The Sunday News
Courage Mabhodyera
A great euphoria grips the nation as ZAOGA Forward In Faith celebrates Professor Ezekiel Handinawangu Guti’s 100th birthday, 63 years of the church’s existence globally and 75 years of seeing the same African Apostle behind the pulpit, advancing the Kingdom of God.
It is from 1938 that Ezekiel Guti’s narrative began to permeate the facades of history by bringing a sparkling contrast to the doctrine of the crusaders, the reformers and the colonial missionaries who had taken precedence for many years.
The formative years; 1938, 1941, 1946, 1947, 1957 and 1960 defined him as a paragon of true leadership on the African landscape and later on a global terrain as these historical epochs would create a generation of fortified Christians later in the 21st century.
Penned by a charismatic black Apostle (Prof Guti) the books entitled; History of ZAOGA Forward in Faith, New African Apostle and A Life of Miracles, among others disclose narratives that are highly selective of key historical snippets that sustained the church up to today.
Therein, we see and cherish the significance of church history in 163 nations and states which celebrate ZAOGA’s presence across the globe because the books were written to preserve church heritage and document Prof Guti’s fundamental teachings. Narrating his own theophanic encounters, Prof Guti said, “God revealed Himself to me in 1938 while I was alone in the bush under a tree crying to God and suddenly I heard thick music in the air and a clear voice said, ‘fear not sin not’ (History of ZAOGA Forward in Faith, p.23).”
In 1938, Prof Guti received the “fear not sin not” dictum, which in turn; would become one of ZAOGA’s core values which have kept the Apostle alive for 100 years and enabled him to see the church reaching a zenith of 63 years in 163 nations and states globally.
Prof Guti’s 1957 prayer for Africa, recorded on page 12 of the History of ZAOGA Forward in Faith was a vociferous call for black leadership (Apostleship) to take precedence in the history of the 20th century church.
It was in 1960 that the spirit of the Lord instructed Prof Guti to go to Bindura, a very primitive area where no colonial vanguards would trouble him; and he began preaching on the 12 May 1960, which is the day ZAOGA FIF was born, under a gum tree, in Bindura.
Bindura, and other places such as Vumba Heights Mountain (1941) , Ngaone in Chipinge (1938), and Cottage 593 (Highfields) where Prof Guti spent much time in prayer during the Rhodeasian era, would later become historical sites that connect the church with the concept of humble beginnings.
The symbolism embedded in these historical places actuates the present Christian faith with the memories of 1938, 1941, 1948, 1957 and 1960 – and reassures the church that the God of 1960 is still alive to rekindle the original fire.
Therefore, a historical recurrence of ZAOGA’s month of May anniversaries to mention a few: the famous Silver Jubilee (2010), Golden Jubilee (2020) and this years centenary celebrations, bear a psychological impression that continues to bind the church together and give them hope for more glorious years to come.
