With wide smiles on their faces, 56 United Methodist Church student pastors at United Theological College staggered with loads of grocery hampers worth US$2 900 received as a gesture of good will from Zimbabwe East Annual Conference(ZEAC) RRW.
The women’s organization (RRW) through the two conferences (ZEAC and ZWAC), districts and individuals has for some time supported the welfare of pastors under ministerial training, and the recent visit is testimony of their continued support.
“It has always been one of our objectives to support ministerial students…and we are excited that this dream has come to fruition.” said the ZEAC RRW Evangelism chairpersons, Mrs. Engeline Tsakatsa and Mrs. Eunice Muponda who led the team that visited the students.
The beneficiaries of the food hampers are both married and single students. The package is seen as a welcome way of complementing the allowances that students receive either from circuits they are sent for field work, or from their respective annual conferences.
Nyevero Musekiwa, a third year ministerial student appreciated the gesture, “We are happy as the student body for being remembered now and again.”
Students continued to sing Ndinodisa Chechi Yangu (I love my church) as they queued to receive mealie meal packets and food hampers with an assortment of groceries ranging from stationary, bathing and washing soaps, sugar to cooking oil.
“These gifts from RRW are a welcome gesture which will go a long way in alleviating the plight of students” said Rev. Stephen Jeyacheya, the ZEAC Connectional Ministries Director, “…and as a church we are appreciative of the work being done under the leadership of the RRW President, Mrs. Greater Nhiwatiwa” he added.
Most married students stay with their families on campus while some stay in other areas for varied reasons. Both married and single students encounter day to day challenges of meeting the needs of their families, though the responsibility is weighty for the married.
For the period students are under training, family responsibilities remain part of them and one is tasked with carrying a two-tier responsibility; accomplishing the academic requirements and at the same time remaining a dependable parent or child in terms of the welfare of their kinship. For many students the presentation came in handy and well appreciated.
The Episcopal Area Student Representative, Rev. Jairos Mafondokoto applauded the RRW organisation for the material support they continue to give the student community and encouraged them to continue the good work and further called on others within the church to emulate such noble initiatives.
Story by: Taurai Emmanuel Maforo at United Theological College (27/08/2013)