…the story of ECD
BY MUNYARADZI BLESSING DOMA
The world over, religions have different places of worship.
For Christianity it’s in churches, Islam it’s Mosques, Judaism it’s Synagogues, Hinduism and Buddhism it’s Temples, just to mention but a few.
However in Harare’s Tafara/Mabvuku suburbs, there is a unique group of Christians.
Their places of worship are bars and nightclubs.
And indeed the concept of a church in a bar or a nightclub is certainly unconventional, but one thing is for sure, the message of acceptance and non-judgment is quite powerful.
After hearing this story during a recent visit to this neighbourhood, the journalistic instinct in me really kicked in.
So out of curiosity, I decided to attend one Sunday service on August 25, 2024.
Along with my uncle Lewis; we went to Moonlight Nightclub at Kamunhu Shopping Centre in Tafara, for the church service.
I joined other men and women who made a beeline to get into the church service as we climbed up the stairs to where the service was being held.
As I got into the nightclub, I noticed that other men and women were already in attendance.
One man was standing in front, leading other congregates in intercession.
He then led the church in singing “Makanaka Jesu munoshamisa,” a song which speaks on the immense power of Jesus and how worthy he is to be praised.
And as he led the church in song, congregates joyfully joined in, singing, dancing and clapping hands.
One man wearing a maroon chino, pink shirt and grey blazer then walks in, accompanied by two other men, one of them holding a big speaker.
I then get to know that this man is Apostle Mike Mutambikwa, who is the founder and head of Early Christhood Development (ECD) church.
Apostle Mutambikwa patiently waits, till the man leading the intercession ends, before taking over.
He leads the church in several prayer points, one of which is to ask God for protection against any spiritual attacks that might hinder their progress.
And indeed congregates pray and then he makes declarations; “There is power in the name of Jesus, healing in the name of Jesus, deliverance in the name of Jesus.”
Apostle Mutambikwa then led the church in the song, “Hakuna wakaita sa Jesu,” (There is no one like Jesus). And as he sings, he also dances, as other congregates join in.
He then explained the significance of the song, as he said some people were at that time bedridden either in hospital or at home, but Jesus had been merciful towards us, so we have to praise him whole heartedly.
Apostle Mutambikwa then also sang “Makanaka Hossana”, a song which also praises God for his goodness, as more congregates continued to walk in.
We are now in excess of 60 men and women, though the former make the majority.
He then preaches on how as Christians we should be complete by God’s grace and referencing from Luke 17, on the story of Jesus healing 10 lepers.
Apostle Mutambikwa preached on the significance of just one leper who remembered that he had to thank Jesus.
The preaching was so clear, such that congregates appreciated by clapping of hands and shouting “amen”.
As he continues preaching; he also takes time to sing, linking the word with the song.
And after a good 30 minutes of preaching, Apostle Mutambikwa then gave The Grace. And despite being in a nighclub, throughout the whole church service no one is tempted to go drink or smoke which really amazes me.
As some announcements are being made; one church elder walks around the room collecting offerings.
And true to ECD fashion, all congregates then stand outside Moonlight Nightclub greeting each other.
Some then reveal that they are planning to go and see one congregate who was not feeling well.
As for Apostle Mutambikwa, he was rushing for another church service in Old Tafara but I still managed to get to interview him.
He revealed, “every Sunday I have six services, four of those are in the bars and then two we hold them at places where we gather. The ones at the bars are strictly for adults, then for others everyone is welcome.
“Then we also have midweek services which we hold at these congregates’ houses.
“Many lives have been changed, some things may not be so evident because the people will be seen back in the bars drinking beer but we are talking of change that can be seen at the family level.
“Like sitting together with the family, being responsible parents, going to work and even bathing.
“Because remember some of these people who come to our church are those that are looked down upon and judged by the society.
“Some were famous for sleeping at the shopping centre once they are drunk but all that has changed, so these are some of the major changes that are happening in God’s mission.
“We even have some who had a calling to be preachers and we are now grooming them so that they claim back their calling,” said Apostle Mutambikwa.
As for the name ECD; Pastor Mutambikwa said this was necessitated to show the early development of Christians, just like those in school Early Childhood Development.
“We take these congregates as they are, some take alcohol, some smoke.
“You will find out that just after a church service, some would then go on to smoke but we have devised means to say at the church premises, there is no smoking.
“We used to have situations whereby some would briefly go out to smoke, but I’m happy with the work God is doing because this is no longer the case.
“We have also said no drinking or smoking in the 100-metre radius of church premises just after the service.
“And our message is that no one should say I’m better than others or to say I know God better no.
“We are saying that we are all at the same level,” said Apostle Mutambikwa.
He added: “we started in 2017 but going to bars like RedBull, we started this year and for Moonlight Nightclub it’s been 2 years now.
“God called me to minister to these people and also in these settings.
“Kune vanhu vasingagamuchirike kupinda muchurch let’s say vane rasta, vanhu vanotanga kuvatarisa kuti nhasi manga mune ma rasta auya. (Some people with dreadlocks may not be comfortable to be in the traditional church settings because they will be judged).
“Or those people who will be drunk may not feel comfortable because people will point fingers at them but for us, everyone is welcome in our church. And they get the benefit of hearing the word of God right as it is.
“So God called me to this area. Some of these people are well aware of God’s teachings or principles and some of them actually love God a lot but sometimes life will make people take certain decisions.
“We are trying to encourage those people who backslid to return to God and also we have some who have never set foot in church.
“Some are shy but here we encourage them to feel welcome and be part of us.”
And after attending ECD and got to witness Apostle Mutambikwa’s preaching, I just had a thought; if it’s really about a place of worship or it’s solely about the word that is preached.
