Fadzai Sanangurai
KWEKWE-Zimbabwe Assemblies of God Africa Forward In Faith (ZAOGA FIF) Kwekwe chapter celebrated Archbishop Ezekiel Handinawangu Guti’s 100th birthday in style by holding a clean-up campaign in the CBD.
The clean-up campaign which also coincided with the national program was led by ZAOGA FIF provincial overseer Dr Herbert Nyakonda.
“This is a special clean-up campaign as we celebrate 100 years of life for our founding father, Archbishop Dr Ezekiel Guti,” said Dr Nyakonda.
“Archbishop Ezekiel Handinawangu Guti turned 100 years and he is still walking, running and preaching the word of God and his secret is to “fear not sin not”, listening to God and preaching undiluted gospel for seventy five years,”said elder Respect Jongwe.
The church was marching singing “Baba vedu vanongotikomborera”.
Archbishop Guti was born in Ngaone, Chipinge, Manicaland province on May 5, 1923 where he grew up under very difficult circumstances but under God’s watchful eye he conquered and went on to spread the gospel to far and beyond.
It is said that on May 12, 1960 Archbishop Ezekiel Guti formed a church without any funding, assets or building but under a gum tree, but through God’s grace today the church boasts of hundreds of buildings and schools across the world which benefit the country and beyond.
The church also runs Zaoga Ezekiel Guti University in Bindura, a unique hospital with both a medical and a non-medical wing where patients are prayed for and receive total healing.
The church has over the years emphasised the value of hard, honest work and giving as the keys to prosperity. This has taught and made members of the church financially independent through a program called Talents.
When Guti went to Western countries, his followers offered him some money but he asked God whether to accept the money or not. It is said that the Lord told him “Money or God”, hence he refused the money and God assigned him to educate his people entrepreneurship.
Elder Grace Kudzanai Makarudza said that ZAOGA church urged the followers to work hard through ‘Talents’ in order to be financially independent. These Talents are helpful because most women now work hard and most of them are self sustained.
“If people listen to the gospel of this church they can rise up and live a better life.
“Most women in ZAOGA FIF are now self sustained through Talents and we are now our own donors .If someone listen to our leader’s gospel he or she can rise up and live a better life,” aid elder Makarudza.
