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By Priscilla Muzerengwa*
2:00 P.M. EST Sept. 21, 2010 | HARARE, Zimbabwe (UMNS)
Worshippers raise their hands in praise during a United Methodist revival
service near Harare, Zimbabwe. UMNS photos by Priscilla Muzerengwa.
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They come by the thousands, many leaving their homes for nearly a week to gather on an open patch of ground.
There, they will raise their hands above their heads, waving and
clapping, singing songs of praise and dancing before the Lord. Many will
stay up all night in praise and prayer, climbing nearby mountains for
private conversations with God during breaks.
And the faithful such as Emily Makunike will be revived.
“I am blessed to be at this revival,” she said. “The spirit of the
Lord is among us, the sermons are powerful, provoking the evil spirits,
uplifting the weary and urging people to live victorious life in Christ
Jesus.”
Those who want to understand why The United Methodist Church in
Africa is growing need only attend one of these five-day women’s
revivals held throughout Zimbabwe in August.
This year, more than 25,000 worshipped God at one of four revivals held Wednesdays through Sundays.
“The women’s revival is a major event in the Zimbabwe church’s
calendar. Everyone looks forward to these revivals,” said the Rev.
Sophrina Sign, connectional ministries director. “A lot of miracles take
place, the sick are healed and demons are cast out. The revivals are a
climax of a spiritual journey for the church and are also a time for
spiritual renewal.”
Prayer, prayer and more prayer
The spiritual preparation begins early.
As soon as the names of the preachers for the revivals are announced,
teams of intercessors begin fasting once a week, asking for the power
of God to be manifested at the gatherings.
“First we pray for purification of ourselves that our prayers may be
acceptable before Christ. When we fast, our major focus is on
deliverance, healing and winning of souls to Christ,” said intercessor
Babra Marumba.
The intercessors come to the campsite three days early “to declare
the authority of the Lord over the whole ground. For the whole week they
are on dry fast asking for God’s intervention. They only start to eat
Saturday morning as they celebrate the success of the revival with the
others,” said Engeline Tsakatsa, women’s evangelism chairperson.
During the revivals, messages of inspiration and exhortation are
preached. Spiritual demons are exorcized. After each sermon, the
evangelist leads people into a time of self-examination and dedication
to Christ.
Intercessors offer counseling.
“We tell them you are telling to God, not to the counselor, so people
empty out everything with their focus on Jesus,” Marumba said.
The fruits are many
The theme of this year’s revivals was “A Future With Hope.”
That’s what Emma Chinyamudzori said she has after attending a revival last year.
“I went to the revival in search for God’s favor that I may have a
baby. The week before for the revival I started fasting, and I continued
throughout the revival. At the revival I was always in prayer. When
people go out for break, I will remain behind and cry to the Lord,” she
said.
Before the end of the revival, the Rev. Tsitsi Madziyire proclaimed
to the congregation that there are lots of miracles available from God,
and invited women to come forward who wanted to have their wombs open.
“Many women rushed to the pulpit, and I was one of the first to throw
themselves to the pulpit. I prayed with so much faith that I am here
to grab my miracle,” she said. “A month later, my doctor confirmed that I
was one month pregnant. My baby is now two-and-a-half months old.”
*Muzerengwa is a United Methodist communicator for the Zimbabwe East Annual (regional) Conference.
News media contact: David Briggs or Tim Tanton, Nashville, Tenn., (615) 742-5470 or newsdesk@umcom.org.
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