Matimba Mbekwa finally ordained as bishop of TWO church

After serving as Bishop-elect for the past 12 months, highly respected Musina man of the cloth Matimba Christopher Mbekwa was finally ordained as Bishop of the Tabernacle of Worship (TOW) church on Saturday, 31 May. Mbekwa was presented with the Bishop Ordination Certificates by Archbishop Dr Mmbangiseni Ratshitanga, who conducted the consecration ceremony.

The 42-year-old Mbekwa’s journey to the office of bishop was not an easy one. He started his ministry at the age of six, playing keyboards at the local Apostolic Faith Mission (AFM) Church, where his parents were pastoring. At the age of 21, he was elected to serve as chairperson of the youth committee at the AFM, and later, at 24, he was ordained as a youth pastor.

His various roles in the community include being the founder of the Women with an Issue Foundation, which gives support and counselling to single, married, and divorced women. He is also the founder of various support groups and a radio preacher at the local community radio, Musina FM.

“In 2009, when my father, Joseph Mbekwa, left the AFM to start his ministry (Tabernacle of Worship), I was appointed and ordained as an assistant pastor. That is when I realised that it is important to acquire formal qualifications in theology, and I enrolled at the Rhema Bible School, where I obtained my Diploma in Practical Theology. In 2010, I was ordained as a pastor of the TOW, and I served in that position for three years. When my father passed on in 2013, I was officially inaugurated as senior pastor of the church. I further continued with my theology studies and obtained a degree in practical theology from the Rhema Bible School. The same year, 2013, I resigned from my formal job at De Beers Venetia Mine to concentrate full-time on the ministering of the word of God, a decision I have never regretted,” he said.

He is also a skilled wordsmith and author of seven theology books.

Asked what it meant for him to be consecrated as a bishop, Mbekwa said: “This is not all about me, but about the greatness of God. Bishopric means breaking the boundaries of being a local church pastor to becoming a servant of the whole nation. I would like to thank everyone who supported me through this journey, not forgetting my wife Nonhlanhla Fortunate Mbekwa, my three children, and my role model, Bishop Kelly Tsedu-Muntswu, for making me the strong man of God I am today.”

Date:30 June 2024

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