'Our country has become a Christian nation,'says Zambia's First Lady
Her husband, the President, has been publicly baptized at a Lusaka Baptist church
By Dan Wooding, Founder of ASSIST Ministries
ASSIST News Service (full interview), December 5, 2007
witness to many people who we have not had in church before," said Troy Lewis, a Southern Baptist missionary in the southern African nation of more than 10 million people. "They heard the gospel of Jesus Christ."
The baptism of President Levy Mwanawasa (Baptist Press photo by Troy Lewis)Mrs. Mwanawasa's husband, caused a sensation back in 2005 when he gave his life to Christ and, as President of Zambia, was baptized at local Baptist church in Lusaka, the country's capital city.
This was revealed in a story from Michael Ireland in ANS who wrote, "A crowd clapped and cheered as President Levy Mwanawasa rose from the water in an outdoor baptistery behind a Baptist seminary chapel building in Lusaka, Zambia's capital."
The event drew hundreds of people, including public officials, leaders and pastors from the area and neighboring countries, wrote Shawn Hendricks of the Southern Baptist Church International Mission Board.
"This baptism was an incredible occasion for the Baptist
Hendricks says on the day of his baptism, Mwanawasa shared his spiritual journey before a packed chapel service. He told listeners he had been "struck" by Jesus-similar to the Apostle Paul's experience on the road to Damascus.
Mwanawasa, a successful lawyer and former vice president, took office in 2002. Respected for his reputation for honesty, he was known as "Mr. Integrity" even by his political opponents before his election. Now in his mid-50s, he survived a near-fatal car accident in 1992 but insists he is in excellent health, Hendricks writes.
returned to church again and kept coming whenever he was in the country."
The President is greeted by his wife Maureen after
his baptism (Baptist Press photo by Troy Lewis)
He reported that Mwanawasa remembers attending a Baptist school as a boy, but his relationship with Christ began to transform when he started attending Twin Palm Baptist Church in Lusaka in 2003. The small church meets at the Baptist Theological Seminary of Zambia in Lusaka.
As he came week after week with his "entourage," the church tried to maintain business as usual-but it wasn't easy, Hendricks writes.
"All of us here were immensely excited about this," Lewis told him. "Our excitement and prayers increased when he
Hendricks said the president began asking questions about the Christian faith and how he could join the church. Church members answered his questions and ministered to him during difficult times.
After Mwanawasa began attending the church, his mother died from injuries caused by a fire. He also lost his two brothers. One died unexpectedly of illness; the other was murdered, said Hendricks.
Mwanawasa soon shared how Christ had moved in his life-and that he wanted to be baptized. Franklin Kilpatrick, missionary in Zambia for 35 years, helped disciple Mwanawasa during this process. Kilpatrick and his wife, Paula, are members of Twin Palm Baptist Church.
"The impact is not just in Zambia; this could have an impact on an international level," said Kilpatrick, who is temporarily on U.S. assignment.
"He could impact a lot of leaders. He is in a position of influence, and people need encouragement."
The Kilpatricks were originally concerned about drawing too much attention to the event. Local missionaries tried to remain low-key about Mwanawasa's decision, Hendricks reported.
But the news quickly spread all over Zambia-and to other parts of the world. Others have commented on how the president's life has changed. He already has invited friends and leaders from around the world to attend church with him.
Paula Kilpatrick is excited about what God has planned for the future. "We feel like the story is not over," she said.
Hendricks also said some missionaries believe Mwanawasa's baptism is an exclamation point on what God is beginning to do in the country. Lewis encouraged Mwanawasa during a celebration lunch at the statehouse after his baptism.
"I shared with him that we had been praying for him after he came into office, that Zambia would have a leader who had Jesus as his Lord," Lewis told Hendricks.
"And in him coming to Christ and being baptized, God had answered our prayers. I told him that we praise God-and will pray for him to continue to be a president who sees leadership as serving the people rather than lording it over them."
What a powerful witness for Christ this couple has given as they serve the Lord in their positions of power in Zambia.
Note: I would like to thank Robin Frost for transcribing the First Lady interview.
