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Walter Muchinguri-Senior Writer and Researcher
“For if we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s.”- Romans 14:8.
This was how Archbishop Baba Ezekiel Handinawangu Guti, the centenarian and founder of one of the largest and fastest growing Pentecostal churches, Forward in Faith Ministries International also, known as Zaoga Forward in Faith International, who died on Tuesday this week, chose to live his life.
His dedication and commitment to the Lord was unwavering as he spent three quarters of his life, 75 years preaching the word not only to Zimbabweans but to people in different parts of the world, touching the hearts of many and bringing people to God, which transformed him into a revered evangelist, pastor, with unmistakable marks of a prophet.
Apart from being gifted in delivering the Word, he had astute leadership skills that included being a visionary, strategist with impeccable people skills and resilience that were largely attributed for the rapid expansion of Forward in Faith Ministries International, which now boasts of a presence in over 100 countries and has over 5 000 pastors and evangelists.
He was also a very good teacher, trainer, administrator, change manager and integrity specialist with impressive academic credentials that included a Bachelor of Arts; a Master of Arts; a Doctor of Divinity; a Doctor of Ministry and a Ph. D in Religion.
He held a Bachelor of Christian Education and a Doctorate from Northgate Graduate School and Zoe College, USA.
Despite his advanced age, he still exuded a lot of energy, which he demonstrated during his 100th birthday and 75 years of preaching the undiluted Gospel of celebrations that coincided with Zaoga’s 63rd anniversary celebrations.
President Mnangagwa was the guest of honour at the celebration, which demonstrated the calibre of the man that Archbishop Guti was.
The President, who urged the church to work with the State, paid tribute to Archbishop Guti’s exemplary life and his contribution to the transformation of Zimbabweans lives through the different initiatives carried out by his church.
This, he said resulted in Government seeing it fit to honour and confer Archbishop Baba Guti with the Order of the Star of Zimbabwe in 2021.
Archbishop Guti, who was married to Prophetess Eunor Guti was born in Ngaone in Chipinge District, Manicaland Province on May 5, 1923.
Dr Guti left home when he was young and travelled to the then Salisbury (now Harare) where he met a man he had dreamt of, who introduced him to Christianity and later baptised him after which he received the gift of speaking in tongues.
In 1958 he started ministering in the Assemblies of God church in Highfield. The church had been formed by a South African pastor who had been chased away from his own church.
He was later chased away from the church because he was becoming popular. On May 12 he responded to God’s special call while seated under a gum tree in Bindura, which led to the birth of Zaoga.
In 1963, God spoke to him while he was praying in some caves in Bindura instructing him to learn and read the English Bible and to learn to preach in English so that he can travel to many countries with the word.
This later came to pass as he traversed the world preaching and teaching the word, which saw many people turning to God.
He accepted invitations to preach and teach in several African nations, Europe, the US, Asia Pacic countries and the Bahamas.
He also spoke at Bible schools, colleges, universities and also appeared on television and radio programmes.
To aid the work of the Lord, he founded seven Bible colleges named Africa Multi-Nation For Christ College, with three in Zimbabwe, two in Mozambique, one each in Zambia and Ghana.
He also established various ministries including Forward in Faith Children’s Home, Children’s Ministry, Forward in Faith Christian College (Christ for Zimbabwe College secondary school), Africa Christian Business Fellowship, the Gracious Women’s Fellowship, along with the Husband’s Agape International Fellowship.
Under Dr Guti’s stewardship the church also set up diverse investments, including 120 dressmaking schools in Zimbabwe, bible schools, colleges and vocational training centres, clinics, primary and secondary schools. A great philanthropist, Dr Guti, in his quest to assist the people and his church, through his church applied for and received a licence from the Government to establish a university and the Zimbabwe Ezekiel Guti University was established in Bindura, Mashonaland Central with him as its chancellor.
He also established the Mbuya Dorcas Hospital in Waterfalls, where the church’s headquarters are located.
The hospital, which was named after his late mother Ambuya Dorcas Guti, opened its doors to the public in September of 2012, and has since provided life-saving care to thousands of patients from all over Zimbabwe.
Online Reporter
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