UNITED KINGDOM-BASED International Minister’s Forum head, Apostle George Kolou, has described Zimbabweans as resilient following decades of unabated political and socio-economic challenges that have afflicted the nation.
He was speaking at the weekend during the capping of nearly 100 ministers of the gospel during Christian Ministers Training Institute (CMTI)’s fifth graduation and 11th ordination ceremony held in Harare in collaboration with the National Ordination Council.
Apostle Kolou, who was the guest of honour at the event, said although Zimbabwe had gone “to hell and back,” its people had remained resilient.
“Zimbabweans have been battling multiple economic, social and political upheavals and crises, but nothing has crushed the spirit of Zimbabwe. There is something in this land, something great,” he said.
“I tell you, what Zimbabwe has gone through is like going to hell and back. It has not crushed the spirit of the people. There is resilience in Zimbabwe.”
He commended the nation, which used to be the breadbasket of southern Africa before the compounding effects of recurrent droughts, a chaotic land reform and an unprecedented economic downturn reduced it to a basket case, for producing qualified professionals in every field in the entire southern Africa region.
Kolou urged the graduates and ordinands in chaplaincy and pastoral care, Christian counselling, pathway to ordination, marriage officiating, kingdom culture and consecration to function as “vessels of honour”.
“You have been through a process of training and equipping. It is not enough to do ministry. It is not enough for you to serve. You have to be a vessel of honour, one dedicated to the Lord. You must make up your mind that your vessel must be clean,” he said.
Kolou warned against venturing into ministry for ulterior motives such as financial gain and the pursuit of power.
“If you are here because you want to make money, you are in the wrong place. Ministry is not for making money. If you are here because you want power, you want to make a name for yourself, you are already in the wrong place because we are not called to make a name for ourselves,” he said.
Meanwhile, CMTI president Bishop Christopher Choto said they were not only celebrating academic and ministerial achievement, “but faithfulness, perseverance and calling”.
He expressed gratitude to partners, including Higher Life Foundation, for their support.