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Foundation to continue bishop’s ministry of evangelism
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A UMNS photo by Kathy L. Gilbert
A choir of United Methodist pastors sings during the celebration for Bishop Abel Muzorewa.
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Aug. 15, 2005
By Kathy L. Gilbert*
MUTARE, Zimbabwe (UMNS) — On a sunny, windy winter day, hundreds gathered on the grounds of the Old Mutare Mission to celebrate a new chapter in the 60-year ministry of Bishop Abel T. Muzorewa: the launch of an evangelism foundation bearing his name.
“Today at the age of 80 years, three months and nine days, we are gathered at Old Mutare, my place of birth, baptism, my alma mater, wedding place and the venue of my first encounter with the Holy Spirit,” he said. “I feel old enough and qualified to welcome all of you here.”
The July 23 celebration also was marked by the debut of his latest book,
Evangelism that Decolonizes the Soul: A Partnership with Christ.
The primary purpose of the foundation will be to further the evangelism and stewardship ministry upheld by the bishop in his years of ministry.
Muzorewa, who has never shied away from politics, said some of his fellow Zimbabweans were confused about the foundation’s purpose.
“This is not a political party. Its nature, purpose and functions are well and clearly spelled out: to win people to Christ.”
He did say Christians have an obligation to speak for the liberty and freedom of God’s people.
“Preachers must assert that politics has no place in Christian church, but Christianity has a definite place in politics.”
His sermons on the liberation of his country led to his exile from Zimbabwe for 14 months in 1977-78. Because of his participation in the struggle for majority rule, he was elected the first black prime minister of Zimbabwe-Rhodesia in 1979. He served nine months.
A biography written for the celebration shows his heart was in ministry at an early age. His parents and relatives described how he “played church” by imitating missionary preachers when he was very young.
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A UMNS photo by Kathy L. Gilbert
Participants pray at the celebration of Bishop Abel T. Muzorewa's 60 years in ministry.
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Muzorewa became a licensed preacher when he was 19 and was ordained an elder by Bishop Ralph E. Dodge, the church’s last missionary bishop in Africa, in 1957. He received a scholarship in 1958 from the United Methodist Church to study at the Missouri School of Religion, Central Methodist University in Fayette, Mo., and then at Scarritt College for Christian Workers in Nashville, Tenn.
He returned to Zimbabwe, then still Rhodesia, in 1963 and served in many churches. He was elected bishop in 1968, becoming the church’s first indigenous bishop of Zimbabwe. In that role, he challenged and led his annual conference to donate the land where United Methodist-related Africa University is today.
He retired in 1992, after serving 14 years as a pastor and 24 years as episcopal leader. He continues to preach, conduct funerals and officiate at weddings.
The foundation’s goals are to:
- Present a Bishop Abel T. Muzorewa Award for evangelism to an outstanding evangelism student at Africa University.
- Give scholarships to United Methodist evangelism students wanting to further their studies.
- Support evangelism training workshops for laity and clergy in the United Methodist Church’s African central conferences.
- Finance the evangelism ministry programs within African communities.
- Provide assistance to needy communities.
All the proceeds from the sale of Evangelism that Decolonizes the Soul: A Partnership with Christ will go to the foundation. More information on ordering the book or donating to the foundation is at www.batmef.org.
*Gilbert is a United Methodist News Service news writer based in Nashville, Tenn.
News media contact: Kathy L. Gilbert, Nashville, Tenn., (615) 742-5470 or newsdesk@umcom.org.
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Bishop marks 60 years in ministry with call to share Christ
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A UMNS photo by Kathy L. Gilbert
Bishop Abel T. Muzorewa says "the world is ripe for harvest."
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Aug. 15, 2005
By Kathy L. Gilbert*
MUTARE, Zimbabwe (UMNS) — Bishop Abel T. Muzorewa wants Christians to “climb out of their comfort zones” and bring people to Christ.
His message was loud and clear on a day that brought people from all over Africa and the world to celebrate his 60 years of ministry. The celebration at the Old Mutare Mission also marked the launching of the Bishop A.T. Muzorewa Evangelism Foundation.
Muzorewa, 80, told the crowd that he had recently come across some disturbing statistics.
“Out of the world’s population of 6 billion, only 2 billion are Christians,” he said. Of those, only half have a real personal knowledge of Christ, he added. “The rest are members of the church who know nothing about Christ.”
It is time to stop saying numbers don’t count in our church, that only quality counts, he said. “The early church counted the converts and so should we.
“Why an evangelism foundation? Because the world is ripe for harvest,” he said. Using the example of witchcraft growing in Africa, he said, “The only effective counter-measure that is required is Jesus, the light of the world.”
Muzorewa’s celebration July 23 brought hundreds of pastors, bishops, choirs and people whose lives he has touched. A weeklong celebration led up to the event, with crusades at various churches July 18-22 and a dinner in his honor July 22. The events ended with a harvest thanksgiving service at Muziti United Methodist Church, his home church in Rusape.
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A UMNS photo by Kathy L. Gilbert
Bishop Felton May (left) says when he met Bishop Muzorewa "it was almost as if Dr. (Martin Luther) King lived in him".
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Bishop Felton Edwin May, a retired bishop for the United States and now dean of the Harry R. Kendall Science and Health Mission Center at Philander Smith College, was the guest preacher.
When he first visited Africa in 1974, May said he came to Zimbabwe, which was then Rhodesia. He met Muzorewa six years after the assassination of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.
“When I saw Bishop Muzorewa he walked like Dr. King, he talked like Dr. King and he preached like Dr. King,” he said. “It was almost as if Dr. King lived in him.”
May told the crowd he was a successful and respected ordained United Methodist pastor when he first came to Africa, but “I lacked the power of the Holy Spirit.”
“I found the Holy Spirit at a convention at Epworth Theological College in Harare when Bishop Muzorewa preached,” he said. Even though Muzorewa was preaching in his native language of Shona, May said he “felt the ground shake.”
Since that day, May said the fire within his soul keeps him preaching.
Both May and Muzorewa spoke to the people about the problems facing the country because of the government.
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A UMNS photo by Kathy L. Gilbert
Muziti United Methodist Church choir sings during the celebration for Bishop Abel T. Muzorewa's ministry.
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Muzorewa said he knew many of the people sitting in the audience had no homes, no food and no fuel because of the “manmade tsunami” crippling Zimbabwe.
“Your being here is an act of evangelizing Africa.”
Months before the celebration, the president of Zimbabwe, Robert Mugabe, ordered the destruction of many homes in a move called “Operation Restore Order.” A U.N. report on the fallout of the order said 700,000 people are without homes or jobs and 2.4 million others have been affected.
“Things were bad 31 years ago, but my heart is breaking because things are just as bad today,” May said. “There is hope, and that hope is Jesus Christ!”
“The people of God must stand up, rise up and speak the truth. The truth is God’s children should not be hungry and without resources. God’s children must be fed and protected.”
In concluding words, Muzorewa said, “In spite of the poor economy, the drought, the economic hardships, go and evangelize. In the face of global terror, go and evangelize.
“Make no apologies for evangelizing because it is Jesus’ commandment and mission.”
*Gilbert is a United Methodist News Service news writer based in Nashville, Tenn.
News media contact: Kathy L. Gilbert, Nashville, Tenn., (615) 742-5470 or newsdesk@umcom.org.
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