From 1891-1977, Methodist Church in Zimbabwe was a District of the British Conference. From then, the number of ministers increased to the current 250 Native ministers. In 1977, MCZ became autonomous. Prior to autonomy Zimbabwean Methodist could only make recommendations and resolutions were passed by the British Conference for them. In 1991, there were 5 districts and in 2011the church cherishes twelve districts. There was no celebration until then because there was nothing to celebrate. The first celebrations were in 1991 marking one hundred years of God’s Guidance at Harare Show Grounds. In 2007, the Methodist Church celebrated 30 years of Autonomy and 300 years of music from 1707 (when Charles was born) to 2011 in Kadoma Show Grounds. This year we are celebrating 120 years of spreading the Good News in Zimbabwe and 220 after the life of John Wesley.
As we celebrate, we cherish the growth of M.C.Z from being a mission ground to a place for missionary recruitment to other parts of the world, like Zambia and the United Kingdom where ministers and their families were recommended by the church to go and minister there. We also celebrate with other Methodists in the SADC regions, in New Zealand, USA (Dallas) and the World Methodist fellowship.
The Church has grown from 43 circuits in 1977 to 118 in 2011. M.C.Z also boast of more than 100 clergy who already finished and others pursuing different degrees locally and in different parts of the world. In Evangelism, M.C.Z has also grown to have a Full Time Evangelism Director. This department is responsible for evangelizing the lost, equipping the saints and encouraging the believers. The department has coordinators in districts and circuits who make evangelism the stamp pad of Methodism her pride and her identity.
The church is also evangelizing through organizations namely Men’s Christian Union, Men’s Fellowship Group, Ruwadzano Manyano, Women’s Association, Church Music and Youth organizations called Boys Christian Union, Girls Christian Union, Methodist Young Disciples and Sunday School. Most of these organizations are identified with three colours black which represents the previous sins, red symbolizing the blood of Jesus and white which signifies the cleansing of the past sins by the blood of Jesus. (Learn more on Tuesday in the Supplement)
The first women’s organization is the Ruwadzano/ Manyano. Ruwadzano is derived from a Shona verb “kuwadzana” meaning fellowship and Umanyano is the equivalent Ndebele word. When used in the Methodist Church, refers to the fellowship of Methodist bloused women. The organization is also commonly identified with its uniform which has a red blouse. Other people would simply call them the Red blouse women or the women. The organization is undertaking a number of projects. These projects are divided into profit making, developmental and social projects. The developmental project is called Ruwadzano/ Manyano Center in Epworth. The purpose of the center is to promote self knowledge, self reliance and leadership among women. It is also a place of meetings for women of different religious, political, social and ideological backgrounds and denominations. The center also endeavors to be a place of promoting women’s handwork, to provide space for a gallery and shop where women would display, exhibit thereby promoting women artwork.
By 2011 Ruwadzano Manyano center has embarked on a massive project of a gazebo with a kitchen. The aim of the gazebo is for hiring for social events like weddings, seminars and graduations. The kitchen is very suitable for braes where even families can go and socialize. The place has borehole water and electricity facilities. Apart from these are the dormitories. There are two blocs with 67 double rooms at slab level. The aim of the organization is to complete the project by 2013.
Its sustainability as a women organization of the church is in projects. The projects underway are all marked with a Methodist logo. They sell mug cups, dinner plates, bags, umbrellas, t-shirts, material which are categorized into five distinctions. The autonomy material with M.C.Z logo, 2007 material with a theme “Called to Serve” which was introduced in commemoration of 30 years of autonomy, A step of Faith material which was their 2010 annual theme and 120 years of Methodism in Zimbabwe from 1891-2011. Apart from the material, are shirts, jerseys, pins, registers and cards. These sales have made the organization self sustainable and able to run its own affairs.
On social projects, women in most parts of the country are involved in the support of the vulnerable children. Most of them are sponsoring needy children to school. Besides, circuits take turns or they just visit Matthew Rusike Children’s Home to be with the Children, sharing and eating with them.
The second category comprises men’s group. The aim of M.C.U is to strengthen men to read the bible and other Christian books, to enable men to seek resolutely righteousness in order to do what they are created for, to strive for holiness, to seek love and peace, to remove all hatred and discrimination of all types, grudges, disagreements and misunderstandings, and to preach the good news. ((2 Peter 1:20-21, 2 Timothy 3 16-17). The rules or the laws explain that membership into the organization is open to any man who chooses to be a member. MCU is and has been involved in a number of projects. The organization built a church in Mbembesi which was the first place of MCU. They are also involved in social programmes like sending children to different schools. In addition, they have a campsite at Sandringham mission which was founded in 2007. Currently construction is underway and a number of developments have taken place. They are housed at the Connexional Office where as men are selling jackets and strategizing their work from.
The other men’s group is the Methodist Men’s Fellowship Group. Their vision is to have a fellowship of all adult men in the church, whose qualification is simply believer and member of the Methodist Church in Zimbabwe. Their mission is: to create the fellowship at every society with the main objective of meeting regularly to discuss and build each other spiritually, to focus on the bible study and understanding it, to apply bible teachings in men’s lives, through groups application, i.e. giving, projects and leading in revivals , to have a forum which men can share family life and responsibilities and to create a fellowship forum in all aspects, including social, sport, prayer, economic awareness and charity among others.
There are numerous activities, projects and programmes undertaken by the group. So far they have bought and donated a car to the Evangelism Ministry of the Church, they are involved in various fundraising projects in support for the Church work in different centers i.e. Matthew Rusike Children’s Home, United Theological College where they donated bicycles for some Ministers in rural areas. They also built and helped to build churches in Glendale, Nzvimbo, Gwindi and Kahari. They also assisted in building a Manse in Domboshawa Section, sunk boreholes at Greendale Church and Matthew Rusike Children’s Home. In education, they are constructing a classroom block at Muzavazi Methodist High School in Mhondoro. Besides, the fellowship is securing materials, clothing, shoes and books for the marginalized groups. They are raising food stuff and provisions for the retired Ministers and their widows. In Borrowdale, men are leading in the construction of a multi-million dollar Church Community Centre at the value of $3 000 000 (Three million dollars) which is the largest in the history of M. C. Z. In a number of ways, they have secured clothing, books and materials through Non-Governmental Organizations for distribution to the marginalized communities and active in the adoption support and payment of tuition fees for the Ministers in training at United Theological College.
Besides the gender based organizations is the ministry of music. The history of music in the Methodist Church can not be talked of without talking of Charles Wesley the often forgotten giant of the Methodist Church. Charles published over six thousand hymns, wrote the words for a further two thousand, many of which are still popular. The Methodist Church is found in almost all social set up. In this case, worship remains peculiar. There are 888 songs in the English hymnal, 321 in Shona, 417 in Ndebele and 200 in Tonga hymn book
1n 1978, Methodist introduced Music Competitions. The competitions were done in a manner that was not credible as a result in the mid 2000, the name was changed from competition to Convention. In 2009, the first two day Convention was held in Mutare from Saturday to Sunday ending with results and not with insults as before. From that time, the Methodist Church had been involved in a number of competitions with other churches which were sponsored. These include Bambazonke Festival and Colgate Palmolive for over twenty two years, Heavenly Praise sponsored by Plate Glass (P.G) Industries, Musanhi, and Intwasa in Bulawayo and Spar in Midlands. In most of these competitions, MCZ has always been a beacon scooping a number of prizes. The music ministry is also being enhanced by the technical expertise which was introduced by the church to train the lower choirs and to motivate the seasoned ones.
From very few choirs, 2011 commemorates over eighty (80) fully functional choirs. There are five categories from groups A-E. Group B was the first and it was one choir. As other choirs became seasoned, group A was formed for them leaving group B for upcoming choirs. With time, Methodist music became very classical and there was stampede in group A. This led to the formulation of the group of “Death” group D. Apparently this group became a category very difficulty in English songs to enhance professionalism in both the choristers and the Choir Directors. Group C is a traditional song (instrumental) . All groups A, B and D can sing in this group. It is normally in vernacular. The dawn of modern instruments saw the youth isolated. As such, another group was introduced, that is group E which uses modern instruments.
Following the singing of many of the Methodist Hymn by many people who at times have nothing to do with the church, Methodist community laity and clergy, choirs, groups, families, and high schools embarked on the musical industry. To date the groups which have recorded with different recording companies are :Vatinhiri Vedenga , Vayambuki ve Gungwa, Amaveni Choir, Rimuka Choir, Holy Chronicles, Kuwadzana , Seke, Warren Park MCUs, Magora, Glen Norah , Gweru Central, Greendale, Seke A, Mufakose, Trinity, Luveve Choirs, Advent Singers, Anointed Vocals, Domboramwari Kwekwe Mbizo Boys, Maungira, Vawadzani, Mapisarema, Varumbidzi groups, Boys of Thunder, James Kuchinani and the Blessed Family, Vimbai Mhandu and Friends in Harmony, Mr T.T Chivaviro, Rev P.T Nyabonda and Rev L Panavanhu among others, Moleli , Sandringham, Pakame and Waddilove High Schools. Because of this, Methodist music is very attractive.