admin
IT was an occasion that could best be described as a home-coming as more than 30 pastors from various ministries gathered at Andy Millar Hall, Harare on February 13 to express gratitude to Father Lawrence Michael Hood of the Blood of the Lamb Christian Community.
He is a spiritual father to many Pentecostal/charismatic pastors, including Prophet Walter Magaya (PHD Ministries), Reverend Maxwell Cedric (Redemption Faith Ministries), Apostle Dr Raymond Mujeyi (Revival International Ministries), and more.
Bishop Leo Mupanduki (House of Shekina) was also present and Fr Hood quipped: “From a newspaper vendor to a bishop, via BLCC. What a testimony!”
The pastors and some present are all former BLCC members, and it took the co-ordinators almost two years to identify former members and plan the joyous occasion.
Rev Cedric gave a passionate address on why they were honouring Fr Hood.
But what is BLCC?
Fr Hood told this writer that they started “as a small prayer group in Westwood, Harare with Kizito Mapfumo and others. Most of us were Catholics but a few people were members of other churches”.
He added: “We were hearing a lot about Christian communities springing up in the Catholic Church worldwide and decided that was what we would do, calling ourselves the Blood of the Lamb Christian Community.
“As a community, we were never officially accepted in the Catholic Church. We tried hard but were never successful with the archbishop and found ourselves kept out on the fringes of the church.
“We came to see that this was the way the Lord was calling us, and decided to go ahead independent of any church. We have never become a church. We are a Christian community. Members were encouraged to stay with their churches and some did, but many did not. Instead, they came to take the community as if it were their church. We accepted that and are yet to work out the practicalities of it. Others have since gone off on their own and started their own churches.
“In the course of ministry in various places, we have come across people who tell us they want what they see we have to offer when we minister in their areas. We therefore decided to be open to the whole of God’s church both for ministry and for membership.
“When Jesus started his ministry, He came preaching the kingdom of God and this is what underlies all of his teaching.
“These days it is more about churches. But the kingdom of God is the unifying factor underlying all churches and when Jesus comes we can expect Him to be looking to see how his kingdom is doing in the hearts of his people.”
Fr Hood also said, “Initiation into BLCC comes with a Life in the Spirit Seminar, which prepares people for receiving the baptism in the Holy Spirit that the word of God promises them.
“From there, comes discipleship, teachings and practice, aimed at developing people’s relationship with God and equipping them for ministry. Equipping people for ministry, based on Ephesians 4:12, is one of our more important objectives and we take the word ‘saints’ in this context to refer to all saved persons, not just to those in leadership positions.
“BLCC members are free to attend the services of their own churches and some give more of their time to this while others give more attention to BLCC prayer meetings and other events.
Rev Cedric’s address
Dear brothers and sisters, former BLCC members and beloved current members gathered here present to honour Reverend Father Lawrence Michael Hood, a pastor, teacher, evangelist and apostle; a priest of God whom I believe was sent and raised for us here in Zimbabwe!
Today (February 13) is the day we have dedicated to honour this unheralded legend in the faith. The reason why we are gathered here is one common denominator, Reverend Hood. All of us have been brought together because we are connected by the ministry of Fr Hood. Everyone gathered here has been ministered to directly by this man of God.
Most of us joined BLCC as children and have grown up both in the natural and in the spirit under his mentorship, guidance and leadership. I personally met him as a 10-year old boy and only left when I was thirty years old, as a man. We went on to start our own ministry after leaving BLCC, leaving not in a proper manner, without a blessing of release from a father.
We started like spiritual orphans. We tried to manage by finding ourselves new fathers within the Pentecostal Charismatic world. The reason why we did not leave in the right manner and caused pain to our father was mainly because of spiritual immaturity, then. We did not know what we now know.
Now that we know the spiritual laws of how to relate with our fathers, we have come back to apologise and say “we are sorry, we desire to reconnect, reconcile, restore and mend our relationship with you father. We need your prayers and goodwill over our lives, families, churches, and ministries that we have now established”.
Even though some of us have flourishing ministries, we do recognise that the rich spiritual inheritance you gave us has greatly influenced what we are doing today. Hence, we have become international in our scope of ministry. The more we seem to mature spiritually, the more we realise that you are the single reason why we have become who we are today.
We tried to connect with other spiritual fathers in order to have a father, and we do realise from scripture what the Apostle Paul says in 1 Corinthians 4:15 that, “though ye hath ten thousand instructors in Christ yet hath ye not many Fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel”.
So, others who have come into our lives assumed the role of instructors, but you Fr Lawrence, you led us to Jesus Christ and to salvation. You have begotten us in the gospel. You are indeed our true father. Furthermore, the word father is the source. So, you are the source of our new found solution in Christ Jesus, therefore you are a father to all of us…
So today, we have come back to give you our hearts and you to give us your heart that a blessing will be released on us. Please father, pray for us, forgive us, accept us and bless us. Even though we are no longer with BLCC, we remain part of you as your sons and daughters and you have a dividend in our current works.”
Rev Cedric invited pastors and former BLCC members to kneel before Fr Hood and ask for his forgiveness for all the pain they caused him and BLCC.
Fr Hood’s acceptance of their invitation to the function was based on Hebrews 13:1 which says, “Let brotherly love continue,” and on forgiveness (Mark 11:25-26).
Fr Hood said, “I really want to thank God for this invitation. It’s more than just an invitation. It’s more than just a feast! When you gave this invitation, you didn’t know that the voice of God was with you. Actually, God was with you. It affirmed what I had been meditating on for some time – that it is necessary to get together.
“Hebrews 13:1 says, ‘Let brotherly love continue.’ I didn’t know that that verse was in the Bible… There is a God. In BLCC we didn’t know what was coming. At one point God says He has you right where He wants you. That was a prophecy. There is nothing as important as to be where God wants you to be. We want to be right where God wants us. If you are in the plan of God, that’s all that matters! But, it wasn’t easy, and we weren’t mature enough to take it God’s way. There was no time to think, pray and seek God’s counsel as you were leaving; no time to say if this is the way God is leading you, then God bless you. If you want to do things differently, be free; we will support you, but let us be in touch.
“But looking back, I can see that BLCC has grown from this, far more than if everyone had stayed in the nest. We should train other new people who can go out if they want to,” he said, as he punctuated his message with song.
Prophet Magaya’s message
Mrs Tendai Magaya (wife of Prophet Magaya) and his mother, Mrs Emma Muvirimi, were also present. His message was read by his mother.
“Father, we love you. You have shown us direction. If you read our (PHD Ministries) website, I recognise BLCC from the word go. My roots are from BLCC, since 3 September 1998 when I received Jesus Christ, being helped by the team which was led by Baba Matemba and Bob Benes. I want to appreciate your love, your care. You have taught us to forgive. You taught me that in ministry we have to forgive, and we are practicing it every day. Thank you father! We love you, in Jesus’ name!
Conclusion
The co-ordinator, Pastor Peter Matemba praised the Lord for the successful hosting of the historic event.
“We had no idea how it would turn out. Most of our newly established denominations have been born out of disgruntled anointed men and women of God who have simply decided to leave their fathers and go on with their work and never to work together again. We gathered to correct the wrong trend, which has divided the church. We might be opening the doors for a great revival in this nation.”
Feedback: [email protected]
Online Reporter