By: Abigail Mvududu, Harare, Zimbabwe
Bishop Eben K Nhiwatiwa recently attended a Rukwadzano Rwamadzimai (RRW) meeting in Harare East District (HED)’s Mabvuku circuit, which he said was the pastoral angle of the bishop’s duties.
Bishop Nhiwatiwa said his attendance of the meeting is in sync with his ministry of going out to the people and this particular Friday he said the people were represented by the women in RRW. He added that depending on arrangements made he can also go to the youth or Vabvuwi meetings.
After his meeting with RRW, HED Communications caught up with him to find out about his visit to the flood victims in Masvingo and other activities his Episcopal Area is involved in, in the country.
Bishop Nhiwatiwa expressed his gratitude for what he said was, “A magnificent job done by the church”. The bishop was making reference to the donations from the church which he presented to the flood victims in Masvingo. He added that, “It shall be a constant source of amazement for me the way the church responded”. The United Methodist Church (UMC) presented 3 lorries full of different items including foodstuffs and tents to help the flood victims.
He spoke of other projects that UMC is involved in, in the Zimbabwe Episcopal Area which include running orphanages, old people’s homes and taking care of widows.
The church has a number of schools some of which were amongst the top 100 for producing the best results in both “O” and “A” levels in the 2013 examinations in the country.
The church is also involved in health issues. Besides running a number of renowned hospitals and clinics throughout Zimbabwe, it is currently involved in the Imagine NO Malaria (INM) programme with the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR).
Bishop Nhiwatiwa rounded off the interview by talking about BEB which he said is the nerve centre of what UMC is doing in 2014. The first B he said is about Bringing people to Christ. Bishop Nhiwatiwa emphasized that, “not only should people bring others to Christ you must also bring yourself to Christ, don’t miss Ebenezer Convention 15-17 August 2014.An opportunity to come face to face with God and to share what you want to share”. Therefore the E is the Ebenezer convention. The last B, he said, is building in circuits as well as building the Area’s head offices. He said construction work of the head offices has already begun in the Zimbabwe West Annual Conference.