The Sunday Mail
Veronica Gwaze
TWO days from now, 2019 will come to a screeching halt.
As the New Year beckons, people get to reflect on the year that is coming to an end.
During this period, people from all walks of life will come up with resolutions that they hope to follow through and achieve during the course of the year.
Some churches will, on the eve of the New Year, conduct crossover nights. During such services, they will make declarations for the year ahead.
Others will launch themes and redefine their focus ahead of the coming year.
As is the norm, most Christians will then take the first few days of the year to pray and fast as they seek spiritual guidance.
The period of fasting and praying ranges between 10 to 40 days, with some denominations going beyond that.
With 2020 drawing closer, the Evangelical Fellowship of Zimbabwe says it has lined up activities to emphasise on strategic planning and re-discovering its mission, identity and voice.
EFZ secretary-general Pastor Blessing Makwara said the 100-member church body will embark on crusades and educational campaigns.
“We will be celebrating the Bible, exploring ways in which the Bible came into being. Our theme is AD2020, year of the Bible,” Pastor Makwara said.
The Roman Catholic Church Archdiocese of Harare will, in 2020, be focusing on the theme “I am a Missionary Disciple in my Small Christian Community.”
Archdiocese of Harare Pastoral Director Father Kizito Nhundu said next year’s theme places a new emphasis on missionary discipleship in the small christian communities (SCCs).
In the recent past, Catholic themes in the Archdiocese of Harare have revolved around the family and the church, the Word of God and the Eucharist, young people and accompaniment.
Kingdom Prosperity Ministries (KPM) founding leader Apostle Rodney Chipoyera said next year will be a year of establishment for his church.
Quoting Romans 1 verse 11, Apostle Chipoyera said in 2020, many Christians will be financially and supernaturally rewarded by God, especially in the area of miracles, signs and wonders.
The scripture reads: “I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to make you strong — that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each.”
Added Apostole Chipoyera: “Miracles will be seen in God’s house and as a nation, we will begin to see economic recovery and restoration in many areas that have been a concern for Zimbabweans. God will intervene this time around.”
Apostle Partson Machengete of the House of Refuge International Ministries said his church will be running programmes that are hinged on winning more souls for Christ.
He said his church will conduct prison visits across the country.
House of the Kingdom of God also unveiled its theme, saying 2020 will be the “Year of great commission”.
The theme is derived from Matthew 28 verse 19-20.
For Grace Harvest Ministries International founder Tawanda Bondera, 2020 will be a “year of great divine encounters.”
Apostolic sects are also looking forward to the New Year, with the Zviratidzo Zvevapostori Apostolic Church declaring 2020 a year for breakthroughs.
Madzibaba Gamba (Martin Madzura), a well-known faith healer and leader of the Kundiso Apostolic Faith Church, said Zimbabweans must prepare themselves for the New Year.
“There are evil spirits that can affect a person in several ways. In 2019, some people struggled financially, some had family problems. As we enter the New Year, families must be cleansed of such spirits.”
“Once cleansed, one will see that he or she will fare better next year, in all aspects of life,” Madzibaba Gamba said.
Sekuru Friday Chisanyu, the president of the Zimbabwe National Practitioners’ Association (ZINPA), said in 2020, his organisation is aiming to strengthen its relationship with its stakeholders.
“We are moving away from the traditional way of doing business. We are working with Government agencies such as the Environmental Management Agency to curb deforestation. We are also exploring ways of taking a modern approach to traditional healing,” Sekuru Chisanyu said.
