I’m standing with Zimbabwe’s Anglicans – you can too

Whilst I am no longer an Anglican, I was brought up as one. Far too often Christians throughout the world are being persecuted for their beliefs. This weekend I’m standing with Zimbabwe‘s Anglicans.

The weekend of the 24-26 June marks the Church’s celebration of the African martyr Bernard Mizeki a lay catechist and missionary to the Shona people from 1891 to his martyrdom in 1896. Zimbabwe’s Anglicans will gather at a show ground this year because they are still forbidden to visit the shrine by the authorities.

He was committed to Christ and to the people he served and stood by them despite threats to his life. Nationalists claimed that Mizeki was a servant of colonialist rulers, but he knew he served Christ alone. As a consequence of his commitment he was killed and this was a sign that following Christ would be punished. Instead his martyrdom became a sign of resurrection and hope.

One Anglican leader said of him: “The love, courage and commitment of Bernard Mizeki to the Lord Jesus Christ and the Gospel he preached among the Mangwende people is an inspiration to us all as we suffer persecution,” he said.