Times Of Swaziland: NO SINGING OF STRUGGLE SONGS IN JERICHO CHURCH

NO SINGING OF STRUGGLE SONGS IN JERICHO CHURCH
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Sibusiso Shange on 07/02/2022 08:29:00


GEGE – Melika Jericho Church in Zion’s Bishop Khanyakwezwe Vilakati has
warned members of the church against singing ‘ungodly’ songs during church
services.
The bishop told members of the church that by ‘ungodly’ songs, he meant
struggle and healing-related songs. “The angels of the church, which appeared
to the founder Melika Gadlasenyama Vilakati appeared to me in a dream. I was
standing in front of you singing a few songs before I sang amen. As the amen
continued with other songs, the angels of the church told me to pay attention to
some of the songs that you sing. I observed that some of the songs are ungodly.
Some of the songs are associated with struggle while some are associated with
your individual gifts. The angels were clear that such songs are not allowed in
this church and should not be sung anymore,” he said.
The bishop mentioned a few lyrics of the ‘ungodly’ songs such as ‘dubula,
madubula’ and ‘tsakatsa mawutsakatsa’. He urged the church leaders and the
congregants present to warn members of the church against mixing ‘ungodly’
songs with the church. Vilakati further told the congregants about another dream
he had before the ceremony. He said the founder of the church appeared to him in
a dream along with a foreign child. According to the bishop, the child
represented ambassadors, who represented their countries in Eswatini. The bishop
stated that the founder then told him to design and include all flags of
countries which had ambassadors to Eswatini in one big flag and place it at the
entrance of the church. “As you can see the flag outside, it has been designed
for peace.  Ambassadors to Eswatini should live in peace and harmony with
emaSwati,” he said.
The bishop issued the warning and shared his dreams at the time the congregants
were eager to know the fate about the much anticipated cleansing ceremony at the
sacred dam. Worth noting was that, the elder of the church, Jeremiah Vilakati,
had told the congregants that the bishop would give them direction in relation
to the cleansing ceremony. “As you know that I made it known during the
Christmas service that the cleansing ceremony will remain suspended even this
year due to COVID-19. We decided to meet church leaders for ordainment and other
church related business as opposed to the cleansing ceremony. However, the sheep
decided to follow their Shepherd because they want to be cleansed,” he said.
The bishop told the congregants that he understood them to be like cellphone
batteries, which needed to be charged at all times as he mentioned during the
Christmas service. He said in as much the church was not led by the flesh, they
always took orders and abided by all laws put in place by government. “As I
was confused on what to do about the cleansing ceremony when you came in
numbers, the angels of the church provided a solution so that we cannot be seen
as breaching the COVID-19 regulations. The angels stated that the sacred water
was blessed. I wish people do not lose context of this. The angels said we can
go for cleansing provided we form small groups and maintain social distancing
before we get into the dam. We will bless the water and allow you to cleanse
yourself as opposed to someone laying hands on you,” he said.
Containers
He said even a drop of water was enough to make a difference. He said the
congregants could also fetch the water with the containers and take it home for
cleansing. It should be noted that the bishop was hesitant of hosting the
cleansing ceremony even though His Majesty King Mswati III had urged the nation
to adapt to living with COVID-19 as there were not yet signs of it going
anywhere. The King also urged the nation to learn from the recent Incwala
Ceremony, which was held during the pandemic. The head of State stated that the
event had proven that emaSwati could now host events with large gatherings as
long as they adhered to COVID-19 put in place by the World Health Organisation.
The bishop then led the congregants to the sacred dam at a high pace. He ditched
the public road and clear pathways and followed the stream leading to the sacred
dam. The bishop cut across swamps and maize fields. Noted was that he spent some
few minutes praying in almost all the swamps. Upon arrival at the sacred dam,
the bishop blessed the water and allowed the congregants to cleanse themselves
before he proceeded to the main dam, where he performed the church rituals.
However, the bishop had no choice but to attend to some of the church members as
they did not believe in entering the sacred dam without him and the church
leaders laying hands on them.
The cleansing ceremony was attended by thousands of congregants. Some
congregants came from South Africa. They stated that they would plead with the
bishop to use other alternatives as opposed to turning them back without
cleansing. The church members stated that the cleansing ceremony played a
significant role in their lives. “Some have tried and failed to find jobs,
marriages, peace, promotions among other things, but the cleansing has been able
to break the barriers. They have been delivered from the forces of darkness and
got what they asked from God who blessed the water,” said some women who came
from South Africa.