By Tichaona Chitsinde
With the countdown to the Ebenezer Convention taking place at the National Sports Stadium from 15th – 17th August 2014 now entering the home straight, Harare East District finally got its taste of what is in store in just over a month’s time as it held its mid-year Revival on 6th July 2014 at the Harare Gardens.
Over 3 000 Methodists from the District’s 18 Circuits
gathered to wrap up the Prayer and Fasting Week, and it was an opportunity for many who had beforehand only heard of it as an abstract event to finally experience the Ebenezer spirit.
The mood was set by the District Superintendent Rev. Tsitsi Madziyire, who in her devotion called upon all United Methodist Church members in the Harare East District to embrace the Ebenezer era in which the church is in. She described the Revival as a “mini-Ebenezer”, a precursor for what is to come.
Recounting the Ebenezer story, 1 Samuel 7:1-13, DS Madziyire urged all to realise that Ebenezer is a beacon of thanksgiving, and as we gather at the National Sports Stadium we shall be giving testimony of all that we have conquered through prayer and fasting.
The atmosphere was electric in the Gardens; you could feel the Ebenezer spirit in the air, hear it in the praises and see it in the various Ebenezer regalia on display. From dresses and headgear to shirts and scarves, those already on the ball took the opportunity to showcase the wide range of ways in which the Ebenezer material can be worn.
In line with the Ebenezer mood, the District had the Ebenezer material on sale to get everybody into the programme. The material is available at District and Conference Offices at $6 per metre.
The Ebenezer spirit is one of praise, and the level of praise at the Revival was on an all-time high with the Cranborne MUMC Choir, Chisipiti Praise Team, Voices of Revelation and Masimba Edenga taking turns to lead the gathering in singing to the Lord. All who attended left in a higher gear looking forward to a word and praise explosion come August 15th.
If this was anything to go by, the Ebenezer Convention will be a life-changing experience, and we can’t wait to be immersed in the spirit of the Lord. As Masimba Edenga so rightly put it, “Munhu wese kuEbenezer!”