By Taurai Emmanuel Maforo (Zimbabwe Episcopal Area Communicator)
Chelsea Chipendo the 12year old child preacher enthusiastically stepped onto the stage to a resounding applause from the 55 thousand-strong audience at the National Sports Stadium during the Ebenezer Convention held from 15 to 17 August 2014.
The young girl came into the lime light after initially preaching at the Harare Central District RRW (Rukwadzano Rwe Wadzimai) revival in 2013 and at the 2014 Mini Ebenezer at the Darwendale Camping Ground.
“I am blessed to be preaching at the Ebenezer Convention in the stadium that I used to come as an athlete” said an elated Chelsea.
The convention brought together members of the church from far and wide. Delegations came from the Malawi Provisional Conference, South Africa, and the Episcopal Area’s mission areas; Zambia, Botswana, Canada, and UK/Australia/New Zealand. Baltimore-Washington, Western Pennsylvania and the Great Plains were the church’s representatives from the wider connection.
Chelsea becomes the first ever child to preach before such a large audience in the history of the United Methodist Church and that of the country – Zimbabwe.
“We are excited that the church has scored a first – having a child preach in the National Sports Stadium” said Mr. Simon Mafunda the Zimbabwe East Annual Conference (ZEAC).
The Zimbabwe Episcopal Area leader Bishop Eben Kanukayi Nhiwatiwa thus declared, “The church is alive and has a hopeful future ahead.”
Tapiwa Makamba her age-mate also moved the congregation with his poetic prowess that left the audience in total amazement of his high intelligence. Thunderous applauses followed the spirited presentation.
The two young people are products of the church’s deliberate thrust towards Children’s Ministry.
Chelsea coming from Harare Central District’s two-year certification program for child lay preachers. Tapiwa, a pupil at Murewa Central Primary School is proof of a UMC school that has remained consistent in producing top-notch Grade 7 results.
“As a district we are proud that the initiatives that started with having choral festivals and talent shows for children is now producing results.” said Rev. Vienna Mutezo the Harare Central District Superitendent. Her district is among the first in the Episcopal Area to have children attend a district conference and annual conference as delegates.
Oozing with great confidence Chelsea declared in song, “Hapana Chandinotya”, there is nothing we can fear.
She set the tone of her sermon by first declaring war against the devil. “In this stadium games have been played and there has only been one winner…the devil has totally lost it.”
She went on to raise hopeful expectations to her ardent listeners, “…whether you have lost in the past, at the Ebenezer Convention you will become the winner. Your battles will be won in this stadium.”
Her words were carefully cast within the scope of the Ebenezer theme – 1 Samuel 7:12 “Then Samuel took a stone, and set it between Mizpeh and Shen, and called the name of it Ebenezer, saying, Hitherto hath the LORD helped us.” The text details the final triumph of the Israelites over the Philistines
“Victory is certain!” was the loud proclamation of the theme from her message on the greatest fall of the walls of Jericho (Joshua 6). The sermon filled with words of hope declared that no walls will remain a limitation in the lives of Christians but will surely fall before them.