By Eric Mazango
The leader of the Zion Christian Church (ZCC), His Grace Bishop Dr. Nehemiah Mutendi, on 9 May joined members at the 1913 Centre on the outskirts of Chegutu, Zimbabwe to launch the church’s season of pledging and giving.
ZCC’s season of pledging and giving is launched at this time of each year.
Members fulfill the offerings they pledge during the three months before Rev. Samuel Mutendi day, which commemorates the death of the founding patriarch on 20 July 1976.
Teachings such as Psalms 56: 12, which says: “I must perform my vows to you, O God; I will render thank offerings to you,” inspire this biblical culture.
In keeping with COVID-19 regulations that prohibit large gatherings, Sunday’s event was attended by senior leaders of the church’s 17 administrative regions in Zimbabwe, and a small group of the most diligent givers.
The church’s international regions, as well as hundreds of other church members, joined the ceremony online to make their pledges.
Bishop Mutendi taught that pledging is a key activity in Zion culture, adding that vows are extremely important to God as they renew our relationship with him.
He said God searches each person’s heart, and devotees reap whatever they sow before the Lord.
In that respect, Bishop Mutendi urged the leadership to make sure that every member makes a pledge as the year will be different for those who do so from the bottom of their hearts.
He cited from Ezekiel 12 vs 23 which reads: Say to them, “This is what the Sovereign Lord says: I am going to put an end to this proverb, and they will no longer quote it in Israel.” Say to them, “The days are near when every vision will be fulfilled.”
Founding patriarch, Rev. Samuel Mutendi received the Holy Spirit in Chegutu, then Hartley, in 1913 while working as a policeman for the British South African Company (BSAP), giving the place a special significance to the church.
He returned to his home area of Bikita in Masvingo, before trekking to South Africa in 1923 to receive water baptism.
He then came back to Southern Rhodesia to lead ZCC as a prophetic ministry, until his death in 1976.
The 1913 Centre in Chegutu is one of the many wellness centres that ZCC has established over the country, with a church building and other facilities currently under construction.
Click here to read a brief history of the church