BY NATHAN GUMA
ZIMBABWE’S major Christian denominations have formed an alliance with American evangelist Andrew Palau to combat the country’s escalating youth crisis through a massive faith-based intervention.
The coalition, which comprises church mother bodies – the Evangelical Fellowship of Zimbabwe (EFZ), Zimbabwe Council of Churches (ZCC), Union for Development of Apostolic Churches in Zimbabwe (UDACIZA) and the Zimbabwe Catholic Bishops’ Conference (ZCBC) – will launch the Love Zimbabwe Festival in September at Zimbabwe Grounds in Highfield, Harare.
The campaign will be a hive of activity, featuring various events including professional BMX/FMX demonstrations, free medical services in 12 high-density suburbs, vocational training workshops and multi-denominational prayer services. Organisers aim to reach 200,000 people through medical clinics, prison visits and school programmes before the main event in September.
The collaboration marks rare cooperation between Zimbabwe’s typically divided Protestant, Catholic and Apostolic factions.
“As African indigenous churches, we are continuing to break records as we partner with other denominations for the common good of furthering God’s work in Zimbabwe,” said Bishop Innocent Chitanda, UDACIZA programme manager.
Reverend Wilfred Dimingu of the ZCC said the festival would be a watershed moment for Christian unity.
“This is a win for the Church and a win for our country, because it’s not about one denomination, but all denominations. Christianity wins as people from various backgrounds give themselves to Christ and join our various churches,” Rev Dimingu said.
Andrew Palau, the festival’s main speaker, said the programme would help address social vices affecting young people, including drug abuse.
“It’s an honour and a dream that is finally coming true, to partner with you and all the churches, to lift high the name of Jesus. Serving together, we can reach out to every member of the community, right there in the heart of the city,” Palau said.
Pre-festival activities will include medical clinics, eyeglass clinics, friendship evangelism training, and outreaches to prisons, orphanages, street children and schools.
Festival organiser Bishop Never Muparutsa said these activities were tailored to help unbelievers find faith.
“With activities for women, youths, children and executives, the festival reaches people in their setting using non-threatening methods of evangelism. It’s a collection of events designed to help unbelievers find Jesus Christ,” said Bishop Muparutsa.
“I’m excited about the festival’s unique approach to soul-winning. It’s tailored for unbelievers, and as a church, we are serving them to bring them to the knowledge of Jesus Christ.”
