Pastor, Faith Baptist Church, Kabanana, Zambia

Curtis recently completed his training as a pastoral intern at Kabwata Baptist Church and was ordained in April 2008. That same month, Curtis and Fanny and their two children, Nathan and Niza, moved to Kabanana to plant Faith Baptist Church. Kabanana is a district of Lusaka.

Testimony – Curtis C.

Life before Conversion

My life before conversion has never been a good testimony for one to hear. The fact that I was lost in sin meant that I was involved in any forms of mischief. I spent a lot of my time chasing after sin and playing soccer even on Sundays, and never minded what Christians were up to. In December 1991 I was invited to a youth meeting at Faith Baptist church and remember going there and returning home the same. I did not change and so went back to my old style of living. My friend kept on following me. It was as though attending their church was a big mistake, because he made many appointments which I turned down. Then one day I promised to attend their church service. I was ready for church and that’s how I got into church

How I Got Saved

I finally went for Sunday service in January 1992. The message was preached and I felt caught in my sins. And felt something should be done immediately. I felt very bad for many things preached that day for they exposed the deeds of my life. So after the service I remained behind. Scriptures were shown to me and they clearly indicated how lost I was, and that I could not save myself no matter how much good I may have done. My condition was hopeless and only Jesus could regenerate my soul. On that day of January 1992 the Lord opened my spiritual eyes and saved me from my sins – thus I was converted.

Life after conversion

Life after conversion became very exciting and challenging at the same time. I began to attend church service regularly. I had new friends and a new out look. The desire to learn about Jesus was growing and many of my questions were being answered. Later the same year I followed the lord Jesus Christ in baptism as an act of obedience. I became a member of Faith Baptist of Roan Township in Luanshya. I was very happy to join the family of believers. One day when the pastor was looking for a Sunday school teacher I volunteered. I was trained in that field and served there for many years, at the same time being very active in the youth ministry. The Lord enlarged his grace to me and I came to love lost souls, hence we evangelised Roan Township and my experience of sharing the Bible with my friends and strangers grew. I also evangelised to my family, though they were resentful. I can remember sharing the Bible to my friend, who later on got converted and answered the call to the Ministry. He is now a pastor. Another example is when I visited my aunt in Mufulira and found that two of my cousins whom I had been evangelising were converted. They stand as a living testimony to date. These are some of the examples the Lord has been able to do through me besides the pulpit.

Call to the ministry

My Christian life style continued from the time I was converted that I wanted to know more about God. The desire grew hence my involvement in church activities. By the time I was completing my twelfth grade, the desire to work for God in ministry was set in me. Because of that I could not state clearly any career in the circular world. I spoke to my parents with regard to this desire for ministry work, and later to my pastor who encouraged me to pursue the interest. This brought a deeper conviction that God had really called me into ministry. Upon completing high school in 1996; I enrolled at Baptist Bible College in Luanshya in 1997. To confirm my calling, whilst at college, I was one of the first two students together with the missionary pastor to be sent to go and plant a church called Temple Baptist of Mikomfwa in Luanshya. I served there as a student pastor from 1997 – 2001. I graduated from college in 2000. In the mid of 2001, I was called to serve at Calvary Baptist Church of Matero in Lusaka. All these confirm my call to the ministry. So to be given an opportunity to serve would be a blessing. According to the grace which God has given me by allowing me to know and work for him in his ministry from the time I was converted signifies clearly that he has called me to the ministry.

Doctrinal position

I subscribe to the 1689 Baptist Confession of Faith, especially on its view on the Holy Scriptures, its strong emphasis on the sovereignty of God, the doctrines of grace and also its position on ecclesiology. However, I have been brought up in pre-millenial/semi-dispensational tradition and I realised that 1689 Confession is amillenial due to its silence on the millenial view. Therefore this is the matter I have devoted to study on in the past seven months. I hope by God’s grace to know more about this matter and come to a sound conclusion after the study. To this end I will seek not only your prayers.