Methodist Church In Zimbabwe Shona Hymn Book

The Methodist Church In Zimbabwe Shona Hymn Book: A Treasure of Spiritual Songs

The Methodist Church in Zimbabwe (MCZ) is one of the largest Christian denominations in the country, with a history dating back to the 19th century. The MCZ has a rich musical heritage, which is reflected in its Shona hymn book, Nziyo DzeMethodist. The hymn book contains over 600 hymns and choruses in Shona, the most widely spoken language in Zimbabwe, as well as some English hymns that have equivalent Shona versions. The hymns cover various themes such as praise, worship, confession, thanksgiving, faith, hope, love, salvation, sanctification, service, mission, and eschatology.

The Shona hymn book is not only a collection of songs, but also a source of spiritual nourishment and inspiration for the MCZ members and other Christians who use it. The hymns are based on the scriptures, the doctrines of the Methodist Church, and the experiences of the hymn writers and composers. Some of the hymns are original compositions by Zimbabwean Methodists, while others are translations or adaptations of hymns from other languages and traditions. The hymn book also includes some indigenous songs that express the African worldview and culture.

The Shona hymn book is available in print and digital formats. The print version can be purchased from the MCZ bookshops or ordered online. The digital version can be accessed through various apps and websites that offer the hymn book for free or for a fee. One of the most popular apps is Nziyo DzeMethodist by BennySway, which features all the hymns and choruses in Shona and English, as well as weekly scriptures, a built-in KJV Bible, a bookmark feature, a night mode, and other personalization options[^1^]. Another website that offers some of the Shona hymns is Nziyo.com[^2^], which provides the lyrics and audio recordings of selected hymns.

The Methodist Church in Zimbabwe Shona hymn book is a treasure of spiritual songs that enriches the worship and fellowship of the MCZ and other Christians who use it. It is a testimony of God's grace and power in the lives of his people. It is also a witness of the diversity and unity of the body of Christ in Zimbabwe and beyond.

The History of the Methodist Church in Zimbabwe

The Methodist Church in Zimbabwe traces its origins to the British Methodist mission activity in former Southern Rhodesia, which began in 1891. The first Methodist church was built in Bulawayo in 1893, and was later relocated to Matopos area[^4^]. The mission expanded to other parts of the country, such as Harare, Mutare, Masvingo, Gweru, and Matabeleland. The mission also reached out to neighboring countries, such as Angola, Congo (DRC), Mozambique, and Zambia. The Methodist Church in Zimbabwe faced many challenges during the colonial era and the liberation struggle, which resulted in a decline of membership and resources. However, the church also played a significant role in promoting education, health care, social justice, and ecumenism.

The Methodist Church in Zimbabwe gained its autonomy from the Methodist Church in Britain in 1977[^1^] [^3^]. It became part of the Africa Central Conference, which was later subdivided into several episcopal areas. The Methodist Church in Zimbabwe has four episcopal areas: Harare East, Harare West, Bulawayo-Midlands-Masvingo-Matabeleland South (BMMS), and Mutare-Manicaland-Mashonaland East (MMM). The church has about 300 ordained ministers and over 2000 local preachers who serve more than 3000 congregations. The church has a membership of about 1.5 million people[^4^]. The church is led by a bishop who is elected by the central conference for a term of six years. The current bishop is Rev. Dr. Solomon Zwana who was elected in 2018.

The Methodist Church in Zimbabwe is committed to fulfilling its mission of making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. The church has various ministries and programs that cater for different groups and needs, such as women, youth, children, men, evangelism, education, health, development, justice and peace, ecumenism, and interfaith dialogue. The church also partners with other churches and organizations locally and internationally to enhance its mission and witness. Some of the partners include: The United Methodist Church (USA), The Methodist Church in Britain, The World Council of Churches (WCC), The All Africa Conference of Churches (AACC), The Zimbabwe Council of Churches (ZCC), The Christian Care (CC), and The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF). 061ffe29dd