I’m intrigued by the astronomical growth of Christianity in the majority world, and I think it’s important that Christians in the West ask themselves what the churches in all the far-flung corners of the globe can teach us. That’s a part of what motivates my research on charismatic Christianity in Zimbabwe.
During my fieldwork in Zimbabwe in 2007, I couldn’t help but notice the Masowe Apostles. They are distinctive for dressing in white robes and meeting for hours in the open air. It is hard to miss them.
The Masowe Apostles were not the focus of my particular research project, but a recent book by Isabel Mukonyora, Wandering a Gendered Wilderness: Suffering and Healing in an African Initiated Church (Peter Lang, 2007), has helped me to explore further that question about what people in the West can learn from these Christians.
Scholars usually classify the Masowe Apostles with other ‘African Initiated Churches,’ to signify that it is an expression of Christianity that Africans developed independently of the historic missionary denominations.
The group was inspired by Shoniwa Masedza Mtunyane, who took upon himself the name Johane Masowe, meaning ‘John of the Wilderness.’ He was a prophet who wandered throughout Zimbabwe (then Rhodesia) in the 1930s, causing alarm among the colonial authorities. As Mukonyora explains (p. 12):
‘In 1932 Johane Masowe first drew the attention of the police in Mashonaland towns, mines, and commercial farms. By making borders of landscapes sites for prayer, he pointed to the displacement of Shona people … Johane was arrested at least five times during the 1930s for walking around preaching repentance for sins of adultery and witchcraft and offering baptism for those who repented. … He repeatedly disturbed the peace by turning up on unoccupied land, which whites wanted to remain empty to create borders between the different pockets of the city landscape. This sacred wilderness, located on the fringes of worksites, residential neighbourhoods and highways is the source for the Masowe Apostles’ name. John the Baptist, the voice that cries in the wilderness near the river Jordan, is the biblical image from which the Shona name Johane Masowe and this pattern of ritual behaviour were derived. Johane Masowe breached colonial norms by calling people out to pray in places that Rhodesian administrators wished to keep empty and then vanishing, only to surface in another place whose fringes could serve as sites for prayer.’
In this rich description of Johane Masowe’s methods, it’s possible to identify lessons that can speak to other Christian churches today:
- The importance of the prophet, speaking out for those on the margins. (Where in contemporary Ireland & Northern Ireland do we see Christians playing such a role?)
- The importance of ritually embedding the message that God is with people on the margins of society, politics and the economy. The Masowe Apostles embody this by meeting in despised landscapes, making those places holy.
- The importance of courage in defying unjust political authorities.
Mukonyora’s book is itself not solely concerned with drawing out these sorts of lessons. Rather, it is a first-class anthropological account of the Masowe Apostles, which pays particular attention to the role of women within the religious community.
While I have just focused on liberating aspects of Johane Masowe’s original mission, Zimbabwean women have not always been empowered by this movement. The Masowe Apostles observe rigid gender codes that reflect older, traditional Shona cultural norms, which Mukonyora explores in chapter 2. She also explains how the displacement of Shona men from their traditional roles now shapes (p. 54):
‘the mindset that men bring into the sacred wilderness. … enact[ing] their gender-specific anxieties about masculine superiority and vulnerability in an intense and sometimes invidious form’.
She does not shy away from describing various instances during her research when men treated women disrespectfully during Masowe services. Mukonyora also points out that most previous academic work on the Masowe Apostles focused on the men’s perspectives to the extent that women’s experiences were not really taken into account.
But what Mukonyora offers that is original– and helpful for those of us seeking insights for the wider church – is analysis of how women have been empowered within the frameworks provided by the Masowe Apostles.
For instance, Mukonyora explores the important, sacred role of the female singers who transmit the messages of the gospel. This is especially crucial since the Masowe Apostles, unusually among Christians, rely exclusively on oral tradition and do not use the Bible at all. She explains how at some Masowe gatherings only the women sit facing east during prayers. This is significant because it is believed that the inspiration of the Holy Spirit comes from the east, so the women (but not the men), are here receiving unmediated access to this power. Mukonyora concludes, (p. 113),
‘Positive images of women as bearers of gifts of light associated with the Holy Spirit are foundational to a woman-oriented Masowe concept of God as a Supreme Being whose presence is felt by believers. … Women have a way of reading into their ritual behaviour messages that fulfil their religious aspirations as individuals whose problems arise from living in a society that keeps women at the margins.’
Finally, Mukonyora notes the prominence of women in healing rituals and argues that this provides a necessary spiritual, physical and psychological release for the many challenges that they face as marginalised women in a collapsing, marginalised nation.
Further lessons can be gleaned from this analysis, including:
- Just how important is the bible anyway? Does the Masowe Apostles’ prioritising of the Holy Spirit over and above the written word have anything to say to Western Christians?
- Again, rituals are important. One of Mukonyora’s major findings is that meaningful rituals heal and empower people. Has this aspect of spirituality been especially neglected by the Protestant churches of the West?
- Our churches may contain marginalised groups (be it women, immigrants, the working class), who those in positions of power may find it easy to overlook. But those groups may be pretty adept at adapting the Christian message in ways that are surprising and empowering. What do we miss when we don’t stop to listen to them?
Mukonyora’s book is an enjoyable and enlightening read for all who are interested in Zimbabwe, African Christianity, and the manifold expressions of Christianity in the contemporary world.
I appreciate the efforts of Madam Isabel, despite not having read her book beyond the above review. I want to believe that my contributions somewhere may have contributed to her great effort.
As a pastor, a Masowe apotle, I would like to say that it is not true that Masowe Apostles soley rely on the spoken word of God or do not read the Bible. That could be true only if we talk about the Church known as “Johane Masowe YeChishanu (the Friday Apostles).
However, talk about other groups including the Gospel of God Church that Johane Masowe ministered in until 1973, then you will find a respect for scripture that goes beyond what is read in the typical “Western Style” Churches.
It is true that there are women (and men) singers. But apostles have no choirs and every apostle is a singer.
In her gender analysis, Madam Mukonyora should have noticed the roles of Prophets and Teachers (Spiritual) that are played by women in the typical apostolic Churches. So that apostles have actually attained gender parity when it comes to the number of women ordained servants – can easily be as many or even more than the men.
What Masowe apostles do not have is women pastors, but because women are serve in other capacities, it is not unusual to find an entire service (apart from a pastors opening and closing remarks, that will actually have been “facilitated” by women servants – and allow me to add, very gifted ones!
Thank you for your contribution … I fear that some of the confusion may be because my review does not explore all of the complexities that Dr Mukonyora explains in greater depth in the book!
The Masowe Apostles are quite diverse and have different practices on some of these matters, as you point out.
Only 2 types of Masowe Aposstles names Johane Masowe yeChishanu and Madzibaba dont read bibles.
the rest read bibles
Thank you Glady’s for you comment – and for the review.
If you may allow a second comment, you really need not be too concerned about the confusing or conflicting views. As you correctly point out, even among us there are divergent perspectives.
In the long run, book, reviews and comments will only result in one thing – learning.
And as you rightly say, there is a lot that Christians can learn from Masowe Apostles if they would like to take their spirituality beyond the Pentecostalism that we experience and interact with elsewhere.
Maybe even from you review they will learn to pray facing the east. In my Church, that is the direction faced during worship – by both men and women. And this is not something just from our Churches, it also has Biblical linkages.
*The prophet Ezekiel saw the glory of the God of Israel coming from the east (Ezekiel 43:2)
*The star of Jesus came from the east (Matthew 2:2)
*The angel from the presence of the Lord came from the east (Rev 7:2)
And because you are in Europe where there are many old Churches (Catholic, Anglican), you will also tell us if it is true that the earlier ones were constructed so that people would worship facing the east.
Hi Thomas, I am by no means an expert in the history of European church building, but my hunch would be that the Orthodox churches of the east would be more likely to have been built facing east or with the direction of east as a significant factor in their design.
Thanks a million, i have not gone through Dr Mukonyora’s book but i hope she is well informed about old testament rituals that are done by the Johane Masowe Church. There are a lot if things that i know Dr Mukonyora did not have access to, such as the meaning of symbolic acts in healing and cursing that the Johane Masowe does even upto today.
Should she want insight, she is welcome to be given guidance by me.
Takwana,
I want to believe that the Church in question is Johane Msowe YeChishanu, of which I am not a member, but the issue or fiction of cursing is new to me.
But maybe we could start with the Old Testament. What do you consider an Old Testament ritual?
Is is observance of the Sabbath like we do? Johane Masowe YeChishanu do not do that – and in any case the Sabbath was also observed in the New Testament.
Is it animal sacrifice? Am not aware if it is done by any Vapostori but I would be happy to know if it is done.
Is it building temples and synagogues? Am sure they don’t
Is it circumcision? Cetainly not.
Is it blowing trumpets or playing harps? Never. They do not use musical intruments to the best of my knowlege.
If you know a ritual for a fact, there is no harm in discussing.
Thomas, thanks a million. Johanne Masowe YeChishanu has different groups, it is one thing you must acknowledge. Do you know something called RUSHANGA. Rushanga is a place where they do different kind of prayers.
Thomas, animal sacrifices are not done by anyone but by MUTUMWA (the messenger)MICHO. You should go to Chiweshe and ask about rain making ceremonies, etc!!!
there are issues we should see instead of discussing.
If we speak broadly, like we did at the beginning, we can say that there are many groups of Masowe apostles – even before we talk of Johane Masowe YeChishanu.
Secondly, what we call Johane Masowe YeChishanu established itself as a distinct entity in 1942 – separate from the Gospel of God Church that Johane Masowe continued to lead. This is old history but I want us to get the definitions right.
Johane Masowe YeChishanu remains a distinct entity today and a number of groups have evolved from it – they may or may not call themselves “Johane Masowe YeChishanu” but the dejure and defacto position is that they are distinct churches. I should have made this clear earlier when I said that the YeChishanu are the ones who do not read the Bible – it is true to say that those Churches that evolved from YeChishanu will tend to follow suit. Just like those who evolved from Gospel of God are also likely to observe the Sabbath, read the Bible etc.
I need to research further before fully responding to your post. Sorry I may not visit Chiwese or even Zimbabwe soon. In fact, am not Zimbabwean and have never been there. But it does not bother me because when I began networking and researching, I was actually shocked about how little Zimbabweans knew about Masowe apostles. Worse still, a lot of what they knew was wrong – and I began to wonder whether they ever took time to probe or verify facts.
From my end of the Masowe apostles, animal sacrifices have never been. Johane Masowe did not do that to the best of my knowlege. In fact, it is wrong for Pastors, Prophets, Evangelists, and Teachers in my Church to do anything as much as slaughter an animal – even for food. While it is not sin, such work should be done by lay persons.
In what is really Johane Masowe YeChishanu, am told by my best of sources that animal sacrifices are taboo. Only one incident took place in that Church for a very specific reason – where a lamb was slaughtered by whom they belive was Abraham (bearing the angel Abraham).
Rainmaking? What I know is in Kenya when rain fails, or when something goes on with the Nation, Christians (all Christians) pray – and prayers for rain are not rare. In 1976, there was a drought in Kenya. The then President Jomo Kenyatta called for prayers – which took place at the Ngong Racecource. After the prayers he asked the delegations from the various Churches to give their advice or way forward. And they responded in the usual way reading Bible verses etc.
There was one group that was present and did not speak. Kenyatta called them forward because he noticed them in their distinct attire. And one prophet went to the President and told him to the face that it was going to rain before the end of the ceremony – nobody would leave without being rained on. And surely it did. And that is how Jomo Kenyatta came to know apostles. He invited them to state house and even took a photo with them. So I
am aware of prayers for rain. Not rainmaking.
Thomas, i think i must acknowledge that i am a lazy writer and would not go into many issues. Firstly, i am a member of the Church you we talking about, the Johanne Masowe YeChishanu. there is a difference between being told and living the religion. i am living and experiencing the religion. Even the researcher, Mukonyora herself, could have left some issues into her book because they did not concern what she was looking at.
First of all; reading of the Bible. i do not agree that Johanne Masowe do not read the Bible. People should not lie about this. The founder of the Church himself used to read the Bible. The issue with regards to the use of the bible is that:: Johanne Masowe YeChishanu do not use the Bible like other churches, opening the bible during the services, and use it for preaching = we do not do this. But we do read the Bible, where do we get the Ten Commandments if people do not read the bible? Researchers should be careful in the way they see these things, people do read bibles in their homes and not at church.
Johanne Masowe respect of the sabbath day, from thursday 15h00 till friday 15h00. this timing coincides with something in the Bible. Thomas, please read and you will know what the event is: trial, death and crucifixion of Christ.
Thomas, you must understand why Johanne promotted non-use of the Bible during sermon times, he had a problem with missionaries’ interpretation of the Bible. Johanne was a miracle worker and he believed that he was annointed to do that but the missionaries in Rhodesia questioned him on the matter of miracles and he told them that the Bible they were reading explained miracles. in a nutshell, it is one matter that led non-reading of the bible during sermon times. and of course there are other reasons.
Being honest with you Thomas, your networks and researchers shouls visit Chiweshe, they should ask about Rushanga and what happens there? Leviticus in the Bible; is a book of Laws and to that end contains rituals that were done when cleansing or when doing prayers of special kind. And some of the prayers in that book are done by the leaders of Johanne Masowe YeChishanu.
If you are serious about knowing, i request that you visit Johanne Masowe YeChishanu in Chiweshe. You will learn a great deal of things.
Takwana,
Hold your patience a little, I have contacts in Johane Masowe YeChisanu in several continents and some could be your pastors so don’t brand them “researchers”. But hold on a little – you might get a pleasant surprise!
It is okay to be a lazy writer but writing on a academic forum like this one, we will NOT be casual with facts.
First, as a Bible reader you can verify that Jesus was crucified before the Sabbath. The Sabbath would be the next day (see Matthew 27:62. The day that Jesus was crucified was “Preparation Day” (or Friday – the day for preparing for the Sabbath See Mark 15:42-43).
Luke 23:54-55, makes it even more clear that Jesus body was removed from the cross BEFORE the Sabbath, and remained in the tomb during the Sabbath.
Secondly, Sabbath is the name of a day in Hebrew and only one day has that name, and is still observed in Israel today. In 1998, we (as a Church) did Baba Johane’s pilgrmage to Israel and verified when the Sabbath is in that land.
If we can stop disagreeing on obvious things, then we can at least get more time to clarify contentious issues.
On the Bible, let us get other opinions. Am glad you read it. But even as a Bible reader, I have never imagined as you suggest that one would only get the 10 Commandments from the Bible. We have spiritual teachers in my Church, and much as I have divergent and even conflicting views about Johane Masowe YeChishanu, I would not underestimate the spiritual capacity of worshippers there to be able to get commandments from angels or the Holy Spirit.
In fact, if you remember Baba Johane was believed dead from sickness when a voice was heard from the heavens saying “Tell your followers to keep the Sabbath day” – reciting all the Ten Commandments one-by-one.
Therefore the information that you have in your Church can be from the Bible or from the Holy Spirit tranmitted via oral tradition – which your Church is automatically rich in – those songs that you call “verses”.
When Johane Masowe sent the Evangelist Philip Muregerera Ndoro (He was my teacher) and others to Kenya – long before he ever visited the country. He would give them books by title – not just the Bible, and tell them where to buy them. They would find the bookshop via some monument – which has a verse inscribed on it, but hardly any Nairobians notice it. They would be given the shop (that would latter be Mac Millian Library)and even be told the position of the book on the shelf and the page to read. So one need not read from the Bible to know what is contained in it. I could say lots more but let me stop here.
On the other hand Takwana, I want to admit that writing as an aposlte, it is always easy to feel that a lot was left out. And therefore you are entitled to fill the gaps. Even when something is correctly observed, I at times have issues with an external intepretation among other issues.
The nature of the above book is that it was capturing a particular topic from Masowe aposltes – and hopefully many more will be writen – by academics and even our membership.
Gladys,
First and foremost, thank you so much for bringing this issue up. I am of Jowani Masowe WeChishanu, I am a spiritual person whose major gift is on Preaching the ‘Way’ of our church i.e where we came from and where we are going.
I am also blessed with the gift of faith healing. I am offering myself to both you and Isabel for any further consultations about our religion, Jowani Masowe WeChishanu.
I am still reading Isabel’s book. I have already noticed gross misrepresentations about us. I therefore will represent these most correctly and I will also seek an audience with Isabel if she can be available for any chats etc.
One fundamental departure which I will hasten to mention is that JOWANI MASOWE WECHISHANU is a religion. Its not a Christian church. We do not follow Christ, much as we believe in Christ and the divinity of His birth and life on earth.
Otherwise much of my contributions I can also do them directly to you if there is need.
And to Isabel, I am coming with discussion points and arguments. But all my respects for considering us and making a mark in letting us known to the world the way you did. We now have a platform from where to start. Thank you.
Thank you.
Isabel is being academic about things of the spirit. This is where academics get it all wrong.
But I guess she wins because she can always be listened to as an authority because she is a Dr in something.
Only if she can also remember that there are many doctors everywhere in these hurches, those of us who are doctors of our religion in terms of knowlegde about the spiritual things of our own churches.
Isabel also needs to respect that in these African chuches there are some learned people now who however dont happen to be writers or are not writers by proffession. Many of the things I read in some extracts of her book are the usual playing to the gallery kind of gymnastics which can always earn her a lot of mone and a lot of respect from among the equally disadvantaged.
I need a copy of this book very urgently because I seriously want to engange the author and offer the honest truth about my church, Jowani Masowe weChishanu.
I have however read bits and pieces from reviewers and am very sad at what I got. Am very prepared to pay even the highest price for that book
Hi Walter, in defense of Dr Mukonyora, I think her book is quite sensitively written compared to many anthropological or sociological accounts on similar subjects. One of the limitations of writing a book is that you can’t cover every aspect of the topic. I hope you have some luck tracking down a copy of the book, I got my copy through amazon.
i was born in the church namely The Gospel Of God Church which my father is one of the leaders and has been in the church since 1936 and travelled With Baba Johane as his chef, that being said i im fortunate enoygh to get first hand information on tap from my father. i think the main problem wth our churches now is missinformation and lack od basic literacy. information is not distributed accordingly. many young church members are attending the church fo the mere fact that it is the family church and therefore follow suit.
i would not mind initiating one casual meeting of the two major fuctions namely Johane yeChishanu and the Gospel of God Church just to discuss and go over details that i feel have been miss interpretated over the years.
might sound like a crazy idea but i think we derived from one church and therefore our core values are the same and we have more to learn from each other.
thank you brother Thomas for your insites, we need to communicate more. my email add is [email protected].
be part of something study anthropology and knw the weekness of observation it is encouragwd 4 1 to go native though every researcher is biased towards wat he or she is looking 4 and learn not to judge and those who are reading the bible wat have u done about it are u reading it or are u just making noise about nothing yet u dnt know the bible
Noble idea Ronald.
I support the idea and am very wellcome to be one of the participants. I have long been waiting for such an initiative. I am so pationate about the Jowani Masowe WeChishanu Word that I wish to be involved at every turn of events all the way.
I agree with most of what you have said already. Education is lacking and part of that has been complacency and lack of research on the part of most of our members.
Can someone tell me what led to the split of the Masowes? Who were the leaders at the time
Maybe you are referring to the original split between the major arms of the current Gospel of God Church and the Jowani Masowe WeChishanu
To start with it was not a split. Jowani/Shonhiwa had a mission to travel the whole of Africa and announce the coming of the Holly Spirit ”..to the Africa and for the Africans.”
When he left Nevanji he left the congregation there worshipping on Friday and had told them not to read the Bible. Jowani actually told the Nevanji people not to come with him themselves because he was going to recruit from among those from his home area to accompany him to Africa.
The reason being that he wanted the core of the Word to be kept safe at Nevanji among the Mhondoro people who were the first Vapositori, and remain as is without being distorted. He even said in His own words, ”…Nevanji ndakuita gomo randavakira pagan’a. Gomo richaonekwa neAfrica yose ichazouya pano kunodziidza uku kureva kwandadzika nako pano….” loosely translated (I have built you Nevanji as a hill on an open space which all people can see from far. Its here where all people will come to learn what I came down with as the original Word)
So you would say between those who followed baba Jowani on his mission to Africa and those who remained at Nevanji, they never split but were the same church on different missions.
But if you are referring to the modern day several splits within the Jowanui Masowe WeChishanu sects then its another issue which is more complex than the above discussed. I however can also shed soem light on that if thats the question.
thanx
Ndinotenda madzibaba nekutora nguva yenyu kuti tiidzidzise nyika nyaya yababa Johani. There are many misconceptions sure about this religion. I
I am going to highlight a few points:
Johane Masowe weChishanu hativerenge Bible, we do not read and follow it. Reason: tinofamba neMweya. We live and walk with the Holy Spirit everyday tichinamata tiri kumasowe. The holy Spirit leads and protects us hence we say reading the Bible only narrates the way white people worship. Isu vana VaJohani hatina mhosva pakuurayiwa kwakaitwa Jesu mhiri yegugwa. We had no part in that…
Chishanu our day of Worship starts on Thursday @ 1500hrs and we go mukati merenje where we stay and worship till Friday @ 1500hrs. What is the significance of this? This is the time when we remember how the Jewish troubled and crucified Jesus on the cross. When Jesus was about to die he said forgive them father for they know not waht they are doing. And those that never heard your word how are you going to judge them…this was when there was darkness and God was so mad with the world and had thought of destroying the world.
Thus God sent the Holy Spirit, John, to appear to Suspence Shonhiwa so that he could tell and show the Africans how we should worship God and to tell us that there is a place where our souls are supposed to go when our lives come to an end here on earth and we die (kana nyama nemweya zvaparadzana).
So what is it that Africans are doing when worshipping kuMasowe: we are preparing ourselves so that our souls can have eternal rest when we die.
Nevanji ndiro dangwe this is where Johani weChishanu went and gathered people for the first time to tell them what God was sending him. When the Holy Spirit left Nevanji, walter is right, its because Mweya Mutsvene (the Holy Spirit)was asking Shonhiwa to tell AFRICA chinonzi kunamata and chinonzi kufa kupona (dying and our souls having an everlasting life).
I hope I have helped someone see what Masowe is all about.
Oh, and the other thing, the Holy Spitit also uses women to preach, to heal, to sing etc in Masowe. Asi we respect vana madzibaba ndivo vanotungamira isu tichitevera.
How lovely it was to brouse and find so much about masowe as someone who is living in the U.K after spending most of my life back in Zimbabwe going kumasowe it is so hard to live life without getting a chance to be able to go Kurenje and be able to do most things that happen in Masowe and life feels not complet most of the time semadzimai are they any Masowe churches in the U.K I am in Liverpool or even in Manchester I would love to hear from madzimai from madzimai like Madzimai Grace thank you very much.
I am one of madzibaba from the Johanne masowe wechishanu sect. The holy spirit lead us to every thing that happened kumasowe. It foretells us what will happen in future and what course of action should be taken. Each and every one who has a problem ahead of him or her is being told and prevenation action is taken. Kundiso inowanikwa kumasowe unlike other pentecoastal churches. I am called madzibaba Sensiby.
masowe is the best religion to ever happen in africa, it tells us about the bad way in wch th bible came to africa, it wonders also why they are 52 revised version of the bible, it goes against th new testament mainly wen it comes to commandments, and w believe in holy spirit first th way in which it is done in th bible, any1 who reads and understands th bible will opt fr johanne masowe yechishanu, cause it has proven th weakness of the bible. bible was meant fr th culture of overseas
I challenge this ‘professor Mathew to come up and research well. I am truely sickened by the falsehood he generated to earn his academic qualification.
Just to record my personal frustration at having my church/religion so misrepresented by an overzealous research scholar.
When Mathew said Jowani where he was referring to Shonhiwa and Shonhiwa where he reffered to Jowani made me sick and put me off completely. For the record, Jurani Firisanta is no more and part of the reason is he gatecrashed into that church and know that it was taboo, he bribed Nzira to accept him to come in and attend all the church services as he wished.
Nzira is in prison and the Sowe is now but a Zanu PF distrcit centre. And in all this, where is Matthew?
[Moderator's note: part of this post was moderated]
Isabel is a spoiler in the same make as Matthew. If these two had come out in the ope and requested to be given the true facts about our church they could have been led to the right people who could have explained our church religiously.
I was around this Nzira church in 1999 at exactly the same time this Isabel and Matthew pair were spying on our church for the hogwash they splashed to the world top earn papers, dollars and titles.
I would be interested to know where in Zimbabwe Isabel comes from then I would start lecturing her about our church from that perspective. Jowani Masowe is deeply a Shona traditional religion. You can never understand it if you don’t appreciate why Jowani first of all approached the ‘midzimu’ ancestral spirits befoe he went out with the Word to everywhere else he went.
In Matthew’s book for example, he talks about Jowani having been a drunkard who preached that apostolics must brew traditional beer and drink their ancestors’ beer? What an insult!!!
This is honestly very saddening what these scholars have done to our church. Miyedzo chaiyo.
I am a member of the Gospel of God Church in Kenya, and I am doing research on who John the Baptist is in heaven and the role he has been playing on Earth. Towards this end therefore, I would like to purchase a book entitled ” the secret messiah ” .The book is about Johane Masowe. I request anyone with information on where I can get the said book to get in touch with Me. In fact, even the name(s) of the authors and publishers of the book would be of much assistance to Me.
My name is Obanda Magomere
My e-mail address is : [email protected]
IF U MANAGED TO GET THE BOOK PLZ HELP. I AM ALSO MAKING RESEARCHES ABOUT MY CHURCH, JOHANE MASOWE YECHISHANU. THANX FOR THE ENLIGHTING DISCUSSIONS
I have been a keen reader of the articles on this forum and non has touched 0n the most significant issue that requires the urgent attention of the apostles of baba Johane.
It is about writing an account of his life history with particular emphasis on his calling, baptism, annointing and work as a special man of God. The church elders, sisters and other church members who were privileged to work closely with baba Johane should be interviewed and a comprehensive account compiled so that the apostles can have a reliable historical perspective of their church.
Remember that the first Gospel narrative of the life of Jesus Christ was written sixty years after his death and resurrection. What are the views of the apostles on this proposition ?
We as the apostles have the obligation to do this otherwiise we shall continue lamenting
when outsiders write distorted versions and other falsehoods about our church.
The problem with documentations and publications is that we of the Jowani Masowe WeChishanu know that it is a sacred religion and not many people are brave to breach the code and produce books about it.
However, this does not give leverage to the careless scholars of this day to spread rubbish about our church. We encourage them to seek truth most widey and even cntact some of us here and we can share. I am personally prepared to visit to the truth seekers in their respective cuntries of aboard at my expense for the Love of the Truth to be said about our RELIGION.
The other problem is that our religion is a spiritual religion and therefore very difficult to record and interpret correctly if you don not have the requisite spiritual guidance. hen prophets and other spiritual persons are ministering, it require a certain level of spirituality to consumate.And therefore it may not only be the elders and / or the ones who were around with JOWANI who can tell the truth.
Contact
As I await responses to my earlier article, I wish to thank Mr Masimba for his sentiments, and in addition reiterate my preference for the publication of a well researched book on the life history of Baba Johane.
This is an issue we can’t ignore because the alternative is to maintain the status quo and with the passage of time , risk relegating the life history of the founder of our faith to folklore.
My list of potential informants to such a project was not exhaustive and is open to all apostles of Baba Johane ,including non members who may have vital and well corroborated information.
I think there are many discriminative views of our apostolic sect only becoz of rivalism.Many churches hv fled from searching the true manifastation into a fault finding agendas.The truth is we are praying to God and no one else
quite interesting lets bring it on
I can confirm that all these kids who claim to know or represent the masowe churches (factions) are all good hyprocrites and the truth is not in them.They seek glory for their name sbut there is no glory they will get in the end. those who went into the sea to look for the spring that feedeth the sea failed to find one and some drowned in it.
one shall fail to understand the word & misuse it for stupid personal gains.
gladys daniel,
bless you & your reviews and studies. Do not listen to these youngsters who are thirsty & hungry for fame. Go & live the life your fathers have told you to follow.If you can’t then do not waste time learning stuff that is complex because the day you shall find the answer it will be too late to catch up with time.
ana baba nemi madzibaba enhando muri mhandu kuhushe hwababa vekudenga. mashaya zvekunyora here kana zvekuita makutengesa izwi.Munosakara vakomana. Hameno henyu ini muchabaya nyama asi mweya wababa uzere kuhumambo
Guys allow me to assist. We at Johane Masowe weChishanu dont read the bible, at church or in private. We are as well not allowed to write our own. We get our guidance from the holy spirit talking on the day in question. There are several reasons why we dont read the bible, i will touch on a few of them. Chiefly we have an active holy spirit amongst us which tells us on what truly happened from creation up to now . The spirit gives us the priviledge to ask where we dont understand and get clarity unlike the silent bible which is prone to misinterpretations. Lets look at the new testament, synoptic gospel in particular, it was written by men trying to give an account of Jesus teachings years after ha was no more. Hence their writings is full of misconception. But if you ask the holy spirit today of what happened during Jesus era you will get it as it was. So to avoid future generations to have misconceptions about our church Masowe the holy spirit forbade us from documenting our teachings. We shall continue to be lead by the holy spirit. So you academics, professors and doctors dont think we the Masowe people cant write our own but we know its wrong. You can try but you will never get to the core, its spiritual. Madzibaba nemadzimai just read what the analysts and academics write for fun, you will never learn anything from them and dont even teach them. Jesus was not a proffesor or a doctor. That guy talking about Micho haa shud keep quiet, nguwo tsvuku is not masowe
First I would like to say that I am saddened by people here who are calling themselves apostles or Christians. Johane Masowe is not a religion it is a denomination, We are Christians, we believe in the Lord Jesus Christ as our saviour and believe in the trinity(The Father, The Son and The Holy Spirit), We do read the bible, It is the word of God.The apostles go even deeper with the guidance of the Holy Spirit on past, present and events to come.The Holy spirit was never intended for a small Group of people rather to spread the word across the world and gather all the nations on prayer. As for some here you’re either not members of the church or you’re being taught something that is seriously wrong. The everlasting life that you’re mentioning, can only happen through Jesus Christ, He died for our sins and we cannot go to the Father without going through Him. If really what I am reading here is what some of you believe, THEN YOU NEED TO SEEK THE TRUE LIVING GOD, TIME IS RUNNING OUT, THE WORLD IS COMING TO AN END.
In response ti Mi’s contribution. Mi you got it all wrong, we the Johane Masowe YeChishanu apostles believe in Jesus Christ as Our Saviour. We belive in the Trinity. What we dont belive is the bible. Your question that the holy spirit can not for a small group is far fetched. Even in the begining not everyone had or accepted the holy spirit. Remember the bone of contention between Jesus of Nazareth our Lord and non belivers was they refused to accept that Jesus and his discples were full of spirit. In a smilar fashion nonbelievers tried to use scriptures ” old teachings” to prove him wrong, exactly what you are doing. Dont forget Peter, Paul, John, James and all others did not teach using scriptures but they spoke what the holy spirit was telling them on the day, exactly what we the Masowes do. Remember the gospel of Jesus or latter the disciples was not popular or common hence most of them were murdered by those who claimed to know God. If i may ask, did Jesus move around with a bible, even Peter or Paul. Ok fine, did Jesus write a single book in the bible. Was Luke who wrote the book of luke a prophet, was he not just an educated person who merely compiled events sometimes his source being oral or asking those who were there. Dont Luke, Matthew and Mark clash in accounting for the same gospel of the same Jesus. If all were inspired by the same spirit why the difference. As in the begining God revealed himself to the world through the spirit, it shall always be so. So dont criticise what you dont understand.
Izwi raMwari muAfrica, The Gospel of Gods Church, Johane Masowe ye Sabata. To most who ask questions about the church I think only a few words best to enlighten you if the almighty allows is, “Matt 13:10-11″
Thank you very for this interesting topic and events leading to most people understanding now how the word (IZWI) came to Africa through a black man MASEDZA we kwa Gandanzara , but to my surprise a a lot of people are still behind in acknowledging the fact that we are black and we are Africans and therefore we are supposed, and have the same rights as the Israelites of having to pray to our own god , our own way using our culture and tradition as foundations of our religion.it then defies logic that foreigners have to impose their own ways of praying to god on us.does it mean that we are faraway from the almighty and those that are closer to him have to assert their superiority on africans? izwi rakati humambo hwedu haufanane ne humambo hwe britain? zvaireva kuti kudii apa
I wish to compliment Gladys Ganiel for affording us the opportunity to
share our Religious beliefs and practices.
One contributor, going by the name Ngoni, raised the issue touching on how the bible was written and this is my rejoinder.
Bible or biblos means books . Therefore, the Holy bible is a collection of books written by different authors over a long period of time.
Three approaches to writing the books in the bible can be discerned:
First, is a historical narration of events that happened by those who observed them happen . The synoptic Gospels fall under this category. May be an illustration will
suffice to demonstrate why there seems to be inconsistencies in the narrations of
Mathew, Mark, Luke and John. If an incident took place, say twenty years ago and you
interview different and independent eye witnesses on exact details of what happened, you are unlikely to get exactly the same account.
The second approach is live word of God spoken by God through his prophets.
You find in such cases, the scripture starts with ” thus saith the Lord…………”
Under this category are prophetic books. For instance the prophet Jeremiah used
to proclaim the word of God under the full influence of the spirit of God and his
secretary, Baruch, would record the utterances of the Holy Spirit verbatim.
Third, are visions and dreams by people of God which were recorded exactly
as they happened in the spirit realm. The books of Daniel and Revelations
are good examples.
okay,the chronological history of Jowane masowe wechishanu Apostles if someone traced it is just similar of john the first.On my analysis of the comments above ,allow me to give an insight to those who criticise the church s doings by putting it the wrong way.I am saying this because everyone should learn to implore the matter of dignity to one s church.Masowe is currently distorted by other emanating prophets , pliz allow me to say false prophets the things that are done by these people damages the ideology of the church.some commit sexual offences,suicidal and the like.But to my experiences and my insight masowe is a true church.Bible on its own contradicts itself to a large exent and some of the teachings are coming from ordinary people who write their bibles.jowane masowe holy sipirit tells that bible materials had been misintepreted by other people,but truely its the holy who wrote the bible.
I am s pleased about this. I am also a member of the Johane Masowe we Chishanu. I thank God for having been able to hear his word and witness some prophecies in my lifetime. First, as apostoples let us not blame those who have written and published about us. We should have taken pride in our faith and taken the initiative to write also. The reason why we do not use the Bible is because the Holy Spirit challenged us to write contemporary scriptures that we are part of and that in future will be another religious book that will be read bhy future generations. In that regard, I will congratulate Isabel for writing and publishing about us finally. My point of departure however is that in no way is her piece of work going to be the authority on Johane Masowe we Chishanu, it is what it is, an academic commentary about our faith. Academic commentaries [even from anthropologists] tend to proffer an academic view. Now this is where I have differed with many people. Religion [every religion] is spiritual not intellectual. Intellectual arguments do not work with religion but spiritual arguments do. For the mere fact that there is God can never be intellectually verified but it can be proven spiritually through revelation. I thank God because I am a living witness of his power and miracles. As people of faith let us not try to force our beliefs on people, let us invite them so that they too experience the healing, salvation etc that we receiving. Why am I saying this; because we tend to dwell more on the intellectual side which will not really save the day for us. Coming to the specific question; Is Johane Masowe we Chishanu a stand alone religion? My answer is maybe. Why maybe? Because of the following: 1. Johane Masowe we Chishanu does not believe Jesus Christ was suppose to die but that he was murdered: “Ndakafa ndichibaiwa pamusana pamaJudha: My death was all because of Jews”. 2. Johane Masowe we Chishanu shouldnot necessarily be a distinct church but an open forum for all Abahamic faiths [Islam, Christianity and Judaism]: “Huyai vatendi mose tivake sangano; titaurirwe mazwi ehumambo: Come ye all people of faith so that we hear what the Lord is saying 3. Johane Masowe we Chishanu has a distinct holy day [Sabbath] which is based solely on the death of Christ. 4. Johane Masowe we Chishanu does not read the Bible or any Holy book 5. Johane Masowe we Chishanu does not believe in church leaders or teachers being taught in schools and does not have permanent preachers, anyone can preach. In 1994 at Norton in Zimbabwe the Holy Spirit told us that at the main mission of Johane Masowe we Chishanu would come after the whole of Africa has been united under a single faith that observes Friday as its holy day. In the end all the Abrahamic faiths will be united and accordingly Johane was supposed to unite the faiths that were created by the descendants of Ishmael and Isaac, the two sons of Abraham, Islam and Judaism. Please accept my disclaimer, I don’t know everything we are all learning about this faith and some of the thoughts that I have given are mine, zvababa Julius nenyama yavo except the words of the Holy Spirit I gave at the end.
Yes i am a member of Jowane masowe wechishanu born and initiated from it.Right now we are moving praying and worshiping GOD OUR ALL ALMIGHTY.I dont have much to say but let be our habit to pray to god until the destination time .Sorrowful to those who talk about our church without adquate knowledge about it,pliz leave us alone better to visit where pray to get the information.MUSHA PANA NYATSIME TICHITUNGAMIRIRWA NENYENYEDZI KUSVIKA TASVIKA PARIKUDIWA NAMWARI BABA VEKUMUSORO KUDENGA VAKASIKA CHIPI NEICHO PANYIKA INO.thank you.
Yes i am a member of Jowane masowe wechishanu born and initiated from it.Right now we are moving praying and worshiping GOD OUR ALL ALMIGHTY.I dont have to say much but let be our habit to pray to god until the destination time .Sorrowful to those who talk about our church without adquate knowledge about it,pliz leave us alone better to visit our place where we pray to get the information.MUSHA PANA NYATSIME TICHITUNGAMIRIRWA NENYENYEDZI KUSVIKA TASVIKA PARIKUDIWA NAMWARI BABA VEKUMUSORO KUDENGA VAKASIKA CHIPI NEICHO PANYIKA INO.thank you.
The discourse on Baba Johane We Masowe has taken a trend characterized by
accusations and counter-accusations as to whether Jowani Masowe We Chisano
are right in their beliefs or not.
I think what believers should focus on is the common uniting factor ie we are all
apostles of Baba Johane irrespective of our groups.
Perhaps what we ought to know is that we are indeed priviledged as believers
considering that from olden times, the spirit of Elijah / John the Baptist is the one which has always restored the TRUE WORSHIP of the almight God. Even in the last 100 years,
powerful men of God like Baba Johane, Johane Marange, Paul Mwazha, William Branham, Dr Owuor (Kenya), etc have all been animated by the power of John the Baptist.
I am a member of Johane Masowe Chishanu in Bambadzi, Plumtree, Zimbabwe. Am a kalanga. M real touched by what i had read about our church. so you researchers and scholars never ever spread false info about the Word… i warn you. Musizane ne Hwi balume- dont play with the word.
tanx.
I’m not a member of any “apostolic” or “white garment” sect and am researching on your “religion” for purposes of a publication. The thing that concerns me the most is how the facts don’t agree amongst all of those that have professed to be Johane Masowe WeChishanu. Can sombody please give a correct account of who Shonhiwa a.k.a. Suspence is, why you refer to the Holy Spirit as John (mis pronounced as Johane), why Suspence is at times refered to as Johane (Holy Spirit), why you don’t read the Bible, your position on medication and health, polygamy and politics (particularly in Zimbabwe)?
couldn’t read all your conversations but my recommendation is just have intense research before bringing issues to limelight because if you rely on hearsay or is it rumors you will off course give wrong information thus misleading other developments on the same.
@ Kufahakurotwi. Do you mind us to meet anywhere convinient so that we can share corrcetly. I created this email address for you to get in touch;
[email protected]. If you are really serious about researching about us and our truth let us meet and discuss. I will not force to believe or take what I say but I am confident that I will make you see logic about what we believe.
Waiting for your call
ineed more insight of jowani wamasowe