wfn.org | UMNS# 452-Bishop marks 60 years in ministry with call to share

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Bishop marks 60 years in ministry with call to share Christ

Aug. 15, 2005

NOTE: Photographs, video and a sidebar, UMNS story #453, are available
at http://umns.umc.org.

By Kathy L. Gilbert*

MUTARE, Zimbabwe (UMNS) - Bishop Abel T. Muzorewa wants Christians to
"climb out of their comfort zones" and bring people to Christ.

His message was loud and clear on a day that brought people from all
over Africa and the world to celebrate his 60 years of ministry. The
celebration at the Old Mutare Mission also marked the launching of the
Bishop A.T. Muzorewa Evangelism Foundation.

Muzorewa, 80, told the crowd that he had recently come across some
disturbing statistics.

"Out of the world's population of 6 billion, only 2 billion are
Christians," he said. Of those, only half have a real personal knowledge
of Christ, he added. "The rest are members of the church who know
nothing about Christ."

It is time to stop saying numbers don't count in our church, that only
quality counts, he said. "The early church counted the converts and so
should we.

"Why an evangelism foundation? Because the world is ripe for harvest,"
he said. Using the example of witchcraft growing in Africa, he said,
"The only effective counter-measure that is required is Jesus, the light
of the world."

Muzorewa's celebration July 23 brought hundreds of pastors, bishops,
choirs and people whose lives he has touched. A weeklong celebration led
up to the event, with crusades at various churches July 18-22 and a
dinner in his honor July 22. The events ended with a harvest
thanksgiving service at Muziti United Methodist Church, his home church
in Rusape.

Bishop Felton Edwin May, a retired bishop for the United States and now
dean of the Harry R. Kendall Science and Health Mission Center at
Philander Smith College, was the guest preacher.

When he first visited Africa in 1974, May said he came to Zimbabwe,
which was then Rhodesia. He met Muzorewa six years after the
assassination of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.

"When I saw Bishop Muzorewa he walked like Dr. King, he talked like Dr.
King and he preached like Dr. King," he said. "It was almost as if Dr.
King lived in him."

May told the crowd he was a successful and respected ordained United
Methodist pastor when he first came to Africa, but "I lacked the power
of the Holy Spirit."

"I found the Holy Spirit at a convention at Epworth Theological College
in Harare when Bishop Muzorewa preached," he said. Even though Muzorewa
was preaching in his native language of Shona, May said he "felt the
ground shake."

Since that day, May said the fire within his soul keeps him preaching.

Both May and Muzorewa spoke to the people about the problems facing the
country because of the government.

Muzorewa said he knew many of the people sitting in the audience had no
homes, no food and no fuel because of the "manmade tsunami" crippling
Zimbabwe.

"Your being here is an act of evangelizing Africa."

Months before the celebration, the president of Zimbabwe, Robert Mugabe,
ordered the destruction of many homes in a move called "Operation
Restore Order." A U.N. report on the fallout of the order said 700,000
people are without homes or jobs and 2.4 million others have been
affected.

"Things were bad 31 years ago, but my heart is breaking because things
are just as bad today," May said. "There is hope, and that hope is Jesus
Christ!"

"The people of God must stand up, rise up and speak the truth. The truth
is God's children should not be hungry and without resources. God's
children must be fed and protected."

In concluding words, Muzorewa said, "In spite of the poor economy, the
drought, the economic hardships, go and evangelize. In the face of
global terror, go and evangelize.

"Make no apologies for evangelizing because it is Jesus' commandment and
mission."

*Gilbert is a United Methodist News Service news writer based in
Nashville, Tenn.

News media contact: Kathy L. Gilbert, Nashville, Tenn., (615) 742-5470
or newsdesk@umcom.org.

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United Methodist News Service
Photos and stories also available at:
http://umns.umc.org