Africa-Press – Eswatini. The Melika Jericho Church in Zion has warned its members against being boastful about their spiritual gifts, in particular those blessed with healing powers.
Bishop Khanyakwezwe Vilakati, the leader of the Melika Jericho Church faction, echoed the advice and said church members with such divine gifts should keep to themselves and not become egocentric and think the God-given powers made them mightier than the body of Christ.
The church leader was speaking during an all-night prayer and cleansing ceremony this past weekend at Manganganeni Dam.
The event was attended by throngs of the church followers from as far as Botswana, Mozambique, and South Africa in the Eastern Cape and Cape Town.
The man of the cloth was speaking during the Saturday night service as other preachers were also lined up to the podium.
Bishop Khanyakwezwe, as he is affectionately referred to, also pleaded with members to heed to the teachings of Christ and live a holy life.
He said he had nothing new to introduce to the church except what was known by all, which was handed down to him.
The clergy, as he welcomed all to the all-night service and yesterday’s cleansing ceremony at the sacred dam, assured that not even a single member will be left out in the ceremony and therefore there should be no pushing when entering the dam.
He said the whole of yesterday was dedicated for cleansing and if need be members can even come back in the late afternoon to spend the night at the church as there was plenty of meat on offer.
Then the sun rose yesterday morning and all roads led to the sacred dam.
Vendors, who were making a killing throughout the night, were already shifting site to get the right selling spots by the hills close to where the waterfalls of the revered pool are.
There was a traffic jam as cars and buses snaked all the way up to the mountain such that some had to abandon their modes of transport and walk the rest of the route.
The hills echoed voices of members chanting and singing in different groups. Children were not left behind, some as young as about five, eight to 12 years of age.
Others were spotted on their mothers’ backs, with one aged about three years who was later seen being dipped into the pool and being prayed for by the church leaders.
For such a young soul the baby was crying hysterically.
Before taking to the waters, the thousands of attendees were controlled not to go further to the other side of the hill before the customary ritual of slaughtering a cow to appease the water spirit was done.
Nonetheless, the church was informed the previous night that permission had been granted by the powers that be for the cleansing ceremony to go ahead smoothly.
The police were also on sight to prevent any possible stampede as the green light had been given for congregants to take to the waters.
However, church members were getting impatient and they started to complain of the long wait.
Church leaders and the police who tried to make a barrier to prevent anyone go down the hills valley were powerless as some spirit possessed members closed in.
Luckily, it was announced right on time that members came now get into the waters and none would be harmed.
A near stampede was almost witnessed.
There was a mad rush and shoving.
Some had brought in numerous containers to collect the water even from some water pipes connecting from the waterfall.
There was also a mad rush to queue for prayers from the pastors who were deep into the pool by the waterfall.
Others tossed coins into the dam as the valley echoed of chants and prayer sounds from spirit possessed members.
Children were also brought in to be prayed for by Bishop Khanyakwezwe and his aides.
There was also a smell of braai meat from the slaughtered cows, which was eaten there and then.
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