The Sunday News
Charleen Ndlovu, Sunday News Reporter
CHURCHES have been called to complement Government efforts in the fight against HIV and Aids as well as making sure the marriage institution from where families are born is upheld so that the country maintains its high morale ground.
Speaking at the occasion to mark the ordination of Apostle Mutsa Tazvigwira of Redemption House Fire Ministries and School of Deliverance at his Pumula East church stand yesterday, Bishop Oliver Chipunza who is known for his Afrocentric approach to religious issues said prophets and pastors should desist from misleading people who were on HIV medication to default taking ARVs claiming they have been healed through the power of the Holy Spirit without going for medical examinations.
He said instead, the church should take a leading role in complementing Government efforts in the fight against the scourge.
Bishop Chipunza who was ordained by Apostle Ezekiel Guti of Zaoga also took a swipe at some church leaders who want to assume the duties of their congregants’ biological parents saying they should know that churches were built from families.
He underscored the importance of the family unit in nation building saying churches should know their limits in dealing with their congregants as people belong to their families first before they go to various church denominations.
“I am an Afrocentric preacher. By this we mean the way we relate to Christianity should not divorce who we are as Africans. I always emphasise that there are certain protocols that an individual has to follow to avoid unnecessary spiritual warfare before they undertake a divine assignment. Pastors and prophets have to inform and not worship their family’s spiritual realm. It is wrong therefore for people to start cursing their family spirituality as we have seen in other churches where the pastors go on to change even their names and substitute their biological parents with their spiritual fathers.
On HIV/ Aids Bishop Chipunza and Apostle Tazvigwira concurred that the Government and church should work hand in hand.
“We as preachers should stop violating our country laws and stop misinforming people who seek guidance from us. People usually put their faith and trust in pastors and prophets as they look up to them for direction hence they listen and often do as church leaders say. We believe people should go to hospital. Not that the power of God should be limited to certain facets, the power of God cannot be limited. God can work miracles but church leaders should not abuse the trust that the people invest in them to harm their congregants,” said Apostle Tazvigwira.
He started the church in 2012 and never looked back in his calling to empower every believer with spiritual knowledge for spiritual warfare and dealing with bondages of life. The ordination was attended by congregants from the church’s branches in Tsholotsho, Gwanda and South Africa.
