South Lunzu CCAP in ‘spiritual war’ over land

‘For the battle is not against the flesh and blood, but against the spiritual forces’.

South Lunzu CCAP last Sunday brought Paul’s word to light when the congregation marched round church boundaries to expose purported encroachers.

In what church management dubbed: ‘Spiritual war’ or ‘Peaceful march’, church goers converged at 8am in the close to two-hour walk that was characterised with singing of hymns and choruses, Bible readings, prayers and insights into the church’s history.

There was no traditional English, Chichewa and Contemporary services on the day, but a two-hour service at South Lunzu Primary School ground, a few metres away from some of the houses believed to have been constructed on encroached land.

The march was held after a series of fasting sessions that ended with a 24-hour fast from Friday morning to Saturday morning.

Session clerk Samuel Phiri said the march was held for several reasons.

“Most importantly, we wanted to pray to God that we know that He is always with us even in the face of adversity. God has never left His people and we reckon this is not a confrontation as none of our members touched any of the property built on encroached land. With singing and trumpeting, the children of Israel brought down the walls of Jericho,” said Phiri.

According to him, the march was also organised to let the congregation know the church boundaries for the sake of the future.

“Everyone has a right to know the boundaries, as the Blantyre Synod lawyer is still following up the case of encroachment, we also wanted those developing the encroached land to know that the whole church is aware of their deeds,” said Phiri.

He observed that the church has plans to construct a health centre, a secondary school and a multipurpose hall.

The Reverend Manford Kutani, representing the moderator of the Blantyre City Presbytery, said the presbytery was behind the church’s move to reclaim its land.

“We are here in solidarity with the church in this peaceful march to reclaim what belongs to God. We stand with you my brother [church moderator Reverend Anderson Juma] and the whole congregation,” said Kutani.

MacDonald Singo of the church’s evangelism committee said South Lunzu became a prayer house in 1918.

“We hope for results to reclaim the land allocated to our great grandfathers. We have already seen some tangible results following our prayers and fasting,” said Singo. n