Maravi

I was a man of many women - Shikapwasha

I was a man of many women - Shikapwasha
By Bivan Saluseki
Monday April 02, 2007 [04:00]

I was a man of many women, disclosed home affairs minister Lt Gen Ronnie Shikapwasha. And Lusaka Theological College principal Bruce Kaumba has said Zambia needed leadership that would bring about change in terms of development. During the graduation of 17 pastors at Lusaka's Nakatindi Hall on Saturday, Lt Gen Shikapwasha said pastors should be patient with their flock especially in marriage counselling.

He said Jesus had been patient with him until he got saved. "Let me tell you. I was a man of many women. One time there was a lady with a child...I said I am going to church. When I was made an elder in church, the lady came and sat on the bonnet waiting for me. I said to the pastor, 'there is trouble outside. She is sitting on the bonnet'," he said.

Lt Gen Shikapwasha, who is also a Reverend, said the pastor asked him to leave everything in God's hands. He said over the years, the woman was prayed for, delivered and was now a deaconess somewhere. "Remember to be patient when counselling. After all he waited for you to finish adultery. He waited for you to finish stealing," he said.

Lt Gen Shikapwasha asked male pastors to avoid hugging female church members whose breasts touch their chests while female pastors should avoid putting their hands over male church members.

"Many pastors love touching the chest of a young lady. I want to tell you, it's lust. Others put hands around women members. No, only if it's your wife or daughter. Never exchange intimate information with anybody other than your wife.

Never counsel a woman or man alone," he said. "Some people say if you are going to counsel, leave the door open, don't do that. You won't know when the devil would close the door. When she touches the thigh and the door is opened, people will say something else."

Lt Gen Shikapwasha said male pastors should not give lifts to female members if they were alone in the car because once she touched her thigh, it would be something else.
He said even if nothing had happened, people might make conclusions.

"Never give gifts unless they are old enough to be your grandmother because all gifts go to the heart of the person," he said.

He said a pastor might genuinely give a gift but the recipient might start talking about it and tell others that the pastor loves them and had even given them a gift.
Lt Gen Shikapwasha asked the pastors to ensure quality biblical teachings in their congregations.

"If you don't know the word of God, you are mince meat to the devil," he said.
Lt Gen Shikapwasha advised them against using the pulpit to criticise and attack their critics.

And Kaumba said for Zambia to prosper, it needed quality leadership.
Kaumba said development thrived on leadership.

"Without leadership, there is a lot of chaos," he said.
Kaumba said even the Church needed quality leadership to avoid the many scandals that had rocked it.

"We cry for political leadership that fears God," he said.
Kaumba said the force of the Church had been reduced because it had compromised its stand on issues.

"We have accepted bribes above what God has given us," he said.
Kaumba also said the Church, the government and NGOs were supposed to be parties in transforming Zambia and not to fight and quarrel.

posted by MrK @ 3:42 PM