By Suremore Muchuweni
The leader of Zion Christian Church (ZCC), Bishop Dr Nehemiah Mutendi described ZCC wellness centres and holy places as God’s dwelling places and cities of refuge.
Speaking in a sermon broadcast from Mbungo Estates in Masvingo recently, Bishop Mutendi dwelt on the importance of wellness centres and the two holy locations – Defe in Gokwe and the church headquarters at Mbungo in Masvingo, commonly known in the church as Jerusalem.
He called them places chosen by the Lord for his people to seek refuge, quoting Deuteronomy 12 verse 5: “But you shall seek the place where the Lord your God chooses, out of all your tribes, to put His name for His dwelling.”
He encouraged church members, and non-members, burdened by different ailments, evil spirits, and misfortune to visit wellness centres that have been established in all centres in Zimbabwe, and abroad.
Bishop Mutendi also urged listeners to be careful of false prophets in and outside the church and, citing Mathew 24 verse 11 and Mathew 7 verse 15, said, “Many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. Therefore, beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves.”
He added that some church prophets and ordained leaders do not refer people to ZCC wellness centres for they have hidden motives, and do not hesitate to use the church’s name for their own aim of acquiring possessions from God’s people.
“And they shall bear their iniquity; the punishment of the prophet shall be the same as the punishment of the one who inquired,” he read from Ezekiel 14 verse 10, warning listeners on the consequences of consulting false prophets and sorcerers instead of being abiding by God’s directives.
“Blessed is the man whose strength is in the Lord, for his ways are directed by the Lord of Zion,” he said, teaching that ZCC believers get strength from regularly visiting sacred places to worship.
He likened ZCC wellness centres to small medical clinic, where patients with minor ailments are cared for whilst the most serious illnesses are referred to bigger medical facilities, which are the church’s sacred places.
When Jesus cleansed a man who was suffering from leprosy, he instructed him to go and present himself to the priest, and make an offering for being cleansed, as a testimony to them, just as Moses commanded, said Bishop Mutendi, urging leaders in the church to refer people cleansed from different ailments to go to Jerusalem to worship and make their thank-offerings.