Zimbabwe pastor opens extension center, trains next generation of pastors
In 2002, Noah Sibanda graduated from Africa Nazarene University in Nairobi, Kenya, with a master's degree in religion. In August of that same year, Sibanda returned to his home country of Zimbabwe, where Zimbabwe West District Superintendent A. Nyoni asked him to take over a small church in the city of Gweru, the third largest city in Zimbabwe.
Although the city is large, there was only one church in the entire city. Sibanda knew that the first work he had to do was win souls for Christ and then train them so he could have a team of soul-winners.
Phase two of Sinbanda's vision was to start an extension centre for theological studies. His first class had 12 students, all of them from his church. In 2012, after four years of class, 12 students from Mkoba Church of the Nazarene graduated with a diploma in theology from Nazarene Theological College–Central Africa.
"It was a joy on the 17th of July 2016 to witness six church plants being organised by the Zimbabwe West District Superintendent Rev. A. Nyoni," Sibanda said. "The churches organized were Woodlands, Game Park, Riverdale, Mkoba North, Ascot, and Quarry Churches of the Nazarene."
The third phase of the vision was to plant new churches. The team in the Gweru Zone has successfully planted 13 new churches. Six of those churches are large enough to have dedicated pastors and also well-informed congregants in holiness teaching and Nazarene doctrine.
"We praise God for the good work God has done through this amazing team of soul-winners," Sibanda said.