. But we, like them, serve the God
of a new and ongoing tradition in which we
are grafted into Christ, Christ Himself, and
Christ alone.
To belong to Christ means having him
be the ultimate and final source for our
identity. The problem with any other source
of identity is that it is temporary. Your
identity as a son or daughter, brother or
sister, husband or wife, father or mother,
grandfather or grandmother, aunt or uncle,
student or teacher, employee or employer,
borrower or lender, as a political person, as
being from a particular place, or coming
from a particular family, being rich or poor,
being American, Scottish, or Zambian are
all subject to change. They are all temporary
and incomplete identities.
To belong to Christ
means having him be
the ultimate and final
source for our identity.
The problem with any
other source of identity
is that it is temporary.
But identity in Christ
is forever. It is eternal,
complete, and total
But identity in Christ is forever. It is eternal,
complete, and total. When we belong to
Christ all of those other identities become
secondary and tertiary to our identity in
him. Identity in Christ comes first and it
forms and shapes all of our other identities.
In a way, we cease to be all of these other
things; because first and foremost we are
people who are in Christ.
That is an identity that requires all of who
we are, all of who we have been, and all of
who we become.
It is a powerful identity. It is an identity that
is powerful enough to free us from sin. It
is an identity powerful enough to change
our lives and our living. It is an identity
powerful enough to change our conduct.
It is an identity powerful enough to take us
all as sinners and transform us into sons and
daughters of God. It is an identity powerful
enough to raise us up from death into life.
It is an identity powerful enough to change
our vengeance into mercy, our judgment into
grace, our despair into hope, and to change
our hatred into love.
It takes us by force and conforms our lives,
our actions, and our very selves and conforms
them into the very image Christ.
O the depth of the riches and wisdom and
knowledge of God! How unsearchable are
his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!
For who has known the mind of the Lord?
Or who has been his counsellor? Or who
has given a gift to him, to receive a gift in
return? For from him and through him and
to him are all things. To him be the glory
forever. Amen.
[This message was preached at St Andrews
UCZ congregation during Evan and
Samantha Grabers visit on behalf of St Annes
Congregation in Scotland]