Zimbabwean ministries get boost in communications skills
Eben Kawadza receives a certificate from the Rev. Larry Hollon.
A UMNS photo by Linda Green.
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By Linda Green*
Jan. 18, 2007 | MUTARE, Zimbabwe (UMNS)
United Methodist clergy and lay people from across Zimbabwe were
challenged to be "telescopes" after being trained to tell stories of the
church in their areas.
Thirty participants in the Jan. 8-10 training experience at United
Methodist-related Africa University learned how to communicate
effectively with a computer. For many, the class marked the first time
they had used a computer.
Members of the Commission on Communication, the governing body of
United Methodist Communications, led the training. The commissioners
were in Africa to understand better why the denomination's Central
Conference Communications Initiative should be continued and expanded to
support communications in Africa, Europe and the Philippines. This was
the group's first meeting outside the continental United States.
James Salley, associate vice chancellor of institutional advancement
at the university, noted the contributions that church agencies have
made to the campus.
United Methodist Communications provided equipment for Africa
University's office of information; the United Methodist Publishing
House began the college's library; and the United Methodist Board of
Global Ministries funds a clinic there.
The Rev. Al Horton provides one-on-one instruction to the Rev. Margaret Mukundu. A UMNS photo by Bill Norton.
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"You make a powerful statement about ministry and who we are with
your presence and your gifts," Salley told the commission. "We don't
take that lightly."
Magnifying God
Several had never typed their name on a typewriter or knew what a
keyboard was. Following one-on-one tutoring, they were able to type
paragraphs, even if it was through hunting and pecking. Those with more
computer knowledge were provided with instructions on other computer
skills, use of e-mail and the Internet, making Power Point
presentations, news writing and editing, and newsletter design and
editing.
"You have been equipped with communication skills to magnify God,"
said the Rev. Tafadzwa Mudambanuki, coordinator of the Central
Conference Communications Initiative at United Methodist Communications,
at the conclusion of the training.
"You have been called to become telescopes for Christ in your
respective areas," he said. He encouraged them to magnify God to people
who may not know God.
Tendekayi Kanyenze
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Tendekayi Kanyenze, a member of the Zimbabwe East Annual Conference,
called the training valuable and stated that it would carry him further
in improving communications in the annual conference.
Before attending the skills training sessions, he was computer
literate but had never used Power Point or publisher tools to enhance
his ministry. He is now looking forward to creating a conference-level
newsletter and encouraging districts and circuits to have their own
publications as well.
"I found this to be very valuable. We have been equipped with the
knowledge to go out and come up with publications," he said.
"Indispensable information has been given to us." He added that he
appreciated "the connectionalism bringing us this training."
On Jan. 8, the Rev. Margaret Mukundu entered the training room at
Africa University unfamiliar with a keyboard and finger positioning,
since she had never typed her name. At the conclusion of the training
Jan. 10, she was elated because "I managed to type my name and the
assignment I was given."
Apprehensive when the training began, she was now "very, very glad,"
she said. "I was able to type. It is not perfect, but I am by all means
trying." The most important lesson received from the three days, she
said, was to use the computer. "I really enjoyed it."
'Ah-ha' moments
Paul Black, a commission member and the director of communications
for the Illinois Great Rivers Annual Conference, was one of eight
commissioners providing the training.
"Throughout my career as a journalist as well as working in the
church, communication is at the center and the heart of what we are and
who we are," he said.
The Rev. Sophirina Sign
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Over the course of three days, the trainers experienced numerous
"ah-ha" moments. Black's moment occurred before arriving at the
university and while spending time in the environs of Mutare. "It is
very obvious to me that the continent of Africa has so much to offer The
United Methodist Church, and if we will truly embrace being global in
nature, there are gifts here that have yet to be mined which will
benefit the whole church."
For the Rev. Sophirina Sign of the Zimbabwe East Annual Conference,
the most significant benefit from the training was learning about
writing and creating newsletters, so she can spread news around her
circuit in her role as a district communications director.
Before the training, she had thought of communications as primarily
talking with others in her area, preaching and teaching, she said. At
the end of the training, her perspective had expanded. "It was about
informing, about inspiring and about engaging," she said.
She called the training "a great thing that The United Methodist Church has done," especially for church leaders.
Eben Kawadza, chairman of communications for the Zimbabwe West Annual
Conference, said attending the training was important to him.
As the principal at a school where typing for computers is taught,
"I've never had an interest in it," he said. His definition of
communications "had absolutely nothing to do with computers." He thought
the training being provided would be the standard
how-to-write-and-compile reports variety. "But this is a new dimension
that facilitates communications, which simplifies communications," he
said.
"My definition of communication has been greatly influenced by the
inclusion of computers into the program," he said. "The world of
computers has been opened to me for the first time."
Empowered people
At the conclusion of the training, each participant received a
certificate from the Rev. Larry Hollon, top executive at United
Methodist Communications.
The commissioners came to provide training with uncertainty about the
curriculum they would put forth or about the skill level of the
participants, but "we leave here as people who are empowered," he said.
He encouraged the participants to expand their newly acquired
foundational skills. In time, he said, "you will be specialists in some
of the skills, and you will be communicating on behalf of the whole
church to the whole church."
*Green is a United Methodist News Service news writer based in Nashville, Tenn.
News media contact: Linda Green, (615) 742-5470 or newsdesk@umcom.org.
Video Interviews
Eben Kawadza: "The most fascinating thing is this computer."
Gertrude Makombore: "You can talk to someone far away."
Annamore Kahlari: "As a pastor, the computer will help."
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Resources
Central Conference Communications Initiative
United Methodist Communications
Africa University |