A series of events, starting off with a couples Bible reading programme on the book of Ephesians, and subsequent study of the same book at a women’s meeting and church inspired a local pastor, Brenda Shoko, to pen a devotional study based on Ephesians to encourage believers in their walk of faith.
The devotional, Empowered for Purpose, is set to be officially launched in Harare on March 29.
Shoko said the series of meetings centred on Ephesians could not have been a coincidence, but a divine communication.
“I sensed the Holy Spirit’s gentle nudge to explore Ephesians more deeply so I started an in-depth personal study on the book. I experienced transformation through the themes like the believer’s identity in Christ, salvation by grace, unity of the church and many others found in the book, which inspired me to share my insights with others,” she said, explaining the themes that she explored in the debut devotional.
Another influence, Shoko said, was her passion for discipleship, and the devotional was a tool for spiritual growth.
“Above all writing as a form of ministry to me is an avenue that I believe I can make impact and influence people’s lives,” she said.
Shoko said her interest in the book of Ephesians was not initially intentional, but it has since transformed her life.
“The book of Ephesians is a book that I personally view as one that when understood can be really transformative. I hope readers will gain a deeper understanding of the Book of Ephesians and be able to apply it to their lives. I pray that as readers engage with the devotional, they can experience spiritual growth, transformation and grow in their fellowship with God,” she said.
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Shoko told Standard Style that the devotional will provide encouragement and hope to readers as they navigate life’s challenges while the book was particularly targeted at new believer’s seeking to grow spiritually.
Although she was inspired by a lot of Christian authors, Shoko particularly cited Rick Warren, Mensa Otabil, Priscilla Shirer, the late Myles Munroe and Bishop Tudor Bismarck as the leading lights in her writing journey.
“His insightful and practical writings have helped me to understand God’s purpose for my life especially one of his books, Purpose-Driven Life. I was encouraged to become more intentional and to make conscious choices that align with my values and God’s purpose for my life,” she said.
“Myles Munroe’s books have empowered me to take charge of my life, adopt a growth mindset and to embrace my uniqueness. I have also been inspired by his books on leadership, which have helped me to develop the skills and confidence that I need to lead effectively.”
The author said very few local authors have done devotionals based on a single book of the Bible mainly due to resource constraints while others were motivated by market dynamics.
“I also think authors may prioritise writing on more general topics or themes that are deemed more marketable or relevant to their audience rather than focusing on a specific book of the Bible.
However, I encourage authors to publish more of in-depth devotionals because they provide contextual relevance which can help readers to understand the biblical text within its original context,” she said.
