His Excellency, Mr. Edgar Chagwa Lungu. Photo/Courtesy.
Latest data shows that there are 4.33 billion social media users around the world, equating to more than 55 percent of the total global population. With roughly 2.85 billion monthly active users as of the first quarter of 2021, Facebook is the biggest social network worldwide, followed by YouTube.
Now, the Bible may not say a lot specifically about the internet, but it says lot about communication. For that matter, Christians have overtime come up with creative ways of using these platforms to strengthen the biblical worldview based on the infallible Word of God.
Such individuals include His Excellency, Mr. Edgar Chagwa Lungu, who has been the President of Zambia since 25 January 2015. The 64-year-old is now, more than ever before, using his official Facebook account (with a following of over 1.2 million) and Twitter account to reflect on various Bible verses and encourage his nation to turn to God for among others help or protection.
President Lungu earlier revealed that his “walk with Christ Jesus” goes back to the days before he became President and long before he became Minister.
He tweeted: “Being President gives me more reason to anchor my faith in God as I preside over God’s people.”
President Lungu is fully convinced that “the only hope for Zambia’s politics is Jesus Christ,” and urges the Church to continue playing its prophetic role by uniting politicians whether “we belong to the opposition or ruling political party.”
“This morning, I reflected on the scripture from Isaiah 26:3 which reads; “You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.” I pray that, as a nation, we continue trusting in the Lord, acknowledge Him in all our ways and He shall direct our paths,” he posted 8 June, 2021 on his official Facebook account.
The day before, 7 June, 2021, he had posted Proverbs 3:5-6 which says; “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.”
On 6th June, 2021, holding a Bible, Mr Lungu posted Jeremiah 29:11. It reads, “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
3 days in a row starting June 3, President Lungu posted 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17, Colossians 3:12 and Romans 12:9-10.
Lungu married First Lady Esther Lungu in 1986, and has six children which include his daughter Tasila Lungu who is a councillor in one of the nation’s constituencies. He and his family are practicing Baptists, sources say.
In December 2019, Lungu condemned homosexuality, comparing the acts to bestiality, stating “Even animals don’t do it, so why should we be forced to do it?… because we want to be seen to be smart, civilised and advanced and so on”.
Zambia is officially a “Christian country” by constitution. Christianity is the state religion in Zambia according to the 1996 constitution, and the vast majority of Zambians (95.5%) are Christians of various denominations, but many other religious traditions are present.
