Key Points:
- After a Tennessee United Methodist gave the Rev. Samuel Dzobo one dollar to build a new sanctuary in his Zimbabwe village, “miraculous things” unfolded.
- Dzobo United Methodist Church was dedicated in August, thanks to generous gifts of money and labor.
- The village is planning to construct a community hall that will be connected to the church to be used for weddings, meetings and other events.
Small acts of kindness and generosity can trigger far-reaching results. That is the case with a new sanctuary built in a rural Zimbabwe village.
Dedicated in August, Dzobo United Methodist Church’s new building is a product of a dollar donation in 2015 from the late Jo Hatfield of Mary’s Chapel United Methodist Church in Bean Station, Tennessee.
Hatfield donated 100 pennies to the Rev. Samuel Dzobo — then pastor of Mary’s Chapel and now Smoky Mountain and Tennessee Valley district associate — after he shared his dream of building a sanctuary in his home village.
Dzobo said he was warmly welcomed and loved by United Methodists worshipping in a Dzobo school classroom when he was 13. The village is named after his extended family. That introduction turned his life around, and Dzobo became a staunch United Methodist.
At 16, he preached for the first time. By age 24, he was an elder appointed to a congregation in the Hilltop circuit in Zimbabwe. Then he met the Rev. Gerald Russell, a United Methodist missionary at the time, who facilitated his coming to the United States.
“In 2015,” Dzobo recalled, “while serving at Mary’s Chapel … I shared my story about how I was unkempt but still invited to the house of the Lord at 13. I became a disciple of Jesus as a United Methodist. This story made an impression on Jo Hatfield, an elderly woman in my church.”
After the worship service, Hatfield asked Dzobo how she could help his home congregation. “I told her that my deepest desire was to build a house of worship in my village,” Dzobo replied, “so my home church could meet and worship there.”
He said Hatfield came back to the church later and took two rolls of pennies out of her purse and handed it to him. “She said, ‘Pastor Sam, go and build the church,’” Dzobo recalled.
Accepting the money, Dzobo asked Lois Carmon, the circuit treasurer, what to do with the little gift. He said she told him to pray for it.
Holding hands with Carmon, Dzobo prayed, “You are the God of miracles. I know you as the God who took five loaves and two fish, multiplied them and fed 5,000 people. I (place) this dollar into your hands. Bless it for the building of the church in my village. Amen.”
Carmon promised to create a line item in the budget, so that those who wanted to donate toward the building of the church in Dzobo’s village could do so.
“Miraculous things thereafter unfolded,” he said.
With about 35 in average worship attendance, Mary’s Chapel sent $48,000 over six years to build the sanctuary. The church raised most of the money, but other churches, including Colonial Heights United Methodist in Kingsport and Central United Methodist in Lenoir City, both in Tennessee, contributed funds, Dzobo said.
“A dollar in the hands of God produces wonders,” he added.
Amy Carmon, a member of Mary’s Chapel and daughter of Lois Carmon, expressed gratitude to the community of Dzobo “for making this project a success.”
Circuit lay leader Charity Nyamana said villagers made a lasting contribution to the project.
“We did not fold our hands during the construction. We actively participated through ferrying the bricks, sand and water to the site; excavating the foundation; and providing the most-needed manpower.
“We appreciate Rev. Dzobo and our partners for the financial support and the relationship established. Within the surrounding areas, there is no church like this with tiles and ceiling.”
Russell, now a retired pastor in the Holston Conference, called the sanctuary a dream come true.
“I am joyful to be with the community of Dzobo. Our dream has come true, and for that, I give thanks to the Lord.
“The church of the Lord is alive. Jesus Christ is coming and is waiting for his people to glorify and worship him. What a joyful moment to be here,” Russell said.
Bishop João Carlos Lopes of the Methodist Church in Brazil praised the connection of The United Methodist Church.
“I saw The UMC united. People from different countries (USA, Paraguay, Costa Rica and Zimbabwe) came to be part of this dedication.
“I hope this will be witnessed throughout the world because The United Methodist Church needs the feeling of unitedness. I am so excited to be part of this event, and I hope Zimbabwe will continue to grow.”
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Lopes said the sanctuary is beautiful and inviting. “I praise the Lord for it. I enjoyed the music. Beautiful voices led in worshipping the Lord in heaven.”
Bishop Eben K. Nhiwatiwa, who serves the Zimbabwe Episcopal Area, declared 2024 the year of jubilee. The Rev. Alan Masimba Gurupira, administrative assistant to the bishop, said it’s the perfect time to celebrate a new sanctuary.
“David was happy to go to the house of the Lord to worship because he knew that he would never be the same again, but, rather, would become a new creation, with a new vision and strength.”
Gurupira said the story of how the sanctuary came to be is fascinating.
“From a dollar to this sanctuary. It only needs spiritual eyes to realize that God can bless small gifts and multiply them. The legacy, which has been started by Rev. Dzobo, should not end here, but grow from generation to generation.
“I am very happy that this building has been presented to the Lord in the year of jubilee. Let us continue to build houses of the Lord.”
Happymore Nyamana, traditional leader for the Dzobo community, said Rev. Dzobo’s work is only the beginning.
“We are planning to construct a big community hall, which will be connected to this church to be used for weddings, meetings and other functions.
“God willing, we would like to establish a community garden,” he said, adding that so far that work has been hampered by a lack of water. “Our three attempts at drilling boreholes led to dry holes, but we have not given up on our dream. We have so many things in store for Dzobo. Just one dollar from the late Jo Hatfield catalyzed achievement of some of my desires.”
Hatfield did not live to see her dream become reality. She died of COVID in November 2021 at the age of 82. However, Hatfield still had one more gift to give. Her daughter donated her mother’s huge collection of books to Mary’s Chapel for a yard sale benefiting the church in Zimbabwe, the Holston Conference reported in 2022.
The Rev. Tendai Makono, Mutare District superintendent, said the new sanctuary is evidence that God is good.
“While others are thinking of leaving The United Methodist Church, I am still seeing the glory of God. The dedication of this sanctuary was an encouraging beginning. As a leader, I am thankful to the Lord, partners and episcopal leadership for their support.”
Chingwe is a UM News communicator in the Zimbabwe East Conference. Annette Spence of the Holston Conference contributed to this report.
News contact: Julie Dwyer, news editor, newsdesk@umcom.org or 615-742-5469. To read more United Methodist News, subscribe to the free Daily or Weekly Digests.
