Felix Wiegner – Helping missionaries grow support
June 28, 2024
From Learning about Accountability and Generosity to Getting AfCAA Accredited and Spreading Generosity Training: United Baptist Church Zimbabwe, AfCAA, and GTP
I serve my country at the national level as the Vice General Secretary for the United Baptist Church. In our local church, I work with fellow Christian workers to address the congregants spiritual and physical needs with the aim of ministering to the whole person.
In March 2023, Chris Maphosa, GTP Regional Facilitator for English, Portuguese, and Spanish-speaking Africa (EPSA), personally invited me to attend the life-changing GTP regional event in Lusaka, Zambia. There, I met some amazing GTP staff: Trevor Lui (GTP Chief Operations Officer), Ereny Monir (GTP Vice President of Training & Empowerment), Gabrielle Fortunato (GTP Regional Trainer for Africa), and Samuel Mujyanama (GTP Multimedia Specialist). I also connected with other ministry workers from across the region.
Dennis with the GTP team: Trevor Lui, Ereny Monir, Chris Maphosa, and Gabrielle Fortunato
During the GTP regional event, I gained fresh perspective on generosity from the interactive training, Stations of Generosity or Stations, for short. Previously, I associated generosity solely with having ample financial resources and sharing them with others. However, my experience with Stations prompted a shift in my thinking. I came to understand that generosity transcends monetary wealth and encompasses sharing whatever blessings we have received from God to positively impact the lives of others.
The GTP regional event profoundly challenged me. It highlighted the need for me to embrace generosity in various aspects of my life, offering to God all that I possess, regardless of its monetary value. I realized that God's concern extends beyond material wealth. He desires for our hearts to be open and for us to be generous in all areas of our lives.
Dennis with Agness Pushi, a fellow participant, during a Stations of Generosity session at the GTP Regional Event in Lusaka, Zambia
Soon after the GTP regional event, I took on the volunteer role of GTP Country Coordinator for Zimbabwe, stewarding GTP programs across the country. I envisioned expanding the reach of GTP programs and replicating Stations throughout Zimbabwe, spreading its impactful message far and wide. I started implementing this vision with my local church.
On 5-6 April 2024, I and my colleague, Rev. Irvin Moyo, replicated Stations in Mutare for 25 leaders from 19 districts of our church in Zimbabwe. The participants received this training with enthusiasm and gratitude. They have since started further replicating Stations in their respective communities, inspired by the teaching and its impact. Additionally, inspired by the Palmful of Maize vision that is spreading all across Malawi, we invited children to give a handful of maize to God. Praise God for their positive response!
Replication of Stations of Generosity and Palmful of Maize in Zimbabwe
At the GTP regional event, I also met Dr. Lucy Mugenyi from the Africa Council for Accountability and Accreditation (AfCAA), who shared valuable insights about the AfCAA’s mission and activities. AfCAA operates not as a condemnatory body but as a constructive force, evaluating organizational practices to ensure they align with ethical and biblical principles. AfCAA helps organizations conduct their affairs in a manner that honors God.
Her presentation resonated deeply with me and Rev. Moyo, who also attended the GTP regional event in Lusaka. What she shared encapsulated our beliefs about what an organization, particularly a church, should embody. AfCAA's principles mirrored our aspirations for our church. We agreed that true integrity and authenticity are demonstrated not by self-promotion but by external validation and recognition.
Dr. Lucy Mugenyi sharing about AfCAA at the GTP Regional Event in Lusaka, Zambia
We also discovered a remarkable alignment between the core values of our church – integrity, honesty, transparency, faithfulness, sound biblical teaching, and impartiality – and those of AfCAA. Encouraged by our shared values, we sought further discussion with Dr. Lucy after the GTP event.
Upon returning to Zimbabwe, Rev. Moyo and I wasted no time in sharing what we learned with the rest of the church leadership. We proposed that our church pursue accreditation with AfCAA as a meaningful step towards affirming our commitment to transparency and accountability. The church agreed. So, we initiated the application process, guided and supported by Dr. Lucy and her colleagues at AfCAA.
In April 2024, we received the news of United Baptist Church Zimbabwe’s AfCAA accreditation. It filled us with immense excitement and gratitude! This validation affirmed our dedication to serving God with integrity and accountability. Being recognized and accredited by AfCAA not only boosts our confidence but also signifies our integration into a network of like-minded organizations committed to God's work. Now, when we seek partnerships or alliances, we can easily identify trustworthy entities by consulting AfCAA's website. This helps safeguard against unwitting collaboration with organizations that may not uphold God's agenda.
United Baptist Church Zimbabwe pastors and AfCAA representatives during the accreditation ceremony at the Zimbabwe Council of Churches office in Harare
To me, AfCAA represents a beacon of hope for churches, ministries, and Christian businesses striving to adhere to biblical values in all facets of their operations. The AfCAA seal of accreditation signals to potential collaborators that an organization operates with integrity and accountability. Aside from that, accreditation opens doors to a broader community dedicated to the kingdom path, both regionally and internationally. It signifies our alignment with other churches, ministries, and Christian businesses sharing similar values and goals.
So, I encourage others who believe they operate with integrity and righteousness to invite AfCAA to assess their operations. Embracing accountability and transparency not only strengthens individual organizations but also contributes to the collective advancement of kingdom work.
