Christianity in Zimbabwe

Christianity is the largest religion practiced in Zimbabwe, accounted for more than 80% of the population.[1] The arrival of Christianity dates back to the 16th century by Portuguese missionaries such as Fr. Gonsalo Da Silveira of the Roman Catholic Church. Christianity is embraced by the majority of the population. It is estimated 85 percent of Zimbabweans claim to be Christians, with approximately 62 percent regularly attending church services.[2] Christian faith plays a very important role in the organization of Zimbabwean society.

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Heads of the Christian Denominations in Zimbabwe is an association made up of some of the common church bodies; Evangelical Fellowship of Zimbabwe, the Zimbabwe Catholic Bishops' Conference, and the Zimbabwe Council of Churches.[3] However, recent years saw a large increase in the number of new denominations: notably "Apostles" or "Mapostori". Most of these denominations derive their teachings from the bible and attach greater emphasis on prophecy, demonstration of power and fasting in the wilderness. Some reputable apostolic churches include Mugodhi, among others. Still, there are some "Apostles who disregard the Bible and believe in Messengers from God". There has been debate over the Western-formed churches including Anglican and Roman Catholic, over the truthfulness of the apostles' doctrine. While some apostles truly follow the Way of Christ, some violate bible principles through polygamy and false prophecy. In addition there has been a growing number of Christian Ministries, including Prophetic Healing and Deliverance and United Family International Church, who are also criticized for overemphasizing the prosperity gospel and giving- while increasing the wealth of the leaders.

History

Roman Catholic missionaries were the first to arrive in Zimbabwe. The first attempt to introduce Christianity to the Shona [tribe of Zimbabwe] was made by a Portuguese Jesuit missionary, Gonçalo da Silveira, at the court of the Monomotapa dynasty until he was murdered as a result of court intrigues in 1561.[4] Although at least a dozen Catholic churches were planted, they all disappeared by 1667, when Portugal's power was waning, leaving “no discernible trace of Christianity.” This remained the situation until the movement of Protestant missions arrived in the nineteenth century.

St Mary's Church, Serima Mission in Zimbabwe

In 1890 the 'Pioneer Column', Jesuit Catholic missionaries and the Anglican Canon Belfour entered Lobengula's territory.[5]

In 1799 Johannes Van der Kemp helped launching a missionary society called London Missionary Society (LMS). One of the LMS missionary who helped launch Protestant missions into Zimbabwe was Robert Moffat and his wife Mary. One of Moffat's greatest accomplishment for missions in Zimbabwe was his friendship with Mzilikazi, king of the Ndebele tribe. Moffat's son-in-law David Livingstone had several expeditions in Zimbabwe around 1859.[6] Another LMS missionary named Charles Daniel Helm founded the southern Rhodesia Missionary Conference.[7] His sons Sam Helm and John Helm helped translate the New Testament of the Bible in the Karanga dialect of Shona, along with Andrew and Clini Louw of Dutch Reformed Mission Church. David Kingsley helped people understand the true meaning of churches.[8] By 1918, they had finished the New Testament in four dialects: Ndau, Manyika, Zezuru, and Karanga .[9] The Louws and some Sotho-speaking evangelists built various ministries in the region under Shona Reformed Church, but eventually they transferred all property to an indigenous church denomination called Reformed Church in Zimbabwe.[10]

Indigenous religious movements
  • Andries Mtshede (d.1929) was a nephew of King Lobengula, who became a policeman and court interpreter and later a Methodist minister.[11]
  • Johane Maranke (1912-1963) was a Zimbabwean Christian leader, prophet, and founder of the Apostolic Church of John Marange.

List of churches in Zimbabwe

See also

References
  1. Inter Censal Demography Survey 2017 Report, Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency (2017)
  2. International Religious Freedom Report 2007: Zimbabwe. United States Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor (September 14, 2007).
  3. Department Of State. The Office of Electronic Information, Bureau of Public Affairs. "Zimbabwe". 2001-2009.state.gov. Retrieved October 21, 2019.
  4. Marshall W. Murphree, Christianity and the Shona (London, England: The Athlone Press, 1969).
  5. A History of Christian Missions in Zimbabwe, 1890-1939 By ChengetaiJ. M. Zvobgo. Gweru, Mambo Press, 1996.
  6. "A History Of Protestant Missions In Zimbabwe". Archived from the original on March 7, 2012. Retrieved October 21, 2019.
  7. Ecumenical Initiatives in Southern Rhodesia: A history of the southern Rhodesia Missionary Conference 1903-1945 (retrieved from www.scielo.org.za/pdf/she/v43n1/04.pdf)
  8. https://dacb.org/stories/zimbabwe/louw-andries/
  9. https://www.myheritage.com/person-1000098_48631991_48631991/machaka-manwa
  10. http://www.rhodesianstudycircle.org.uk/dutch-reformed-church/
  11. Thorpe, C. Limpopo to Zambesi, London 1951 p.33-5
  12. http://www.jabulanlcc.org/

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