This interview took place during the Covid-19 pandemic and the interview was held online. It was on Saturday the 4th of April 2020. The interviewer was youth Zibusiso D. Ndlovu interviewing Evangelist UM Tshuma. This interview focused on the current 4th of June celebrations, the Centenary celebrations and the past celebrations.
The Interview of Evangelist UM Tshuma
Zibusiso: We welcome you Evangelist to the workshop program, when did the celebrations begin ?
Mvangeli UM Tshuma: I express my gratitude for being welcomed leadership, we started the celebrations in 1990.
Zibusiso: What was the driving force behind these celebrations ?
Evangelist UM Tshuma: Firstly, we were a very lucky generation. We started these events while we had the chance to be with God directly using His Host. It gave us zeal and motivation to do these events in front of God. We had the chance to see God with our own eyes. As we grew up we had the spirit of pushing our religion beyond and to the future. We did not feel guilty about being a Guta RaMwari child. Do not apologize for being a Guta RaMwari child. We also had unity among us as youth. We had no time to be weak and lazy about the religion. We were unified as we were working with the Office of the co-ordinator.
Zibusiso: How was the day channelled to being led by the youth ?
Evangelist UM Tshuma: It is always revealed by the Co-ordinator Evangelist ED Nkatha as stated by God that the prayer of a child is well received by God. In some Holy books it is revealed that the Kingdom of Heaven is within the children. I am assured that an assessment was done and it was seen that the children are active and must get an opportunity to ask from God by doing good works in front of God. Therefore the way the youth brings their requests to God during this time, the world gets healed and more people can receive salvation during this time.
It was a blessing from God that the requests we have are easily and well received by God. Another observation, it is easy for the youth to accept new programmes and events. The Birthday celebrations were not there before 1990, however the Youth easily received the programme and gladly adopted it. They are very much active when it comes to participation. They take initiatives and lead them with great effort. Therefore youth of today prioritise this event, keep this blessing upon yourselves as youth.
Zibusiso : What was a typical celebration like in the 90s ?
Evangelist UM Tshuma: During our time we had a good choir and drum majorettes. The Main Youth Choir was quite good. We were able to hold our programs on time. We were quite Precise. There were no Surprises as everything was well rehearsed and calculated. Even the way God entered into the prayer hall it was well engineered. Excellent preparations were made towards the day of the event. The Nleyas and Ndue were very young at the time they would have not been there on these proceedings (Evangelist laughs).
Zibusiso : You showed us this picture what was happening ?
Evangelist UM Tshuma: This is the youth they were preparing to welcome God during the 1990 celebrations.
Zibusiso : What is your fondest memory of the celebrations ?
Evangelist UM Tshuma: I praise God that during that time I was the Youth Chairperson. On top of the opportunities like singing, I was able to stand before the congregation and say youth requests to God. My advice to you Youth is, you must participate in these youth activities, so that when you reach my age and a question like this pops up about the fondest memory, you have an answer. You do not grow going backwards.
Zibusiso : It is beautiful to be active in the work of salvation. How were the celebrations received by the Holy Host ?
Evangelist UM Tshuma: As I said we were a lucky generation because we had an opportunity to see God. We had the opportunity to welcome God with a procession for Drum Majorettes. God loved this stage as He would arrive right on time. It was straight to the dot, right on time. There used to be a period of gifts and cake cutting, however God removed these from being part of the celebrations. The reason was for protecting the youth and world at large. Therefore we no longer do the cake eating and gifts part. God was very happy on these celebrations. We would get the opportunity with the Co-ordinator International to get into the Holy Ark and present the 4th of June program. This was a very important program. All youth who have an opportunity to partake in this program on or before the day will receive blessings from Heaven. It is disappointing that there are youth who are not active for this special day in Heaven. These youth are supposed to partake on the day so that their works are seen in Heaven instead of letting it pass by. This time period is loved in the Spirit.
Zibusiso: What are the expectations of the Centenary celebrations ?
Evangelist UM Tshuma: We praise God for such opportunities to teach each other about 4 June Celebrations. We are in a difficult period of where there is a contagious virus spreading. We pray to God that He heals the world and the disease is removed in its all forms so that preparations for events such as this one are made possible. The youth must be active for this day such that it is of High standard. May the celebrations show the presence of God and the world’s eyes are opened about God’s presence in Guta Ra Mwari. God rules from Guta Ra Mwari. May the celebrations show the wisdom that Guta Ra Mwari youth possess. The celebrations must have a higher standard compared to that of the past. The preparations must be of high importance so that the world sees the preparations of heavenly celebrations. We also wish for those in other Sub-HQs to also prepare so that it’s an exemplary lesson and that in Guta Ra Mwari its where their protection is.
Below is an example video of how the youth from one particular Sub-HQ, South Africa ended up holding creative virtual celebrations since we were under lockdown in the year 2020.
FOREVER