Times Of Swaziland: MOST CHRISTIANS READY FOR ASTRAZENECA VACCINATION

MOST CHRISTIANS READY FOR ASTRAZENECA VACCINATION
================================================================================
Sithembile Hlatshwayo on 22/03/2021 14:30:00


MBABANE – Vaccinate us!
This was the general feeling among Christians as they mentioned that they were
ready to be vaccinated to minimise the effects of the predicted COVID-19
pandemic third wave. In separate interviews, church leaders indicated their
willingness to get vaccinated when government starts rolling out the AstraZeneca
vaccine to the public. Divine Healing Ministries founder and leader Bishop Nash
Shongwe said he would lead by example and take the vaccine among the clergymen.
Bishop Shongwe stated that he would encourage congregants as well to vaccinate
as some had different theories regarding the issue of vaccination. Shongwe said
it was wise that everyone took government’s advice and direction.
Regulations
He said as government had finally eased the COVID-19 regulations by opening
churches among other things, they would be strongly praying that the third wave
did not affect the country. Shongwe said they believed that God would finally
bring about a solution to the prevailing crises. The bishop also emphasised that
citizens should be extra careful during events that were superspreaders of the
virus, which included memorial services and funerals. Shongwe stated that they
really appreciated government’s response in relaxing the regulations to allow
1.5 metre social distancing in churches. This, he said, would allow for more
congregants to attend church. “This, to us is like a dream that we will be
worshipping God, after such a long break from the church,” he said. He said it
was important for congregants to meet. He said families had lost their loved
ones due to the COVID-19 pandemic and as church leaders, they had the
responsibility to comfort the families with the Word of God in church.
Support
Bishop Shongwe said they would also support government by ensuring that the
COVID-19 regulations were adhered to in every way. Mbabane Worship Centre’s
Pastor Bongani Khumalo said there had been no collective decision taken by the
church regarding the vaccine, but Apostle Justice Dlamini had made it clear
through many discussions that Christians should feel free to take the vaccine.
Khumalo said they would support government in every way by ensuring that they
encouraged the Christians to vaccinate. “You might even be seeing us as church
leaders at the forefront of the vaccination schedule.”
He stated that whatever the theories may be, they saw no challenge in taking the
vaccine. Khumalo said they were affected as a church by the soul winning part,
adding that due to the lockdown they had not managed to do that through the
virtual worshipping.  He said most people could not be part of the virtual
services as they did not have access to internet yet data was expensive. “We
tried to send audios but it did not have a great impact compared to live
services.”
He said the congregants could feel God’s presence by being physically inside
the church. Mbabane Alliance Church’s Bongani Dlamini said theories about the
vaccination had been defused in good time as the European countries had
officially lifted the suspension and were taking the AstraZeneca vaccine.
Dlamini said they would encourage the congregants to take the vaccine in order
to be safe as individuals and Christians. He stated that they were anxious about
the third wave considering that the second wave was devastating. Dlamini said
they suspected that the third wave would be more deadly, which was why they
would take the vaccine.