The Sunday Mail
Religion Writer
Hundreds of people from over 30 nations are expected to converge in Zimbabwe this month for the Association of Evangelicals in Africa general assembly.
Held after every four years, the General Assembly – which was last hosted by Senegal – will run under the theme “The Lordship of Christ in All Things”.
Zimbabwe holds the AEA vice-presidency through Dr Goodwill Shana, while the president is Cameroon’s Dr Samuel Yameogo.
The purpose of the general assembly, which runs from June 28 to July 1, is to discuss topical cross-cutting continental issues as well as conduct elections for new leadership.
Evangelical Fellowship of Zimbabwe general secretary Reverend Lindani Dube said: “The plenary is open to anyone; business partners, para-church organisations and obviously church leaders. But it also has the business session which is attended by five representatives from each national alliance normally comprising the president, the general secretary and either three other heads of denominations or executive members of that alliance.
“This is like an annual general meeting where there is deliberation of AEA business. The significance of the general assembly is we are convening all these different nations to come for a discussion around the evangelical cause. The unity of the church across Africa is profiled in the general assembly.”
Rev Dube said having international representation from the World Evangelical Alliance was strategically critical for Zimbabwe considering the drive by Tourism and Hospitality Industry Minister Walter Mzembi to boost the country’s religious tourism.
“I think it opens an opportunity to ensure people will come and go with the right picture in as far as ehst Zimbabwe is like. And hopefully the message the church is going to speak should be a message of hope, revival and rebuilding as opposed to the general generic secular messages which we always hear especially about Zimbabwe.
“There must come a time when the voice of the church must be distinct from the secular voice especially given that we relate with our sister associations around the world.
“And therefore if we are going to get any support it must be undergirded by that we believe is obtaining as the church of Zimbabwe,” noted Rev Dube.
