By Takemore Chikweza
In a sermon broadcast live on social media platforms from the Zion Christian Church administration hub at Mbungo Estates last week, Bishop Dr Nehemiah Mutendi told church members that these uncertain times where coronavirus is rampant is an opportunity to convert people to Zion.
He reflected that God could have sent coronavirus to warn people and to give them an opportunity to repent, exhorting church members to continue taking people to Zion.
He further explained that God founded Zion to offer relief during stressful times.
God abhors stress and calls people to Zion to find shelter, he added.
“God founded Zion for tough, difficult, afflicting times full of economic depression such as we are experiencing now.”
The 81-year-old head of one of the biggest independent denominations in Zimbabwe went on to describe God as the prodigious engineer who founded the shelter called Zion.
He said some human engineers had designed and built different types of shades to protect us from the vagaries of the weather. However, these structures built by man were not fit to accommodate people in serious problems.
Only the colossal shade of Zion, founded by God gave enough protection for all sorts of problems we face.
He reiterated that, “If people cannot come to Zion now, we cannot think of a better time for them to come.”
He also urged the church clergy to lead by example in following COVID-19 rules and regulations such as wearing masks, physical distancing, and washing and sanitizing of hands.
Quoting Hebrews 13 vs.17, he urged church members to submit themselves to their church leaders for they keep watch over their souls.
The soul also gets stressed, but the unassailable word of God fights such stress and helps to cleanse us spiritually as read in John 15 vs. 3.
COVID-19 has so far killed more than 2.6 million and affected 115.4 million across the globe. Africa has, however, fared better with only 104 000 deaths and 3.9 million cases.