Pastors key to shaping morally upright communities, Minister Ncube

Judith Phiri and Faith Ndlovu, Sunday News Reporters

PASTORS play a pivotal role in moulding characters in communities to be morally upright so that people can live peacefully and happily.

Speaking at the 12 000 Study Bible Distribution Programme at Agape Missions Church in Bulawayo’s Nketa 7 suburb yesterday, Bulawayo Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Judith Ncube said the Study Bibles donated to the church leaders were critical as they were an important part of their toolkit for teaching and leading churches.

“I am glad to officiate at this important event of the distribution of Study Bibles to church leaders and pastors from throughout Zimbabwe. I was informed that the donation of these Study Bibles is from Mr Jimmy Swaggart, we are so grateful. Pastors play a pivotal role in moulding characters in our communities. I would say being a pastor leader is not for the faint-hearted. A church leader needs to be a Godly leader, a role model and a guidance giver,” she said.

Minister Ncube said at community level, religious leaders have the power to raise awareness and influence attitudes, behaviours and practices.

Minister Ncube said they can shape social values in line with faith-based teachings.

“For example, even during this difficult time in the nation as we fight against drug and substance abuse, we look forward to seeing churches taking a leading role in fighting the menace and complementing the Government’s efforts,” she added.

“I would like to encourage you to come up with initiatives and various programmes that will provide guidance and support to young people, helping them develop a sense of purpose, direction and meaning in their lives. This, in turn, helps reduce the likelihood of drug and substance use.”

She said as church leaders, they could provide counselling and support services to young people struggling with addiction through awareness campaigns, workshops, congresses and meetings, among other activities, to promote drug and substance abuse awareness.

Minister Ncube recommended that to increase capacity, churches could work towards building partnerships and collaborations with other organisations and stakeholders.

“I do acknowledge the already existing partnerships that are beneficial to the province. As Government, we encourage churches to continue in this partnership. Recently, we witnessed the launch of the Police-Church partnership, a good initiative that will help combat robberies and violent attacks on our churches as well as reduce crime in Bulawayo Metropolitan Province.”

She expressed gratitude to the police and prison services benefitting from the donation of Study Bibles, stating that it was a great gesture as the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) and Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services (ZPCS) were working with some of the vulnerable parts of society.

Deputy Chief Secretary for Social Services in the Office of the President and Cabinet, Reverend Paul Damasane said the Bible Study toolkits donated and distributed would make it easier for people to understand the bible.

“It’s always difficult to read the Bible on your own and understand deeply, so what a Study Bible does is to locate the verse and give an explanation of what that verse says,” he said.

He said the 12 000 copies distributed were Expositor Bibles that will make it easier for pastors when preaching as Christian leaders who will have an in-depth understanding of the Bible.

Rev Damasane said giving the pastors and their congregants, as well as those that minister in hospitals and prisons as chaplains together with the other uniform forces the Study Bible, was so that they can use it as part of the counselling, guidance and self-enrichment tools.

The presiding Bishop at Agape Missions Church, Bishop Lucky Moyo said the churches were grateful to the donation from Jimmy Swaggart Ministries.

He said the Expositor’s Study Bible, translated out of the original tongue and with previous translations had been diligently compared and revised to reflect present terminology without changing the true meaning of the world.