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Serious Confusion Crips Ndola’s UCZ Church
By MONICA KAYOMBO
THERE was confusion at the United Church of Zambia (UCZ) Nkwazi Congregation in Ndola yesterday when two factions turned the house of God into a debate arena over whether a reverend some congregants accuse of mismanaging church funds should conduct the main Sunday service or not.
The commotion ended up disrupting the service which normally starts at 10:05 hours and ends at 12:30 hours but yesterday ended an hour earlier.
Some congregants protested against being part of the main service when Reverend Joseph Chewe Ng’oma appeared at the pulpit to preach the word of God.
On Saturday, some aggrieved members closed the main entrance of the church and vowed not to open it as long as Rev. Ng’oma was the one who was going to preach the Gospel during yesterday’s service.
However, some members managed to unlock the entrance to the church before the time for the main service which started normally although with a handful of youthful members.
As the young congregants continued singing songs of praise inside the church, Rev. Ng’oma arrived at the church in a Surf vehicle registration ABA 9864.
Upon his arrival, the congregants who were inside the church started trooping out with some shouting on top of their voices: “We don’t want him here, he must go!”
Calm was temporarily restored when some plain-clothed police officers arrived at the church and threatened to apprehend anyone who would become violent.
It was then that Rev. Ng’oma entered the church and started delivering his sermon from Isaiah 40:31: “..but those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.”
Rev. Ng’oma said his main purpose of being at the church was to preach the Gospel and unite people but that if the people didn’t want him, he was ready to leave.
He challenged congregates who kept disrupting his sermon to stand up and petition him if they had genuine reasons to have him leave.
“Children of God, you have the right to ask me to leave. If you feel I must leave of which I am ready now, come and write your name here,’’ Rev. Ng’oma said.
At this point, about half of the congregants rose in affirmation to his stay at the church while others trooped out to protest against his stay.
And Rev. Ng’oma confessed before the worshippers that his three-year stay at Nkwazi Church Congregation has been traumatising.
“I must say I have been traumatised here, we must help each other as a church for the sake of progress,” Rev. Ng’oma said before leaving the pulpit.
Later, one of the preachers, Margaret Nyambe, accused Rev. Ng’oma of being selfish and segregative.
Ms Nyambe also accused the “man of God” of having mismanaged church funds.
“Up to now, we don’t have a good ablution block. We want him to explain where the money has been going,’’ Ms Nyambe said.
But church chairlady Bina Poleni said she was saddened that a small group of people wanted to cause confusion in the church.
Ms Poleni said Nkwanzi UCZ congregation has a history of sending away its reverends unceremoniously.
She claimed that there are some people who think they founded the church and must be given high positions at the congregation.
Rev. Ng’oma was later whisked away by a Good Samaritan from an angry mob that threatened to burn him as police officers remained at the church to keep vigil.
On Friday, the church failed to hold a pastoral meeting due to differences among congregants.
Posted by Editor
on April 15, 2013. Filed under LATEST NEWS.
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Brainiac
April 15, 2013 at 2:24 pm
Messiah bwelanso pa chalo ukwapule nafuti!!!!
kajinta
April 15, 2013 at 3:21 pm
as a member of the UCZ family im not surprised because this has happened before in Lusaka and Chingola….shame to our church leadership why cant they find lasting solutions to such disgracing matters…..God please help us as congregants some times we even stop attending church because of such happening in our churhes…
Loloshi
April 15, 2013 at 3:35 pm
Same story at Chelstone congregation, the devil has come to reside with the UCZ. Do reverands in UCZ handle cash? What is the Treasurer’s job? Where is the finace commitee?
LoneRanger
April 15, 2013 at 3:58 pm
Sounds serious
YOBO 13,13
April 15, 2013 at 4:25 pm
UCZ grow up and solve your problems amikably,if a man of God misuse funds whats your church protocal?? grow up
xi
April 15, 2013 at 5:52 pm
Hypocrites! ‘Un-united’ church of zambia.
Democrat
April 15, 2013 at 6:54 pm
ndeloleshafye. ati ba reverend kuwayawayafye
Sir moderator
April 15, 2013 at 7:47 pm
this is a problem where the preacher man entirely depend on congregation funding. some congregations are equally poor such that they even cry over ka Kr100.
God help us!
April 15, 2013 at 8:53 pm
This is sad! Touch not my annointed and people still will not listen. The wrath of God on the congregants will not be good. And God Himself shall deal with the Rev if truly he has misused Church funds.
wert
April 15, 2013 at 9:59 pm
The article author is illiterate or attended a rural school. Your vocabulary is horrible.
Kabila
April 16, 2013 at 3:01 am
Come you write here
SEKOPONOKE
April 16, 2013 at 8:25 am
Mwasebanya UCZ bakapala imwe!!!
Kaite
April 16, 2013 at 9:39 am
I would love to agree woth Loloshi. sometimes division of labour amongst God’s servents must be respected. a reverand must not handle finances, his role is to feed the flock, to preach. ucz like any other churches have tressurers. to those who feel they cant attend worship bcoz of wat is happening, plz guys soldier on and be strong. am not ucz but i can feel it for u. if there was a time wen the church needed more of your prayers, it is now.
CK
April 16, 2013 at 9:40 am
Elders and congregants please learn to protect the image of the church at all times and solve your problems peacefully because to error is human but to forgive is devine.
raymon
April 16, 2013 at 11:12 am
UCZ nalileka! We were not allowed to pay 100kwacha before being rebased. On 500 nokuya pamulu. Not knowing that some are poor that they only have a cent. The thought is what counts. Just pray at home and give to the need and good will bless. God was in churches a long time not nomba! Fyakale!!!