Online Reporter
Mthokozisi Ncube, Sunday News Reporter
IT is that time of the year when the dusty grounds, hired halls and suburban neighbourhoods of Bulawayo once again fill with hymns, prayer and pilgrimage as various offshoots of the Apostolic Faith Church gather for their annual camp meetings.
This year’s gatherings carry added weight and symbolism, coinciding with the movement’s 70th anniversary since its founding by the late Reverend Morgan Sengwayo in 1955.
Across the city and its outskirts, rival factions — born out of decades of doctrinal disputes and leadership wrangles — are holding parallel camp meetings, each affirming its identity, theology and claim to Rev Sengwayo’s legacy, while embracing modern tools to reach a global audience through live-streamed services.
At Lobengula Extension, the headquarters of the Apostolic Faith Mission of Africa (AFMA), thousands of worshippers have converged for a 21-day camp meeting running under the theme “The Promised Land.” Led by Reverend Rosewell Zulu, the gathering has drawn congregants from all 10 provinces of Zimbabwe, as well as neighbouring countries including South Africa, Botswana, Zambia, Malawi and Eswatini, among others.
The camp, which began on December 12 and runs until January 2, has transformed the surrounding suburb into a hive of spiritual and logistical activity. Delegates are housed in nearby primary and secondary schools, with others renting rooms in surrounding neighbourhoods.
“At the beginning of the camp meeting, we recorded over 5 000 delegates physically present. The event is also being live-streamed on Facebook, TikTok and YouTube, reaching thousands of viewers across the world,” said Rev Zulu.
He said the church relies on an extensive international network of pastors to mobilise members for the annual gathering.
“We sent out invitations through our ministers. We have pastors scattered across the globe who disseminate information through correspondence with the headquarters,” said Rev Zulu.
The embrace of digital platforms has significantly expanded the reach of the camp meetings. Rev Zulu revealed that the church was recently featured on Tilda Live, a platform with over 1,7 million followers.
“On the first day alone, we recorded 38 000 viewers on our Facebook page. The theme of the 2025 camp meeting is ‘The Promised Land’, which focuses on preparing believers for the new heaven and new earth as described in the Book of Revelation,” he said.
The programme at Lobengula Extension includes youth, women’s and couples’ meetings, baptisms and Holy Communion services — all centred on reinforcing Christian values, holiness and preparedness for eternity.
Youth services, held under the theme: “Christian Youth Crusaders (CYC): A Wise Choice”, draw lessons from the Biblical life of Moses, encouraging young people to reject worldly pleasures in favour of righteousness.
“The youth are taught that everything in this world is temporary, but eternal life comes through choosing Christ,” said Rev Zulu.
The church has also put in place extensive welfare measures, including free transport, meals, water and bathing facilities, with additional logistical support from the Bulawayo City Council. Hygiene and security are maintained throughout the gathering.
Meanwhile, at the Zimbabwe International Exhibition Centre, another major camp meeting is underway, led by Reverend Clement Nyathi. Running under the theme “To know God and to be known by God,” the gathering has been dubbed the Platinum Jubilee General Annual Camp Meeting in honour of the church’s 70 years of existence.
Rev Abel Hele Mepula, a board member of the AFMA led by Rev Nyathi, said the camp meeting has attracted delegates from South Africa, Mozambique, Malawi and Botswana, as well as members based in Australia and New Zealand.
“This is our 70th year preaching the same gospel that was preached by Reverend Morgan Sengwayo here in Bulawayo,” said Rev Mepula.
He added that delegates from the camp would also participate in the ninth edition of the National Thanksgiving and Dedication Service, an interdenominational prayer gathering taking place in the city.
Senior Pastor, Rev Adrick Hove, said live-streaming has become an essential tool for fulfilling the church’s evangelical mandate.
“We are livestreaming our services because it is the most effective way of spreading the Gospel to the nations, as mandated by God — to preach to every creature,” he said.
“We are receiving testimonies from people around the world who are following our sermons and services. We are a church that believes in the Word of God and whatever we do it’s according to scriptures.”
Founded in Pelandaba suburb, Bulawayo, the Apostolic Faith Church traces its spiritual roots to the Apostolic Faith Church of Portland, Oregon, established in the early 20th century by the late Reverend Florence Louise Crawford following the Azusa Street Revival.
That historic revival, led by African-American preacher William Seymour in Los Angeles between 1906 and 1915, reshaped global Pentecostal Christianity. Crawford later emerged as a formidable leader, guiding the Apostolic Faith movement from 1907 until her death in 1936.
Over the decades, the church’s expansion in Zimbabwe has been accompanied by internal fractures, resulting in multiple factions that now coexist — united by core doctrine, yet divided by leadership and history.
