Biographes Of Lbc Pastors

REFERENCES

Contents

Medgett, B. A. (1961) The Blessing of a Christian Home. Horizon, January - March 1961. Introduction………………………………………………….2 Muwowo, A. (2001) Missionary Spotlight Zambia: The gospel in Zambia. Evangelical Times [online]. Available from: http://www.evangelical-times.org/Articles/May01/may01a08.htm Accessed on 17 April 2007. Sylvester, C. (1967) The Fiwale Hill Bible School. South African Baptist, September 1967. Cape Town: Bible Institute of South Africa.

Derek Harris (1959 - 1960)………………………………….3 Basil Medgett (1964 - 1967)………………………………...4 Graham Ingram (1969 - 1976)……………………………...5 Michael Eaton (1976 - 1977)………………………………..6 John Symons (1978 - 1979)…………………………………7 Joe Simfukwe (1979 - 1990)………………………………...8 Alfred Nyirenda (1993 -1997)……………………………….9 Nigel Lacey (1999 - 2004)…………………………………..10 Ronald Kalifungwa (2006—date)…………………………...11 References…………………………………………………...12

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INTRODUCTION

Kalifungwa, Ronald (2006 - )

The biographies of Lusaka Baptist Church pastors have been compiled to fill in a gap of information in the history of one of Zambia’s oldest Reformed Baptist Church. The church has been in existence since 1959 and has had nine pastors. It is important to have some record of the men that God has raised in the past to preach the word and serve God’s flock in the pastoral ministry. It is my hope that this booklet will enable men in our churches to realize the importance of the preaching and pastoral ministry and search themselves to see if God could be leading them to serve him in this way. It is my hope too that others will write about other aspects of the history of Lusaka Baptist Church and also other pastors and church leaders in our Reformed Baptist andalso Evangelical etc. Lacey preached Churches. The writer to Hebrews urges us to “remember our leaders” and remember the outcome of their faith. This booklet seeks to help us remember our leaders by highlighting their early lives, conversion, call to within the ministry Also highlighted is at an churches Zambia. Heand also family preached lives. regularly at Church Conferences Metropolitan in London and preached the Zambia Reformed appreciationTabernacle of the ministry at Lusaka BaptistatChurch of each of the Conferences. was passionately and warmly pastors andHis the preaching wider ministry within andevangelistic outside Zambia. God richly bless you as you read these short biographies. Gabriel S Konayuma April 2007

Ninth pastor of Lusaka Baptist Church. Has also been pastor of Fairview Reformed Baptist Church in Mufulira and Lynwood Baptist Church in Pretoria. Kalifungwa was brought up as a Roman Catholic and for a long time believed that he was a Christian. Although he did occasionally indulge in open sin, he was for the most part taken up with religiosity. The Lord used the influence of friends and a brother, Kunda and the preaching of Joe Simfukwe pastor of Lusaka Baptist Church. While sitting in a service at LBC in early 1981, he was made to see that he was a sinner in need of salvation. Later that day he confessed his sin and pleaded with the Lord for mercy. He developed a love for reading after conversion. This with a combination of listening to a message tape on the five points of Calvinism confirmed him in the Calvinistic faith. The Lord began to impress upon Kalifungwa’s heart a desire to preach the gospel while he was studying Mechanical Engineering at Northern Technical College (NORTEC). At times he almost quit studying to enter the preaching ministry. In 1986, he got a job with the then Zambia Consolidated Copper Mines (ZCCM). The conviction to preach the gospel grew deeper at this time. He bought a lot of good theological books. He also preached in colleges, universities and churches. He preached almost every week at the youth fellowship at Riverside Chapel. He received a call from Central Baptist Church (later renamed Fairview Reformed Baptist Church). Kalifungwa became pastor of the church for ten years. The Lord blessed his preaching and pastoral ministry with the church growing in number. The church eventually moved from meeting at a school to its own building. Kalifungwa accepted a call to become pastor of Lynwood Baptist Church in Pretoria, South Africa in 1998. The Lord blessed his ministry at the church and also other churches within South Africa. He also preached at various conferences in South Africa and has preached a number of times at the Zambian Reformed Conferences. Kalfungwa became the ninth pastor of Lusaka Baptist Church in 2006. Conrad Mbewe, pastor of Kabwata Baptist Church preached at the service. Kalifungwa preaches on television on a weekly basis. He also lectures at the Reformed Baptist Preachers College. Kalifungwa got married to Sarah in 1991 at Lusaka Baptist Church with Alfred Nyirenda officiating at the wedding. This marriage has been blessed with three sons: Kunda, Mumba and Chisomo. Kalifungwa has counseled a number of youths in courtship and those married.

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Lacey, Nigel (1999 - 2004)

Harris, Derek (1959 - 1960)

Eighth pastor of Lusaka Baptist Church. Gifted writer and expositor of the word. Has at Churchofconferences Africa and Europe.pastors have been Thepreached biographies Lusaka inBaptist Church

First pastor of Lusaka Baptist Church. Played a pioneering role in establishing the church.

Nigel Lacey was born in Suffolk, England on 30th December 1942. He became a believer in Christ in 1954 at the age of 12. He worked as an Engineer for fifteen years before he became a pastor. He accepted the call to become pastor at Lusaka Baptist Church in 1998 and took up office in 1999. He previously been pastor for eighteen years at Bethesda Baptist Church in Stowmarket in England. He had also conducted pastoral training at Trinity Baptist Church in Nairobi in Kenya from 1996 to 1999. After leaving Zambia, Lacey became Baptist Church England untilwill write about other in thispastor way.ofItHope is my hope too inthat others he went to be with the Lord in August 2007. Whilst at Lusaka Baptist Church, aspects of the history of Lusaka Baptist Church and also other Lacey preached regularly from different books of the Bible. Notable books preached on include Ecclesiastes, Romans, John etc. Lacey also preached regularly on a thirty minute television programme: Opening the Book. Through this programme, Lacey’s ministry extended to the whole of Zambia. He preached on various spiritual issues by faithfully expounding the Scriptures by week The writer to Hebrews urges us to “remember our week leaders” and on Wednesday’s.

Harris was called to be pastor of Lusaka Baptist Church on 1st January 1959. Claude and Charles Kidwell (brothers) were pioneers in establishing the Church and were key in calling Harris to Lusaka Baptist Church. Though the congregation was small initially, it grew in strength and numbers leading to the construction of a church building. Lusaka Baptist Church was constituted as a church on 2nd July 1961 with the building being opened for worship on 23rd October 1961. Harris was married to Barbara. They appear to have been a hospitable couple as Mary Philip a member of Lusaka Baptist Church at the times writes “He (Derek) and his wife were very good to me”. Harris returned to Scotland in 1960 after serving as pastor of Lusaka Baptist Church.

Lacey preached at church conferences on the Copperbelt and Lusaka and other call to within the ministry Also highlighted is at an churches Zambia. Heand also family preached lives. regularly at Church Conferences Metropolitan Tabernacle in London and preached at the Zambia Reformed Conferences. His preaching was passionately evangelistic and warmly devotional. He also wrote a number of publications in publications such as Evangelical Times, Grace (UK), Grace and Truth (Kenya), and LBC Record (Zambia). His writings are refreshing as they are easy to read and yet deal with very important issues. Notable publications include Pastors and Elders as Physician of Souls, The Latest Moves in Evangelical Unity, God’s Plan for the Local Church and Apostles and Prophets. Lacey was also a lecturer at the Reformed Baptist Preacher’s College where he also served as Principal. Lacey was married to Margaret until the Lord called him home to glory on 14th August 2007 after a heart attack. Their marriage was blessed with two daughters. Memorial services were held for him in the UK and Zambia. In Zambia the memorial service was held at Lusaka Baptist Church. Video clips were shown and brief memorials given by those who loved and served the Lord with him. Lacey is remembered for his passion and love for the Lord and his simplicity and warnings against the danger of materialism and couples leaving separately in different towns and countries. His warmth and intensity in his public prayers is something one can not easily forget.

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Medgett, Basil (1964 - 1967)

Nyirenda, Alfred Gevara (1993 - 1997)

Second pastor of Lusaka Baptist Church. Instrumental in establishment of Baptist Churches in Luanshya, Ndola and Lusaka.

Seventh pastor of Lusaka Baptist Church. Passionate preacher of the gospel. Preached rare series on “Lessons from Questions”. Counselled a number of youths in courtship and married couples.

Medgett was born on 1 January 1924 in Whitstable, Kent, England. He attended Faversham Grammar School. He was born in a Christian home where the example of Christian parents meant a lot to him. His father, Cyril, was a lay preacher of the Church of England. Medgett learnt of the of the gospel from his parents. He became a Christian at the age of fifteen during a series of special services held in his home town. His parents hoped he would become a Minister of the Church of England, however the Lord had other plans. Medgett was posted to then Southern Rhodesia while serving in the Royal Air Force in World War Two and joined the Bulawayo Baptist Church. Medgett did this after coming to see the Scriptural pattern for the Church. at LBC guided him into considering the pastoral ministry. He preached For some time he was convinced that the Lord wanted him to serve in business life, however with time the Lord led him to the ministry. Medgett later was of Ndola Baptist Church (where he was the second pastor) in the early 1960’s. He also started Luanshya Baptist Church in 1957 and the church was finally constituted in 1958. Medgett also served as Principal of Fiwale Hill Bible Willingof to be College which he established in Ndola rural in 1961. He Love startedisa course Bible instruction for men whilst there. He laid a good foundation on which the work has continued and increased. Scripture Union, pastor Zambia Fellowship of Church Evangelical Students, and he Nurses Medgett became of Lusaka Baptist in 1964. At the time was being called, the church was struggling financially with the income being less than the budget, yet Medgett still accepted the call! Such was his commitment to The Ten the cause of Christ and the gospel! Medgett left Zambia for Canada in 1967. He served as pastor of Argyle Road Baptist Church in Regina from 1967 to 1974 and the Olivet Baptist Church in New Westminster, B.C. until 1977. Apart from that he was also a part-time lecturer at the Baptist College in Vancouver. His special interests were history, reading and world affairs. He married Katie Kroeker on 22nd May 1954 at a mission station in Southern Rhodesia. Katie lives in Canada. Their children are Kathleen and Dayle. Dayle is senior pastor of Westview Baptist Church in Canada. Dayle is married to Dawn who is in charge of the children’s ministry. Medgett died after a short illness in 1983 in Canada. Funeral services were held in the First Baptist Church, Lorne Street and Victoria Avenue.

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Nyirenda was born in Lundazi District of Zambia. He grew up as a typical village boy. He did his primary education at various schools in Eastern province. The secondary school education was done at David Kaunda Secondary Technical School from 1967 to 1971. Nyirenda became a Christian in August 1969. He later started attending church services at Lusaka Baptist Church. Nyirenda did an Education degree and specialized in Mathematics at the University of Zambia. While at University he was exposed to Reformed doctrine after reading Reformed literature. He sensed the call to the pastoral ministry while studying at UNZA. He later taught Mathematics at Kabulonga Boys Secondary School. He was also an examiner for Mathematics. Nyirenda went to Spurgeon’s College for ministerial training and completed the studies in 1984. Nyirenda married Tina in 1978. The two were and still are a hospitable couple. This marriage was blessed with three children i.e. Chawezi (boy), Lusungu (girl), and Tumbikani (boy). Nyirenda has been involved in counseling a number of young people preparing for marriage. He has officiated and preached at a number of weddings on the Copperbelt and Lusaka. Nyirenda has been pastor of Kitwe Chapel and Lusaka Baptist Church. Nyirenda has also been involved in looking after orphans. Nyirenda’s ministry has always been characterized by a strong evangelistic emphasis and many have attributed their conversion to Christ through his ministry. He preached a number of evangelistic sermons at Lusaka Baptist Church and other churches. Whilst at Lusaka Baptist he preached on a series “Lessons from Questions”. Notable sermons on this series are: Will a Man Rob God, Did God Really Say, What Will Profit a Man if he Gains the Whole World? etc. He has also preached from the book of Philippians. Nyirenda has also been a regular preacher at Scripture Union camps and rallies and Zambia Fellowship of Evangelical Students camps and conferences. He was also a key preacher at the Elbycites in the 1980s. This group met annually to look at various doctrines of the Reformed Faith. His preaching ministry has also extended to other churches within and outside Zambia. Nyirenda was also a lecturer at the Reformed Baptist Preacher’s College in Lusaka where he also served as Principal. He is currently an elder at Mount Makulu Baptist Church in Lusaka.

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Simfukwe, Joe M (1979 - 1990)

Ingram, Graham (1969 - 1976)

Sixth pastor and first Zambian pastor of Lusaka Baptist Church. One of the longest serving pastors of Lusaka Baptist. Was instrumental in popularising expository preaching in Evangelical and Baptist Churches. Played a leading role in establishing Baptist churches in Zambian urban towns. Conducted a lot of weddings and wrote many booklets.

Third pastor of Lusaka Baptist Church. Played a leading role in seeing the church change from primarily serving the Europeans and expatriates to an indigenous church with a major outreach to students.

Simfukwe was born in 1950 in Jombo Village in Northern Province where he did his primary and secondary schooling. He later went to do his secondary school education in Scotland. He later studied at Glasgow University from 1969 - 1973. He became a Christian in 1970 at university. He studied Theology at Spurgeon’s College in London from 1976 - 1979. He also did postgraduate theological studies in Australia from 1990 1993. He worked as an Agricultural research Officer in the midserving in the Royal Air Force in World War Two and joined the while Simfukwe was called to be pastor of Lusaka Baptist Church in 1979. The elders at LBC guided him into considering the pastoral ministry. He preached consecutive expository sermons through various books of the Bible. Some of the notable series that he preached on were the Ten Commandments, Romans, Ephesians, Minor Prophets, Song of Solomon. He also preached on subjects such as Promise of the Father, messages Family Guest alsoThe started Luanshya Baptist Evangelistic Church in 1957 and atthe church wasservices finally during Easter and Christmas and served other special occasions. SomeHill sermons Medgett also as Principal of Fiwale Bible preached during Christmas Guest Services include Love is Willing to be Misunderstood and Saving Sinners is a Messy Business. He also officiated and preached several weddings of a number of church members. Simfukwe’s preaching also extended to other churches and para-church organisations such as Scripture Union, Zambia Fellowship of Evangelical Students, and Nurses Christian Fellowship. He has also preached sermons on radio and television. Simfukwe has written a number of publications. These include: The Ten Commandments, Courtship Notes, The Promise of the Father etc. He also used to write pastoral letters every month in the Lusaka Baptist Church newsletter. Simfukwe was also pastor of Priory Street Baptist Church in the United Kingdom and Gymea Baptist in Australia. He obtained a Masters degree in Theology in Australia in 1990. Simfukwe played a leading role in establishing Baptist Churches in urban towns in Zambia. These proved useful for Christians that got jobs outside Lusaka. Simfukwe is currently Principal of Theological College of Central Africa (TCCA) where he teaches biblical studies and pastoral theology. He married Alice in 1975 and has two sons: Gome and Kondo, a pastor in Indiana, USA and three daughters: Sibo, Tamira and Charity Suwilo who live in Ohio and Indiana. 8

Ingram was born near Sheffield in the north of England. His family was not Christian. He became a Christian in 1955 when was eighteen years of age and doing compulsory military service. A few months before he had been strongly influenced by two young men who were preaching in the street. Through their words the Holy Spirit convicted him of sin. Six months later after meeting some more Christians, and seeing Christ in them, he knelt by his barrack room bed - in front of 20 other soldiers - and surrendered to Christ. Ingram was educated at the King Edward VI Grammar School in Retford, Nottinghamshire; the City of Sheffield Teacher Training College and Spurgeon's College in London. From early on in his Christian life Ingram was aware of a call to preach. It was whilst was training to be a teacher, in 1958, that his pastor spoke to him about the possibility that God wanted him in the Christian ministry. He went to study at Spurgeon’s College. In the early years the college carried the cost of his studies. His family had rejected him because of his faith and determination to preach. He was not allowed to visit his home for four years. God supplied all his financial needs. In the latter part of his theological education he received government bursaries. Ingram become pastor of Lusaka Baptist Church in January 1969. Before that he pastored South Lee Baptist Church in London. Other churches where he ministered include Wynberg Baptist Church in Cape Town, Vineyard Fellowship, Grace Fellowship all in Cape Town. Others are Long Beach Metropolitan Community Church in California, Wycliffe Baptist Church in England and Fish Hoek Baptist Church from 2004 as missionary and assistant pastor. Ingram’s ministry played a great role in making LBC burst its seams in terms of membership of a large multi-racial church. He was influenced by the preaching of Martyn Lloyd-Jones, and systematically and passionately expounded the Scriptures. Ingram pioneered evangelistic outreach to various secondary schools and UNZA. Many students came to Christ through the special evening services for students. The membership of LBC grew to over 200 in those years. This led to the extension of the church building. Ingram preached from Romans, Ephesians, Revelation and topics such as Revival, Prayer, “People who met Jesus”. Muwowo (2001:1) says “the pastor preached with such intensity that some convicted of sin could not leave their seats at the end of a service. 5

Eaton, Michael (1976 - 1977)

Symons, John (1978 - 1979)

Fourth pastor of Lusaka Baptist Church. Expository preacher and prolific writer of many Christian books including commentaries on a number of books of the Bible.

Fifth pastor of Lusaka Baptist Church. He has also served a pastor at Kitwe Chapel, Portswood Church and Mkushi Christian Community.

Eaton was born in 1941. He came from a very ordinary family in London. He became a Christian (late 1950s) when he was a teenager through a youth group in an Evangelical Anglican Church. The Billy Graham campaigns in London may also have played some part in his salvation.

Symons 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 Christians. One lives in USA and the others in USA. 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.

He did his Bachelor of Divinity at Tyndale House Cambridge. He then entered the ministry as a curate (assistant minister) at an Anglican church in Surrey, England. In 1967, he resigned from the Anglican ministry on theological grounds and joined an Evangelical Free Church in south-west London. In March 1969 he moved to Zambia where he and his wife Jenny joined Lusaka Baptist Church and later became a deacon and an elder. From early days in the church he taught an adult bible class, and preached frequently on Sundays. He studied for a year at UNZA doing a teaching diploma. He began teaching English at Libala Secondary School in 1970 and remained there until 1976. In 1976 he became the pastor of LBC when Graham Ingram moved to Cape Town. Throughout his ten years of residence in Zambia he used his gift as a Bible expositor in building up Christian groups at UNZA, speaking at student conferences, church conferences, starting the Zambia branch of the Evangelical Library, counselling and inspiring many individuals. Eaton has written more than forty Christian books, most of them specially written with African young people in mind; but they have a much wider circulation. His doctoral research at the University of South Africa was on the Christian and the Mosiac law. Eaton has a longstanding connection with Westminster Chapel in London and has written on the theology of Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones. He has lectured in the Baptist Theological College of Southern Africa, Nairobi Evangelical School of Theology and Nairobi International School of Theology. After a brief period back in England studying and writing, he became pastor of Nairobi Baptist Church from about 1978-1982. He then moved to South Africa to pastor Rouxville Baptist Church, Johannesburg where he pioneered multiracial ministry. Eaton has been pastor of Chrisco Christian Fellowship in Nairobi since 1986. He married Jenny whom he met in the UK in 1968. Jenny was born in Kenya though she is originally from England. They have two sons and two daughters i.e. Tina is married to Roger Gysling and lives in Switzerland, Calvin is in London, Carey married Stephanie in 2003 and they live in Australia. Trevecca married Jason Tiro in 2005. They also live in Australia. 6

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 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. Symons 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 .

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