THIS IS HOW CHABWINO CHURCH STARTED UPTO DATE
The word Chabota in Tonga or Chabwino in Nyanja means “it is good” and the name Chabwino was derived from the two languages. Chabwino SDA church was not started from a crusade or big evangelistic campaign but from a very humble beginning which many could not have approved.
GOD PREPARES THE HEART
Mrs Bertha Simakuni was staying in Luanshya town of the copperbelt province with her husband and two children. One day her mother requested to visit her in Lusaka where she was living on the farm. When she got there, she was advised to change the farm title from the mother’s name into her name. She changed and three weeks after getting the title, the mother died. She never thought of coming to the farm soon but another tragedy happened, the husband died in Luanshya. With much sorrow and suffering she thought of changing the place, from Luanshya to Lusaka west.
She decided to come to the farm but she was told that the land had been sold to a white man and the farm no longer belonged to her. She fought tooth and nail, after she involved thelawyers, the case which took three years to judgment was in her favor. When she got back the land, she said its good ‘Chabota’. When that was settled, she started a school in the house and after much struggle, the school was expanded.
DISSATISFACTION
One day after attending church service at Kola church in 2002, the idea came to Mrs Simakuni in a question form. Why should we be travelling four kilometers every Sabbath to and from church when we can open a branch where we are living? She shared the thought with Mr and Mrs Milandu who supported it. But the question was ‘is this plan of forming a branch going to
be supported’? Because no one had a vehicle among those coming from the same side, they supported the ideal. The idea was supported by Mrs Simakuni, Mr and Mrs Milandu, Mrs Siyangwenya, Mr Hamatanga, Mr Mukali, Mr Hamaundu and others.
BIRTH OF A BRANCH
After organizing each other and with much prayer, they requested that a branch be opened in the area where they lived. With much unwillingness, the request was granted and the name of the branch was Chabota ‘it is good’. The first meetings were held in a class room because members at that time were few. The first branch leaders were; Mr Hamatanga, Mr Mukali, Mr Hamaundu and
the elder in charge was Mr Chrispin Tembo from mother church Kola.
HUMBLE START
There was no asset in form of a structure, chair, table or anything to talk about by the year 2002 when the branch started. All the facilities which were used by the branch came from school and offered by Mrs Simakuni. Despite the struggle and being a widow, she looked at what the Lord had done for her and then offered a land where the branch structure was to be
built. It cheered everyone present.
No one among the branch members had enough cash to construct the structure so services were done outside the class room because the number of members increased. As the branch increased numerically, after two years of struggle, the branch structure construction was started. Mrs Simakuni again saw the need to safe guide the interest of God; she got money from the
school and constructed the structure with help of donations from those present. Why all this sacrifice? One way of saying thank you to God for what He did to bring back the farm which was sold
and protection He rendered after losing the husband. In August 2004 the structure was started and finished in 2005 September. The branch grew and some of the members who assisted in the structural and spiritual growth were;
Mrs B Simakuni, Mr and Mrs Milandu, Mr and Mrs Hatimbula, Mrs Mulope, Mrs Mpulubusi, Mr Sinkwilimba, Mrs Siyangwenya, Mr Moonde, Mr Nyambe Christopher, Mr Mulenga, Mr Choongo, Mr Hamaundu.
Tribute is paid to Mr Habunga from mother church that from time to time helped financially and Ms Marian a non Adventist donated towards the construction of the structure.
CHABOTA FROM BRANCH TO COMPANY
The branch was then organized into a company in the sameyear 2005. The leaders were;
Mr Milandu, Mr Hatimbula, Mr Hamaundu.
The leaders workedhard that the company membership increased rapidly. The company status did not last long for Chabota and leaders applied for the company to be organized into a church. The Pastor at that time advised to change the name Chabota because there was another church with the same name in the same district. Then the members settled for the name Chabwino with the same meaning as Chabota.
CHABWINO CHURCH
(2007 – 2009)
The application for church status was considered by the conference and Chabwino company was organized into a church in 2007 by pastor
Morgan Chibala as district pastor. The first elders were;
Mr Hatimbula (admin), Mr Milandu, Mr Mulenga, Mr Hamaundu and Mr Moonde.
This leadership was in office for two years and in the same period, Horeb and Siloam branches were organized.
CHABWINO CHURCH
(2010)
Leadership changed and the elders at that time were;
Mr Hindamu(admin), Mr Hatimbula, Mr Kakompe, Mr Lungu, Mr Chipungu.
In the same period, Haran was organized as a branch, Horeb and Siloam as companies. The church yard boundaries were given and membership kept on growing.
CHABWINO CHURCH
(2011 - 2012)
Leadership changed and the elders were;
Mr Milandu (admin), Mr Moomba, Mr Mulenga, Mr Mushoke, Mr Hatimbula and Mr Lungu.
In the same period; sheckem, Gilgal and Berea branches were organized and sheckem was re-organized into a company. Chabwino membership grew to 750 baptised members including all branches and companies.
CHABWINO CHURCH
(2013)
Due to changes which happened by dividing the conference into two, Siloam was taken to Lusaka Conference with Gilgal branch. Betisaida was brought to Chabwino from Kalundu church. Chabwino was taken to Lusaka central district from Shorthorn District. Still the membership grew to 775 baptized members.
The elders are; Mr Hatimbula (admin), Mr Milandu, Mr Muwela Muwela, Mr Hindamu, Mr Chewe, Mr Mwiinga, Mr Kaliyangile and Mr Chiyokoma. Mr Mwiinga is
now at Haran church.
Horeb was organized into a church and took with it Gilgal company. Haran was also organized into a church. As at present July, 2013 the church structure cannot accommodate all the members hence extension of church structure is urgently needed.
