By SYLVIA MWEETWA –

KABWE Chapel Bishop Boniface Shonga says the Church is well-placed to not only preach the word of God but also partner with Government in supporting the vulnerable in society.

Bishop Shonga said the Church had a big role to play in uplifting the living standards of orphans and other vulnerable people in society and pledged the Church’s continued support towards such ventures.

Speaking during a fundraising dinner for Children of Promise Orphanage on Saturday night at Tuskers Hotel, Bishop Shonga said apart from preaching the word of God, the Church has a responsibility to ensure that it supported abused and orphaned children.

He said he was happy that the orphanage was currently providing education and shelter to the children of Kabwe and that the fundraising dinner was aimed at raising funds for the running of the institution.

The clergyman added that most children at the orphanage were in school and that many of them had advanced in their education.

He called on Zambians to join in supporting the needy and that such responsibility should not be left to Government alone.

“I want to say that the Church is better placed to assist the vulnerable in society because apart from preaching the word of God, the Church should also support or uplift the standards of the vulnerable by providing for them,” he said.

He paid tribute to the community in Kabwe for their continued support to the orphans and maintained that the notion that support should only be sourced from outside Zambia was wrong.