Showing connectionalism at its best, Union United Methodist Church in Irmo, South Carolina, joined hands with the community of Chitenderano Circuit and Home Is Best — a group of former church members mostly living in other countries — in constructing a new sanctuary.
Union United Methodist Church United Methodist Church is a part of the South Annual Conference.
Zimbabwe Area Bishop Eben K. Nhiwatiwa dedicated the church in September.
The tripartite developed a strong bond that led to the production of a spacious and fully furnished sanctuary, the bishop said. The group also contributed toward the purchase of a new circuit vehicle.
“The dedication was very good and enriching,” Nhiwatiwa said. “Learning how different people can come together and produce such a wonderful sanctuary is amazing. It is beautiful and majestic from all angles. The furniture is top-notch and inscripted in memory of loved ones. The involvement of the community was admirable.”
The Rev. Honesty Sithole, Chitenderano pastor-in-charge, said, “Before the tripartite, the development journey was ... challenging as resources were trickling in so slowly that it would take years to complete. The convergence of these three interested and hardworking parties has achieved a lot in all spheres in a very short space of time.
“It took a decade to reach gable-building stage,” he recalled, “and the coming of Union Church in July 2022 led to the completion of the project and dedication ahead of time, in September 2023.”
Sithole added that, resources permitting, the congregation would like to convert the old sanctuary into an early childhood development center “so that we catch them young.”
The Rev. Lloyd Nyarota, a Chitenderano resident working in Canada, supported the project from the beginning and linked Chitenderano and Union Church.
“It has been an inspiring journey from the beginning to the end,” he said. “The people of Chitenderano worked together as a community. Those of us in the diaspora and at home worked together to contribute toward the building of the church.
“Everyone contributed within their means, and every gift was valuable and celebrated with joy. It was a team effort. Though the process was slow at the beginning, it became effective, and quality was of significance.”
In 2020, when the building was progressing toward the roof, the team realized that the project would take years to complete in the absence of other funding sources. Nyarota said that’s when he engaged friends from Union United Methodist Church.
Delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic, a team from the South Carolina church finally made a maiden trip to Zimbabwe to Chitenderano Circuit in July 2022.
“A strong bond developed with the Chitenderano community while we worked side-by-side to lift the roof,” Nyarota said.
When Nhiwatiwa suggested a possible dedication date, the three parties were excited and motivated.
“On Sept. 17, we arrived in Chitenderano and we painted the inside and outside of the church,” Landers said. “Four days later, the task was finished.
“The new church brought us together as a UMC family in Chitenderano, from its inception. We made new friends and revived old friendships. The love of Christ was felt.”
Next on the agenda is the purchase of furniture for the pastor’s office. A future wish is to build a new parsonage.
“When the roof was finished,” Nyarota said, “I found myself in tears of joy. It was just unbelievable. For me, the major challenge had been overcome, and God had surprisingly done it. This has been an inspiration and joy throughout this project.”
excerpt from a story by Kudzai Chingwe, communicator for the Zimbabwe East Conference.
This story represents how United Methodist local churches through their Annual Conferences are living as Vital Congregations. A vital congregation is the body of Christ making and engaging disciples for the transformation of the world. Vital congregations are shaped by and witnessed through four focus areas: calling and shaping principled Christian leaders; creating and sustaining new places for new people; ministries with poor people and communities; and abundant health for all.
