Reflection On My 40th Birthday Anniversary

Conclusion As I conclude my reflections on my 40th Birthday anniversary, I thank God for his goodness to me. To God be the glory for the great things that he has done! The Lord has given me a gracious and loving wife Judith and a loving family. I thank God for my mum and dad, who invested greatly in my upbringing, education and family values. I thank God for my siblings: Catherine, Kenneth and Tendai. I also am grateful for my cousins: Hudson and Phyllis Kaneneka, John Gambwe, Eddy Mweene, Monda, Angela, Lizzie, Christine, Jason, Obrian, Rosa Kanyemba, Shingisai Revai etc who have been available in times of happiness and sorrow. Included are my nephews: Belemu Matapo and the wife and Tovine Kaneneka and the wife. The Lord has been very gracious to me. I know I’ve failed him many times. I’ve not been what I ought to be. Yet by His grace, I long to be the best that I can be for Him! When I look at my heart, I can testify with Williams that my heart is “Prone to wonder, prone to leave the God I love” and so I pray that the Lord “would take my heart and seal it from the courts of heaven above! I thank God for my friends especially the brethren who have helped me in my Christian walk. I thank God for my spiritual leaders at church, within Zambia and outside Zambia. Internationally, I really appreciate the preaching ministry of Al Martin, Joel de Beeke, Achille Blaize, Ferrell Griswold, Voddie Baucham and Martin Holdt. As I look forward to the coming days and years, I pray that I may know more about Jesus. More of his saving fullness see as I press on the upward way and gain new heights every day. I end my reflections with the lyrics of the song “Keep me true” which I used to sing at school during SU times and has recently been popularised by Jabu Hlongwane of South Africa. Keep me true Lord Jesus, Keep me true Keep me true Lord Jesus, Keep me true There is a race that I must run There are victories to be won Give me power every hour to be true. Gabriel S. Konayuma 12 February 2008 8

A REFLECTION ON GOD’S GOODNESS TO ME ON THE OCCASION OF MY 40TH BIRTHDAY ANNIVERSARY ON 12TH FEBRUARY 2008 Introduction On 12th February 2008, I turned 40 years old. This offered me an opportunity to reflect on the Lord’s goodness to me up to this point. In order to best reflect on my life, I have elected to organise this article into four parts. These are four ten year periods from 1968 to 2008. The Early Years (1968 -1977) I was born on 12th February 1968 to Josiah and Betty Konayuma in Kitwe Central Hospital. My dad was a police officer whilst my mum was a nurse. The Lord was gracious to me by providing parents with good medical knowledge thus providing me with the best possible care a growing baby could require. Another mercy worth mentioning is that I was born at a time when Zambia had a fairly good economy as it was only four years old (having got Independence in 1964). This coupled with the fact that I was the first born meant that I got the best possible care a child could wish for. My early years were spent on the Copperbelt in Kitwe and Ndola towns. In Kitwe we stayed in Parklands whilst in Ndola we stayed in Kansenshi at Peter Singogo Police camp. In the early 70’s my family moved to Lusaka the capital city. Our first home was in Northmead and then we moved to Sikanze Police camp. Memories of my stay there are the times I’d sing a self-composed song in Chitonga “Oh batata mubole eneno” which means “Daddy come soon”. This song I’d sing as I waited for my father to come back from work. This was in 1972 when I was four years old at the time. Another incident from this period is when I took a “walk” to the Civic Centre. The police found me and returned me home. I’m sure they had a “few words” for my cousin who was looking after me. Anything could have happened when I strayed from home. But the Lord spared me! In 1973, my family moved to Emmasdale where my mum is till staying. By that time the family had grown. My late sister Linda was born in March 1971 whilst Catherine and Kenneth (twins) were born in June 1

1972. I started my grade one in 1974 at Northmead Primary School. My first teacher was Mrs. Kaur who taught me the 3R’s i.e. reading, riting Trinity Baptist What Church where I that was she involved in the Marriage, and ‘rithmetic. a foundation laid! I also remember Mrs. Davies my Grade 3 teacher, from Wales who taught us how to sing Happy Birthday in Welsh. In terms of religion I attended church at St. Pauls United Church of Zambia (UCZ) in Kabwata. The Sunday schools lessons were interesting though at times I’d find some bible passages scaring. The Growing Years (1978 – 1987) of Trinity when five two to members and From 1978 Baptist to 1980,Church I was inis grades seven. I (Tamara have fondPhiri memories of Mr. Salooje, from Australia, my grade five teacher and my grade six teacher Mrs. Maganga from Tanzania. My primary school days were fun and exciting. My performance was fairly good. I passed my grade seven exams and got a secondary school place at Kafue Secondary School. I was a pupil at the school from 1981 to 1985. I have fond memories of the following teachers: Mr. Musipa (French), Mr. Winter (History), Mrs. Siluyele (History), Mr. Grogan (Mathematics), Mrs. Eathorne (Bible Knowledge), Mr. Parsons (English & Bible Knowledge), Miss. Siafwa (French), Mr. Tembo (Civics) and Mrs. Tembo (English & Religious Knowledge). I have no doubt that Mr. Grogan’s influence as a Mathematics teacher led me into becoming one myself! The way he taught influenced my teaching i.e. pupils thinking logically as they solved problems and working out questions without doing rough work. It pleased God to bring me to a knowledge of salvation in 1981 after listening to a sermon on the new birth from John 3 by Joe Imakando time service lecturer in Mathematics, Information during our school afternoon at Kafue Boys. I saw my sinfulness and the need of a Saviour and called upon him for salvation. I thank God moved to me Lusaka gotyouth. a jobTendai, with the for saving from after sin inI my the Technical last born inEducation, our family, was born in 1983. In 1984 I was in form four after passing my form three exams. Fond memories in my secondary school days were my attending Scripture Union (SU) meetings and camps. This enabled me to grow in the grace and knowledge of Christ. I also have rich memories of the times we had times of prayer and studying God’s word in our dormitories and the hills close to school. I also developed love for chess during my secondary school days. Other interests include singing in the school choir, belonging to the preacher’s club (involved mostly in song leading and 2

with Management College of Southern Africa (MANCOSA) in South Africa. In September 2007 Judith, Shingisai and I went for my graduation ceremony at the International Conference Centre in Durban. It was a colourful occasion with graduands from South Africa, Zambia, Mauritius, Zimbabwe, Botswana and Kenya. 2001 was quite a sad year in my family. My paternal grandmother and my uncle died within a space of one week in July. In the same month my mother had a stroke. I got news of her stroke while attending my uncle’s funeral in Kasempa. One of my other saddest moments was when my immediate sister Linda died in February 2005 after an illness. It was sad to hear of her death a few hours after Catherine and her husband Matthew, Muntanga Mwasambiri and I had been to see her at the hospital. As we took her body to the funeral home I felt a sense of helplessness in that Linda was no more and that there was nothing we could do to bring her back to life. This is the year I “discovered” my cousin Jason on the Internet. Judy and I went for our second honeymoon to Harare and Mutoko (my mum’s village). It was a lovely trip we met a number of my nieces, nephews, uncle, aunt, and cousins. In 2002, my family then, Judith, Twalumba, Luyando and I travelled to Sesheke for our holidays. We stayed with her cousin and Ruth the wife. We also crossed into Ngwezi in Namibia and Victoria Falls Town in Zimbabwe. In 2004, Judith and I became members of Kabwata Baptist Church (www.kbc.org.zm) where Conrad Mbewe is pastor. It’s an honour to sit under his ministry each Lord’s day. His preaching ministry is much sought after in many nations. I’ve been involved in the Library and Marriage Enrichment Ministry. It’s been a joy to work with other believers in these ministries and in other areas. Our children attend school at Eagle’s Nest under the church. I’m mindful that I may not have served the Lord as I wish. O for grace to serve him more and serve him better. O that I may join in singing the song “The longer I serve him (Christ) the sweeter he gets”!

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same hospital as I was born. In 1998, Judith and I became members of Trinity Baptist Church where I was involved in the Marriage, Library, Youth and Men’s Ministry. I also served as a deacon during the time along with Festus Chipungu, Fwasa Singogo and Joseph Phiri. I thank God for the privilege of serving Him in a growing church (established in 1995). Some of the great times in this period are the Copperbelt Annual Reformed Baptist Youth Conferences’ (CARBYC) which took place in Kitwe and Ndola. Other moments are the hosting of Men’s Rally and Baptismal Services. One of the sad moments in the life of Trinity Baptist Church is when two members (Tamara Phiri and Judith Singogo) died within a space of 24 hours. This was in 2001. My working life at Mpelembe Secondary School was quite enriching and an addition to the wealth of experience I gathered at DK. Both schools had some of the best students in the country. DK was a public school while Mpelembe was a private school. Both had their challenges and opportunities. It was a privilege to be a teacher and also a patron of the Scripture Union, Mathematics and Computer Studies Clubs. Most of the times I preached were at Trinity Baptist Church and Mpelembe Secondary School. In 1998, I graduated from the Reformed Baptist Preachers College in Lusaka together with a long time friend Ray Munsaka. During this time, I bought a house in Kitwe after ZCCM mines were privatized and Mpelembe served I taught at up1981 to 2002 It pleased God to under bring new me owners. to a knowledge of Mpelembe salvation in after when my contract was not renewed. Thereafter I taught at Copperbelt listening to a sermon on the new birth from John 3 by Joe Imakando University as a part-time lecturer in Mathematics, Information Technology and Management Information Systems. In 2003, my family moved to Lusaka after I got a job with the Technical Education, Vocational and Entrepreneurship Training Authority (TEVETA). I was born in 1983. In 1984 I was in form four after passing my form three worked with TEVETA as a Curriculum Developer up to 2005 when I joined the Ministry of Science, Technology and Vocational Training (MSTVT) as a Senior Vocational Education and Training Officer dealing with Entrepreneurship promotion. The job at MSTVT has enabled me visitclose all provinces and seen me to a number the to hills to school.in IZambia also developed lovetravel for chess during ofmy nations: Kenya, Malawi, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania and China. From 2004 to 2006 I did my Master of Business Administration Studies 6

preaching at the school hospital in Chitonga). Some of my closest friends, Christian Kasumo, Johnson Malipenga and Barnabas Chiboboka, went to the same school as I. Christian was my roommate later on at the University of Zambia from 1987 to 1990. Christian is a reliable friend. He is a godly man, quite organised, determined, loving husband and father. It’s a privilege to be a friend to him. Johnson was our headboy and SU chairman at school. It’s a joy to see how the Lord has led us from those school days to the present day. Johnson is one man that seeks to live his whole life under the whole of Scripture. Barnabas I can describe as a poet whom many do not know. His poems along with Muki Phiri of Lusaka Baptist Church qualify to be rich modern hymns. Barnabas has a burning passion to live a godly life. Whilst on close friends I do not wish to forget Richard Ngwisha whom I got to know through attending SU meetings and camps and later at Lusaka Baptist Church. Richard has been a true friend, pointing out what is wrong in my life without fear or favour. He’s also been an encouragement to me and many others in the faith. His zeal for the Lord’s work is amazing! A rebuke to mine! Interestingly the number of things we share in common extends to our dates of birth (separated by 2 days), our spouses (very close friends), children born at almost the same time. During SU Camps and rallies, I remember very well the preaching and counselling ministry of Donald Mwape, Fred Phiri and Roy Kaonga which was useful to my and other youths spiritual growth. Some got saved during this time. I thank God too for Ron and Carol Eathorne, Steve Winter and Derryck Orridge (from UK) for the vital role they played in offering me discipleship in my Christian life at school. They planted a good seed which the Lord has been pleased to flourish over the years. In 1986, I was introduced to the doctrines of grace (Reformed doctrines) by Kunda Kalifungwa through Christian literature and chats with him. To God be the glory for these wonderful truths! In 1987, I was offered a place in the School of Education at the University of Zambia. I majored in Mathematics and did Computer Science courses. The Adult Years (1988 – 1997) In 1988 at the age of 20, I was doing my second year at UNZA. My days at UNZA developed in me the discipline of perseverance. Despite challenges faced in certain Mathematical courses, I eventually completed my 3

studies after doing part time studies in two courses. Notable lecturers at UNZA for me were Dr. Nkwanga (Education in National Development), Professor Bartholomeuz (Algebra & Toplogy), Professor Theo (Algebra), Mr. Chikunji (Algebra), Mr. Chipeta (Real Analysis), Mr. Njobvu (Computer Science). At UNZA, I also made new friends especially among Christians. I was a member of the University Christian Fellowship (UCF) where I served as a Growth Group leader (Cell group at hostel level) and later as a Literature and Discipleship Secretary. It was such a privilege to serve God’s people in this fellowship. It was good to have fellowship with saints from different denominations such Pentecostal Assemblies of God, Wesleyan, and Brethren in Christ etc. During this period, I also was involved in the Youth Fellowship at Lusaka Baptist Church. My time at Lusaka Baptist Church (1987 – 1995) helped me grow in the Christian faith as I sat under the ministries of Joe Simfukwe and Alfred Nyirenda who were pastors then. These were gifted expositors whose ministry went beyond LBC. I became a member of LBC in 1989 after being baptized (eight years after becoming a Christian). The Youth Fellowship through the weekly meetings, rallies (i.e. whole day meetings), joint-meetings and camps enabled me to receive sound biblical teaching and also share with others. It was at this time that I developed a love of Church history which I used to speak on to youths. I thank God for enabling me to remember him in the days of my youth. In 1989, I travelled alone for the first time on my own out of Zambia. My destination was Zimbabwe (where I have travelled to more than other countries, especially Victoria Falls Town). In 1991, Zambia became a third republic and multi-party party democracy was ushered in. I remember joining thousands of Zambians at the Supreme Court to witness the inauguration of Fredrick Chiluba as Zambia’s second President and rejoice in the coming of “the hour”. From 1991 to 1994, I participated in evangelistic outreach missions by Lusaka Baptist Church to Choma and Livingstone. It was a joy and challenge moving from door to door sharing the gospel of Christ. 1992 was a year of mixed emotions for me. In April I started work as a Mathematics teacher at Highridge Secondary School in Kabwe. Charles Chowa graciously allowed me to stay with him as I was not accommodated. Sometime in the year I began to doubt whether I was a 4

Christian. In the words of Charles Spurgeon I’d ask “Am I a child of his (Christ) or not?” A letter from Christian where he urged me to trust in the finished work of Christ towards the end of the year led me to assurance of salvation and rejoicing in the Saviour! In July my dad passed away after a long illness. This meant some changes in our lives. I got a transfer back to Lusaka to be with mum and the family. I was posted to David Kaunda Secondary School where I taught for four years until 1996 when I got a job with Mpelembe Secondary School in Kitwe. I graduated from UNZA in November 1992. We were the first graduates in the third republic and the Chancellor then was John Mwanakatwe, a renowned educationalist, lawyer and politician. In 1995, I began a courtship with Judith Liemisa whom I later married on 10th August 1996 at Lusaka Baptist Chuch. I thank God for leading me to Judith. She has been a dear wife, friend, lover and companion for the years we have been married. She has been a devoted mother to our four children. Her commitment to Christ and his cause is a constant challenge to me. Her hospitality is also refreshing. Her life breathes out the words “Let me serve you with a burning heart” a song done by her cousin Beauty Shabenzu Pallu. I thank God for those that played a leading role in our marriage. Among many others these are Mr. and Mrs. Hibajene (marriage counselors), Mr. Nyambe (Shibukombe – go-in-between), John Gambwe (cousin who escorted me to my in-laws village in Sesheke for marriage negotiations), Richard Ngwisha (bestman), Christian Kasumo (chief best-man), two Catherine’s (Ngwisha & Mwenya) our bridesmaids, Ray Munsaka our Master of Ceremonies, and Ronald Kalifungwa the officiating minister and preacher. Thanks are also extended to the many friends and relatives that helped in one way or another during our wedding. The Expanding Years (1998 – 2007) This period is called the “expanding years” for that is when the Lord was pleased to add to our family four children, provide us with our own house, and enable us to serve him in different and new spheres. Our four children are: Twalumba (1998), Luyando (2000), Sepo (2003) and Shingisai (2007). Luyando and Sepo were born in the 5