Temporary Church structure up and running in Epworth, Zimbabwe

Epworth is an informal settlement, just outside of Zimbabwe’s capital city, Harare. For years it has been absorbing the overspill from the city, with people who are unable to afford living in the capital pushed out into Epworth.

Employment opportunities are scarce and girls as young as 9 years old are known to be involved in sex work. The settlement has no proper road network, house planning, sewer system or water reticulation plan. National issues of political and economic instability, including a spiraling food shortage, has only worsened conditions for the residents of Epworth.

SPT has helped a church with an ambitious vision, to purchase a plot of land in order to help them bring hope to an area of extreme poverty and misery.

Along with a new church building, the future plans include:

• a safe space of welcome where addicts and sex workers can get access to support, meals, counselling or vocational training.

• homes for orphans and widows

• agricultural plots

• business units

This is a bigger building project than is typical for SPT to support, but we see the need in this area as particularly urgent.

While funding is raised for the long-term building project, SPT has helped Christ Mission-Ministries to construct a structure, so the congregation can begin to gather and worship on the site. This structure won’t be demolished when the other buildings are complete, but instead will be used for activities such as the children’s ministry on Sundays.