Building for Evangelism
It all started with a suggestion to build a church during one of the Zunde meetings. That was at Rupehwe in Churimanzu District. The locals cast the bricks and provided the river and pit sand. The conference donated $1000 and the rest of the building material was bought by church members. The builders got to know each other there and started mobilizing themselves for future building projects.
A Zunde traditionally is when villagers gather together to farm or harvest for the local chief’s storehouse. Hence the term “Zunde raMambo”.
In the context of the church a Zunde is when an unentered area is identified, then local church members from different districts embark on a mission to evangelize the area for, usually a week. This aspect has been going on for years until 2012 when the Building projects started. Now every time there is a Zunde, a church is built and completed within a week.. yes a literal week, then handed over to the new congregrants to worship in.
While the rest of the people are visiting homesteads, witnessing, and conducting bible studies, the builders will be doing what they know best: building a church for the community. For them to meet the target of finishing within a week, they at times work round the clock, taking shifts under the brightness of flood lights during the nights. All this work is done at no cost. As our very own Maranatha Volunteers, they offer their services, skills and time for free. Their plan is to use Christ’s method of reaching out to the people’s needs as they evangelize in the hope that a soul be saved through these works.
To date, over 80 structures have been built which include classroom blocks, clinics, churches, ADRA offices and houses. As of July 2019, the builders are constructing 4 early Childhood Development Classroom Blocks and toilets at the Adventist Eollege of Education just outside Gweru, Zimbabwe.