“…YOU ALWAYS HAVE THE POOR WITH YOU…” – A Glance at Hope Ministry

“…AND WHENEVER YOU WANT, YOU CAN DO GOOD FOR THEM.” Mar 14v7

Casting Crowns sung a contemporary conscience-awakening and heart-searching song in which pertinent questions are asked specifically to Christians. Some lines go something like, “If we are the body, why aren’t his arms reaching; why aren’t his hands healing; why aren’t his words teaching? And if we are the body, why aren’t his feet going; why is his love not showing them there’s a way?” It makes one feel ashamed for not doing as much as they, or their ministry, should be doing. There are times when it hurts to be associated with Hope Ministry, especially if you were chairperson, because of its average or below performance (and that’s a personal assessment). I penned a poem about the poor and it’s placed at the end and this drawing is by talented Sunday Bwalya, a third year University of Zambia student of Economics and member of Hope. 

However, every member of Hope Ministry (one of the evangelising ministries of Kabwata Baptist Church) would attest that every visit to the University Teaching Hospital (UTH) Children’s Cancer Ward is uniquely interesting and fulfilling.

We have adopted the ward for about 2 years now for material support and gospel preaching every first Saturday of the month. A snippet background is that the ministry was established in the early 1990s by brethren who were burdened for the physical and spiritual afflictions of the communities surrounding the church and the UTH.  The vision of the ministry is “The afflicted getting hold of the hope in Jesus Christ.”  Among the objectives are to provide Christian counsel and support to people living with and affected by HIV/AIDS and those with other afflictions in our communities; to train or equip the afflicted to cope with their situations by capacity building.

Some of the members of Hope going to the Cancer Ward

Some cases are heartrending and medically unpromising; where it’s easy for oneself to look sorry instead of being a source of comfort and hope! The approach is as different as the varied situations; people from all walks of life and tribes, seeking relief from all sorts of cancer. I remember a Christian girl, with an incisive and clear testimony, who had been there for over three months with Leukaemia in December 2015. “I became a Christian after the preaching of God’s Word by a pastor at Scripture Union at school.” In her junior days! “Although I was generally a good girl I knew I was a sinner and needed to repent and believe in Jesus who died for my sins” recollected Sarah Mwale. She was as bright and intelligent a hopeful child with an impressive vision can be, as the unfolding possibility of being quickly and professionally attended to stood. She had at least six points (distinctions) at Grade 12 and had wanted to study Medicine specialising in Leukaemia treatment. I fervently prayed for her and visited on two occasions. We became friends. She simply amazed me with her calm and joyful spirit in the midst of her affliction. Could I bear it? My third visit failed because I didn’t find her; the youngster died some days earlier and I was dispirited! What a big loss on earth but a gain in heaven.

Early this year, we came across a woman and the utterly grim plight of her daughter was humbling and touching. She was poor but determined to seek relief for her in the biggest national hospital. Very few of our members were present, and we did the usual sharing of the gospel, distributed some food, and soap. Upon intense wrestling with inadequacy and guilt whilst at home, my mind finally rested on the Bible verse where Jesus said ‘You always have the poor with you and whenever you want, you can do good for them.’ He is still speaking these words today! God used the song by Casting Crowns to bolster in me some courage to follow up that helpless girl and her poor family. But guess what? She too died; very sad. Her mother is Mrs Juliet Kapungwe from some village in Kasama. The photo was taken to be used with her permission.  There are still numerous poor others in that same ward.

One visit worth mention was undertaken in April by a few ladies and the Hope chairperson to Chisomo Drop-in Centre in Makeni south near Saint Bonaventure. Here you find many girls and boys orphans, with a ray that, if not eclipsed, beams into the horizon of true hope! Some have become Christians and progressed academically through tertiary education, while being useful in God’s kingdom. An evangelistic video was showed to the boys and girls, with a fruitful discussion around it. We lament that we not a consistent partner to the Centre due to our own financial struggle but believe a small token goes some way. We really gladly appreciate the opportunity afforded to share the gospel there too. We are scheduled for another visit in September.

At Chisomo Drop-in Centre

The last outreach so far to the Children’s Cancer Ward was in May. It was much of a “men’s fellowship” occasion, being the only folk in attendance. Among them was brother Vasco Kafuti, a man doing his internship at Kabwata Baptist from Mongu. A few members gave apologies. Hope ministry has for a number of years had a small membership and it’s not about big numbers in Christian ministry. The work gets done. This outreach was particularly interesting for me because it has been a while since I shared the gospel using a character encounter with the Lord Jesus Christ. Simon the leper in Mark 14v3, Matthew 26v6 was fitly; a simple and clear example of a sinner who believed in and welcomed Jesus not only in his heart but in his home as well. It is not stated in Scripture of what repute Simon was but you expect a leper to be poor and marginalised in those days. I regard him to be a blessed man with that experience! Christ shows no partiality indeed. He does not despise the poor or praise their condition.  He does them good and says they are around for time and we are capable of doing good for them at will.

Well, facts speak for themselves, don’t they? And the needs and message are very clear too and I will keep this short: let us lovingly and generously do good and make a difference! For the sake of God’s name, In Christ.

THE POOR YOU WILL ALWAYS HAVE

©Mwango Lupupa 28/04/2016 Mark 14v7

Lacking in One Way or Much in Need

For a Season in Solitary

Powerless But Not Witless

Disdain Them Not, For Thou art Kindred

Blame Not, Their Potential Harness

In Solitary or In Community

Lend Them A Hand or An Ear Whenever

A Lesson or Two You May Learn

Though They Be Not In Dignity

Wish Them No Ill, Neither They For it Yearn

For A Moment Or For A Lifetime

An Opportunity to Prove You Have a Heart, Sound Mind, Eyes that See,

Obedient Feet and Hands that Give!