Online Reporter
Raymond Jaravaza, Sunday News Reporter
HUNDREDS of Followers of Christ Fellowship International Church (FCFIC) members drawn from Zimbabwe, Angola and Zambia have converged on Bulawayo to celebrate the church’s 45th anniversary celebrations.
The four-day anniversary celebrations started last Thursday and end today.
Yesterday, the congregants embarked on a march from Bellevue Shopping Shops to the main Bulawayo branch in Bellevue suburb.
The procession attracted members of the public with horse-mounted police officers leading the way ahead of hundreds of congregants following the march in song and dance.
It is the first time since the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020, that FCFIC members from the three countries have come together to celebrate and worship under one roof.
In sideline interviews, leaders of the church from Zambia and Angola praised the Second Republic, under the leadership of President Mnangagwa, for a peaceful environment that prevails in the country to enable churches to spread the word of God.
From Zambia, Bishop Lutyata Lingenu Martin, said he was pleasantly surprised by the hospitality of officials from the immigration department when the congregants entered the country from Victoria Falls.
“They told us to enjoy our stay in Zimbabwe and feel free to worship and spread the word of God. Today (yesterday) we held a march so that the people of Bulawayo know who we are as a church and the police were there to clear traffic for us.
“The President of Zimbabwe has said that his country is free for anyone who wants to visit and as Zambians we feel so welcome in his country,” said Bishop Martin.
Prophet Israel Alino, the leader of the church in Angola, said a lot of the congregants from his country were visiting Zimbabwe for the first time but felt at home from the day they set foot on the country.
“The people of Zimbabwe are warm and welcome. In Angola, the majority of citizens speak Portuguese but the word of God knows no language, so we feel at home, we can’t wait to go back and tell others how good we were treated here,” said Prophet Alino.
The host, Bishop Phillip Nyandoro, said the church was founded 45 years ago and has a stronghold in several countries in Southern Africa.
“Since 1980, we have been a home of worship for thousands of worshippers in Zimbabwe and with time, the church spread its wings to other Southern African countries.
“Today (yesterday) we are hosting our members from our neighbours Zambia and Angola. It’s important that as the hosts we showcase the spirit of unity and love,” said Bishop Nyandoro.
Mrs Alice Tikwe, a congregant from Zambia, said her family has been members of FCFIC for four generations.
“My grandparents were the first to worship in the FCFIC and took their children to church every weekend.
Four generations later, I’m here in Bulawayo with my children to show them how big and influential our church is in Southern Africa,” said Mrs Tikwe.
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