Manzini – It was a full house on Friday evening at the Old Stone Church.
The programme was billed for 6pm but began a little later and the delay only deepened the sense of occasion as guests filled every seat for the 100th Centenary Thanksgiving and Fundraising Dinner.
The evening began with a sound that stilled the room. Priscilla Abraham stood and blew the shofar three times which was explained as a call to worship, a call of remembrance, a call for revival. In that moment, the gathering was set: 100 years of God’s faithfulness in Eswatini and 180 years of Christian heritage from 1926 to 2026.
Reverend JV Mazibuko then led the opening prayer and from there, the programme moved with warmth and purpose, rooted in both worship and memory.
That sense of history was carried forward by Elizabeth Hynd, who gave a brief account of the building. The Old Stone Church, now the Old Stone Church Museum on Second Avenue, is a beautifully preserved stone structure that speaks of craftsmanship from another era and of the story of faith in this country.
Her words reminded everyone present that they were seated in a place that has watched generations come and go.
From history, the evening turned to testimony through the young. The children from New Hope Centre gave the sweetest moment of the night with a play and a song drawn from Luke 15 ofthe shepherd who left the 99 sheep to find one. It drew smiles and then quiet, as the message settled.
The mood lifted again with music. View Once Acapella, a group of four young men, filled the stone walls with harmony without a single instrument. Their set was simple, tight and thoroughly enjoyed.
Special guest pastors, including Bishop Sidney Mulenga and Prophet Paul Ghananian, were in attendance.
Before the close, all members and guests shared in Holy Communion together.
After his whole experience of the night, Bishop Mulenga couldn’t keep it in. He said: “From the portal of AFRICA, with these ancient boundaries, we decree Revival, Salvation, Prosperity and Holiness over the Kingdom of Eswatini, the Church of Jesus Christ and the entire Continent of Africa, Amen!”.
The MP for Lobamba Lomdzala was equally moved. After taking in the evening, he said: “Wow the prophetic word.
“Hilltop where Jesus was crucified on the Hilltop Golgotha, where the Old Stone Church is today the Hill Top church.”
It was an evening of memory, worship and hope. A fitting centenary.
