The Sunday Mail
He is one of the prophets accused of using miraculous powers from the dark world given by Nana Kwaku Bonsam of Ghana. But founder of Revival Centre World Mission, Prophet Adventure Mutepfa (AM) of Mutare denies the claims in this interview with Tendai Manzvanzvike (TM). He also speaks about the prophetic wave gripping Zimbabwe.
TM: You were mired in the controversy surrounding Ghanaian Nana Kwaku Bonsam who claimed to have given African preachers powers to perform miracles. Can you comment on that?
AM: When I read about it on the Internet, I asked myself, why for I have never been to Ghana or Nigeria. I have only been to South Africa, Zambia and Mozambique.
Even in Mutare some people accuse me of using juju. You need to be prepared for unjustified criticism. Even the Lord Jesus was asked where he got his authority from.
TM: Prophet, bishop which is it?
AM: I am a prophet and my wife here is Prophetess Hilda.
TM: How did the ministry start?
AM: We were both born in Mutare. I did my O-Level at Mutare Boys High School. While doing Form 3 in 1985, I started hearing a voice saying I must do His work and I went for career guidance and told them that I was hearing something that I could not comprehend.
They advised me to seek guidance from a pastor. There was a man of God, Bishop Trevor Manhanga, who advised me that God was calling me into ministry.
I trained at Chitungwiza Bible School, run by Full Gospel Church Zimbabwe, and after graduation worked with them.
But, I always looked up to Bishop Manhanga because he was the one who had led me to Christ and he was my mentor.
Eventually I went with him until I felt that God was calling me into something else. I sought his blessing to release me.
When I left, I started the ministry that we now run – Revival Centre World Mission at Hobhouse in Mutare.
When I started this work, God did something with me which was shocking because He told me that I needed to pray and fast on a mountain for 40 days and 40 nights.
TM: How did you know that it was God speaking to you?
AM: God can speak to you through His word because the Word is the foundation of our faith.
God can also speak to you when a prophet speaks into your life over a situation, although when a prophet speaks, you have to see to it that what you are being told is not outside His word.
God can also speak to you through a still voice because the triune of a human being is spirit, soul and body.
TM: How come many people say they don’t hear that voice?
AM: Most Christians fail to hear from God because they go to God as if they are holding a one way phone conversation. They never take time to listen to God’s response.
They also fail to hear from God because they don’t spend time meditating on God’s word as instructed in Joshua 1:8.
TM: But, isn’t it that we now have believers who want to be spoon fed? If they are not told to fast or give they won’t, the same with meditation?
AM: It’s a problem in Christiandom, because even the pastors need to be taught about meditating on God’s word. Meditation is critical to the children of God because if He speaks where people are not meditating the problem goes round in circles without anyone picking up what God is saying.
TM: How did people react to your starting your ministry?
AM: We have a scenario in our country where mainline churches – AFM in Zimbabwe, Anglican, Roman Catholic, etc have been dominating. When you do things outside these mainline churches you are regarded a rebel.
So, when you make such a move, you have to be prepared to face stigma and persecution. We have many churches, but at the end you will see that you have a congregation with six people, 12 people there and dominant scripture will be where two or three are gathered in my name there will I will be.
We start having big problems because the church is never meant to be two or three. The church is supposed to be an organism with life in it, be it potential and ability to naturally multiply and increase.
This is how Revival Centre started and it’s now a household name in Manicaland. People come from Mozambique and South Africa seeking healing and deliverance. What surprised me was when I saw people coming all the way from the UK.
I also discovered that we want to be known through several means, but when God begins to move, He will cause Himself to be known that He is in this place.
TM: How does the prophetic play up in all this?
AM: This is when we begin to define a prophet. A prophet is not just someone foretelling the future.
A prophet is one who is declaring the Word of God and power. Yes, he has ability to pick out people and speak things about their lives, which I can do, and most people can do as well.
We are all in the bracket of prophets, but the difference is that of not just being told something, it’s the ability to break the chains that hold someone prisoner of the devil. This is where we begin to distinguish prophets sent by God and those not, because anyone can wake up any day and claim that he is seeing visions.
A true prophet has to declare the Word of God and power.
TM: You are moving to Harare?
AM: God pointed Harare to me, so we are coming to set root. Harare must brace for something exciting. There will be an awesome gathering of the children of God.
One of the reasons prophets are criticised and looked down upon is not because they are not doing the right thing. It’s because most churches are getting emptier and emptier. So, when people complain about Magaya, Makandiwa or Uebert Angel, it’s because they realise that if they continue with this wave, they will be out of business.
Those seeking life and deliverance from bondage will leave. But, we are not preaching that people should leave their churches.
TM: And your final remarks?
AM: Zimbabwe, you are a blessed nation. Within you, the Lord has raised His servants so that you will continue to rise. We are declaring from now on that you are the jewel of Africa. You will succeed.
I also want to thank the Lord for giving us a leader who stood up as a source of example in Africa and demonstrated that you don’t have to accept everything.
When he stood against homosexuality, it showed that he is a man who believes in principles that take Zimbabwe forward. Africa will know that there is a country that upheld the principles of God.
Prophetess Hilda also said: “People should respect prophets called by the Lord to serve this nation. As Zimbabwe, we have been blessed because of the prophets that the Lord is raising. If a person is healed by a sangoma, it doesn’t become a topical issue, but when the healing is performed by God’s prophet, there are allegations that he uses juju. I am just encouraging people to respect the men and women of God. The Word says do not touch my anointed once.”
Events Calendar
Event: ZimPraise Live in Concert
Date: July 26
Venue: Glamis Arena
Time: 4pm till late
Theme: It’s still all about Jesus
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Event: Jesus Summit Conference – Tabernacle of Grace Ministries
Dates: August 11 to 12
Venue: Zanu-PF Headquarters
Time: 10am to 7pm
Guest speaker: Prophet Elijah Chali (Zambia)
Host: Apostle Batsirai Java
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Event: Fire Night – Revival International Ministries
Date: July 26
Venue: Zimbabwe College of Music
Time: 7pm to 5am
Speaker: Apostle Raymond Mujeyi
Theme: This nonsense must stop (Nahum 1:9)
Contact: +263-4-2918324; +263-4-772853584
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Event: Spiritual General Conference
Dates: August 21 to 24
Venue: Rufaro Conference Centre, Chatsworth, Masvingo
Hosts: AFM in Zimbabwe
Contact: +263-4-712871869
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Event: Catch the Fire Conference 2014 – Heartfelt International Ministries
Dates: August 25 to 29
Venue: City Sports Centre, Harare
Time: 6pm to 8pm
Hosts: Apostle Tavonga and Pastor C Vutabwashe
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Event: Pumula South Miracle Crusade – JFAEM/EFZ
Dates: August 26 to 30
Venue: Mpofu Shopping Centre, Pumula South, Bulawayo
Hosts: Evangelist Paul and Mrs Winnie Saungweme
Contact: +263-4-779508, +263-4-772969069
Please email events to: [email protected] by mid-day of Tuesday of each working week.
