Zimbabwe: our Africa 2003 experience

One year ago who would have thought that Vivian and I would be given the privilege of attending the MWC in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe? Yet through the vision and generosity of a number of people in Portage Avenue MB Church, Winnipeg, we were able to share this experience of a lifetime!

We met people from all over the world gathered together because of their faith in Jesus Christ and Anabaptist convictions. Brothers and sisters to whom language, nationality, race, social standing and language were no barriers. Individuals with whom one could laugh, cry, pray and even discuss current events. What a way in which to have a taste of heaven’s melting pot!

The highlight of our two-week visit to Zimbabwe was participating in one of the Assembly Scattered tours. Over a period of four days, with Reverend Dickson Moyo as our guide, we visited the first Brethren In Christ mission located at Matopo and then travelled to the mission at Mtshabezi. In Matopo a select group of secondary school students served as our hosts and chaperones. They welcomed us, made sure our needs were looked after and then peppered us with questions. Pastor Moyo had us participate in three services and shared his vision for a Christian university to be built in the same area.

Our arrival in Mtshabezi was marked with a church community feast. We also were able to tour their 120-bed hospital, the Bible school where the local BIC Pastors are trained and a very productive farm. Sunday morning afforded us the opportunity to participate in the church service and to be challenged by a sermon focusing on Paul’s words in Philippians 3:2, “Watch out for those dogs.” The Mtshabezi pastor used this text to prepare his people and their guests (us!) for what we might encounter as visitors to Bulawayo. He reminded his audience that not everyone would be there to assist us, some would be seeking opportunities to fleece us.

If I could summarize what we saw in our travels and at the MWC it would be this, the BIC Church in Zimbabwe is a vibrant body of believers focusing on the reality of heaven and Christ’s return. To hear them singing about heaven, was simply fantastic! The reality that “this world is not my home, I’m simply passing through” came through loud and clear. The reality is they don’t have much to distract them from the harshness and inequity of life. To put it another way, in light of dwindling food supplies, a dying population and the uncertainty of their country’s future, “they desire a better country, that is a heavenly (one).”

Attendance at the next MWC in 2009, especially if it is outside of a first world country, should be considered by everyone who desires to be stretched, challenged and blessed. It was tremendous for Vivian and me to meet members of the Mennonite WORLD community, thus enabling us to put aside our provincial blinders.

Claude Pratt is pastor of Portage Ave. MB Church, Winnipeg.