The Sunday News
A CONTROVERSIAL church has reportedly caused a stir in Bulawayo after it instructed its congregants to come with sand from their dead relatives’ graves, which they allegedly pray for and perform rituals in a ceremony they claim is meant to get rid of evil spirits. The church, Revelation Church of God, is said to have originated from South Africa and one of the local pastors at a branch in the Bulawayo Central Business District even boasted that they did not mind any negative publicity as they had enough people who believed in their ways.
Sunday News last week managed to attend one of the church’s services and interacted with some of the congregants.
Not only does the church instruct relatives to collect sand from their dead relatives’ graves but members also worship carrying spears and at one point it is alleged they had clay pots (udiwo), with traditional beer lined up at their pulpit while the pastor preached.
According to members interviewed the church brought in a traditional flair in the manner they worship and encourage church members to come with spears, knobkerries and wear traditional attire.
“I was introduced to this church by my neighbour who told me that there is a church that accepts our traditional ways of worshipping, which is the way that some of us were brought up.
“Most of these other Pentecostal churches look down on our traditional way of worshipping which is why we prefer this church,” said a church member from New Lobengula.
Investigations revealed that the church tells members to carry the spears and knobkerries to church as a way of fighting off spirits.
On the issue of bringing sand from dead relatives’ graves, it is alleged that the pastors said it was an instruction from head office.
After bringing the sand the local pastors pray for it before scattering it far from your home as a symbol of casting away evil spirits.
They then give the church member a red cloth which is cut into four pieces, one is supposed to be tied on the roof of the member’s house, the second is put under a pillow, the third has to be carried around in the pocket, while the last is prayed for and placed in a container filled with water, which the member drinks.
A Sunday News crew managed to interview one of the junior pastors at the church’s branch along Robert Mugabe Way, who acknowledged that their church was different from other churches.
The junior pastor, who identified himself as Mr White said pastors did not have to necessarily attend Bible school but were anointed ‘directly by God’.
He said they were instructed by the main church in South Africa to have church members bring the sand from their dead relatives’ graves and further get a red cloth, which he said was the colour symbolising their war against the evil spirit.
“As for the sand we pray for it then we scatter it outside as a symbol of getting rid of these evil spirits,” said Mr White.
He revealed that the cloth, which the member moves around with, is taken after a period prescribed by the prophet, and then buried at the grave where the sand would have been taken from.
The junior pastor said their aim was to assist people who had spiritually related problems.
“We are not saying that they should leave their churches but they can come and attend services and get help then go back to their churches,” he said.
According to the church’s website it: “Wants to build the number one God inspired, spiritually guided African temple that will lead people to salvation and total deliverance so that they may have life and have it to the fullest.”
The church was founded by Prophet Samuel Radebe in South Africa.
