Over 100 000 attend Johane Masowe Conference

OVER 140 000 members of the Johanne Masowe weChishanu from across the world gathered on the outskirts of Marondera a fortnight ago for their annual week-long prayer retreat.

It is estimated that an additional 3 000 were first time attendees, some of whom have since chosen to be part of the ages-old religious establishment which was born in Zimbabwe and has spread across the world.

This was the first time in many years that the famous prayer and worship function was hosted by the provincial capital of Mashonaland East, approximately six km from the city centre in the North-Easterly direction on the route to Murehwa.

In the previous years, the same multitudes had their convergences in Nyamandlovu, Bulawayo, Domboshawa and Guruve.

Established in 1931, Johanne Masowe WeChishanu claims to have a following of about 6,5 million dotted across Africa and over the years, it has grown to other continents that include Asia, Europe and the Americas. The Marondera gathering was a dazzling sea of white robes on the chosen farm situated next to the Rural District Council offices.

Despite their choice of venue, business was brisk with public transport operators cashing in on the event while corporates, educational institutions and individual businesses mainly aligned to the church reported good financial proceeds from the worship-laden weekend that began on a Tuesday and was wrapped up on Sunday.

Among those who found an ideal platform to market their wares and services were companies such as Proton Bakeries, Nyaradzo Funeral Assurance Company and Kushinga Phikelela College.

One of the five international spiritual leaders of the Church, Lawrence Katsiru, speaking on the sidelines said the objective of the gathering was to plan and preserve their fellowship while seeking guidance from the holy spirit. Lawrence Katsiru said they had done a head count to ascertain the number of people who attended the gathering.

“We did a head count of every individual who passed through our entrance. And as of the two days before the end of the conference (Friday) we had reached the 125 000 mark. An additional 3 000 visitors among members who came in the last two days (Saturday and Sunday) made it around 140 000,” he said.

“It was a successful gathering and as usual, we had a very disciplined flock turning out to fulfil what the scriptures expect of us. As you may appreciate, our doctrine does not demand that we publicise such events. We just tell God we’re retreating for a while to worship, listen to him and seek guidance without going to town about it.

“The long and short of it is that when God said go out into the forest and talk with me, all we asked him to do for us was to prevent a single fly from crossing the path of this area, despite all the ablution facilities that you see dotted around here and the tonnes of food that are being cooked and consumed here. Another thing is that, we are not a money-making church, we do not expect a cent from anyone, but all we need are people’s problems and life challenges which we put before their Creator for him to take care of.

”Glory is not ours, it is God’s and him alone will advertise himself, not a banner, flyer, the electronic or print media. However, we have a lot of respect for any church that has its objects on serving God and this includes the infant ones,” said Katsiru.

The spiritual leader said all the 41 mentally-challenged people brought to the ‘gungano’ (gathering) had been cured.