The Sunday Mail
Sharon Kavhu – Religion correspondent
American televangelist, pastor and founder of the non-denominational World Changers Church International, Dr Creflo Dollar, is expected to make his debut visit to Zimbabwe next month.
The head of Creflo Dollar Ministerial Association is visiting Zimbabwe at the behest of Heartfelt International Ministries founder Apostle Tavonga Vutabwashe and his wife Pastor Chipo.
Dr Dollar, whose prosperity gospel has won him many followers, will headline a single-night session dubbed “Night of Supernatural Advancement” on May 16 at HIM’s International Overflow Centre in Ashdown Park, Harare.
Dr Dollar – who oversees his ministry with his wife Taffi – has built a multi-million dollar ministry on the message, “It is the will of God for you to prosper in every way”.
Apostle Vutabwashe’s announcement of the intended visit by one of the richest preachers in the world has raised adrenalin among followers.
“We are hosting Dr Creflo Dollar and his delegation here at IOC in May. How many are excited about this event? Ok, you need not to miss such a great experience, so you have to be here on May 16,” said Apostle Vutabwashe at a “Super Sunday” service at HIM’s premises in Ashdown Park.
Apostle Vutabwashe said he had wished for a partnership with Dr Dollar from the time he was an adolescent.
“I used to be a subscriber to Dr Dollar’s magazines which were distributed internationally. In Zimbabwe they were only given to individuals who would have subscribed. Unfortunately the magazines are no longer available locally.
“However, I remember back then I used to read them persistently and I also admired the type of dressing that people in the magazines wore. Every time I read the books, I would tell my wife Chipo that, ‘when God blesses me, one day I will partner with this great man’,” said Apostle Vutabwashe of the man who heads the group formerly called International Covenant Ministries based in College Park, Georgia.
He added: “It was only last year when I sent him an invitation and the man of God said he had a very tight schedule so he could not make it to Zimbabwe. Dr Dollar told me that he had several tours in other African countries such as South Africa and he could not make it.
“Later on, he asked me to send him a write-up on why I really wanted him to come to Zimbabwe and visit Heartfelt. So I sent him the write up and it was so convincing that he ended up changing his schedule to accommodate us and he confirmed his visit in Zimbabwe.”
Dr Dollar’s sermon at IOC will be from 6 to 9pm and themed “2016 is My Year of Supernatural Advancement”. His visit to Zimbabwe will be his first visit to Africa this year.
Apostle Vutabwashe said: “When God wants to bless and elevate his people he uses a person; thus people in businesses and leaders should take this opportunity seriously. Such opportunities give room for development especially considering the fact that Dr Dollar is a successful man worth millions of dollars.”
Estimated to have a net worth of US$27 million, Dr Dollar’s visit could boost religious tourism in Zimbabwe.
His church has nearly 30 000 members with the New York assembly estimated to host over 6 000 worshippers weekly.
The auditorium, the World Dome, was built at a cost of US$18 million without any loans. Dr Dollar is the publisher of Change Magazine, which has more than 100 000 readers in the United States alone.
The American pastor is also expected to take his tour to South Africa where he will preach at two conferences.
In 2014, Dr Dollar visited Nairobi, Kenya for a three-day engagement with the Deliverance Church headed by Bishop Mark Kariuki.
