Time for the church to blossom again

Tspring season and the setting in of summer bring back the glow, blossoming and blooming of the beauty of our flora that the extreme winter temperatures, low water tables had eroded away from our sight.

We are beginning to see the jacaranda trees become beautiful again. I am particularly waiting for the blooming of the flamboyant trees soon. Summer is always welcome, in this part of Africa.

Welcome to summer, Zimbabwe. We thank God with all of this!

As the plant world begins to come back to life, the recent pronouncements by the Head of State and Government, Cde E.D. Mnangagwa of yet another untightening of the strict lockdown regulations could not have come at a better time.

We are grateful for such a move, in as much as we are also grateful for the bold decision to stop the free-flow of human and material baggage in the last few months, in our nation.

We all know that this was meant to protect the populace from the adverse effects of the Covid-19 scourge.

Great though this may be, the good decision has also left the Church in a state of panic where they announced the return to services, only to realise that many of their congregants did not resume regular attendance.

David Sharp writing in an article, “Millions skipped Church during pandemic:

Will they return?” notes that many Churches may not make it if no effort is made to strengthen the Churches.

This is the other factual side, yet with the Lord’s grace and some work, the Church is ready to become more powerful, though with some bruises.

It is critical to know that the advent of numerous pandemics was prophesied about in the Bible and should not be a shocker to the world and especially to those of the faith (Luke 21:11; Revelation 6:8).

These events are part of the signs of “the last days,” also referred to as “the conclusion of the system of things.” - 2 Timothy 3:1; Matthew 24:3.

While the effects of the pandemics will never be celebrated, we can at least find joy in the fact that God is truthful and faithful to His Word. I do not wish for more pandemics, but according to Biblical prophecy, it seems we have just begun the race. In line with this, the old adage goes, “things never become easier, it is you who becomes stronger!”

That is the attitude we should carry as people of faith. “What can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus” the apostle Paul asks the Roman believers, rhetorically? His summarised answer is an emphatic, “nothing.”(Romans 8: 35-39).

The call is clear here: “Let us not neglect meeting together, as some have made a habit, but let us encourage one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching” (Hebrews 10:25).

This particular 2021 Spring-time is not just a physical spring, it is also a spiritual one. This is the time for the Church to blossom again. But does this just happen?

This will not just happen. We need God’s grace. That we have on us. We will also need to make use of that grace by labouring to restore the Church.

Well- known for the Tiyambuke Conferences, Apostle Pride Sibiya is a Zimbabwean marriage and relationship counsellor. He is also the visionary and President of Glory Ministries.