Awake Grace Ministries Church suffered a devastating blow when it was engulfed in flames after being struck by lightning on Saturday night. The incident occurred while Pastor Nicholas Mavhondo, the church leader, was away in northern Zambia conducting religious crusades.
Expressing his dismay, Pastor Mavhondo revealed that he received the distressing news of the lightning strike while he was away. He lamented the unfortunate situation, pointing out that the fire brigade’s efforts to extinguish the fire were hampered by a lack of water. This wasn’t the first time such a predicament had occurred, as last year they faced a similar issue when the fire brigade was unable to assist due to lack of water during an emergency in Niasha.
The church had only recently celebrated its official opening and dedication on July 30th, making the fire that erupted on September 30th an even greater setback. Pastor Mavhondo emphasized that the incident was not a result of human error but rather a natural disaster caused by lightning.
In light of the devastating loss, Pastor Tafadzwa Mafukidze, the chairperson of the Evangelical Fellowship of Zimbabwe in Mashonaland West, called upon the community to come together and support the restoration of the destroyed church. He acknowledged the efforts made by individuals who managed to salvage some equipment, including chairs and a PA system, from the fire. Pastor Mafukidze expressed solidarity with Pastor Mavhondo and the entire Awake Grace Ministries family, acknowledging the schemes employed by the enemy to steal, kill, and destroy. He remained hopeful, believing that God would eventually restore all that was lost.
