This week the BUC office had as a visitor, Amanda Khozi Mukwashi, Chief Executive Officer of Christian Aid. Amanda who took up her position just last year in April 2018 is the first Seventh-day Adventist to hold such a post.
Christian Aid has always been a pivotal charity organisation within the Christian church, throughout the UK and worldwide. It is an organisation that believes, "human action is responsible for the underlying causes of poverty and that the world must be swiftly changed to one where everyone can thrive and share life in all its fullness."
Amanda shared how following her attaining her degree and when on the verge of completing her law practising studies, she failed one of the modules and subsequently found herself on a different path of employment within the humanitarian field that was to change the course of her life.
Another crossroads was after being married and having two small children, she left Zambia for England to further her education and to find work. However to her surprise, despite her qualifications and experience it seemed that every job she applied for was unsuccessful and eventually had to train to be a care worker just to gain work experience. She said it was not until she arrived in England that she experienced real deprivation, financial hardship and the greatest test of her spirituality.
The full interview which can be seen below highlights a remarkable life which underpins God's continual leading and direction to where she is today as the CEO of one of the largest Christian organisations in the world.
One would think that with all her accolades and educational attainment that her faith would become compromised, but Amanda has shown great strength of character borne by her deep appreciation for her Adventist beliefs which shape and imbed her whole outlook toward life.
As a Church we congratulate Amanda on her role and the influence she's having not only in Christian Aid but in shaping policies and projects to help those suffering in poverty around the world.