Rev. Stephen Bapiro’s first words to me were, “This comes from my heart: we cannot begin to tell you how much we appreciate all the prayers that have been said for the staff of TWR-Zimbabwe and our country.  We can see the hand of God in our lives and we know that God is in control.  There are times that we have questions, but I am assured that God is with us all the time.” 

These very encouraging words of faith are spoken by a gentle and peaceful man who lives in one of the most troubled countries in the world today.

The country of Zimbabwe has made worldwide headlines due to political issues and a humanitarian crisis, yet the staff at the TWR office in Harare has continued to work tirelessly to spread the message of Jesus Christ among a desperate people.

The TWR-Zimbabwe office runs on only two full-time staff members.  Rev. Bapiro says that they have strong networks with other Christian organisations, though, and so ensure that “the show must go on”.  He believes in the power of partnerships and uses Pastor Asafa Mkang’a as an example.  Pastor Mkang’a produces Thru The Bible in African English and has said that God is opening doors into many homes through TTB.

TWR-Zimbabwe continues to prepare and broadcast programmes covering biblical teachings, HIV/AIDS and related issues, topics for children and youth, Tools for Wise Leadership as well as Farming God’s Way.  In fact, the response to Farming God’s Way has been so overwhelming that the programme is currently being translated into Shona, Swahili and French.  Pilot programmes in these languages have already been produced.

It was decided recently that Tools for Wise Leadership will also be translated and plans are in process to complete this task.

Rev. Bapiro is a remarkable man.  He grew up as an orphan attending a missionary school approximately 200 km north-east of Harare.  It was during his school years that a Sunday school teacher, who was passionate about God, spoke to young Stephen’s heart and he accepted Christ as his personal Saviour.  After he completed his schooling, he felt that God was calling him to the ministry and went to theological college.

He became part of a teaching ministry to high school pupils.  One of his team members completed a course in radio ministry in the USA and Stephen was asked to do some Bible teachings on radio.  He soon became a regular on the radio and eventually became a full-time radio producer for The Evangelical Alliance Mission (TEAM).

At that time, TWR’s new studio in Swaziland used to broadcast TEAM’s programmes and a relationship developed between TEAM and TWR.  When TEAM closed its radio ministry in 1989, TWR-Africa approached Rev. Bapiro to join the TWR-team.  The rest is proverbial history.

The TWR-Zimbabwe office is passionate about TWR’s “wholistic* approach” and Rev. Bapiro emphasises that it is their goal to empower the people who listen to God’s Word.  “We are encouraged and exited to see God’s hand in our ministry.”  Let us continue to pray for the country of Zimbabwe - for God’s love and peace to be manifest.

(* - TWR chose to spell the word Wholistic as opposed to Holistic to minimize connotations with new-age ideology)

Published 22 August 2008