This study examined the importance of apostolic beliefs and practices in community development. It was noted that apostolic beliefs and practices are a very crucial aspect which must not be neglected by community developers. The sample used in this study may not have been large or fully representative because it was hindered by church policy which does not allow people from outside such as the media or individuals to record anything, interview anyone or photograph anyone or anything that has to do with the church. Despite that, the study sought the depth rather than breadth of the content which was obtained. Under these circumstances, the subsequent issues came out prominently in the study. The fact that there was a general positive understanding of the idea of community development in relation to the church’s beliefs and practices validated the effort put into the study by the researcher. Another important fact is that most of the participants in the study were active members of the church and well-placed sources of relevant data.
4.3.1 Apostolic beliefs
Below is an exposition of the beliefs of the JMAC which were revealed during the interviews with the participants. These beliefs were found to be bringing the church members together and encouraging peace as well as the spirit of oneness and teamwork which are essential in promoting community development.
4.3.1.1 Prophets and spirituality: The study revealed that the church believes in prophets and spirituality. This belief is derived from the Biblical prophets such as Moses, Elijah and Elisha who influenced the call and rise of the founding prophet of the church, Johanne Momberume Marange. Thus the founding prophet is trusted
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and respected just like these influential prophets of the Old Testament times in the Bible. The church members place their belief and trust in prophets to lead them in every aspect of their lives. This belief creates a culture of loyalty, respect and allegiance to authority figures which the Vapostori also give to community leaders.
This will create a governable community with members who are submissive and willing to follow their leaders which are much needed requirements for community development initiatives to thrive.
4.3.1.2 Faith healing: The study found out that the church members believe in the power of faith healing through the Holly Spirit. It was discovered that members of the church do not use modern secular methods of clinical intervention in matters that concerns their health. Church members do not go to hospitals. They believe that all sickness have spiritual undertones hence the belief in treating and healing all those illnesses through faith healing. The church was also discovered to be one of those famed for its ability to cure bizarre health conditions that are believed to be spiritually linked and cannot be cured through clinical interventions. This assist in making members of the church to access healing when they need it rather than abandoning them without assistance. Improved health is one of the characteristics of a developed community hence by complimenting the community health through faith healing, the church contributes towards community development.
4.3.1.3 Power of leaders: It was also found out that the church believes in the power of appointed leaders. It was discovered that appointed leaders are the ones who hold the office hierarchy of the church as appointed by the senior prophet.
These leaders also carry a direct mandate from the founding prophet to lead the people. It was discovered that though these leaders occupy different offices with different duties and tasks, they work in collaboration to ensure the successful running of the church business on daily basis.
4.3.1.4 Worshiping in open spaces: Open space (sowe) worshiping also known as wilderness worshiping was also discovered to be one of the beliefs of the church. It was discovered that this practice was derived from influential Biblical characters such as Moses who was a prophet and was instructed by God to pray in the wilderness. These open spaces of worship are regarded as holly grounds of worship and are always located near rivers for baptism purposes. It was also discovered that
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each place of worship will be comprised of thirty to fifty families who worship under the leadership of one senior prophet.
4.3.1.5 Self-reliance: Vocationalism was found to be the core belief of the church in terms of earning a living. The church believes in self-reliance and discourages its members from looking for assistance from other people or sources. Church members are encouraged to start small entrepreneurial vocational ventures at family level often led by the father who is the family head.
4.3.1.6 Power of men: The study revealed that there is male dominance over women in the church in all decision making issues. It was also found out that men occupy all the leadership roles in the church. Women were discovered to be playing only a complimentary role to the men and this is out of the belief that women were created to be helpers of men according to the church’s beliefs. Patriarchy was also discovered to be prevailing in the church with men leading polygamous families and having exclusive rights on deciding on the number of women they want.
4.3.2 Apostolic roles in community development
The study found out that apostolic beliefs and practices play an important role in enhancing community development. This was found to be facilitated by the various roles that the church executes in line with its beliefs which subsequently contribute to the development of the community. Below is a summary of the roles of the church that were found to be facilitating community development in the community.
4.3.2.1 Encouraging trust: The study revealed that the church helps in fostering trust in the community through its members. This was found to be helpful in controlling violent behaviour and promoting peace and reconciliation in the community. The also encourages it members to trust established community leadership as well as the political leadership. This was found to be contributing to community development since trust among community members is one of the essential requirements for effective community development.
4.3.2.2 Conflict prevention and peace building: It was found out from the study that the church also contributes in conflict prevention and peace building in the community. The church conducts prayers for peace and it also nurtures children in apostolic norms and values that promote peace building and conflict prevention. It
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also discourages its members from violence and to refrain from active participation in politics. However, they place their allegiance to the ruling party and the political leadership. This was found to be valuable contribution to community development since community development cannot thrive in a violent atmosphere.
4.3.2.3 Health care provision: The study revealed that though the church does not believe in modern medicines, it has its own mechanisms for providing health care to its members. The church believes in faith healing over modern secular clinical interventions. Members of the church do not go to hospitals and they rely on their healers for prayers because they believe all diseases have spiritual undertones hence the need to treat them with faith healing through the Holly spirit. The church was also found to be providing health care to non-church members who come with complicated spiritual matters that cannot be cured at hospitals. Thus by being a major contributor to health care of the community, it was found that the church becomes a role player in community development.
4.3.2.4 Fostering governance: The church was also attributed to fostering governance in the community. It was found that the church helps in creating order and instilling the spirit of oneness and accountability to community members. The church has the ability to organise people under its leadership and educate them on the importance of non-violent ways of handling matters in line with the church’s doctrine. The church also encourages its members to be tolerant, restraint and submissive to the leaders of the community whether traditional or political leaders.
Thus, by fostering local governance, the church plays a role in community development by ensuring a stable and governable community where development can thrive.
4.3.2.5 Provision of social care and assistance: The church also provides support and care to its vulnerable members in terms of food and shelter and counselling after traumatic and violent experiences. Those in need of permanent care and support and taken care of at the church headquarters. This ensures that no member of the church is subjected to abject suffering and it helps improving members’ standards of living and wellbeing.
4.3.2.6 Providing economic legitimation: The study also revealed that the church plays a role in providing economic legitimation in the community. The church was
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found to be very much influential in supressing potential discontent and uprising from the people to governing structures. It makes people understand that it is by God’s will to be in the economic situation they are in hence they should not fight with anyone or any governing structure because that will amount to challenging God’s will. Instead, the church encourages its members to be entrepreneurs and start their own ways of making their own lives better and pray to God to grant them a better life.
Thus, it was concluded that by providing economic legitimation, the church contributes to community development through suppressing possible discontent and uprisings from the people that might turn violent and disturb community development initiatives.
4.3.3 Apostolic practices and community development
The study also revealed that there are a number of apostolic practices that contribute to community development. These practices were found to be contributing to peace building which promotes the thriving of community development ventures. The use of baptism and prophecy within the church has helped to instil discipline among church members and the surrounding community. This is supported by the fact that people believe what prophets say. The research also revealed that peace, oneness and sacredness that are created by church beliefs and practices have also worked towards the development of the community. This is seen when church members come together and work on environmental conservation projects such as gully and forest reclamation.
The fact that the unemployed are helped to secure jobs or that their hopes are restored has also fostered peace in communities characterized by unemployment, poverty, crime and violence. The JMAC supports any government in power and it does not take particular political party and its members refrain from political conflicts and activism. The research participants state that it is clear that the JMAC plays a peace-building role in the community and that it has also contributed towards resolving conflicts and under-development in their communities.
4.3.4 Social worker’s perspective
Basing on the data collected from the social worker and the contributions made, the following observations were made:
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• The social worker indicated that the church plays an important role ensuring community cohesion and subsequently making it possible for community development to take place.
• The church’s beliefs and practice were also attributed to promoting unity and peace among its members and it assimilates to the community.
• Credit was also given to the church for leading peaceful families providing the much needed social support in the community.
• In terms of the existing relations and challenges between the church and other community members, the social worker reported that the church is faced with stigmatization on a majority of issues.
• The social worker confirmed that it is difficult on their part to work with the church because of lack of trust and the secretive nature of the church.
• In a bid to enhance cooperation and teamwork in the community, the social worker indicated that there is a lot of work to be done to enhance cooperation and teamwork between the members other church and non-members of the church.
• It was also suggested that there is need to promote religious tolerance and acceptance between community members.