MARTIN MAWAYA
GWERU–The Midlands provincial capital will this week host the Love Zimbabwe Festival, a four-day evangelistic campaign that blends sport, art and music to empower young people with the Christian message.
The festival, running from August 21 to 24, will feature BMX riders, footballers, clowns and musicians performing alongside church leaders in what organizers say is a new form of outreach to bridge conversations about hope and transformation.
“This is not about logos on websites. It’s about sacrificing together in obedience for Christ’s mission,” said Dr. Desmond Henry, International Director of the Palau Global Network of Evangelists (GNE), which is partnering with local church bodies.
The Gweru event is part of a four-city campaign that began in Chinhoyi in April and will continue to Bulawayo later this month before concluding in Harare in September with international evangelist Andrew Palau.
Organizers say the festival target to reach out to 20 000 people per day and aims to empower pastors through training, equip youth with creative arts skills as well as fostering unity among churches.
The local church leader, Senior Reverend Elton Tirivokunze, said the Love Festival came at the right time, as Zimbabwe’s youth who make up more than 60 percent of the population often find themselves trapped in drug and substance abuse.
He added that engaging young people through sports and art provides a fresh pathway to resilience and hope.
“The event is more than just a four-day outreach, he said. “It is a chance to rediscover the church’s role in fostering unity across denominations and social groups”.
