It was the dream Crusade of many a Christian, bringing together one of the leading evangelists of our time, Joyce Meyer, and one of the best selling gospel acts ever, Hillsong, right here on Zimbabwean soil. And from the pulpit it was the dream crusade of many an evangelist- 200 000* Gospel hungry people hanging onto your every word in a nation on the verge of a new epoch- during the week you turned 68.

The run up to the Joyce Meyer “Festival of Life” crusade was a feat in itself. It was one of the most advertised events that Zimbabwe has ever seen. On the billboard front, no event has ever taken up so much advertising space. In the months coming towards the crusade Econet Wireless converted their huge billboards all over Harare into giant Joyce-Meyer-and-Darlene-Zschech-Are-Coming adverts. Then there was a massive radio campaign, flyers, SMSes, newspapers- you could not miss it.

The results were impressive. Every single day of the crusade, for three days, 4-6 June, over 100 000 people thronged the Harare Civic Centre Grounds (behind Rainbow Towers) to listen to the powerful woman they had only ever seen on TV, DVDs and in magazines and to hear - live - the music that made Darlene Zschech and Hillsong famous the world over.

^ Part of the estimated 200 000 crowd that came out to listen to Meyer on Sunday.

Darlene is the former worship pastor of Hillsong Church. Hillsong made headlines when their 2004 live CD release, For All You've Done, reached Number 1 on the Australian national music charts.  Zschech's best known song is Shout to the Lord and according to her website is sung by an estimated 25–30 million churchgoers around the world every week.

Joyce Meyer is one of the most successful media evangelists of our time. Her television and radio programmes air in 25 languages in 200 countries, and she has written over 70 books on Christianity and positive living. She lives with husband Dave (married since January 7, 1967) near St. Louis, Missouri in the USA and the couple has four grown children.

^ Meyer tells the congregation about how she was abused by her father for over 15 years and how she overcame it through love.

According to Wikipedia Meyer owns several homes, travels in a private jet and has come under criticism from some of her peers for living an excessive lifestyle. She claims that she doesn't have to defend her spending habits because "there’s no need for us to apologise for being blessed."

Joyce Meyer's ministry feeds over 20 000 orphans in Zimbabwe.

Her over arching message to Zimbabwe was that of love. She told of how she was abused sexually by her hateful unrepentant father for over 15 years and only won his soul for Jesus through acts of selfless love many years later. “If Zimbabwe is to prosper the hatred and division needs to end,” she said in her final sermon on Sunday to the loud cheers of the crowd.

Prime Minister, Morgan Tsvangirai was among those present on Sunday and there were loud cheers when his face appeared on the huge screens placed next to the stage.

The stage itself is a story to be told. It took over a week to set it up. The sound system, lights and other equipment were powered by a huge generator in a truck backstage.

Parts of the crusade were screened live on ZTV.

It was Joyce Meyer’s 68th birthday on Friday, the day the Festival of Life Crusade began. She was born on June 4, 1943.

- The Zimbo Jam

* Estimate sourced from event organisers.

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Nadia   |2010-06-07 13:49:07 This was the most awesome crusade I have ever been to. I was amazed that so many people came. It was totally unbelievable. Reply 0   0

Amy   |2010-06-09 02:13:03 Love will set us free. I agree with Joyce. Reply 0   0

Joyce Fan   |2010-06-09 02:19:02 On Friday we got there just before six and there weren't that any people- then the floodgates opened and in like thirty minutes it resembled the scene of a rock concert. I am still amazed by the response. There were SO many people it was unbelievable. The cheers were thunderous. Thank you Joyce Meyer for coming to Zim and for your powerful messages. Reply 0   0

Meyer Madness   |2010-06-09 05:40:59 Hatisati tambowona zvakadai muZimbabwe. This is a sign for those with the right mindset. Position yourselves. Great things are coming to our country. Reply 0   0

Son of David   |2010-06-09 06:40:42 Thank you Sister Joyce. Thank you. Thank you. God bless you. Reply 0   0

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