The Mississippi and Zimbabwe Areas of The United Methodist Church celebrate a covenant of "chabadza" - mutual helpfulness.
Chabadza is a Shona word, describing a partnership in which one observes
another at work in a field and joins in the work ongoing.
Teams of Mississippians have traveled to Zimbabwe, visiting Africa
University, Mutare, Victoria Falls, and Harare. The teams have
explored ways to link human and material resources in offering care for
persons impacted by the AIDS pandemic.
After Hurricane Katrina, Bishop Eben Nhiwatiwa directed that a gift from his
salary be designated for relief in Mississippi and wrote a letter to United
Methodists in Mississippi expressing his grief that the church in Zimbabwe
could not be physically present in Mississippi in this time of great
challenge.
Bishop Nhiwatiwa will preach and teach at the 2006 Annual Conference Session
in Jackson, Mississippi. At the conference, the Chabadza Covenant will
be celebrated. Bishp Nhiwatiwa will serve as honored theologian in
residence in Mississippi, engaging laity and clergy in study and dialogue.
Teams of youth and adults are preparing to visit Zimbabwe as Mississippi
engages needs in the areas of health care, education, and evangelism.
The communications initiative is a priority of the Chabadza Covenant.
It is the strong hope of the Mississippi Conference that communications will
increase partnership of people in the good work toward wholeness and health,
learning and vibrant faith in Jesus Christ.
Bishop Hope Morgan Ward, Mississippi Annual Conference
“Nothing can supersede communications in spreading the Gospel. Communication is the hallmark of doing ministry in all its various facets.”
—Bishop Eben Nhiwatiwa, Zimbabwe
