Christopher Man’ombe
Addressing thousands of ZCC youths across the whole world in a sermon broadcast from Mbungo Estates, Bishop Nehemiah Mutendi urged ZCC youths to remain optimistic, saying that any adversity or negative situation faced in life must never discourage them.
“The ZCC youths must draw inspiration from Jesus’ disciples who remained optimistic he would rise from the dead despite being crucified and dying on the cross.”
Bishop Mutendi took the youths down memory lane when he narrated the fall of the once mighty Emperor Napoleon before a man called Wellington at the Battle of Waterloo in 1815.
He explained how the prophets of doom had concluded that Wellington had already been defeated, and prematurely wrote the headline: ‘Wellington Defeated’.
However, they were forced to hastily add the name Napoleon at the end of the statement after Wellington’s unexpected victory.
When Jesus was crucified on the cross the Jews and the devil thought it was over, but the disciples knew Sunday was coming and the story would be different, the Bishop added.
What was supposed to be a bad and terrible Friday turned out to be a Good Friday when the following Sunday Jesus Christ rose from the dead.
The Bishop implored youths to be wary of temporary conquerors and encouraged them to develop the ability to turn around bad situations into good ones.
“Jesus conquered evil, and he conquered it forever,” he said.
Referring to ZCC structures he added, “At times your cells, tabernacles, parishes, Greaters, Centres, Regions and church might appear they are not growing, but don’t lose heart for eventually you will get there.”
He went on to tell youths that when they are temporarily defeated by the devil and sin, they must not run away but must instead run towards the cross, and towards Jesus to receive forgiveness.