Online Reporter
THE Call to Worship Global Choir is putting the finishing touches to their rehearsal programme ahead of its 18th Worship Night, as more than 80 singers and instrumentalists prepare to lead thousands of worshippers in an evening of praise and worship at the Harare Gardens on October 3.
The anniversary celebration will run under the theme “Ishe Ngaavongwe” (Oh Lord, Be Exalted) with the ministry expecting worshippers from across Zimbabwe to gather for an evening centred on music, praise, worship and spiritual reflection.
Call to Worship Global was founded by Pastors Philip and Charlotte Pike in 2008 and has grown into an interdenominational worship ministry, bringing together singers, musicians and worshippers from different churches and musical backgrounds.
Choir director Vance Guwa, who has been part of the ministry since its early years, said preparations had been under way since March, with the choir now entering the final stages of rehearsals.
“We have been practising at least twice each week since March, with various sections of the choir — instrumentalists and vocalists — having separate sessions to ensure that we deliver an unforgettable night of worship,” Guwa said.
He said the size of the choir required sustained preparation to ensure that its different sections worked together as one.
“When you have more than 80 people singing and playing together, you cannot leave anything to chance. Every voice has to know its place, every instrument has to complement the next, and ultimately we have to sound like one choir,” he said.
The Worship Night will also provide an opportunity for the choir to record at least four new songs live, adding a new dimension to the anniversary celebration and creating a lasting record of the ministry’s 18-year journey.
Guwa said the Worship Night was not being approached as a conventional concert, but as an opportunity to lead people into a shared experience of worship.
“We are not simply preparing to perform songs. We are preparing to lead people into worship,” he said.
For Guwa, who has witnessed the ministry’s growth over nearly two decades, the anniversary carries particular significance.
“Having been part of this journey from the early days, there is something special about standing on that stage after 18 years and seeing how far God has brought us,” he said.
“We are not just celebrating an anniversary; we are celebrating God’s faithfulness.”
As rehearsals enter their final phase, the choir hopes to translate months of preparation into a night of worship that reflects the significance of the milestone.
“We want people to hear the music, but more importantly, we want them to encounter God through the music,” Guwa said. “When those voices come together, we believe there will be a moment when the whole garden becomes one voice of worship.”
The Worship Night will feature gospel singer and worship leader Minister Blessing Jeduthun, Oncemore Six, and various church choirs.
