AFM UK Church Drama, Father Accuses Pastor of Romantic Overtures to Daughter
Man cause stir on altar
The controversial Apostolic Faith Mission (AFM) church has been thrust back into the spotlight after a video emerged of a man accusing a church pastor of making romantic overtures to his daughter in Evesham, United Kingdom.
The video, which has gone viral, shows a visibly angry congregant disrupting a Sunday service at the AFM Evesham assembly that serves Birmingham.
The man accused the church of harbouring a pervert who had made romantic advances towards his daughter. Speaking in Shona in front of the congregation, he said he was disturbed because he had trusted the man and had even allowed him to lay his hands on his head.
AFM Evesham church has not yet commented on the trending video. AFM is one of the fastest-growing Zimbabwean churches, now with branches in the United Kingdom, United States, South Africa, Botswana, Zambia and Malawi. The church, attended mostly by young people, has a strong social media presence.
In the clip, the man — wearing a grey and black striped t-shirt and blue jeans — is seen standing at the pulpit, shouting and gesturing while holding a black jacket which he at one point throws to the floor. The pastor, tries to calm him down as the congregation watches in stunned silence.
Part of his complaint can be heard clearly: “Why are we here? I trusted this guy… Hatidi mhombwe muchechi muno” [We don’t want perverts in this church].
The video, recorded by a churchgoer, has been widely shared
The claim that a pastor made romantic advances towards a young woman has drawn mixed feelings online.
The incident has reignited the “Same church ” debate — a phrase many Zimbabweans in the diaspora use to refer to the recurring leadership, governance and personal disputes that have followed AFM assemblies both at home and in the UK.
The Evesham branch, which draws worshippers from around Birmingham, is yet to issue an official statement on the allegations or the disruption
The clip ends with a woman in a white dress intervening and leading the man away from the pulpit, leaving the service unsettled. – FV #people #church