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Since the early 2000s PCCs have constituted the fastest growing religious group in Zimbabwe. They often host ‘crusades’, which are events that draw many people. Each church has a different labels for their crusades. Considering only the churches selected for this study, crusades are known as ‘Missions’ at ZAOGA, as ‘Judgement Nights’ at UFIC, and as ‘Nights of Turn Around’ at PHD Ministries. Mhara (2015:1) notes that PHD Ministries leader, Walter Magaya, attracted 350 000 people in 2014 to the church’s third ‘Night of Turn Around’ conference. In 2015 he attracted 600 000 to their fourth ‘Night of Turn Around’ conference. During his weekly service Magaya attracts up to 200 000 people (www.newzimbabwevision.com). According to Mambo (2016:1), Makandiwa’s UFIC is one of the largest Pentecostal churches in Zimbabwe. Its ever-popular ‘Judgement Nights’ draw tens of thousands of followers to the giant National Sports stadium every year, and every Sunday close to 40 000 congregates gather for a service (www.theindependent.co.zw). These are not the only churches to attract huge crowds to rallies where miracles are performed. According to Chiyindiko (2016), Spirit Embassy (rebranded as the Good News Church in 2015) continues to flourish under the leadership of Prophet Uebert Angel, with branches in Harare, Bulawayo, Gweru, Kwekwe, Zaka, Bhora, Chiredzi and Triangle. The secret behind their success is that they teach people how to overcome various personal crises. Many Pentecostal Christians attend big events in the hope of being healed. Claims of miraculous healings are typical of these events. For example, it is alleged that people’s broken legs were healed, and crutches have been thrown onto the stage as evidence. Obviously, such claims do not necessarily mean that people have been healed. (Anyone can throw crutches on a stage and make unsupported claims.) In order to substantiate these claims, they would have to be subjected to expert medical evaluation. As we saw, Lauren Berlant (2011) calls hope a ‘cruel optimism’. This kind of optimism manifests itself as a cluster of promises. As a counterbalance, critical thinking is required. At PHD Ministries people are taken to ‘holy ground’, where all sorts of physical afflictions are miraculously removed. James, one of my interviewees, was moved by the healings he witnessed and the power of Magaya. He said:

I was moved by how people were being healed and being cured their diseases. As well as how they were being delivered from demonic attacks and spiritual attacks. It just moved me; it was something else, which I had never seen. I also witnessed the powerful teaching from the man of God, Prophet W. Magaya. It changed my life for good. I really appreciate the teaching and I believe it shall produce fruitful results in my life. I think it is because of the economic hardships in the country. People are facing many problems; there is poverty. Also, poverty triggers many types of diseases. People are now turning to PHD Ministries for healing services. So, I think the main reason is the economic hardships that we are facing as a country. Also, people are shifting their traditions to the man of God. People are no longer going to the traditional healers, but are now turning out to Pentecostal churches to witness the power of God.23

There should be no doubt that one of the reasons why people are flocking to PCCs is their claims of miracles. According to Chitando and Biri (2016:79), Magaya arrived on the scene with claims of being an accomplished miracle worker. Among these claims was the report that Magaya had healed a mentally ill Chitungwiza man by praying for him. Purportedly, this man had suffered for 30 years. It was also reported that a house was built for this man by the prophet. It was further reported that a man who was blind for three years was healed by Magaya. Magaya attracted the marginalised in society, including sex workers and strippers. This was a distinctive dimension of his ministry during its initial stages. The location of PHD Ministries is also significant. It is opposite Zindoga shopping centre; a popular place for sex workers, weekend parties and other ‘unholy’ activities. Having a church there might be a direct challenge to these activities, but it is also an ideal opportunity for evangelism. Sex workers have reportedly been prayed for and delivered from their lifestyles. Yet, some of these reports attract criticism and controversy for this ‘man of God’. Critics claim that Magaya’s efforts at converting strippers, sex workers and secular musicians are not motivated by the divine command to preach the gospel to all, but are a publicity stunt designed to bring his movement into the news. Chitando and Biri (2016:81) argue that, for Magaya, the end justifies the means. Miracles are also central to the popularity of the Universal

Church of the Kingdom of God, according to Van der Kamp (2016:2) and Van Wyk (2014:24).

During December of 2013, Makandiwa (UFIC) performed a miracle whereby people found money in their bank accounts and pockets (www.herald.co.zw/2013-the- curious-case-of-miracle-money). The Minister of Finance Gideon Gono, who was also there, was duly impressed, commenting that people will flock to Zimbabwe from all over the world, because what the prophets were doing was religious tourism. Miracles are therefore seen as a way to stimulate tourism globally, while also influencing the economies of many countries positively. It is believed that global economies will benefit substantially if people flock to Zimbabwe to experience miracles. Zimbabwe just needs to harness the interest coming its way from Christians all over the globe as they seek direction from God through these prophets. Religious tourism is seen as something that will positively affect Zimbabwe’s economy and that it needs to be maximised so that the country and benefit from its endowments. Minister Mzembi said that the country is expecting 3.2 million visitors in 2015, many of whom will be tourists visiting for religious and spiritual reasons. Religious tourism has the potential to generate a high demand for transport, food, social amenities and even banking facilities. This could lead to the creation of more jobs and small businesses, especially in the hospitality industry. In fact, religious tourism, and prophets of God in particular, are critical to the implementation of the Zimbabwe Agenda for Sustainable Socio- Economic Transformation. Giving them, due recognition will bode well for this economy (Ruzvidzo, 10 April 2014).

In addition to the positive effect it could have on tourism, miracles also give people hope and maintain their hope. Miracles are therefore yet another feature of religion that provides and sustains hope. Based on Snyder’s theory of hope, hope increases life satisfaction and decreases psychopathology (i.e., internalising and externalising behaviours) in people’s lives. Furthermore, hope serves as a moderator when people face stressful life events. It reduces the adverse effects of stressful life events and provides excellent support, because hope is a psychological strength. The UFIC is a living testimony of Snyder’s theory of hope and how it can manifest itself, especially when considering the words of motivation spoken to congregants by its founder. Thousands have witnessed the manifestation of power in unfathomable and mind- blowing ways (http://ufiministries.org/about.php). Outstanding miracles, signs and

wonders are everyday occurrences at UFIC services. When I attended these services, I saw people being healed, people standing up from their wheelchairs, the manifestation of demons, and a miracle of weight loss. It was not possible for me to determine whether these miracles were real or staged. What is important for our purpose is that the people I interviewed all believed that these miracles were real. The UFIC owns a free-to-air channel: Christ TV. Through Christ TV, the message of Christ is taken to the nations, impacting millions with world-class, relevant and inspiring Christian viewing. UFIC also has vibrant departments, such as ‘Victorious

Ladies’ and other charities, youth groups and single women’s groups – all of which have had a positive impact on society. Van der Kamp (2016) shows that the UCKG also airs its services on different media platforms, aiming to get more converts. The three churches selected for this study all have their own Television channels and make use of social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and WhatsApp. One of the reasons people flock to these churches is that they feel inspired by the testimonies of others on Television and social media. These testimonies are powerful and provide people with hope. When it comes to miraculous signs and wonders, the issue should perhaps not be whether or not they are authentic, but rather that they are a source of hope for ordinary people that their life circumstances might change. The charismatic and emotional way in which these miracles are presented in PCCs and on their Television channels is particularly powerful and able to instil hope. Living in the economic crisis in Zimbabwe at the moment means that for most people a miracle is the only way in which they will be able to get a job or improve their lives.

Girish (2010:443) is of the view that the Pentecostal churches in Africa are more popular among the relatively powerless, including young educated people and middle- aged women who are attempting to move up the economic ladder, either through business or trade. Back (2015) argues that hope inspires people to realise their intrinsic worth, motivating them beyond their own challenges to enthusiastically embrace the joy and possibility of living fruitful lives. According to Meyer (1998b), ‘in Pentecostal churches people find solutions to the changing world and to address these challenges.’

You know I was seeking for help. There were so many things that were happening in my life. One of these days I attended the turnaround services and indeed my life was turned around. I wasn’t working, I had spiritual attacks; all I can say is that the burden was too much. I wasn’t working; now I’m working, and I’m cleansed from all demonic attacks.24

I then asked him: ‘What kind of attacks were you experiencing? Were they spiritual or physical?’. Lloyd responded:

I had spiritual husbands and spiritual wives. I used to see myself having sexual intercourse with men and women. All sort of things was happening, and I went to PHD Ministries and I was given the anointing oil by Walter Magaya. And all these things vanished like a vapour instantly.