The ManicaPost
Morris Mtisi : Post Correspondent
GUTA RaJehova (GRJ) church celebrated its 60 year jubilee in Mutare recently. What started off as a busy clean-up campaign of the Meikles Park two days before the celebrations ended up with a sea of white dresses and duiks for the women and girls of God and the familiar khaki and cross-belts for the men and boys-to-men.One hot windy afternoon the city is surprised to see the ladies in glistening white and young men in khaki taking over the Park. They are wielding brooms and plastic waste paper bags, most of them with gloves in their hands, doing what the city council workers fail to do. They pick up every piece of litter and remove every eye sore on their Jubilee venue, save for the uninvited resident, a mentally deranged vagabond who calls one corner of the Park home. This is the first church I have seen first cleaning up the Park before an event.
Well done GRJ! I hope EMA thanked you too.
It is interesting that all the churches that use the Park for their services almost every week end, some deafening the city centre with ‘heavenly’ song and dance, proclaiming healing and deliverance, never seem to notice the mad man, sometimes men, who lives on the Park. Certainly if Jesus walked amongst these churches often audibly loud in their esoteric proclamations of powers of healing and deliverance, he would have long healed the Legions who frequent the Meikles Park. But they are perhaps often too busy to notice, these men and women of God!
On the day of the Jubilee, all roads led to Mutare nearly three thousand (3000) GRJ members thronged the Meikles Park.
Speaking to The Manica Post, two GRJ top officials and Mr Henry Chitsenga, church leader based in England-St Edwards in Oxford, took turns to express their excitement about the celebrations. They gave this reporter an intriguing lesson on who Mai Chaza was, how she founded the church, divorced, went back to her maiden home, later died and resurrected as Matenga-the holy spirit.
Mr Aaron Mwashita-GRJ International Vice Secretary based in Gombakomba- GRJ Headquarters, and Mr Daniel Nyamwanza-Dangamvura Church’s Admission Clerk both confirmed the mystery of the life and death of Mai Chaza whom they persistently referred to as a ‘She’ who was and is a ‘He’. And a holy spirit at the same time!
In his maiden speech, the GRJ leader (in other churches the Bishop), Mr Ngaite Zimunya under the theme KUREURURA NDIHWO UPENYU- REPENTING IS THE LIFE, chronicled countless living testimonies of men and women who came to GRJ and Matenga with various problems and infirmities and were healed or delivered. Amongst these delivered souls taking turns to show themselves by standing, were former cancer patients, those plagued by feats, epilepsy, mental derangement, chronic prostitution, habitual thieving, and barrenness for both men and women. Some had demonic- influenced bad tempers and other personality complications. All were healed and delivered. And this, the church vice secretary, Mr A. Mawshita emphasized is still happening in the Church, thanks to Matenga! The leader exhibited them. Everybody heard. Everybody saw.
Listening to these testimonies one remained speechlessly doubtless of how God, whom they called Matenga -Jehova, was ever merciful and good. Clearly any church privileged to witness the list of redeemed souls, would find reason and cause to celebrate 60 years of miracles.
Speaking toThe Manica Post after the Jubilee, the GRJ International Vice Secretary, Mr Aaron Mwashita, said the Church in Mutare was proud that Guta RaJehovha has celebrated 60 years in style.
Said the man of Matenga, “GRJ was founded by the famous Faith Healer of Southern Africa-Matenga in 1954 in Seke-Harare. Matenga later moved to Mutare and established the New Jerusalem on 22 July 1956, hence the 60 years of existence we are celebrating this year. Our headquarters is in Gombakomba Communal Lands under chief Zimunya near Mt Dangare Primary School. We have branches all over Zimbabwe, neighbouring SADC countries and in the UK. We are extremely grateful that Matenga has led us thus far.”
What deeply fascinated this reporter is how literally all churches I have had the honour and privilege of attending throughout my whole life, all claim to be the chosen church and the best in delivering the sick, the poor and the troubled-as if these are the signs that show or lead Christians to their God and Creator who is in Heaven.
Perhaps this is an opportunity that God has given this reporter to remind all Christians that in the midst of all the pomp, the fun, the singing and dancing, the healing and the promises of prosperity and all of it, which is all good, the work of God’s Church is only recognizable by its focus on guiding and leading sinners from sin and reconnecting them with their Maker and Creator; NOT performing miracles and promising Christians money and prosperity.
Those who believed journalists are not and cannot be serious Christians must think again.
Repent and come back to Matenga! Repent and receive Matenga’s forgiveness and love. Repent and receive life! Repent and come back to life. This was the GRJ jubilee message reverberating throughout the air and throughout the celebrations.
The GRJ Jubilee was graced by the Manicaland Provincial Minister Comrade Mandi Chimene and the new Mutare District Administartor Mr Edgars Seenza.
In her exclusive speech as guest of honour at the jubilee,Minister Mandi Chimene congratulated GRJ and thanked it for being a perfect example in society.
Notable in the honourable minister’s wide ranging speech was the following tribute to the GRJ church: “First, I want to thank GRJ for delivering sick people with various infirmities and diseases whose testimonies we have witnessed here today.
A nation of sick people does not prosper. Second, I want to thank and congratulate you for your respect for chiefs and honorable recognition of Government.”
Mr Edgars Seenza, new DA Mutare, had the privilege and honour of introducing Minister Mandi Chimene and government officials present to the GRJ assembly.
The views and opinions expressed in this article are, please note, not necessarily the views of The Manica Post. Morris Mtisi writes as an independent thinker, Christian and social commentator. You are free to give him your feedback on his cell number 0773 883 293 and on WhatsApp or indeed engage him in writing on email [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]> or indeed sealed envelopes addressed to the attention of MM on Matters of Faith- C/0 The Manica Post.
