By DELPHINE ZULU
PRESIDENT Edgar Lungu says he is proud to be part of the resolve to build the National House of Prayer because he is emulating King David and his son Solomon who built God a house of prayer.
The Head of State said his personal desire to align Zambia to God was not born of his own human desire but was inspired by the Holy Spirit.
“Considering what God’s purpose is for the nation, Zambia, you will all agree with me that the construction of the National House of Prayer to honour our God is the right thing to do,” Mr Lungu said.
Reading from 1 Chronicles 22: 19, President Lungu said King David encouraged his son Solomon and all the leaders of his time to arise and build God’s temple.
“Our generation can, therefore, not be ashamed to emulate King David and his son Solomon to build God a house of prayer. I am proud to be part of this collective resolve to do so,” Mr Lungu said.
He said it was his understanding that God’s intention had always been that Zambia should become a mighty Christian nation that would be a beacon of light and a missionary country.
Mr Lungu said he knew without doubt that God had always been interested in the well-being of this nation and that he had a purpose and plan to prosper Zambia.
The Head of State said there was need to understand that Zambia was a beacon of light from which the gospel of the Lord, Jesus Christ, would shine across the continent of Africa and beyond.
Mr Lungu said it was, therefore, a great honour and privilege for him to be a part of what God was doing to bring to pass his purpose and destiny for Zambia.
The President was speaking last night at the fundraising dinner for the House of Prayer at Government Complex.
“Considering the social and economic challenges that our country has been going through, invoking the presence of God into the nation’s psyche is not just important, but a matter of duty for every Christian. This should be natural, given that we are a nation dedicated to God – a Christian Nation,” he said.
Mr Lungu said it was imperative for Zambians to realise that the nation was set to be the bread basket of Africa because agriculturally, the country had the potential to feed the whole of sub-Saharan Africa.
He said Dr David Livingstone’s last prayer reminded leaders to pray: “Lord from the land upon which my knees rest, raise a mighty Christian Nation, a nation that will become a beacon of light and hope to the continent, a nation that will take the gospel to the ends of the earth.”
Mr Lungu said Zambia was also a nation of refuge and, as a country despite a few challenges, citizens had never suffered the kind of civil unrest seen elsewhere and remained one of the most peaceful and friendly in the world.
“On behalf of the entire nation, I wish to thank all participating churches, businesses, parastatal bodies, cooperating partners and indeed all well-wishers in advance for your generous financial and material support towards the National House of Prayer,” President Lungu said.
He clarified that no State Budget was committed to the National House of Prayer but said that he shall work to see to it that it was built within the estimated timeframe.