Thursday 6 July 2023

I'M DEEPLY SHATTERED : ED MOURNS BABA GUTI

PRESIDENT Mnangagwa has mourned the death of the founder of Zimbabwe Assemblies of God Africa (ZAOGA) Forward in Faith Ministries Archbishop Professor Ezekiel Guti.

He described the late evangelist as a humble man of deep scriptural convictions and the rare example of excelling practical faith and the deep humanity which he personified.

Archbishop Professor Guti died on Wednesday at the age of 100.

In a special announcement on Ezekiel TV channel on Wednesday night, ZAOGA national executive chairman Apostle Joseph Guti said Archbishop Professor Guti had “been promoted to great glory”.

“To the Zaoga Forward in Faith International executive, the national councils of various nations, leaders and the precious saints, I hereby announce to us the promotion to glory of our great iconic leader, Archbishop Professor Ezekiel Handinawangu Guti.

“It is with heavy hearts and deep sorrow that we announce the promotion to great glory of our dearly beloved spiritual father, visionary . . . ” said Apostle Guti.

He called on church members to “pray for our mother”, Apostle Eunor Guti, during this difficult moment. Church members and all others, have been advised not to make any travel arrangements until further announcements are made.

In May, President Mnangagwa joined the now-late Archbishop Professor Guti and thousands of church congregants drawn from across the globe for his centenary celebration at the Glamis Arena in Harare.

In a statement on Thursday evening, President Mnangagwa said the death of Archbishop Professor Guti left him deeply shattered, saddened and has left the nation poorer.

“The news of the passing on yesterday (Wednesday) of Archbishop Dr Ezekiel Handinawangu Guti left me deeply shattered and saddened. Nearly two months ago, on May 14, I joined countless congregants of the Zimbabwe Assemblies of God Africa, ZAOGA Forward in Faith, and many eminent Zimbabweans in celebrating 100 years of his devout life so eventfully lived,” said the President.

“Beyond celebrating the gift of life, we, in unison, basked in the joy and belief that our Nation stood uniquely blest and favoured by the Almighty to have in its midst such a great figure who personified longevity, tenacious faith, compassion and a givenness to serving mankind, especially in the broad areas of human development, as never witnessed before. Sadly, that joy has now turned short-lived, leaving our Nation all the poorer and plunged in profound grief.”

ZAOGA Forward in Faith founder Archbishop Ezekiel Guti addresses congregants at his centenary birthday celebrations in Harare on May 14, 2023. – Picture: Believe Nyakudjara

President Mnangagwa described Archbishop Professor Guti as a person who dedicated his life to the betterment of society as witnessed by the various institutions he built over the years.

“A humble man of deep scriptural convictions, Archbishop Dr Ezekiel Guti lived his Faith. Today his works and footprints indelibly abound across the length and breadth of our Nation, well beyond the vast, national movement of congregants and places of worship which he led. He built institutions and led interventions which positively impacted the social life of the broad citizenry of our Nation,” said the President.

He said Archbishop Professor Guti was a strong proponent of education for his African brethren.

“Dr Guti leaves behind countless educational institutions which he painstakingly built and incrementally scaffolded, leading to the iconic Zimbabwe Ezekiel Guti University. Never has so much been developed and achieved from so little, only compensated for by so big a heart, so abundant faith and sheer determination.

“Today the Zimbabwe Ezekiel Guti University ranks high among private institutions which dispense higher education to our Nation, and certainly stands apart as the only one founded and developed from efforts of indigenous Pentecostal evangelism,” said President Mnangagwa.

He said Zimbabwe will celebrate a rare example of excelling practical faith and the deep humanity which the late evangelist personified. Herald

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