ANOTHER good thing happened to gospel music last week at the launch of United Kingdom-based musician-cum-promoter Timothy Ngwenya’s fifth gospel album Taurai Neni.
One of Zimbabwe’s most respected gospel musicians, Pastor Charles Charamba, gave a moving sermon to those who serve the Lord promoting the spread of the Word of God through music.
Charamba, who as usual was accompanied by his wife Olivia, was given an opportunity by the host artiste to give a piece of advice to the youthful Ebenezer Music Gospel Promotions company, that was behind the successful hosting of the event in Harare.
Baba Charamba’s sermon was brief, but powerful as it touched the hearts of those who were in attendance, including myself, and deserves space in this week’s column to inspire all those who are devoted to spreading the Word, including fellow journalists as well.
The seasoned gospel musician, who is a beacon of success, advised the gathering that God looks at the heart and rewards the motive of those who do His work.
He stressed that the Lord does not reward anyone for merely sweating it out to produce a gospel song or to do any work that is related to the gospel eyeing material gains.
“Our God is a faithful God and does things in His own way, at His own time and when He rewards, it would not necessarily be according to our expectations and time,” Charamba said as he revealed the mysteries of the good works of the Almighty.
“Let me hasten to say to those of us who have sacrificed to work for Jesus Christ that it may look like a lie when it is being said, I do not really remember how many years I last met Timothy, so he has not told me what to say, it’s a surprise.
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“But what I have learnt is that God’s payday does not come on the calendar day your are looking forward to. I also learnt that the Lord expects you to do His work and He rewards motive, not sweat. he does not pay for your sweat.
“That is why you see a lot of people sweating a lot to do something but never enjoy the fruit of that sweat.
God rewards the motive and attitude that you have when you are doing what you are doing. However, He may reward you somewhere else.”
The Mhinduro Iripo singer said there were people who fight their bosses demanding payment for the work they had been doing “You are blocking your own blessings,” he said.
“What God requires from you is for you to do what is required where you are with all your energy and your utmost commitment, but one day God in another area will give you a big cheque for all your hard work that you did somewhere else. God bless you.”
Harare Provincial Affairs minister Mirriam Chikukwa urged local gospel musicians to focus on singing songs that unite the nation and desist from having a competitive spirit towards each other.
Chikukwa told The Standard Style on the sidelines of the launch that: “My message is that they [musicians] should focus more on uniting the nation through raising God’s Word, instead of themselves.
It’s gospel and football, which unite people because when you are having a concert like this, it’s non-political, anyone can come and enjoy themselves.”
Gospel fans at at the event, which was dubbed Taurai Neni Gospel Show, were left clamouring for more as the crème de la crème of local gospel musicians gave their support to Ngwenya.
The highlight of the launch was the impactful perfomances of legends Charamba and Baba Manyeruke on the former’s hit song Buruka.
Fans loved it more as they had the opportunity to dance together with their heroes in the arts industry who included Mai Charamba, Olinda Marowa, Bethany Pasinawako-Ngolomi, Mai Tongogara and comedian Madam Boss, as Charamba sang the hit song a distance away from co-leader of the Family of God Church Rutendo Wutawunashe.
Ngwenya had broken the ice together with multiple award-winning singer Togarepi Chivaviro as they played the song Baleka that is on the new album, which they did with South African gospel musician Mondlane.
Fans could not stop dancing to Bethany Pasinawako’s hit song Ndinzverei and before they could take a rest, Marowa wooed the crowd with her song Ndinouya.
More was to come from Ngwenya and Kudzie Nyakudya on the song Honai Jesu, which is on the album Tataurai Neni.
Nyakudya had rocked the fans earlier with the powerful song Ndiyei Jesu.
You may contact the columnist, Albert Masaka, on Email: [email protected]
