Gospel crusade gathering in Tanzania – with no social distancing – led by Uganda’s Evangelist/Apostle John Sekalala. Image source: facebook.com/mulinde.umar
Social media in Uganda was awash with photos on Friday of a Pentecostal preacher said to be holding a mass gospel crusade in Tanzania, without observing any Covid-19 guidelines.
In an update, Pastor Umar Mulinde of Gospel Life Church International confirmed this development. He said the crusade was frontlined by Evangelist/Apostle John Sekalala, the founder of Eagles Miracle Center International located in Kampala.
“(The) gospel crusade is going on this very week in Tanzania,” he said, without disclosing more geographical detail.
“Whoever abused President Pombe Magufuli of Tanzania, when he declared that Jesus Christ is powerful than the pandemic and he refused colonialists orders of closing Churches, should repent now,” Pastor Mulinde stated.
In June, Tanzanian President John Magufuli claimed his country had eradicated coronavirus “by the grace of God,” but urged people to continue taking precautions.
Magufuli’s comments came in a speech at a church in the capital city of Dodoma. He attributed the achievement to citizen’s prayers, local health officials and the efforts of front line health care workers.
“It gives me joy to be the leader of a country that puts God first, God loves Tanzania,” Jamvi TV in Tanzania quoted the president as saying.
“The works of the devil will always be defeated in Tanzania because Tanzanians love God and that is why even the corona has been defeated by God,” Magufuli later told a Church congregation in the capital Dodoma.
Magufuli said he would never close down places of worship because the virus is “satanic” and therefore “cannot thrive in churches.”
Apart from the cases announced when the pandemic first broke in the country, the government has not been releasing any data on infections or deaths, reports show.
Magufuli said releasing the figures was causing unnecessary panic. Nevertheless, at the Ugandan border testing points, several Tanzanian lorry drivers tested positive last few months and were sent back. The President blamed the growing number of positive cases on “faulty test kits”.
Tanzania eased coronavirus restrictions as universities, high schools, and international travel points all reopened. Primary and secondary schools remain closed.
“As Uganda, Kenya, and Rwanda are still paying a heavy unbearable price for thinking that science can solve things better than God, in Tanzania the president put God first, he refused to close Churches and now things are very normal,” Pastor Mulinde went on.
Mulinde claims some Ugandans, Kenyans and Rwandans are now contemplating migration to Tanzania due to how the authorities have handled the pandemic.
“This morning (Friday, 04, 2020), another trustable friend of mine, a Pastor who has been preaching for more than 30 years, sent to me the following message “Wooow, this is great, glory be to God, I went back to Uganda through Dar salaam but you can think Tanzania is on another planet.” Ugandan preachers and Politicians, all have been said and done, but where is our faith in Gods Word and Power?” Umar Mulinde said.
Adding: “Surely, the Just shall Live by faith. Yes, Science can be practiced, but should be in ways which maintain faith in the almighty God.”
