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M’nyaradze mwoyo iri kuchema (To comfort the hearts that are mourning)
Jesu m’ponisi huyai (Jesus the saviour come)
M’ponese mwoyo yakarasika (To save lost souls)
Kune mwoyo yakakuvara (There are broken hearts)
Kune mwoyo ine maronda (There are wounded hearts)
Jesu murapi chiuyai (Jesus the healer please come)
THESE are the lyrics of a song the choir sang before the preacher started the sermon “Baba vebenzi” (A fool’s father) – derived from the book of Proverbs 17: 21, 25: “To have a fool for a child brings grief; there is no joy for the parent of a godless fool; A foolish son brings grief to his father and bitterness to the mother who bore him.” (NIV)
The sermon is one of the most popular he preached and it resonates among Christians and non-Christians alike. It was delivered at a crusade in Chinhoyi. When, I still have to find out.
The preacher is none other than Apostolic Faith Mission in Zimbabwe Evangelist Phanuel Dzangare Chiweshe who was translated to glory on Tuesday. Evangelist Chiweshe passed on at his Concession home, “while praying”. The 65-year-old evangelist served in ministry for 23 years. At the time of his passing on, he was resident pastor of AFM in Zimbabwe, Mt Camel Assembly in Chitungwiza’s Unit M.
In “Baba vebenzi” he starts by saying:
“Kufara chete, Ameni! Panofamba ivhangeri yaJesu, inofanira kusiira vanhu mufaro. Kana pafambawo Satani, michato inodimurwa. Vana twunopoya dzimba kuenda kuzvikomba, tumwe tuchitiza chikoro nda’a pakapfuura naSatani pachikoro. Ameni! Ameni!
(This is just expressing joy. When the word is preached, it should leave people with joy. But when the devil makes a visitation, he leaves behind a trail of misery – broken marriages; children skipping school in order to spend time with boyfriends, because Satan would have passed through that school. Amen! Amen!)
“Zvino isu tinofamba naJesu tikazowanikidza Satani achitoita zvokudaro navanhu, ndiyo yatinokatanurira mabhachika iyi. Nda’a vanhu vaMwari vanofanira kusara vari mumufaro norugare . . . (But for some of us who walk with Jesus, if we find Satan wreaking havoc like that, this is when we literally take off our jackets, because the children of God should live in joy and peace . . .)
“Nyaya iri pano hama dzangu ndeyokuti Mwari vari kuzvisarudzira vanhu vembeu inouya . . . Ndinodisa kuti titaure neShona yokumusha kwedu . . . ” (The issue here brethren is that the Lord is separating for Himself a special seed . . . I love to speak in Shona, my mother tongue . . .”)
To the body of Christ, we do not mourn Pastor Chiweshe’s passing on, but celebrate the mighty works the Lord allowed him to do, deeds that glorified the Lord’s name. We do not mourn as well because as Paul writes in Philippians 1:21, “to live is Christ and to die is gain.”
The body of Christ also realised that Evangelist Chiweshe’s passing on brought unity, especially in the AFM in Zimbabwe fold where some of his spiritual children such as Pastor Chipunza; Prophet Emmanuel Makandiwa and Apostle Tavonga Vutabwashe testified about the spiritual mentoring role he played, and the multitude of spiritual children he had. AFM in Zimbabwe is a prototypical mother body, which in my view is meant to have as many spiritually gifted children as possible; children who should be cheered on as they spread their wings like eagles to other places, doing the Lord’s work. This is how the first church in Acts of the Apostles started. It made me think of one of Psalm 133.
The fissures in the church which are being taken advantage of by outsiders are demonstrated on a pirated CD titled “Pastors: E Makandiwa vs P D Chiweshe”. You can also read it as “Pastors vs UFI Ministries”.
It’s now time that these differences are buried, and the church leadership and congregants concentrate on preaching the good news of Jesus Christ of Nazareth.
AFM in Zimbabwe can use Evangelist Chiweshe as a rallying point to get the body of Christ back to basics. General Solomon Tapfumaneyi Mujuru who passed on last month did that when the nation forgot its differences and mourned the man who played a pivotal role in liberating this country from colonial bondage. This is a major challenge, and the Spirit of the Lord is there to provide guidance.
Forthcoming events
Event: AFM in Zimbabwe International Conference
Dates: September 29 – October 2
Venue: National Sports Stadium
Hosts: Rev Dr A Madzivire
Speakers: Evangelist T A Rhalikholela and Dr S Kotu
Music: Sebastian Magacha; Zimpraise and many more
Contact: 0772514000/0773372863/0772334662
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Event: Rise Up 2011 Annual Conference – Southside Evangelical Church
Dates: September 1-4
Venue: Southside Evangelical Church, 50 Godfrey Rd/Crete, Waterfalls
Theme: Experiencing God’s Supernatural Abilities
Hosts: Rev and Mrs Masango
Speakers: Pastor P Mutendera; Apostle C Chiriseri; Apostle J Musadziruma; Bishop B Magwojo; Pastor R Chipoyera; Bishop J Warui
Contact: 07723351590/0777561665
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Event: Christian Churches 4th Annual Conference
Date: September 2-4
Venue: Chikara Christian Church, Matanha Secondary School, Mhondoro
Theme: Excelling in Giving
Time: 8:00am – 9:00pm
Hosts:Pastor and Mrs Chizanga, The Africa Development Mission
Guest Speakers: Pastor and Mrs Chamunyonga
Speakers: Pastors E Magwidi; A Bandera; J. Muumbe, O. Zhuwao, L. Marozva
Contact: 0712962631/0773538876;
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Event: Tiyambuke Annual Christian Convention in the Exchange Zone
Hosts: Apostle P and Pastor A Sibiya, Glory Ministries
Date: August 29 – September 4
Time: 8:30am – 8pm
Venue: Std No 19261, Chiwenga Drive, Btn Zengeza 3 Ext and Zengeza 5 Ext
Guest speaker: Apostle A Chisango
Speakers: Apostle A Gurupira; Apostle A Jaka; Prophet N Nyamazana; Pastor B Chiza
Contact: 0773000281/773000672
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Event: Day of Bliss Zimbabwe – Christ Embassy Ministries
Date: September 9
Venue: Glamis Arena, Harare Showgrounds
Guest speaker: Pastor Ose Oyakhilome
Time: 5pm
Contact: 0772545176/9
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Event: Men of Substance Meeting
Date: September 10
Theme: Benefits of Entrepreneurship
Time: 2-4:30pm
Speaker: Dr T Makoni – Celebration Ministries International
Host: Apostle T Ndebele – Redemption Ministries International
Venue: Redemption Ministries International, 20 Robert Mugabe/Cnr Harare St (1st floor)
Contact: 0774165511/0712407908
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Event: Ladies Conference – Mabasa Ezviratidzo Zvevapostori
Date: October 6-9
Venue: Budiriro Park, Harare
Guest speaker: Amai Bishop Mutasa
Contact: 0733230868/05568280
“A good name is better than precious ointment; and the day of death tha the day of birth.” (Ecclesiastes 7:1)
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