The Sunday News
APOSTLE Charles Chiriseri is the Founder and Senior Pastor of His Presence Ministries International Church with 45 assemblies, whose vision is to restore lives; raise champions; transform families, communities, cities and nations through discipleship. His mentorship and teachings have inspired and developed many sons, leaders and works in the market place and Christian circles in Zimbabwe, South Africa, Botswana, Zambia, Malawi, United Kingdom, USA, Norway, Sweden, Australia, Canada and other places.
He was born on 3 March 1957 in Mberengwa and his homestead is located in Mount Darwin. A holder of a Bachelor of Science Honours degree in Agriculture and a Management Development Programme (MDP) diploma, from the University of Zimbabwe, as well as many diplomas and certificates including Christian Ministry, Leadership, Evangelism Explosion, Training of Trainers and Corporate Governance, his vocational achievements include being a sound professional and a church leader of integrity for almost 40 years.
He assisted in founding Family of God church (1981) which he handed over to Reverend Andrew Wutaunashe as Apostle Chiriseri was still a student and chairman of the University of Zimbabwe Christian Union when he invited Joe Kayo. He is also the co-founder of City Pentecostal Assembly in Bulawayo, (PAOZ) (1992) together with Canadian Missionary Pastor Colin Gregg, after which he was promoted to a senior management post in Harare by PG Industries. He appointed and left CPA with Dickson Changara who was his mentee at Kwekwe Christian Assembly where Apostle Chiriseri was Youth Pastor for PAOZ Kwekwe. He was also Senior Pastor of Faith Ministries after Bishop Ngwiza Mkandla. Apostle Chiriseri assisted in planting Good News Church, Word of Life, Word of Faith in support of his friends’ vision namely Pastors Mapani (sister), Dr Goodwill Shana, Dr Ephiel Mukamuri and others.
In April 2006 he attended the Azuza Street, Centennial Celebration in California, USA where he and his wife were officially commissioned to become church planters. They came back and in obedience to God’s call, started His Presence Ministries International Church on 13 August 2006. He left his business Brandts Butcheries, TM Meats factory, wholesale as well as Athlone Butchery where he had partnered with friend Themba Musekiwa, to go into full time ministry.
Apostle Chiriseri’s entrepreneurship and business leadership spans for over 35 years and he was the founding director of Legacy International School from 2006. He started off as a planning officer for the Ministry of Agriculture (1982-1983). He worked his way up to senior manager of PG Building Supplies in Harare (1984-1993). He was the director of TransTimber Merchants before establishing the 40 outlets of Brandts Butchery in Harare.
His civic work and leadership also spanned over 40 years, as he believed in and taught the importance of impacting for God’s glory, what he termed the seven Pillars of Society, namely: the Church, the Family, Governance/ Politics, Business, Education, Information Communications and Technology and Media/Arts & Entertainment pillars. He has raised many champions in these pillars.
Apostle Chiriseri was the founder and president of Transform Your World Leadership Institute (TYWLI), which consists of a popular Bible School that has so far trained leaders from over 30 different denominations, an intensive Biblically-based Discipleship Track whose modules are designed to equip Christians to become influential and effective leaders of integrity that can disciple nations.
TYWLI is an ACTEZ affiliate (Association of Christian Theological Educators in Zimbabwe) and a partner of CONNECT Counselling Centre, Bible Training Centre for Pastors (BTCP), John Maxwell’s Million Leaders Mandate, Team Impact University, National Centre for Fathering in Zimbabwe and Legacy School of Marriage. TYWLI and its partners are positively impacting the 7 Pillars of Society.
Apostle Chiriseri was former acting general secretary and provincial chairperson, Harare and Chitungwiza for Evangelical Fellowship of Zimbabwe (EFZ), an umbrella body of Pentecostal churches; Member of the Troika Secretariat for Zimbabwe Bishops Peace Initiative and Mediation Team — where he worked with two other bishops to foster peace when there was political turmoil in the nation. He was also founder of Impact Trust, the Corporate Social Responsibility arm of HPMI Church which is involved in the care and rehabilitation of the underprivileged, specifically orphaned and homeless people in the streets and prisoners. He was also co-ordinator of Southern African Apostles and Bishops for the Council of African Apostles.
Apostle Chiriseri co-authored the heralded book The 12 Foundations of Marriage, together with his wife who was recently commissioned by the President to become a Commissioner of the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission. Senior Pastor Petunia Chiriseri, have nurtured and enriched many marriages, restored the broken hearted and broken families, university students and singles through the practical Bible-based teachings found in their book.
Apostle Chiriseri and Senior Pastor Commissioner Petunia Chiriseri are blessed with four biological children, Yasha, Lisa, Zoe and Nissi and eight foster children, Tanya, Nyasha, Kiki, Thabani, Nyasha Mhlanga and his brothers, as well as many spiritual children born through their Holy Spirit-led ministry which is apostolic and prophetic. They have been a dynamic husband and wife team who together have been hosts of numerous life-changing International Conferences, bringing speakers like Pastors Matthew and Yemisi Ashimolowo, Deitrick Haddon, Dr Nevers Mumba and others.
He was a Mentor, Spiritual Father, Friend and Confidante to many Pastors, Corporate Leaders, Youth and University Leaders & Politicians. The man of God was buried in Bulawayo yesterday. He died in a road accident along the Bulawayo/Harare highway mid last month. He was travelling with his wife, who has since been discharged from hospital. — Chiriseri Family
