African Initiatives in Healing Ministry

Published by Unisa Press
First edition, first impression

About the book

Healing ministry is becoming more prominent in many different Christian traditions in Southern Africa. In the past it was largely confined to the 'Spirit-type' African Independent Churches (AICs) – where it was (and still is) a recruitment technique par excellence. For these denominations, healing is central to mission, and the church is primarily seen as a healing institution. In the Western Initiated Churches (WICs), healing was earlier seen as peripheral, but has become more central in recent years.

This volume in our series presents four case studies of churches' healing ministries in Zimbabwe, based on the research of Professors Lilian Dube and Tabona Shoko, and synchronized as one work by Dr Stephen Hayes. The case studies examine aspects of healing ministry in four different church communities: the Zvikomborero Apostolic Faith Church; the St Elijah Church; a Roman Catholic church; and an Anglican church.

Contents

The authors vii
Preface ix
Series preface ix
About this publication xi

Introduction 1

The context of the case studies - Stephen Hayes 3
            Historical background and setting 4
           Christianity in Zimbabwe 8
            Notes on terminology 16
Healing in mainline and independent churches
- Tabona Shoko 18

Part 1 Shona history and traditional religion 23

The Shona people of Zimbabwe - Lilian Dube 25
Health and healing in traditional Shona society
- Tabona Shoko 31
            Traditional causes 31
            Traditional diagnosis 36
            Traditional healing 38
Healing in African Initiated Churches - Lilian Dube 44
            Prophecy 47
Women’s religious experience - Lilian Dube 54
            Women’s leadership among the Budya of Mutoko 57
            Conclusion 69

Part 2 Case studies of healing in Shona churches 71

Agnes Majecha and the Zvikomborero Apostolic
Church - Lilian Dube 73
            The ministry of exorcism and healing Faith 78
            Conclusion 95
            Agnes Majecha’s therapeutic praxis - Lilian Dube 97
Healing in the St Elijah Church - Tabona Shoko 117
Healing in Super Roma - Tabona Shoko 127
            Father Augustine Urayai 127
            Super Roma 131
Healing in Chita cheZvipo zveMoto (CZM)
- Tabona Shoko 134

Part 3 Evaluation and conclusions 145

Women, traditional spirits and the Holy Spirit
- Lilian Dube 147
            Women and the Holy Spirit 151
            Similarities and differences between
            the old and the new 152
            Conclusion 155
A new paradigm - Tabona Shoko 159

Epilogue 173

A distinctive African revival in Christian healing
ministries - Stephen Hayes 175

Bibliography 189
Glossary 198
Index 198