God’s Generals International Ministry Founder Bishop Dr Nyabanga (in front) delivering his presentation during the Wealth Creation Business Masterclass
By Dickson Bandera
Whilst the pastoral ministry has been identified as entrepreneurship in its own right, there is evidence that church leaders struggle to make ends meet when they sorely rely on the church revenues for their welfare.
At times, congregants – in as much as they will be willing – will not have the capacity to meet the pastors’ needs and this end up throwing pastors into financial bondages that compromise their pastoral work as well as affecting their families.
Against this background, God’s Generals International Forum President, Bishop Dr Aderino Nyabanga organized the Wealth Creation Business Masterclass to equip pastors with requisite knowledge, skills and attitudes that will enable them start or improve side business enterprises while carrying out their pastoral work.
The training will be spread across the whole country as Bishop Aderino Nyabanga seeks to help solve financial challenges facing the men and women called into the pastoral ministry.
More than 60 pastors in Harare this Friday were taken through the Wealth Creation Course in an effort to initiate them into the world of successful business enterprise. The course challenged the pastors to open businesses or up their game to raise revenue and desist from relying on the offering basket for their welfare.
The transition to financial freedom should not be complicated after receiving the training, given that Zimbabwe is already a leading African country in economic emancipation of citizens and has put in place policies and legal frameworks to support entreprenuership.
This is evidenced by the simplicity and openness of the process of starting and registering a business in Zimbabwe, which can only take a minimum of 3 working days.
Government has opened up the investment space in all sectors of the economy and is pushing the Heritage Based Economic Development 5:0 which seeks to achieve development through leveraging on the local opportunities and by placing local communities at the forefront of local development.
Recently, Minister of Tourism and Hospitality Hon Barbara Rwodzi indicated that there are numerous opportunities that are available in the tourism sector, which needed to be taken up by locals as well as international investors. Numerous incentives also have been assigned to different sectors in an effort to support and motivate investors.
The Mines Minister Hon Zhemu Soda also told delegates at the 2023 Mine Entra in Bulawayo that there were numerous opportunities calling for investors to invest in exploration, mining, value addition and beneficiation, logistics and supplies across the value chain. The ministry also welcomes people to knock at their doors for inquiries, with officers ready to assist.
In the agriculture sector, demand of Zimbabwean products is huge locally and is spreading to the international markets and pastors can also take this opportunity to make money through supplying their produce to the market.
Several urban and rural district councils are advertising investment opportunities in their jurisdictions, hence the environment is very much acceptive to those with business ideas or those who may want to expand.
But without proper training, ideas and wishes will not turn into successful business. The training course therefore come in handy as it capacitates church leaders with the skills set needed for successful entrepreneurship.
Renowned business coach and writer, Marketplace Evangelist Windrose Chifarimba who was the Guest Speaker, spoke on Wealth Creation where he gave practical and relevant demonstrations to help the pastors understand the key concepts and principles guiding business.
He also said pastors were a vital cog in the national development matrix as the values they push are essential for national development.
“Pastors contribute in maintaining peace and harmony in the country and making the world the best place to live in through the values that they preach which are in the word of God,” he said.
“I strongly believe that every pastor is gifted physically in vast gifts that God deposited in them in terms of abilities, gifts and talents. Every pastor has intrinsic capital in the form of their minds, their energy and gifts and talents that they can use to make money while preaching than depend on the on the offering busket, he said.
In an interview on the sidelines of the training, Bishop Nyabanga said relying on congregants for income would not create financial freedom but dependence which at times would compromise the pastor’s work. He however understands that there is need for training without which some business ideas may die before they are implemented or at any stage.
“We believe that as pastors we need to approach life holistically in the sense that we are not only called to minister to the spiritual aspect of life but we must also train and equip people to do entreprenuership, said Bishop Nyabanga.
Asked on what had motivated him to spearhead the training, Bishop Nyabanga said he noted that in other countries pastors had moved into other business ventures besides being church leaders.
“After moving around as an international speaker, I have come to realise that most pastors out there have side businesses whilst here most of our pastors do not have side businesses.
“If you see some pastors right now are staying in the parish houses, they don’t have their accommodation. This is why we are saying it is not enough to stay at the parish house but I must have a house for my family,” he said.
Dr Nyabanga also reiterated that pastors need to use their talents or turn their passion into income generating projects. He said pastors could become Masters of Ceremonies, Public Speakers, or sell goods or venture into agriculture. He said it was easy for congregates to support their pastors businesses.
“I can use my backyard to grow vegetables or rear chickens or go to my rural area and utilise the land there,” said Bishop Nyabanga.
Another training workshop will take place in Nyanga in December where the pastors will have time to learn the modern business skills as well as have time for social activities.
Thank you for this Eye and Mind opener.For sure Pastors have to think outside the offering busker.A poor Pastor is that without a dream.