In the year 2007, the Methodist Church in Zimbabwe unveiled a full-time Evangelism Director’s Office after so many years of discussions and resolutions as to how this office could be started. The part-time system of an Evangelism Director had its challenges in that all that was done was on a part-time basis.
The Evangelism department is motivated to fulfilling the Great Commission and the furtherance of the Methodist Church in Zimbabwe’s Mission. From the year 2008 when the department was inaugurated, the vision for five years up to 2012 is “EVANGELISM FOR ALL BY ALL,” meaning to say that every Christian soul in our church has to evangelize in every opportunity God gives to us anytime, anywhere and everywhere. Let people know Christ through you, by your spoken works of charity – the social gospel and by your deeds at any given time.
The department is focusing on a threefold mission of;
- Evangelising the lost
- Equipping the saints
- Encouraging the believers
Therefore, a call to all and sundry to be an outgoing church for a coming Christ as we fulfill this three-fold mission.
The department is focusing on Revival Crusades sometimes called In-Reach programmes, Open Air Crusades called Outreach Crusades and while we are involved in these Crusades countrywide, we do not forget the Discipleship aspect of Equipping the Saints through the school of Evangelism, where participants are trained in different aspects of ministry such as Leadership training, Discipleship training, Child and Youth Evangelism as well as FAITH SHARING.
The school of Evangelism for ministers has also been one of the lime-lights for spiritual edifications and we thank God for the areas which were covered, which are Harare East and West, Bulawayo East and West and Hwange Districts.
More so, the department has not operated as a single entity but has embraced co-operation with other conferences by going to launch fellowships particularly in South Africa and Botswana and also visited the United Kingdom fellowship to go and minister, as well as visiting the United States of America fellowship in Dallas. These trips have paid dividends in that we now have some kind of official communication lines with South Africa, Botswana and Dallas, and as you well know that with the U. K, we have established relationships. Our prayer is that one of these days the Methodist Church Zimbabwe should be able to send ministers to South Africa, Botswana and America, to go and shepherd the flock.
We are very thankful to the Research and Publications department who have stood resolute with us in publishing our materials. The Covenant and Mission Month continue to be published while the new project of Monthly Devotionals and Prayer booklets is going on very well though at a very slow pace. Knowledge is power; we want to continue to preach through literature for the edification of God’s children. We have also been involved in the recording and publication of messages on DVDs and now that the Research and Publications has the sole prerogative to information and communication in the Methodist Church in Zimbabwe and a resource person is in place we praise God, and happily hand that work to them.
We urge all Methodists to be part and parcel of the 120 years celebration for it is a life time event.
As a department, we continue to look to the almighty, for our help comes from Him. This work is His and not ours, hence we are praying for the unleashing of His sustaining power so that we can enjoy the promptings of the Holy Spirit.
The Evangelism Department through the Evangelism Director Rev Josias S Mudenda congratulates the Methodist Church in Zimbabwe for the 120 years of Serving the Nation of Zimbabwe with Courage and rendering services above self.