To my fellow believers across the Christian body—and in particular, my brothers and sisters from the Seventh-day Adventist Church:
I greet you in the name of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.
This past Sabbath, I had the rare privilege and honour of being invited as Guest of Honour at the Kanyama Seventh-day Adventist Church during their church building fundraising event. It was a beautiful day. The church was united. The Worship was vibrant. The saints gave generously. And the Pathfinder Guard of Honour—with its discipline and dignity—was a beautiful reminder of the strength and uniqueness of the Adventist Youth movement.
It was also a deeply meaningful moment for me personally, as I took time to honour the legacy of one of the most outstanding preachers from the Zambian Adventist church, the late Dr, Pastor and Tele Evangelist Cornelius Matandiko—a man who much like me, took to television, and whose preaching shook the nation. His dedication to the preaching the “Three Angels’ Messages” inspired many far beyond Adventist walls. It was fitting that such a legacy be remembered on a day dedicated to expanding the physical and spiritual foundations of the church through church building.
However, and quite sadly, that sacred memory is now being overshadowed by controversy.
Following the event, I was made aware of an online backlash over the fact that the platform from which I inspected the Pathfinder Guard of Honour had been decorated in SDA Dorcas chitenge material. What should have been a joyful celebration has become, for some, a source of anger, offense, and division.
So I thought I should address the matter with the clarity and humility it deserves.
FIRST, A WORD OF APOLOGY
If my standing on that decorated platform caused discomfort to anyone within the Adventist community, and beyond, I offer my sincere and heartfelt apology. There was no disrespect intended—either by myself or the organisers. The use of the material was, by all accounts, a gesture of honour and aesthetics within SDA “Pathfinder” tradition and protocol. Nothing more.
But, even as I express that regret, I feel compelled as a Christian leader, and a servant of the gospel, to speak to the deeper issue this incident has exposed.
CLOTH OR CHRIST?
We must ask ourselves some sobering questions:
Is it the chitenge that gives the Church its spiritual power, or the is it the cross?Are we saved by the garments we wear, or by the blood of Jesus?
Must our unity be bsed on tradition—or on truth?
As Ellen G. White so powerfully reminds us:
“The religion of Christ is not a garment of outward show, to be put on and off as we please. It is a living principle, a change of heart, that governs the life.”Signs of the Times, September 3, 1885
The decoration of a platform—right or wrong—does not possess the power to sanctify or defile. Salvation is not found in cloth, in uniforms, or in decor. It is found in a personal, living relationship with Jesus Christ. Let us never mistake the symbols of faith for the substance of it.
If the use of Dorcas chitenge material in such contexts is no longer appropriate or doctrinally sound, let the Church address it through proper internal channels. Establish the reforms. Clarify the boundaries. But let us not take to public platforms to humiliate our own house.
ON PUBLIC CRITICISM AND SOCIAL MEDIA OUTRAGE
What has saddened me most in the aftermath of this incident is the tone and spirit of the discussion. What could have been an internal conversation has become a spectacle of shaming, with members—some sincere, others opportunistic—ridiculing their own church on social media.
Let me ask you plainly:
Does this kind of public tearing down help the world better understand the Adventist Message?
Does it glorify Christ—or does it just give unbelievers yet another reason to mock the faith?
Are we advancing the gospel, or turning people away from it?
Again, Ellen G. White speaks directly to this issue:
“If there were no other reason for restricting the circulation of publications which contain personal criticisms, this reason should be sufficient—that the enemy of all righteousness works through these criticisms to spoil the faith of the people of God, and to discourage them.”Testimonies to Ministers and Gospel Workers, p. 291
When believers attack the church publicly, it is not reformation. It is destruction by friendly fire. Yes, the church must be accountable. Yes, correction must come. But let it be done with wisdom, not warfare. With grace, not gossip. In prayer, not public ridicule.
A WORD TO THE WIDER CHURCH
By the way, This is not ONLY an Adventist problem. This is problem throughout the body of Christ. In almost every denomination today, we are watching the rise of believers who, in the name of transparency or “truth-telling,” are washing the Church’s linen in the streets of Facebook and Twitter, while the world watches and laughs.
Let me lovingly caution: God will hold us accountable for every soul we turn away from the gospel because of our careless words, online spats, and digital outrage.
Remeber, the world is watching,And God is watching too.”By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.”John 13:35
IN CONCLUSION
On a day when the Church in Kanyama came together in faith and unity, when young Pathfinders stood tall, when the memory of Evangelist Matandiko was honoured, and when a building project to expand God’s house received fresh support—I am saddened that the headlines have been hijacked by a debate over the choice of covering for the guard of honour inspection platform.
We must never again allow a chitenge-covered pedestal to overshadow the spiritual victories of the day.
Yes, Let us reform where we must.Yes, Let us refine our methods and protect our values. But, let us also remember that it is not the cloth that gives the Church its witness—it is only Christ Jesus.
Not the uniform, but the unshakable faith.Not the platform, but the presence of God upon it.
Let us return to the central message of the gospel:
“For I determined not to know anything among you, save Jesus Christ, and Him crucified.”
1 Corinthians 2:2
Yours in Christian love and service,
Dr. Nevers Sekwila Mumba Televangelist Former Vice President of the Republic of Zambia Servant of the Gospel