Patricia Makubaro
The Zimbabwe Assemblies of God Africa Forward in Faith Ministries (ZAOGA) will be celebrating its 56th Anniversary on the May 13 2016.
The church was founded on May 13 1960 under a gum tree in Bindura by Apostle Ezekiel Handinawangu Guti.
Beginning under those very humble circumstances, the church has grown into perhaps the only local church with a sizeable international reach.
The church has grown an impressive footprint in over 100 countries of the world through its Forward in Faith (FIF) arm.
Apostle Guti, now at the prime age of 93, came to know about God through a testimony by his mother Dorcas.
The testimony concerned the judgment to come, forcing the young apostle to go into the bush to seek the presence of God.
ZAOGA Masvingo city District Pastor, Wilson Fani said while in the bush fasting and praying, God revealed himself, telling Apostle Guti four simple words: fear not, sin not.
“The four words have hugely informed the church’s doctrine, acting as a guide to call upon believers to have faith in God while aiming to please him.
“ZAOGA is the first indigenous church to have a broadcasting channel, a hospital and a university without the help of foreign donors but fully supporting its projects through the efforts of its members.
“Apostle Guti’s wife, Eunor Guti – an accomplished apostle in her own right – is the brains behind ‘Today’s Woman’, an interdenominational gathering of women where lessons on marriage, health and education are taught.
“This year’s celebrations have been decentralised with every district carrying out its own celebrations. The celebrations will stretch from 12-15 May 2016 and we will also be belatedly celebrating Apostle Guti’s birthday’s 93rd birthday which was on 5 May 2016,” said Fani.
Pastor Fani added that they will be celebrating the journey travelled by the apostle over the years preaching the true gospel of deliverance.
“As we celebrate these 56 years and the birthday of our founder, we would like to ask God to keep blessing the Apostle and give him a longer life and strength to lead the church. We as the ZAOGA family, we are like a home to everyone.
“We will be praying for peace in the country and for everyone to keep worshipping the Lord. We are lifting up the standards.
“All Masvingo city district pastors, elders and deacons wish ZAOGA and the Servant and Apostle Guti a happy birthday and a happy anniversary,” said Fani.
Meanwhile, Overseer Andrew Masocha of the church’s Zvishavane province said he felt many souls are going to be saved in the world through the evangelical work of FIF ministries.
“We feel no man can do this without God’s hand. Happy Anniversary to us as we continue to see God revealing himself through the Servant and the Apostle Ezekiel Handinawangu Guti,” said Masocha. news
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