Zimbabwea��s churches: A visitora��s perspective

Rafaela Taylor .
As a British person visiting Zimbabwe one of the first things that strikes you is the number of churches and denominations that are dotted around the cities. Before my first visit in 2012, I never knew there were so many different branches of Christianity!

I must admit I do not attend church every week back home, and I dona��t know many people who do.

Many people say they are Anglican but barely know what the word means. It is likely they have never even opened a Bible. The local priest will tell you he is happy if the church is half-full on Christmas Day!

Here I discovered branches of Christianity that I didna��t even know existed a�� Adventists, Apostolics, Brethren, Latter Day Saints and Pentecostalsa�� to name a few. I met young people barely adults themselves who are pastors of their own churches, claiming to have 20 or 50 followers.

Not only are there many churches in Zimbabwe, but I have had to get used to being bombarded with questions about which church I attend and whether I am a Christian. a�?Of coursea��a�? I would say, wondering if people would consider me a true Christian for attending church once a year.

In the way that one might sample different art galleries or bars in other cities, I have decided to try out a different church over each week while I am in Bulawayo.

Last week I attended a Pentecostal church in the northern suburbs. For the first hour we just sang and danced a�� I never knew church could be so joyful!

When it came to the pastora��s sermon I felt I was at a motivational speaking event rather than church. Money is not something I have heard spoken about in church before, but here it was a hot topic.

I have often wondered if people are being hoodwinked by unscrupulous pastors out to make a quick buck. I know that many Zimbabweans are deeply religious and true in their beliefs, and that there are many serious pastors out there, yet I still wonder if some of these churches are more businesses than houses of God.

What are your thoughts on why there are so many churches in Zimbabwe?

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