PRESIDENT Edgar Lungu has commended the Seventh Day Adventist (SDA) church for the effort the institution is making in uplifting the standards of the citizenry.
President Lungu said government appreciates the noble deeds the church is rendering to the Zambia people and appealed to other Christian denominations to emulate the works of the SDA church.
Mr Lungu said this yesterday when he graced the one million membership celebrations of the SDA Church in Zambia at the heroes’ stadium.
President Lungu said he was fully aware that the SDA church has partnered with government in various sectors in a bid to enhance national development.
He cited education and health as some of the areas that the church is working with the state closely in providing services to the community.
The Head of State stressed that the establishment of schools and health institutions is a step in the right direction adding that government is proud of the contribution the church is making in supplementing government efforts.
Mr Lungu said education is key in helping people escape the strong grip of poverty and in eradicating ignorance.
On health, President Lungu said the Ministry of Health stands ready to work with the church in delivering quality health care services to the community.
Mr Lungu pointed out that there is need to harmonise the efforts of the private sector and government so as to achieve the goals of bettering the living standards of the people.
He said the running of schools and health institution by the SDA church has greatly helped in aiding government in providing improved services to the citizenry.
President Lungu stressed that the SDA church has played a pivotal role in instilling good morals among members of the society and in providing hope to the elderly and those in prison.
The President said the tireless effort the church is making in up lifting Christianity through the voice of prophecy television programme and hope channel has impacted many lives positively.
He implored the SDA leadership and members not to take for granted the declaration of Zambia as a Christian nation.
President Lungu explained that the declaration of Zambia as Christian nation has contributed in binding Zambians together in unity.
Meanwhile, President Lungu has congratulated the SDA church for attaining 1 million church memberships.
Mr Lungu said the attainment of the 1 million church memberships has placed Zambia on the world map making the country the second largest conference from India.
The Head of State said the attainment of 1 million membership by the SDA church has made the country proud.
President Lungu noted that the achievement of the 1 million church members is a testimony of the commitment of the Clergy and members to Gods work.
He implored the church members to be proud of the achievement the church has scored in reaching 1 million membership country wide.
Mr Lungu urged the congregants to continue to up lift Christ in a bid to win more souls for Christ in various communities.
He has since described the 1 million membership attainment as a greater achievement for the SDA church.
President Lungu has since appealed to the church leadership and members not to relent in its efforts of evangelising the gospel.
In a related development, President Lungu says government has been making efforts aimed at achieving the Millennium Development Goals-MDGs.
Mr Lungu stated in his address that government needs the private sector to supplement its efforts of attaining the MDGs that comes to an end this year.
And President Lungu has paid tribute to the SDA church following the literature the church distributes through the home health education service.
The Head of State said the literature has brought people close to Christ and has also helped to improve the health of many Zambians.
President Lungu has assured the SDA church of government’s readiness to assist the church in achieving its mission of preaching the everlasting gospel to the entire world.
Meanwhile, in passing a vote of thanks Vice President at the General Conference of the SDA Pardon Mwansa thanked government for initiating policies and governing laws that enable the church to propagate the gospel message.
Dr Mwansa said the graciousness of the state has made it easier for the community of believers and other denomination to enjoy freedom of worship in the country.
He also thanked government ministries that have made it easy for the SDA church to preach the gospel without difficulties.
And the Seventh Adventist Church (SDA) has congratulated President Edgar Lungu on his election as Zambia's Sixth head of state.
President of the Zambia Adventist Church Harrington Akombwa thanked the President and the First Lady Esther for accepting to grace the 1 million membership celebration of the SDA in Zambia.
