MOST CHRISTIANS READY FOR ASTRAZENECA VACCINATION

MBABANE – Vaccinate us!

This was the general feeling among Christians as they mentioned that they were ready to be vaccinated to minimise the effects of the predicted COVID-19 pandemic third wave. In separate interviews, church leaders indicated their willingness to get vaccinated when government starts rolling out the AstraZeneca vaccine to the public. Divine Healing Ministries founder and leader Bishop Nash Shongwe said he would lead by example and take the vaccine among the clergymen. Bishop Shongwe stated that he would encourage congregants as well to vaccinate as some had different theories regarding the issue of vaccination. Shongwe said it was wise that everyone took government’s advice and direction.

Regulations

He said as government had finally eased the COVID-19 regulations by opening churches among other things, they would be strongly praying that the third wave did not affect the country. Shongwe said they believed that God would finally bring about a solution to the prevailing crises. The bishop also emphasised that citizens should be extra careful during events that were superspreaders of the virus, which included memorial services and funerals. Shongwe stated that they really appreciated government’s response in relaxing the regulations to allow 1.5 metre social distancing in churches. This, he said, would allow for more congregants to attend church. “This, to us is like a dream that we will be worshipping God, after such a long break from the church,” he said. He said it was important for congregants to meet. He said families had lost their loved ones due to the COVID-19 pandemic and as church leaders, they had the responsibility to comfort the families with the Word of God in church.

Support

Bishop Shongwe said they would also support government by ensuring that the COVID-19 regulations were adhered to in every way. Mbabane Worship Centre’s Pastor Bongani Khumalo said there had been no collective decision taken by the church regarding the vaccine, but Apostle Justice Dlamini had made it clear through many discussions that Christians should feel free to take the vaccine. Khumalo said they would support government in every way by ensuring that they encouraged the Christians to vaccinate. “You might even be seeing us as church leaders at the forefront of the vaccination schedule.”

He stated that whatever the theories may be, they saw no challenge in taking the vaccine. Khumalo said they were affected as a church by the soul winning part, adding that due to the lockdown they had not managed to do that through the virtual worshipping.  He said most people could not be part of the virtual services as they did not have access to internet yet data was expensive. “We tried to send audios but it did not have a great impact compared to live services.”

He said the congregants could feel God’s presence by being physically inside the church. Mbabane Alliance Church’s Bongani Dlamini said theories about the vaccination had been defused in good time as the European countries had officially lifted the suspension and were taking the AstraZeneca vaccine. Dlamini said they would encourage the congregants to take the vaccine in order to be safe as individuals and Christians. He stated that they were anxious about the third wave considering that the second wave was devastating. Dlamini said they suspected that the third wave would be more deadly, which was why they would take the vaccine.

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