The Sunday Mail
We continue with the churches’ assessment of the year 2015 and the backdrop is the electrifying Sunday service I attended on December 13 at Jabula New Life Covenant Church.
When the praise and worship team, attired in colourful African prints burst into song, “Tinoti Ebenezer” (We say Ebenezer), even Bishop Tudor Bismark with the Zimbabwean flag tied on his right hand wrist joined in the celebratory dance:
Tinoti Ebenezer!
Nesuwo tiri munyasha,
Zvairema, zvichirwadza,
Asi Jehovah vatisvitsa pano!
They had every reason to marvel at the grace of the Lord as the church’s year-end diary is packed. That Sunday, they held an Esther graduation ceremony, which is an interdenominational bible study and prayer service that is hosted by Pastor Chi Chi Bismark every Tuesday.
They also married off one of the 13 couples being joined in holy matrimony from December 13 up to New Year’s eve.
We also say Ebenezer, thus far the Lord has taken us. Friday will be Christmas services galore countrywide, and for those who will be unable to attend the church services, the information, communication technologies will enable them to follow some church services online.
But when all is said and done, Christmas is about Jesus. Despite the commercialisation, the Lord Jesus remains the centre-piece of the festivities. As Paul says, “the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.” (Romans 14:17)
Jesus for Africa Evangelistic
Ministries in 2015
JFAEM’s theme was “Seeking, Seeking, Seeking the Lost.”
Evangelist Paul Saungweme said Jesus came to seek and save the lost. He did not come to pat the backs of a few Christians and the few that are lost; neither, did He come to play church games and entertain people.
“Thus my heart panteth for waters like a deer in a desert when it comes to soul winning the poor, the distraught, sick, blind, unsaved people. As long as there is an unsaved soul on our streets, villages and homes, I will never be satisfied,” he said.
He added that while the ministry was excited that during the eight crusades, they saw the grace of God enabling them to bring into the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ over 12 000 souls, but he still felt that it was not enough. “We could have brought more to Him,” he said.
During the second half of the year, they held crusades in places like Jerera growth point in Zaka district, Birchenough Bridge, Cowdray Park in Bulawayo, and Tongogara growth point in Shurugwi.
There were setbacks and most of them boiled down to the lack of collaboration from various stakeholders, coupled with the macro-economic challenges being faced all over the world.
Evangelist Saungweme also lamented, “One of the biggest setbacks came through part of the body of Christ that views mass evangelism as a non-beneficial endeavour.
“There is a great need for the change of mindsets among some of our church leaders. Thank God though for the Evangelical Fellowship of Zimbabwe that still assists us in trying to enlighten the church in this regard.
“The issue of resource mobilisation for this noble cause is also a challenge. Human and financial resources are to be seriously prayed for. I know we could have done more. We have places like Tsholotsho, Nkayi and the whole of the Matebeleland region which we have not touched,” he said.
Notwithstanding, the fact that they recorded over 12 000 souls for Christ in just eight crusades gave them great joy as a ministry. Being enabled to take the gospel to places like Mukumbura, Tongogara or Cowdray Park made them feel that the Lord was on their side.
He also said, “Considering the financial constraints that our valued partners had this year, I really want to thank God for this divine enablement. Our partners stood with us in sanctification ways, in order for us to achieve this milestone.
“And, while our Lord Jesus prophesied about the coming of the many false prophets and the spirit of the anti-Christ, it does not leave us in peace. It is so disheartening and saddening to observe that the nation is now confused about the church, due to what is happening. I believe what is happening today is a wake-up call to the called ones, to stand and preach and live a true gospel without blaming the other.
“The truth told and received shall set people free. Jesus said this is the day of salvation. Hence, we must preach salvation, and the truth shall be evidenced with time. Hallelujah! It’s our time to share and proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ unapologetically,” the JFAEM leader said.
He also lamented that the church seems to have neglected the rural communities, despite that Jesus died to save all.
JFAEM’s hope for 2016 is that the gospel be taken to, “our beloved mothers and fathers, brothers and sisters in the farthest part of Zimbabwe. As someone said, ‘why should one hear the gospel twice before another hears it once?’ The gospel must reach all peoples of the world . . . Remember also the Chinese proverb: Alone I can run fast, but together we can run far.”
Jesus For Africa Evangelistic Ministries said they are praying for national leaders – be it in Government, civic organisations, religious leaders and all Zimbabweans to enjoy this festive season with the mind of honouring the birth of Jesus Christ who must be in the heart of every human being in a practical way. Amen!
Elshaddai Ministries
International in 2015
Elshaddai Ministries is in the process of building the foundations of its Transformational Centres in Ruwa (Sunway City area), and Njanja in the Chikomba district, all of which add value to their 2015 theme of “Triple Grace”.
The ministry’s overseer, Bishop Dr Patience Hove said the Lord had said “it was time for refreshment and pushing for greater heights,” and He gave them power and increase, to soar like eagles, and to run and walk without being weary or fainting. (Isaiah 40:29-31; 2 Timothy 2:2)
She said that the theme was fulfilled because they became stronger to build and work in unity despite the challenges faced by the ministry. (Psalm 139:13-16)
EMI said even the people of Zimbabwe became stronger, and God’s grace abounded, despite the prevailing economic and climatic challenges.
They held a number of events including the 2015 Elshaddai Convention, which was a huge success, attracting international participants from as far as Kenya, the USA, the UK and Zimbabweans from all walks of life. Their annual Kids Transformational day was also a huge success, including the First Street cleaning exercise at the beginning of the year.
“As a ministry, it is our love offering and gift back to the community and an annual campaign to clean up our city. We also cleaned the paediatric wards at Harare Hospital,” said Bishop Hove.
Elshaddai Ministries International said one of the major challenges the ministry is facing is the scattering of members through the mushrooming of new ministries.
Regarding the goings-on in the body of Christ, Bishop Hove said, “The ministers of God need to have integrity and responsibility to spread the true and correct Word of God, undiluted and unadulterated.”
She also called for unity in the body of Christ: “Let us unite as Christians and remain faithful in the work that God gave us, and not become copy cats, but stay on our original assignments from God.”
Their 2016 outlook: “From 2010, the Lord said it would be a decade of hope, spiritual sight and God’s favour to see Him restore His presence in the Kingdom of God and in Zimbabwe. We build families, people and nations through transformational prayer, and we believe all our prayer standstills in 2014 and 2015 paid dividends for our nation.
“We continue to pray for our nation in these divine prayer standstills which are seven times a year for the next seven years lined up. We began in 2014 and we are soldiering on. During 2015, we did them and we have five more years left,” concluded Bishop Hove.
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