Independent CCAP established in J’burg: Simwinga says church not affiliated to any Malawi synods
The new Church of Central Africa Presbyterian (Johannesburg CCAP) says it is set to provide an alternative prayer environment for Presbyterian Christians and aspiring Christians in Johannesburg.
It says that it wants to be the church that is devoid of politics, patriotism, cronyism, nepotism and favouritism.
In a statement made available to Nyasa Times and signed by its Board Member Atupiye Simwinga, it notes that hypocrisy is increasing amongst Christians and Christian leaders as such, they decided to be unique by being independent and therefore not affiliated to or aligned with any CCAP Synods in Malawi or elsewhere.
The Johannesburg CCAP was officially registered in May 2015 and celebrated its 1st anniversary on 30th August 2015.
He said that its aim is to ensure that it promotes a culture and practice amongst Christians that allows for the Holy Spirit to flourish and that people experience and partake in the work of God irrespective of status or origin.
The statement further said Johannesburg CCAP aims to ensure that members understand the importance of keeping a healthy relationship with God.
The Church believes that “it is only through such a healthy relationship with God, that members are guaranteed of salvation and eternal life.”
It calls on the members to take responsibility for ensuring a healthy relationship with God by exercising a prayerful life that is evidenced by their steadfastness in their trust and belief in God.
Quizzed why they have gone independent while the Blantyre, Nkhoma and Livingstonia Synods of the CCAP also operate in South Africa, Simwinga said that they believe that Synods are counter-productive on issues of nation building and that they “are advancing a Malawian scenario in South Africa.”
He did not elaborate.
Simwinga claimed that Synods came later and simply inherited some prayer groups that were already on the ground.
He further said that attempts to unite these congregations belonging to the three synods were unsuccessful as some were unwilling to surrender their congregations into this unity arguing that their presence in South Africa are “mainly for financial and political purposes”
Johannesburg CCAP with about 120 members has no church minister but has a Board of Trustees (eight from all congregations in Johannesburg) and is run by Elders and Deacons.
Simwinga disclosed that the leadership has the powers to hire and fire a pastor.
In its first year of existence, it has opened two Congregations, one in Springs (Johannesburg East) and the other one in Yeoville (Johannesburg Central).
Johannesburg CCAP is reported to have partnered with the Church of Christ in Johannesburg among others to share and learn from each other on issues of mutual interest.
A CCAP Church minister who refused to be named said while it is mandatory that any CCAP congregation be under a Synod, “a possibility of a formation of a new Synod cannot be ruled out” adding that, “coming up with a new Presbyterian body with a new name is also another possibility.”
CCAP in Malawi has in recent years been rocked with financial mismanagement, territorial, political and ministerial challenges.
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Mr John, Anyone who so adamantly misleads from believing in the Gospel Of Jesus Christ finally meets, either in the way Saul of Tarsus who met Jesus Christ face to face on the road to Damascus and repented, or in the way Bar-Jesus met Jesus Christ through Paul’s own declaration and judgement that Bar-Jesus’s eyes were going to be blinded for a season, revealing the power of the Almighty God of Heaven. But know that God has in Christ Jesus forgiven you, hence do not provoke Him so that He meets you with anger, for it will not well with… Read more »
As a secularist and a humanist, I frequently find my knowledge of matters religious is superior to that of people who consider themselves religious. Take, for example, your assertion that Saul met Jesus face-to-face on the road to Damascus. Your claim is false. Saul, who later became known as Paul, never met the mythical Jesus during his claimed life-time – and for the very good reason that Jesus never existed. Not one of the so-called synoptic gospels was written during the alleged lifetime of the mythical character Jesus and nothing at all in the way of written literature was produced… Read more »
ALL THE BEST THE RSA-CCAP
Ndalama zatenga malo my mpingo
Simwinga isn’t saying the truth here. He started a prayer group in 2013 in his house every Saturday with the blessing of Berea CCAP and every Sunday they attended services in Berea until he lost his job where he was working and couldn’t transport the prayer group and then he turned prayer group into a congregation and convinced any one not in favor of the ousted Revd who hence is in Blantyre in Nkolonkoti. Atu is a good manipulator and soon the same group will divide. They have to be affliated to South African Presbyterian Church in the long run.… Read more »
There is no god and – so – there can be no mercy from that non-existent quarter.
What you are describing is pure human folly by purely human men.
Men who care more about money and power than they do about their fellow human beings.
You should stop all contact with such money-mad and power-crazed individuals.
Remaining in contact with such people only encourages their excesses.
Put a stop to your contacts with them – for your own and others’ peace of mind.
Ambuye…ndiye church name should not be CCAP—-this means Church of Central Africa……and Central Africa—means Malawi…………………..kikikikikik……CCAP —Church of South Africa Presy……. ( CSAP)….kikikikikikiki
The good news is that the Synods you are criticising to-day have survived the times and will continue doing so in Jesus Name. I strongly believe that in within these Synods, there are some strong Prayer Warriors who tirelessly petition the Lord to keep these Synods running otherwise they could have already collapsed by now if we look back to the 18th centuries when these Synods came into existence. So for the Johannesburg development, kaya? If your aim is to confuse God’s flock, I am afraid you will end up being confused yourselves because there is NO WAY you can… Read more »
Chamdera 2 yo ndi Chimwemwe Mhango ndithuuuuuuuuuuuuu, that’s his language tikakumana kukagulu kathuko ndamuwona uyu ndi Mbavadi, Crook lotherathu. Wati user mokwanila iwe pita pa Jozi pakopo ife tisala ndi Synod yathu unatipeza uzatisiyaso.
Why use the name CCAP?. Business ya pa Malawi coz Major 1 is doing good in RSA. shame
When did South Africa become Central Africa? Another pile of bull shit!! Maina onsewa!!
This is the way to go brother . The CCAP hierarchies here in this country is too insensitive to its flock especially the younger members . If the CCAP is divided in this country taking each other to earthly courts it just shows its devoid of the holy spirit .And its always going in the wrong direction allo wing politicians to use it during elections as we saw with Blantyre Synod elections