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80 CHRISTIANS DRY FASTING FOR COVID-19

09/01/2021 00:49:00 By Timothy Simelane

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MBABANE – Faith versus a pandemic. A group of 80 Christians are on a dry fast atop the Kunkomo Mountains at Nhlambeni, with a clear mission to intercede for the country and the world against the coronavirus pandemic.

The Christians’ determination comes amid a heavy onslaught on the nation which has seen the head of government, policy makers and business executives falling under the coronavirus’ debilitating sword.

The prayer was organised by the Church Of God under Pastor Muzi Manana, but attracted interest from Christians in other denominations.

One of the Church Pastors, Ntokozo Lukhele, explained that the Christians had not been drinking even a glass of water during the heatwave as they soldier on in prayer.

“When we started on Monday, we were eating food, but that was only until Wednesday. From Wednesday, we have been on a dry fast. We are asking God to intervene,” he said.

comfort

Lukhele said the saints left all forms of comfort in their homes as they sleep in the bushes.

“We bath at a Ndzinisa homestead, where we parked our cars below the mountain,” he said.

When attending to the call of nature, the Christians drift from the rest of the praying group to a secluded spot in the mountainside.

Lukhele explained that when it rained the Christians use large plastics to cover their heads.

“These are the same plastic bags that we sleep under. However, there are a few camp tents for our pastors,” he said.

He said the Christians were aware that mountains were the habitat of snakes and scorpions, but said the Christians were least worried about that. He said there was no provision for medical assistance.

“Even if one can be bitten by a snake, we would pray for such a person to be healed because the level of faith is high. However, we do not prohibit anyone from seeking medical attention if they want it. If a Christian says take me to hospital, we would do so because that is what the Christian wants but our conviction is that we need to believe in God for everything,” he said.

He said though this year’s primary focus was on interceding against the coronavirus, the Christians also take some time to hear the word and teachings on holiness.

hope

Pastor Lukhele said his position on the COVID-19 was that the whole world should know that the hope is in the Lord.

“What has contributed to the spread of this disease is the evil things that people have done in the world, which angers the Lord.

‘‘If people could humble themselves and repent then God would hear their cries and heal the land,” he said.

He said the prayer would end today, and that Christians would descend from the mountain and go to their respective homes. Lukhele said every year the Christians ascended the mountain to pray for 14 days. He said the first seven days were for appreciating the departing year while the other seven days were dedicated to the new year supplications.

Meanwhile, from midnight yesterday, government has banned all gatherings because they have the potential to spread the virus.

The ban has disorganised many churches that organised prayer and fasting services marking the beginning of the year.

Through social media, there is a global initiative to have one million people raising their voices to God while praying for a solution to the coronavirus pandemic.

prays

The one million Lord’s Prayer idea is such that one prays and then passes the message to eight other people, with the hope that the message will reach one million people.

Reads one of the prayers made: “Father God, in the mighty name of Jesus Christ: I pray, speak and declare healing all over the nations of the world. We are standing and trusting in your promises! No plague shall come near our dwelling. Heal us, for by your stripes we are healed! Touch the kinds and hearts of our leaders to implement only the counsel of God for the nations. Whatever the devil has planned against the nations is cut off in Jesus name. We are praying this special blessing over the ones that are reading this prayer and are passing it on to others. I declare victory in the name of Jesus! (sic)”