This period under review witnessed two functions held with a traditional flavor. The first one was an ‘Imbusa' seminar that was organized for a few selected married women in church, and the other one was a ‘Matebeto' ceremony organized for Pastor Emmanuel S. Below we show you the significance of these two functions:

The Women ‘Imbusa' Seminar
On the 7th of July, Mrs. Lily M. and Mrs. Margaret S. organized an "Imbusa" seminar for six married women from our own church and one from another church. The seminar was held at the manse from 12 noon to 8pm. The women were of diverse backgrounds and experiences.

The ‘Imbusa' is a traditional term used to describe the marriage lessons specifically given to women just before marriage for protecting and strengthening their marriages. The teachings are designed to provide knowledge and skills to women before and after marriage. Traditionally, it is the women alone who are targeted as they are regarded as custodians of marriages in society and more so for Christian marriages. In conventional society the traditional marriage counselors are called "nachimbusa". This is the traditional role that our own two sisters, Lily and Margaret, assumed on this special day! They became the Christian ‘Ifimbusa' (plural for counselors) and used the Bible to teach and train the women on how they could become godly women within the confines of their own marriages and home. The whole ceremony was a fulfillment of the admonition given in Titus 2:3-5. The women who attended the seminar paid glowing tribute for the lessons learnt and also for the skills acquired for the maintenance of their own marriages.

In view of this, another ‘Imbusa' seminar is being arranged for the 3rd of August. This time around there will be three ‘Ifimbusa' (counselors) to teach and these are Lily, Margaret and Marjory K. from Central Baptist Church of Chingola (CBCC) and it is hoped that many married women from our church will be able to attend this time.

The 11th of July also saw another function take place at the manse. This time it was pastor Emmanuel who was being honored by his in-laws from his wife's side. Traditionally, this ceremony of honoring a husband by his in-laws is what is known as "Matebeto". Ideally it is a ceremony initiated and organized by the womenfolk from the wife's side. It is done when a group of women prepare a feast using carefully selected food chosen from both traditional and modern dishes. This specially prepared food will be brought to the home of the husband to be honored while carried on the heads of the women accompanied with singing and dancing. Upon arrival, the dishes will be specifically introduced individually and displayed majestically before the house with the hope of causing admiration. When this is done the prepared food will then be placed at the feet of the honored husband and his invited guests to feast. The women who prepared the food together with their entourage, supposedly in-laws to the man being honored, will not join in eating the same food as they will be required to leave the ceremony soon upon offloading the food. Once the food is consumed the ceremony will be deemed as ended.

This Matebeto (a feast) is an event of a lifetime which every married couple looks forward to experiencing one day. It is considered a special day in that the relatives to the officiating wife will take this occasion to acknowledge or rather show appreciation to her husband. The appreciation is in terms of acknowledging to him his unbroken marriage commitment to his own wife who in this case happens to be their own daughter or relative. Usually it is done after the couple has been married for a long time and may even have many children born to them. The man or the husband is expected to prove himself to his in-laws first before he could wish to be honored and acknowledged as such. As for pastor and his wife Margaret this celebration has come in their 20th year of marriage.

This event was not just celebrated by the S.'s alone but they were joined by members from the church, people from the neighborhood and colleagues from Central Baptist Church of Chingola (CBCC). This indeed was a memorable day of a life time.

Prayer Request and Thanksgiving

• Continue to pray for the church as beginning in August the church will have no pastor. The current pastor is scheduled to move and take up a pastoral vacancy at Fairview Reformed Baptist Church in Mufulira town.
• Continue to pray for the ministries within the church such as ladies, youth, and various bible classes being undertaken on Sundays (Adult, teenagers, baptism class and children classes) for continuity and growth.
• Pray for laborers in the Sunday school ministry.
• Continue to pray for Mfuya S. and Hilfold N. who are in need of employment. Both are family men with huge responsibilities.
• Pray for the ongoing visitation and follow-up programs being undertaken every week by the pastoral team.
• Pray for the membership application exercise currently being pursued by the leadership.
• Mr. M. finally found a job with a new Chinese firm in town. This is a matter for thanksgiving as Mr. M. has been out of employment since January this year.
• Pastor Kapambwe N. was a guest speaker at church on the 12th of July. This is a matter of thanksgiving as his ministry was well received at church.

"Finally, brothers, pray for us that the message of the Lord may spread rapidly and be honored, just as it was with you" (2 Thess.3:1)