The Sunday News
Bruce Chimani Sunday Leisure Correspondent
WHILE most men of the cloth are deserting the conventional and early church methods of preaching on-the-go to investing in fancy buildings and embarking on building projects, some evangelists in Bulawayo have decided to preach their lungs out in the city’s streets.
In a classic, reminiscent of Biblical times, a quasi-congregation has been established by street preachers at the City Hall benches where many locals have seen themselves heading to during their lunch-breaks to listen to the preachers as they orate on various issues addressed in the Scriptures.
One such preacher, who preachers at the benches opposite Emlanjeni food outlet is Pastor Mzingaye Moyo (pictured), who says he started street preaching while he was in Harare where he preached along First Street for a very long time.
When Sunday Leisure attended one of the street sessions last Wednesday, clad in a black waistcoat, black trousers and a red shirt while clutching a light-blue face towel, Moyo spoke passionately about the need for people to always rely on Jesus for anything they needed because he was the resurrected son of God.
His mastery of the English, SiNdebele and Shona languages made him a bliss to listen to. His gesticulation and pacing up and down the street, mixed with his wit and clever humour set him on a pedestal which many will covet.
“I used to preach in the streets in Harare but when I came back here to Bulawayo, I felt led by the spirit of God to establish my preaching point at these benches where we have the preaching done every week day from 1-2pm. The response is amazing and I didn’t expect this.
I knew all these people from right here — we have established relationships right here on the street,” said Pastor Moyo, pointing at about 50 people who were seated on the benches after his presentation.
Just last year, Religion in Zimbabwe published an article on how not so long ago Harare’s premier street, First Street, was home to street theatre where different groups fiercely competed for attention from passersby, but that phenomenon is gone having been replaced by street preachers.
Could this scenario be a similar one with the City Hall benches, which have been associated in the recent past with young people meeting up there to head to house parties, be in a season of transformation?
One is left to wonder.
Pastor Moyo, who ministers under Bishop Rodwell Masanga of Dayspring International Ministries, said the preaching on the streets has benefited him and allowed him to meet and influence people for the kingdom of God, with one particular person having actually offered him a stand for his church’s branch, which he is pastoring and meets at a house in Njube.
“I was actually offered a stand by one of the regular people who come to hear the word of God and we went to see it,” he said.
However, why would any man decide to leave his home and go and preach in the streets? Is it just to gain popularity? Or possibly make money and get stands like Moyo did or maybe to even lure people to his church?
Pastor Moyo insists otherwise on his mission.
“All I want to do is to bring the word of God where the people are. Our goal is to minister the gospel to ordinary people, some who might have certain connotations about church and so we are bringing the good news where they are. I don’t do it for money — God is my provider and I believe He takes care of our needs and neither do I do it to get people to come to my church.
Of course there are some from here who are interested in me pastoring them and I wouldn’t object to that although that is not the point,” he added right after his presentation last Wednesday.
Pastor Moyo is married to Hilda and they have three boys.
However, Sunday Leisure discovered that Moyo is not the only cleric who preaches at this spot with two other preachers having been said to make use of the platform.
