Moffat Mungazi
Lloyd Makonya
Correspondent
APOSTOLIC Faith Mission (AFM) in Zimbabwe president, Reverend Dr Amon Madawo has encouraged young people to embrace sexual purity and turn away from drug abuse.
Speaking during the closing day of the AFM in Zimbabwe Youth Department’s “Expansion Conference” held at Chatsworth in Gutu District last Sunday, Reverend Madawo made a clarion call for moral uprightness and spiritual discipline.
Thousands of youths from across Zimbabwe, along with delegates from the United States and Kenya, gathered for the transformative conference aimed at inspiring young people to expand their spiritual, personal, and communal lives under the banner of godliness.
In his sermon, Reverend Madawo lamented the rise of sexual immorality and the normalisation of nudity in contemporary culture.
“Nakedness and nudity have become part of our culture,” he said.
“We now see products as ordinary as houses and bread being advertised using semi-nude women, and we are left to wonder what connection there is.”
Reverend Madawo warned that without purity, there can be no real expansion—either spiritually or personally.
He said: “Purity is freedom from contamination; it is moral cleanliness. Sexual purity, in particular, is freedom from sexual contamination. And without purity, there is no expansion.”
Drawing from the scriptures, he referenced Apostle Paul’s teachings on sexual purity, stressing that fornication has infiltrated even the church.
He highlighted his concern on the growing availability of pornographic content across various media platforms, as a stark reminder of the spiritual dangers facing today’s youths.
Reverend Madawo also raised concern over the increasing trend of young people exchanging nude photographs.
“This must stop,” he declared. “We must restore the dignity and sanctity of our Zimbabwean culture. In everything you do, seek to please God.”
He further noted that some preachers have lost their moral authority to preach powerful sermons because they themselves are entangled in sexual immorality.
“The church must clean itself first if we are to guide our youth effectively,” he emphasised.
The message from Reverend Madawo comes at a time when the First Lady, Dr Auxillia Mnangagwa, is leading a nationwide campaign promoting traditional values through her Nhanga/Gota/Ixhiba programme.
The initiative also aims to combat drug abuse and promote abstinence among young people, aligning strongly with the themes addressed at the Expansion Conference.
As Zimbabwe faces growing challenges related to youth morality and substance abuse, faith-based initiatives like the AFM in Zimbabwe Youth Conference offer vital platforms for mentorship, renewal, and the reinforcement of cultural and spiritual values.
Meanwhile, popular artiste, Braveman Chizvino formerly known as Baba Harare, now using the name King David, implored youths to shun drugs and sexual immorality, saying all is vanity and encouraged them to look up to Christ in everything they do.
King David serenaded the young people with his song: ‘Prove them Wrong” to the delight of the thousands of young people.
Online Reporter