The Sunday Mail
The month began on a high with religious conferences in all corners of the country, and this final week of August comes with the Apostolic Faith Mission in Zimbabwe’s Centennial Celebrations, Heartfelt International Ministries’ Catch the Fire Conference and United Family International’s Judgment Night 3.
Apostle Vutabwashe
Slated for an entire week at the City Sports Centre, HIM – is led by Apostle Tavonga and Chipo Vutabwashe – began on Monday.
And Apostle Vutabwashe was on fire.
A trained marketer and lecturer, Apostle Vutabwashe on Tuesday said the conference idea was revealed to him in 2003 while on a three-day fast.
“The Lord said to me this ministry shall carry Catch the Fire so that Catch the Fire will go on. And I stand here to declare Jerusalem has 12 gates. And the temple that was built has 12 pillars and Jesus had 12 apostles and disciples. And this is our 12th year I press upon you an apostolic mantle,” declared Apostle Vutabwashe.
The conference also cemented Apostle Vutabwashe as a mature general of God with depth in the Word.
Meanwhile, AFM in Zimbabwe returned to Masvingo to celebrate 100 years of reaching out to souls. Themed “Celebrating 100 Years of Being Established on a Solid Foundation”, taken from 1 Corinthians 3:11, it was also time for AFM in Zimbabwe to remember its legends.
AFM in Zimbabwe president Dr Aspher Madziyire said: “We are building on a solid foundation which is of faith and the power of the Holy Ghost which is all found in Jesus Christ. Jeremiah says in chapter 20 that the word was like fire shut up in his bones. We are saying the fire should not be quenched. The fire of the Holy Ghost should continue burning. Without the Word it doesn’t matter how many cars or properties you have when the foundation is wrong the building will fall. All the nations speaking and saying what’s wrong with homosexuality it’s because of money!
“His Excellency (President Mugabe) said no to homosexuality. If we have people with that foundation the next generation can get men like that and it will be good.
“The other thing is people now believe in the power of oil or water.
“Jesus was there before the foundation of the earth. I believe in the person who created that bottle of oil,” Dr Madziyire said
Dr Madziyire launched his book, “The Pentecostal Dawn in Zimbabwe”, which traces the pioneering role played by AFM in the local pentecostal movement.
AFM had five provinces in Mashonaland Central, Midlands, Manicaland, Matabeleland and Masvingo before 1980, and after Independence these grew to 15. With Dr Madziyire leading AFM for the past 17 years, the church now has 28 provinces with three more expected to be established soon.
Apart from building churches, AFM takes care of orphans in Manhinga; while Dr Madziyire’s wife, Mrs Josephine Madziyire, runs a trust catering for widows.
“That shows growth. We are planning on adopting hospitals in the rural areas. Those are projects we need to co-ordinate,” Dr Madziyire said.
While AFM was in Masvingo, the United Family International led by Prophet Emmanuel Makandiwa held Judgment Night 3. Born from the Biblical concept of the judgment of the Egyptians who enslaved the Israelites in Exodus 12, the all-night conference deals with issues that keep people in bondage. UFIC spokesperson Pastor Prime Kufakunesu said, “There are problems that cannot continue unchecked. The inspiration comes from invoking that section of the Bible in the spirit realm on anything affecting the well-being of the Christian.
“We have in a big way realised the objectives of this conference. Women who are barren have bore children, sicknesses and diseases have been healed and lots of people who had financial difficulties have outstanding testimonies.
“The concept will remain the same but the magnitude of miracles will increase and we should have more people impacted.”
