Fourteen church ministers, comprising seven men and seven women drawn from different denominations and cities across Zimbabwe, have been ordained into full-time ministry, in a move that underscored the growing importance of interdenominational cooperation and unity among churches.
The ministers, who came from Harare, Mutare and Bulawayo, were ordained at a ceremony held under the auspices of the God Generals International Fraternity (GGIF), after completing their studies at Daybreak Bible College.
Guest of honour Reverend Bishop Udenge said the ordination marked an important transition for the 14 graduates, giving them the authority and mandate to fully execute their calling in the Church.
“I’ve been here today to participate in the ordination of the Servants of God through the auspices of the God Generals Fraternity, an umbrella body that brings many churches together,” Bishop Udenge said.
He said the diversity of the newly ordained ministers demonstrated the fraternity’s role in creating a platform where people from different churches could come together for a common purpose.
“As you can see, some came all the way from Mutare; some from Bulawayo; and some here in Harare from different churches for ordination. They’ve gone through the Daybreak Bible College studies, and they have now been ordained into full ministry,” he said.
Bishop Udenge explained that ordination represented a significant step beyond ministerial training, as the ministers were now formally entrusted with responsibilities associated with full-time ministry.
“This is to give them a licence that they are full-time in ministry, unlike what they were as students. And now ordination simply means they’ve now been given the mandate and authority to go in their call,” he said.
He added that the newly ordained ministers could now perform various church functions, including baptism, confirmation and the administration of sacraments.
“Also, the ordination means they can now baptize, confirm, and minister sacraments in the Church of God, as full-time ministers,” Bishop Udenge said.
He, however, urged the ministers not to view ordination merely as recognition or elevation, but as a call to greater responsibility, humility and service.
“My message to them is simply to know that ordination wants them to be humble. Ordination means sacrifice. Ordination means saving the people of God,” he said.
Speaking at the same ceremony, Bishop Dr Aderino Nyabanga, President and Founder of GGIF and founder of Daybreak Bible College, said the fraternity was deliberately positioned as a bridge connecting churches and Christian leaders rather than as another church or denomination.
“God’s Generals International Fraternity is a Kingdom leadership fellowship and strategic platform connecting, equipping, mentoring and mobilizing pastors and Kingdom leaders across churches, denominations, cities, nations and continents for greater spiritual and societal impact,” he said.
He stressed that GGIF did not seek to replace local churches or compete with existing denominations, but instead sought to create relationships that would enable churches and their leaders to work together.
“We are not a church, but we are in the Church. We do not replace local churches, compete with denominations, recruit members away from ministries or seek to create another ecclesiastical structure,” he said.
He said the fraternity’s strength lay in bringing Christians from different backgrounds together around common objectives, arguing that differences in denomination, culture and tradition should not prevent cooperation.
“The question is no longer: ‘Which church are you from?’ but: ‘What can we accomplish together for the Kingdom of God?’” Bishop Nyabanga said.
He described this approach as “unity without uniformity”, saying churches did not have to become structurally identical for their leaders to cooperate.
“We may have different worship expressions, traditions, administrative structures and theological emphases. But where we genuinely share the central confession and mission of Christ, those differences should not automatically become walls,” he said.
He also challenged church leaders to move away from unhealthy competition and instead embrace collaboration, saying different ministers possessed different strengths which, when brought together, could generate greater impact.
“We must move from my church to God’s Kingdom; from my platform to Kingdom purpose; from my members to souls to be won; from my denomination to the Body of Christ; from ‘Who gets credit?’ to ‘Who gets the glory?’” he said.
He said GGIF’s vision was anchored on bridging generations, building Kingdom leaders and reaching nations, with mentorship and the transfer of knowledge between generations forming an important part of its mission.
“We need fathers and mothers who are willing to pour into sons and daughters. We need younger ministers who are humble enough to learn from those who have gone before them,” Bishop Nyabanga said.
He said the Church needed to develop leaders capable of making an impact beyond the pulpit, including in business, education, communities and other areas of society.
“The Church does not only need people who can preach. We need leaders who can think, solve problems, build institutions, manage resources, mentor people, understand society and represent Christ with integrity,” he said.
Bishop Nyabanga said GGIF would continue building networks of Christian leaders across cities, provinces, nations and continents while allowing individual churches to retain their identities.
The ordination ceremony therefore provided not only recognition for the newly ordained ministers, but also highlighted an emerging model of cooperation in which ministers from different denominations can train, fellowship and serve alongside one another while maintaining their respective church identities.
Bishop Dr Aderino Nyabanga is a seasoned minister of the Gospel, life and business coach, financial literacy mentor and author with extensive training in theology, coaching and mentoring.
He is the founder of Daybreak International Ministries, Daybreak Bible Institute, Daybreak International Charity Foundations, God’s Generals International Fraternity and Legacy Builders Global Hub, among other initiatives.
He also serves in various international Christian leadership capacities, including as Country Director of Adullam Bible Institute in the United States and Country Programmes Coordinator for Christian Leaders Fellowship in South Korea.
Beyond his ministry work, Nyabanga is involved in coaching, marriage and relationship mentorship, youth and women’s empowerment, prison and hospital ministry, charity and philanthropic initiatives, including supporting orphans and vulnerable children with school fees.
He has ministered in several African countries and South Korea and has authored 10 books covering leadership, ministry, relationships, marriage, spiritual warfare, entrepreneurship and personal development.
His work has earned him several coaching and mentorship awards, including Coach of the Decade in 2025.
New Ziana
