ZAMBIA: ZCCB, OTHER CHURCH BODIES PRAY AGAINST COVID-19

Mwenya Mukuka

The Zambia Conference of Catholic Bishops (ZCCB) and other Church mother bodies have held a prayer service against Coronavirus.

The prayer service mainly held virtually was organized by the ZCCB, together with the Council of Churches in Zambia (CCZ) and the Evangelical Fellowship of Zambia (EFZ), to invoke the Lord’s help against Covid-19.

The prayers were held in the capital Lusaka on February, Sunday 14, at the Anglican Cathedral under the theme “In God we put our trust.”

The second wave of the pandemic has hit the country badly with Bishops’ Conference losing one of its members, Rt. Rev. Moses Hamungole, the Bishop of the Diocese of Monze on the 13^th January, 2021.

In his homily during the ecumenical prayer service, ZCCB Secretary General Rev. Fr. Cleophas Lungu reached out in prayer to the families that have lost their dear ones, Covid-19 patients in hospitals and in homes as well as all the healthcare workers who are taking care of the ailing brothers and sisters.

Father Lungu noted that the prayers were conducted in the midst of the second wave of Covid-19 pandemic that has claimed precious lives of many Zambians, including the clergy and high-profile figures in the nation.

He added that when a nation is facing a calamity such as Covid-19, the Church’s belief and trust is in God adding that in Christ the Church finds strength to face all the worries and questions that assail during the “dark night.”

“In Christ, we find strength to face all the worries and questions that assail us during our dark night. In addition, let us remember that the words of Jesus, are actually born out of a lived experience,” he said.

“In God, you will find light to brighten your darkest moments and hope to soothe your distress and anxiety. Jesus Christ is saying to the sick, come to me, put your trust and faith in me,” he said.

Fr Lungu however noted that prayer should be accompanied with action and people should remain confident that they shall overcome the war against the Coronavirus disease adding that Covid-19 is not part of fake news as it is real, serious and deadly.

“COVID-19 is an enemy that needs to be jointly fought and defeated physically, morally and spiritually,” he said.