The ManicaPost
Freedom Mutanda
Correspondent
UNITED Church of Christ in Zimbabwe has ordained its first visually impaired pastor.
Reverend Caiphas Matinhe was ordained by the church’s president, Reverend John Matiza, amid pomp and fanfare on Sunday.
Born on October 25, 1960 in Masimbe area under Chief Musikavanhu, Rev Caiphas Matinhe has been a devoted adherent of UCCZ Church and rose through the ranks of the youth system, the Christian Youth Fellowship (CYF), until he was made an evangelist.
Due to challenges with his eyesight, Rev Matinhe had to drop out of school while doing Grade Four, but that did not deter him from realising his goal to serve the Lord.
In his evangelical mission, he was first assigned to Mafumise Church, Gwenzi Church, before going to Mwacheta.
Rev Matiza said the hardworking minister entered into the annals of church history by becoming the church’s first visually impaired minister.
He said congregants should take ownership of the church.
“This year’s theme is that of ownership. Strive to be the owner of your church and be a team player. We like people who serve sacrificially. What Rev Matinhe has done is a great work of sacrifice. It is fitting that Rev Godfery Dhundu and Rev Tennyson Mucheri recommended Caiphas Matinhe to be ordained as reverend,’’ said Rev Matiza.
Rev Fred Thondlana described the upgrading of a lay preacher to a reverend as a perfect way of honouring and rewarding talent and hard work.
He said: “Ordinarily, a person is taken as a lay evangelist and if the church leadership and Synod notice that one has potential, they will recommend that person to be a full time minister. That is the case with Rev Matinhe. He started off as a lay preacher and due to his talent and determination, the church leaders saw it prudent to ordain him.’’
Reverend Matinhe and his wife are blessed with four boys and one girl.
