adminSamuel Kadungure Senior Reporter
THE Apostolic Faith Mission (AFM) in Zimbabwe which held its centenary celebrations last week has attributed its stunning growth and ability to mass people with prayer rallies and evangelical missions across Zimbabwe to its conformist approach that puts Jesus Christ as a solid foundation upon which it is built.The conference was held at the church’s traditional Chartsworth (Rufaro) Shrine, Masvingo, under the theme: “Celebrating 100 years of being established on a solid foundation” (1 Corinthians 3:11).
Thousands of congregants from across the globe attended the conference.AFM president, Dr Aspher Madziyire, said the spiritual conference served as a platform to introspect and set a fresh target to catapult the Pentecostal movement.
“The foundation upon which this Pentecostal movement was built is Jesus Christ, and as a church we should not deviate from the principles and dictates of Christianity.
“It is time for the church to take stock of its successes and failures in the spirit of taking corrective action and appeasement of our Lord Jesus Christ. We should remain firmly anchored on the solid and unshakable foundation. We should be mindful of direction that the Holy Spirit wants the church to take, lest we deviate and perish,” said Dr Madziyire in a hard hitting sermon.
AFM international president, Dr Frank Chikane, said AFM was the mother of all Pentecostal churches in Africa. He hailed the church for its discipleship doctrine which has drawn millions of souls to the Lord. He said the church founders and legends put great emphasis on the salvation of the soul, the Holy Spirit baptism, divine healing, the gifts of the Holy Spirit, and living a holy life and the coming back of Jesus Christ.
Today the AFM has over 2 000 congregations in South Africa, representing over three million Christians. AFM churches have been established in Botswana, Lesotho, Swaziland, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Malawi, Mozambique, Kenya and other parts of Africa. There are also thriving AFM churches in Britain, America, Europe and Asia.
“When builders build a city without God, they labour in vain. The attainment of 100 years since the establishment of AFM in Zimbabwe is only attributed to God. We honour our forbearers knew that if the church was going to last. The challenge is on us not to deviate, to resist short cuts and remain firmly anchored on the principles, Christian faith and divine guidance that propelled the church to where it is today,” said Dr Chikane.
The other preachers included AFM international general secretary, Reverend George Mahlobo from South Africa, Rev Amon Madawo, former deputy president, Reverend Titus Murefu and his predecessor, Reverend Chiangwa, among others. The church legends and luminaries planted 100 fruit trees at Rufaro following a donation from the Forestry Commission. First to plant the tree was former president Rev Enos Manyika followed by President Madziyire.
The work of the AFM in Zimbabwe is said to have began in 1915 in Gwanda through the preaching of Zacharias Manamela, a convert of the AFM of South Africa.
The work was recognised by the AFM of South Africa and G.J. Booysen was appointed to look after the work and seek registration of the church with the colonial government. Mr Kgobe succeeded Manamela and he also was working under Booysen. Kgobe was used by God in divine healing.
The government of the day was very critical of the AFM because of Kgobe’s exercise of divine healing. The AFM bought a farm in Gobatema, south of Gwanda, to set up a base for their work in Zimbabwe. Meanwhile on 20 June 1918, Luttig established an AFM base in Gatooma, now known as Kadoma.
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