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The Story of Mama Margaret Ngandu
Though I was twice taller, I was half her age.
It was Freedom Sunday.
Just a few days after Zambia celebrated her independence on 24 October 2024.
The air was full of remembrance.
The songs were strong.
The prayers deep.
But nothing touched us more than the voice of one old woman.
Mama Margaret Ngandu.
She stood at the front.
Not for show.
Not for applause.
But as a living reminder of where we have come from.
She is one of the oldest members of our church.
She joined Power of Faith Church of the Nazarene in the early days.
Back when we were just a gathering under a tree
Before the tent
Before the building
Before it all.
She came forward slowly
Her back slightly bent with age
Her steps steady but not rushed
And I stood beside her
Half her age
But fully aware I was in the presence of a story that needed to be heard.
Mama Margaret began to speak.
Her voice soft.
But strong.
She took us back to the late 60s
To a Zambia that was still finding its feet
To a time when worship was sometimes quiet because freedom wasn’t.
She said, “I live in the shadow of time. Everything I see now was once only a prayer. Yes, we went to church because missionaries came.
And that’s where the story begins.
I wanted to bring you to understand a missionary’s life. When others described it as too challenging, missionaries still went.
They left comfort for calling.
They crossed oceans not knowing what they would find but knowing Who sent them.
That’s the kind of faith that laid the foundation we stand on today.
She reminded us how Missionaries Came to Africa at a time it was not fashionable to do so and the Church of the Nazarene entered Zambia in 1961
Because one missionary looked at this land and said
“Yes, Zambia, I will go.”
And that one “yes” planted a seed.
A missionary’s life is not easy.
They came not to be known, but to make Jesus known.
They come not for comfort, but for calling.
And because of that one life
Others believed
And people like Mama Margaret stood firm
Even when it wasn’t safe
Even when it wasn’t easy
And now
We worship freely
We sing loudly
We gather in a well-built church
Because of the one Missionary Who said Yes to Gods Call.
Mama Margaret stood there
As living history
As a bridge between what was
And what now is
At the end of the service
Rev Peter Tembo led the church in honoring her.
We presented her with a gift.
A small token.
For a life that has given us so much more than we could ever repay.
There were no words big enough.
But the moment was Amazing.
Thank you, Mama Margaret Ngandu and Missionary thank you for Coming.
For your voice
For your courage
For your walk
And for standing so we could worship standing tall.
