adminpreaching has more or less been formalised.
The evangelism starts after the morning rush hour, and ends late in the afternoon. There are regular preachers, complete with a pulpit and assistants.
Welcome to the First Street mall open air church at the intersection of First Street and Speke Avenue.
The services, led by various preachers are conducted six days a week – Monday to Saturday. Regular evangelists include Inzwirashe Matema and Trust Muparinga.
They are oblivious of other goings-on around them, and they are also not worried by numbers. They preach to one and in some cases to many.
I have observed the goings-on at this church. It’s interdenominational. I highlight a few of the issues I observed. The congregants are mostly men – some just passing by, while others listen to the whole sermon.
Some people have accepted Jesus as their Lord and saviour during these street sermons. Some believers give offerings. The pastors and evangelists also have time to pray with congregants and to give spiritual counseling.
The congregants are mostly men. Women briefly stop by. It could be because it looks odd to be among a large group of men. Some have also said that they are scared because such gatherings attract pickpockets.
However, the fact that men are being ministered to six days a week is an interesting phenomenon.
They are also back to basics when the Lord commissioned us “to go and make disciples of all nations”.
The book of Acts of the Apostles in the Bible shows that the spreading of the good news was done in various places.
A good example is the conversion of Lydia in Philippi: “On the Sabbath we went outside the city gate to the river, where we expected to find a place of prayer. We sat down and began to speak to the women who
had gathered there. One of those listening was a woman named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth . . . The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul’s message.” (Acts 16:13-14)
Today, open spaces, schools and halls and former cinema centres are now places of worship.
Forthcoming events
Event: Kingdom Impact Conference
Dates: October 24-30
Time: 6-8:30pm
Venue: Section 4 – Section 5 Ground, Kambuzuma
Theme: Raising a Generation of Champions
Guest speakers: Dr A Madziire; Overseer Chiangwa and Rev Nhamburo
Hosts: Rev I C and Mrs Mariga, Kambuzuma Revival Centre – AFM in Zimbabwe
Music: Sebastian Magacha; Revival Centre worship team and more
Contact: 0772229594/
0772528178/0772348367
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Event: Impact of the Glory of the Latter House Conference – Soul Travailing Ministries
Dates: October 21-22
Venues: Dutch Reformed Church, 35 S Machel
Time: 5:30-8pm
Speaker: Bishop David Eberechukwu, Nigeria
Hosts: Rev and Mrs O C Anthony
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Event: Two Weeks Prophetic Conference
Dates: Oct 21-23; Oct29-30
Venues: City Sports Centre (week 1); HICC Rainbow Towers (week 2)
Guest speaker: Prophet Victor Kusi-Boateng
Hosts: Prophet E Makandiwa (UFI); Prophet Uebert Angel (Spirit Embassy)
Contact: 0772460691 (UFI); 0773195955 (Spirit Embassy)
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Event: The Call and Cause to Business Leadership Seminar
Dates: October 25-27
Venues: Pandhari Lodge
Time: 8am – 6pm
Theme: All that will matter is the difference you made in the life of a child
Hosts: The Mailbox Club
Speakers: Milton Kamwendo (Zimbabwe); Leon Oosthuizen, Gary Rom and Louis Foord (RSA)
Contact: 0776134883/
0774164017/0714437950
“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (Acts 1:8, NIV)
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Online Reporter