NKETA CENTRE

Nketa Church is situated 10 km South West Bulawayo along the Masiyephambili Road . It is located in a mountainous place named Nketa that gives an over-view of Nketa, Mganwini, Belevue, Nkulumane, Tshabalala, Sizinda and Rangemore.

The Church was planted in 1994 as a city branch and later moved to a building in 1998. Ever since that time the Church is growing and affecting the community in various ways, spiritually as well as physically various programmes such as Orphans and widows, evangelism, Alpha and omega institute.

Pastor Ntsika Ncube - Personal Profile

Pastor Ncube is married to Sithandazile Ncube and has two children. He did a diploma in Theology with a college called All Africa Bible College in Durban in 1993 - 1997. He also did a degree in Theology with the same institute in 2002. He has been the local pastor for the Nketa church branch from 2001 to date. The Nketa branch has a following of more than 400 people with a high percentage of young people aged between 13 and 30 years. Between 1997 and 2000 he headed the church branch in Silobela. He was also instrumental in the establishment of the church branch in Gumtree between 1992 and 1993. in 1996 he was also involved in witnessing or outreach programmes in Mozambique and Swaziland during his bible training. He was born again in 1988 and was part of the team that established the Dolahali Church branch. He was born on the 2nd of February in 1971. Between 1990 and 1992 he was the Youth Chairman for Agape Missions Church . He got married in 1997.

Pastor Ncube's wife is active in the women's ministry and is an intercessor. She did her Cutting and Designing course with the Nkayi Institute of Cutting and Designing. She also did a Bible Course with the Agape Missions Alpha and Omega Institute. She also did a secretarial diploma with the Zimbabwe College in Bulawayo , Zimbabwe .

Pastor Ncube is a Lecturer at the Alpha and Omega Institute. Alluding to the benefits of the institute to the church he noted the 90% of the pastoral team at agape missions was trained at this institute especially those that are involved in the church's rural ministry.

Pastor Bekezela Ndlovu - Personal Profile

He was born on the 29 th of April 1972. He is married to Lindiwe Ndlovu. He got born again in 1989. He joined the ministry in 1992. He planted a church in Tsheli and another one in Saziyabana, which is now called Dobhane. In 2001 he attended a Bible School in Botswana where he did his Diploma in ministerial studies. In 2002, he joined the Nketa church branch as a Youth Pastor and as an assistant pastor. He was also the national evangelism team coordinator and through this ministry he has been very instrumental in the planting of new church branches.

ORPHAN CARE PROGRAMME/RELIEF AND DEVELOPMENT

The Church is caring for Orphans and widows through the mercy ministry, as well as the destitute in and outside the Church, rendering services like relief, payment of fees, skills training. At times we give handouts that we collect from the members and also from Agape partners such as Z.O.E. and HOCIC.

We train our Caregivers; presently we have 30 who assist in looking after these people. Every Sunday we take an offering that is in cash and in kind towards Orphans. Some members have adopted some children to assist in various ways. Guardians of orphans are involved in income generating projects so as to support their families. We do take some for Psychosocial support at Masiye camp especial child headed families. The volunteers or caregivers are of great hand in this programme, taking the sick to hospital, paying of fees, spiritual support and offering a physical help a an individuals or groups. This has become a tool in evangelism. Our core scripture is James 1 vs 28.

LOCAL PROJECTS

Most of our members especially widows have received skills training through Bulawayo

Project Centre. Some have been to self-help projects such as sewing, candle making and poultry. One of our young men aged 25 years has started his business on leather products after receiving training. A lady from Breakthrough survival skills also offered us a free training on hair dressing. As a result some of the students have managed to secure employment and some have opened their own saloons. One of our partners Z.O.E. whom we work with always assist some of our widows with finances to run their projects so as to sustain themselves and also as a way of alleviating poverty.

ALPHA AND OMEGA INSTITUTE

Due to the expansion of work and need in leadership development, bible school has been introduced as a theological wing under this institute, plans are undertaken for other programmes as we are to register with the ministry of education for pre-school and correspondence with other Universities. Through theological wing about about 150 students have been trained, received the certificates accredited by BTCP/L (Bible Training Center for Pastors/Leaders) this is a basic training that runs for a year. Those that have completed training in the previous years are now active in Church. During the training students are given opportunities to minister and exercise the gifting from Nketa the institute has put sub-branches in various places.

ALPHA AND OMEGA BIBLE SCHOOL - GRADUATION IN 2004

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OUTREACH / EVANGELISM / CHURCH PLANTING .

The Church is actively involved in evangelism and discipleship. We do train people for effective evangelism through evangelism explosion who are as well Agape partners, In the course of Church planting we had we had friends from outside the country coordinated by CPED.( Church partnership evangelism) This contributed positively in the multiplication of members .We have planted branches from Nketa ,these are Gweru. Nkulumane, Cowdray park, Magwegwe and Botswana. Fundraising pledges from members has made work easier.

CO-ORDINATION OF ACTIVITIES

Nketa has developed to a town branch. Once in a month sub- branches come in for a big Sunday. This is done to help new branches to identify themselves with their mother Church. Overseer Rev L.Moyo is the senior Pastor who also chairs the Pastoral team meetings in the Region. We also work with Evangelical fellowship of Zimbabwe (EFZ) where our Pastors are actively involved.

VARIOUS PROGRAMMES IN PLACE .

We do have programs to cater for all ages in the Church also to give a room for people to exercise their gifting and these are:

• LADIES MINISTRY
  Meet every Tuesday for their services as well as on Thursday for visitations, Nkulumane branch meeting on Sunday. Cowdray park etc
  
• YOUTH MINISTRY
  They meet every Saturday for the services, do hospital visits also holds music concert and other exciting youth programmes.
  • Youth groups:
• 1-11 years: Josiah Generation
• 12- 20 years: Joshua generation
• 21-30 years: Young Adults
  
• MEN'S MINISTRY
  Meet on Sundays after services as well as once every month on planned programmes
  
• CHILDREN'S MINISTRY
  Meet on Sundays for bible study and teachings on Saturdays and have AWANA Club where colorful activities take place such as games, handbooks and counsel time.

Important features of our services are the various forms of prayer, the preaching of the word, application of the gifts of the Spirits, song and music. We also desire to fulfill the calling of our Lord Jesus Christ to spend the gospel in our community, city, country as well as mission fields abroad.

NKETA MISSIONS

• Nketa Local Church has a mission's team that is composed of intercessors, music team, counselors, finance team and preachers.
• The team has more than thirty members.
• This team is committed in doing outreaches, crusades, Church planting and holding revivals all over Zimbabwe and beyond.
• Because of our geographic setting we do outreaches in the rural areas and in other small towns and help all the Churches of Agape missions when they have an outreach programme.
• We planted many Churches in Zimbabwe and across the border; we have planted a Church in Botswana .
• Our vision is to plant 100 Churches in Zimbabwe by 2010.
• Our vision is based on the scripture in Psalm 4 which says ask of me, I will give you nations for your inheritance and the end of the earth for your possessions.
• Africa must live and not die .We want to see a changed and revived Africa.

Future plans:

The local church intends to introduce the following in the year 2005:

• A Pre- school
• Sports for young people
• Holiday lessons for Ordinary and Advanced level students
• Promote writers in Christian literature in the local church
• Gardening to benefit orphans and widows