How Mum's Death Sparked off Thoughts of Eternal Life: The Afterlife

By Tsitsi Dorcas Jongwe

This book about ’How Mum’s Death Sparked Off Thoughts of Eternal Life’, is a fast moving narrative of how the death of a woman who was described as a virtuous woman by her community and the wider community, triggered thoughts of eternal life in many people, particularly the author herself.
The author, Tsitsi Dorcas Jongwe is a daughter of an Anglican Cleric and has had wide experience of practical Christian spirituality in a family of a parish Priest, Reverend Canon Lazarus Muyambi and wife Irene Neddie Muyambi of the Anglican Diocese of Central Zimbabwe.
Tsitsi is moved to a deeper reflection about eternal life and its meaning after the death of her mother on 21st of November 2016. She provides a wonderful, clear and helpful reflection on the subject of life after death and eternal life.
Tsitsi articulates a true and unique life of Neddie, the virtuous woman of Zimbabwe in Africa; whose clear hope and belief in eternal life was the strong source of inspiration for many. The book further provokes thoughts about modern and ancient Christian spirituality in preparation for the unavoidable eternal life.
Critical theological and dogmatic concepts of the purgatory, limbo, resurrection, heaven, hades, hell, Judgment, paradise and many others are explored in detail. There is greater clarity on the relationship between the living and the dead for the avoidance of syncretism and propagation of pure and clean Christian spirituality.
The greater fears of the uncertain relations between the dead and the living are well discussed and clearly explained, at least from scriptural experience.
Rev. Father Albert Mvundla Ncube

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris UK
• Release date: Oct 21, 2019
• ISBN: 9781984589927

Tsitsi Dorcas Jongwe

The author, Tsitsi Dorcas Jongwe was born on 27th July 1963 in Hwange, Zimbabwe. She wrote this autobiography in memory and tribute to her late mother, Irene Neddie Muyambi. Tsitsi had a religious and spiritual upbringing, with both her parents being active members of the Anglican Church in Zimbabwe. She wrote her first book titled `Christian Healing Mission in Gokwe, Zimbabwe' in 1992, it was an autobiography about her father, Reverend Canon Lazarus Muyambi's Christian missionary work in Zimbabwe. She holds a certificate in Education, BA in English and Communication Studies degree with the University of Zimbabwe, and also a BA (Honours) with Specialisation in Applied Linguistics with the University of South Africa. She is currently based in Birmingham, United Kingdom with her husband, Godsen and their two youngest children, Rabson and Redemption.

Book preview

How Mum’s Death

Sparked Off Thoughts Of

Eternal Life

The Afterlife

TSITSI DORCAS JONGWE

Copyright © 2019 by Tsitsi Dorcas Jongwe.

ISBN:      Softcover      978-1-9845-8991-0

                eBook            978-1-9845-8992-7

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

Scripture quotations marked NIV are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved. [Biblica]

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

Rev. date: 10/21/2019

Xlibris

800-056-3182

www.Xlibrispublishing.co.uk

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About the Author, Tsitsi Dorcas Jongwe:

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Tsitsi Dorcas Jongwe who is a former teacher holds a Certificate in Education from The United College of Education (UCE) in Zimbabwe. In addition, she holds a Degree in English and Communication Studies from the Zimbabwe Open University (ZOU), as well as an Honours Degree in Applied Linguistics from the University of South Africa (UNISA). So far, she has received two awards, namely, ‘Women of Purpose Excellence Recognition Awards’ from BIPER AWARDS; and also ‘Extraordinary African Women Achiever Awards (EAWA): Celebrating Amazon women’. This latest work which focuses on life after death, is her fourth book.

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You may also wish to read ‘Irene Neddie Muyambi, the Virtuous Woman’–a book that gives an in-depth description of the charitable deeds of Irene Neddie, as well as her strong faith in God. Throughout history, women are known to play a crucial role towards church growth. The lives they touch become a testimonial for those who come after they have departed from this world.

This book narrates the inspiring spiritual journey of Irene Neddie Muyambi, often described as The Virtuous Woman (Jongwe 2018), a woman of substance and the woman of Proverbs 31. Her biography aptly captures how Muyambi wholeheartedly devoted her entire life to serve God through her deeds and kindness towards the sick, the homeless, the abandoned infants and the outcasts.

This book highlights her works alongside her husband’s, Canon Lazarus Muyambi, in the area of building a healing centre, an orphanage, a clinic, a primary and secondary school, as well as a convent for the nuns of the ‘Community of Holy Fire’. The book also features testimonies from different individuals in Zimbabwe, and the events that took place before and after her death. According to Jongwe, ‘Irene Neddie Muyambi, the virtuous woman’ is a call for a strong faith in God.

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Mum’s coffin in church

WRITTEN IN HONOUR OF REVEREND CANON LAZARUS MUYAMBI AND IRENE NEDDIE MUYAMBI, THE VIRTUOUS WOMAN

And I heard a voice from heaven saying, Write this down: those who die in Christ or in the Lord are blessed, for they will rest from their labour; for their good deeds follow them (Revelation 14:13).

CONTENTS

Foreword 1

Foreword 2

Foreword 3

Acknowledgement

Preface

Chapter 1    Thoughts Of Eternal Life Sparked Off By Mum’s Funeral

Chapter 2    Avalanche Of Tributes For Irene Neddie Muyambi

Chapter 3    The Afterlife And Dreams About The Dead

Chapter 4    How Can We Prepare For Eternal Life In Heaven?

Chapter 5    The Widower

Chapter 6    Reverend Canon Lazarus Muyambi’s Views On Eternal Life

Chapter 7    Certain Perceptions About Eternal Destiny

Chapter 8    The Intermediate State

Chapter 9    Immortality Of The Soul

Chapter 10    What Is Eternal Life?

Chapter 11    Are You Guaranteed Of Eternal Life?

Chapter 12    Islamic Perspectives Of Eternal Life

Chapter 13    How Is This Life Related To The Next?

Chapter 14    The Embodiment Of Human Deeds Vis-À-Vis Eternity

Chapter 15    Death And Afterlife In Hinduism

Chapter 16    Death And Afterlife In Buddhism

Chapter 17    Death And Afterlife As Seen By African Traditional Religion

Chapter 18    What Does It Really Mean To Be Saved By Grace?

Chapter 19    Testimonies Of Those Who Have Died And Resurrected

Chapter 20    How Someone Can Be Saved Eternally

Chapter 21    Did Jesus Truly Exist? Evidence From Bystanders

Chapter 22    Heaven Or Hell; The Choice Is Yours

Conclusion

Epilogue

Author’s Background

Bibliography

FOREWORD 1

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Rev. Father Albert Mvundla Ncube

Many Christians believe in the ‘life to come’ as enshrined in the Creed. In fact, eternal life occupies a prime spot in Christ’s message of salvation. Tsitsi Dorcas Jongwe is the daughter of an Anglican Cleric and has had wide experience of practical Christian spirituality in the family of a Parish Priest, Reverend Canon Lazarus Muyambi and wife, Neddie Muyambi (nee Mashinya) of the Anglican Diocese of Central Zimbabwe, Church of the Province of Central Africa. She was moved to a deeper reflection about eternal life and its meaning after the death of her mother, Irene Neddie on 21st November 2016. She provides a wonderful, clear and helpful reflection on the subject of eternal life.

The author articulates the true and unique life of Neddie, the virtuous woman of Zimbabwe in Africa and the aftermath of her death. In Zimbabwe today, the name Neddie is almost synonymous with virtuous woman.

Her good works are narrated in a thought provoking manner that moves the reader to confession and prayer (See Jongwe, T.D. 2018). The clear hope and belief in eternal life was the strong source of inspiration for Neddie. As a matter of fact, having known Neddie for 30 years, I believe a day would not have passed without her talking about or praying for eternal life.

This book by her own daughter does not only make Neddie alive in the heart of the communities where she served, but also symbolizes one of the greatest tributes a daughter can pay to her wonderful mother. The book further provokes thoughts about modern and ancient Christian spirituality in preparation for the unavoidable eternal life. Critical theological and dogmatic concepts of the Purgatory, Limbo, Resurrection, Heaven and Hell are explored in detail. Again, there is greater clarity on the relationship between the living and the dead, for the avoidance of syncretism and propagation of pure and clean Christian spirituality.

The fears and uncertainties of any relationship between the living and the dead are properly explained from Scriptural and experiential perspectives. These fears manifested strongly amongst the local Christians during Neddie’s burial at a private chapel.

The localized controversy seems to provoke the same questions raised by Tsitsi Dorcas: Where is Neddie? Is she in paradise, heaven, purgatory or in the chapel? Can she have any influence on those who come to worship in the chapel? Can she still come back to the family? Where is her soul? Where is her spirit? The loose ends to these questions and the controversy are left untied up for theological reasons, and yet personal reflections as one reads the book will provide an insight to the answers.

An inter-religious approach to the question of eternal life is adopted. Like many modern scholars, Tsitsi is persuaded that Christian Theology is informed by many other non-Christian sources and attests that God gives insight and wisdom to all people, and she is strongly stimulated to explore the various beliefs on eternal life as it relates to Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism and African Traditional Religion, as the case may be.

She also has a good reference to Indigenous African Religious belief systems and spiritual world view and observes a poor and polarized theological base for the local Christians whose theology is still based on the belief on ancestral spirits and avoids deeper reflections and explorations in that direction, so as to avoid unnecessary controversies. Interestingly, she allows the various religions to dialogue and share notes on this important subject matter.

While there are millions of books that have been written on this subject, her work is unique in that she explores the subject from Zimbabwean and African perspective. In her book, we are treated to an illuminating theological eschatology and consummation based on practical Christian theology and spirituality. The book is fully packed with great wisdom. The chapters in this book that keep an eye on eternal life are worth the price of the book.

I strongly recommend this book to people, having found it to be spiritually challenging and highly inspirational.

Rev. Father Albert Mvundla Ncube’s brief profile:

• Rector of St James the Great Mission, Nyamandlovu

• Anglican Diocese of Matabeleland in Zimbabwe

• MA Religious Studies (Theology) from the University of Zimbabwe

• BA Special Honours in Religious Studies (Theology) from the University of Zimbabwe.

• BA Honours in Religious Studies and Theology from the Zimbabwe Open University

• Diploma in Theology from TEEC, South Africa

Written by Rev. Father Albert Mvundla Ncube

FOREWORD 2

Traditionally, eternal life refers to continued life after death as outlined in Christian eschatology. It refers to life behind the grave, so to speak.

The Apostles Creed testifies – ‘I believe in the resurrection of the body and life everlasting’.

When the Bible speaks about eternal life, it refers to the gift of God that only comes through faith in Jesus our Lord (Romans 6:23).

The gift of eternal life comes to those who believe in Jesus Christ, who Himself is the resurrection and the life (John 11:25). Thus, this life is eternal and perpetual, hence it goes on and on without end.

Eternal life must not be seen as an unending progression of years. In fact, it is not associated with years at all, as it is independent of time.

I must admit that this is not an easy topic to handle, as the author has chosen to look at what other faith practices believe, in order to come up with a common understanding of the topic.

In my view, it might be helpful to conclude by pointing out that eternal life is something Christians experience now. Believers do not have to wait for eternal life, because it is not something that starts when they die. Rather, eternal life begins the moment one exercises faith in Christ. It can be viewed as our current possession. John 6:36 says, Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life. Note that the believer has (present tense) this life.

It is also important to point out that on the Judgment Day, some people who in spite of their claims to be followers of Christ, would be disappointed and denied by Him, with these frightening words I never knew you, depart from me, you evil doers! (Matthew 7:23).

Thus, eternal life is not for those who do not believe in God. It is on the basis of one’s relationship with the Creator of mankind.

Written by Reverend Canon Edias Basvi.

FOREWORD 3

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Reverend Canon Lameck Mutete

John was blessed with the opportunity to see heaven in a revelation: Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband (Revelation 21:1-2). It was further revealed that on that day, the very tabernacle of God would be with humans (Revelation21:3). All pains, sufferings and tears will be wiped away (Revelation 21:4).

Today, many people claim that their dead relatives are at peace. However, it is important to think of how best we can prepare ourselves or our relatives for eternal rest with the Lord Jesus Christ who says, And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me so that you may be where I am (John 14:3).

John was translated to heaven as described in Revelation Chapter 21. This Chapter is perhaps the best description of heaven that we know of. John described his experiences in Revelation 21:10-27 about how he was carried away in the Spirit to a high mountain and was shown the Holy City, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven. It shone with the glory of God, and its brilliance was like that of a very precious jewel, like a