A Personal Journey with a True Patriarch – Dr. Washington M Rupapa

There are encounters in life that do not merely pass through time—they etch themselves into the very fabric of your soul. They serve as quiet, holy markers that remind us of where we came from, who we are called to be, and the sacred shoulders upon which our generation stands. My journey alongside Dr. Washington M Rupapa has been nothing short of a divine, transformative pilgrimage.

Sacred Sitting Rooms and Humbled Hearts

It began on a serene Sunday afternoon when my wife, Shammah, and I visited Bishop Dr W. Rupapa at his home.

As Shammah Chidakwa Bhero joined Dr. Getrude Rupapa in the kitchen, I found myself sitting in the lounge across from a patriarch—a man I had revered from a distance since my youth. For over an hour, he probed with a loving, fatherly inquisition, gently drawing out the deep thoughts of my heart and breathing wisdom into my spirit. Dining with them that afternoon was a moment frozen in time—a surreal grace for a boy who once only dreamed of shaking his hand.

That afternoon, sensing the vast reservoir of history and spiritual authority residing within him, I asked him a question that burned in my conscience: “Bishop, when will you pen down your biography? You have so much to give to our generation.” With characteristic grace, he smiled and revealed he was already working on something, promising to let me know when plans matured.

Years earlier, as a young boy in Tafara, I had watched then-Overseer Rupapa step up to the pulpit. He preached with an unmistakable, thunderous divine authority that captured my young heart. Fast forward to the early days of my marriage to Shammah: filled with reverence, I sought his contact and invited him and Mai Rupapa to our modest home for dinner—despite the fact that he was then serving as the Secretary-General of ZAOGA Forward in Faith (FIF).

We had no sofas in our living room. We sat in anxious apprehension, wondering if we had overstepped our bounds by inviting a leader of his stature into our humble space. But the moment they walked through the door, the atmosphere shifted. Sensing our uneasiness, Bishop Rupapa broke the ice with warm humor, telling us stories of how they themselves had started with virtually nothing, assuring us that the God of Archbishop Ezekiel Guti would faithfully bless our journey. Mai Rupapa stepped straight into our small kitchen, helping Shammah prepare dinner while they spoke life into our young marriage. When they prayed over us and drove off into the night, they left an indelible fragrance of Christ in our home.

When our firstborn son arrived, we took him to Bishop Rupapa on another Sunday afternoon. He cradled our boy, declaring blessings over him and dedicating him unto the Lord.

Before we left, Mama Rupapa packed us a container of warm scones, peanut butter, and goodies. To see a leader of such global stature condescend to our level was a profound, humbling masterclass in true Christian humility.

I remember another afternoon when he visited our local assembly. I happened to be standing outside during the sermon and, feeling a sudden surge of self-consciousness, attempted to quietly slip out of his sight. But he caught my eye, charged toward me with a beaming smile, greeted me warmly, and pulled money from his pocket: “Please, buy some sweets for your wife.” I stood there in utter awe. In an era where leadership is so often shielded by detachment, his was a heart that saw the individual, loved the flock, and modeled the tender heart of the Shepherd.

The Weight of a Vision – May 14, 2026

On May 14, 2026, at 6:00 PM, I met Bishop Rupapa at the Holiday Inn after receiving his call. As we sat together, he decoded the grand vision of his upcoming autobiography and asked me to serve as the Chairman of the Book Launch Committee.

Honored, I accepted immediately. But on the drive home, as the gravity of his legacy settled upon me, my heart skipped a beat. A wave of holy fear swept over me. What had I just stepped into? From what I knew of his intuition and his reputation, Bishop Rupapa was a consummate, no-nonsense leader who demanded excellence. I desperately wished I could turn back the hands of time and ask for a smaller, lesser role—anything to ensure I didn’t misstep on his special day.

We formed a committee, created a team workflow, and held our inaugural meeting at Masawara Restaurant, where he laid out his vision. Though I felt inadequate for the weight of the task, grace stepped in.

A Rare Breed in a Noisy World

Working closely with Bishop Rupapa illuminated a stark contrast between the foundations of old and the modern landscape. In a generation increasingly plagued by the commercialization of the gospel—where ministry is too often reduced to fame, transactional encounters, paid access, security entourages, and public scandals—Bishop Rupapa stands as a towering monument of a rare, enduring breed.

He was cultivated in the spiritual crucible of the legendary Christian supremo, the late Archbishop Ezekiel Handinawangu Guti.

He belongs to a generation of generals who served God with unquestionable zeal, pristine integrity, and selfless sacrifice. They did not chase luxury; soul-winning was their singular, burning motivation. They gave days, months, and decades of silent loyalty to the Kingdom without demanding applause or questioning authority.

This truth hits even closer to home during this season, as our church family mourns the passing of another giant, Bishop David Gangata. Just weeks ago, Bishop Gangata stood strong at Bishop Rupapa’s book launch, gracing us with his presence and wisdom—little did we know it would be our final encounter on this side of eternity. Standing there, I reminisced with him about the years he served as Provincial Overseer for Harare East while I was a Youth Chairman in Tafara. I recalled the day he invited me to his house, sitting me down to speak at length about ministry and gently urging me to enroll in Bible school to train as a pastor. I had dreaded that topic, promising to return to it when I was ready, secretly sensing that God had called me to serve His Kingdom outside the traditional pulpit.

Looking back at generals like Bishop Gangata, Bishop P. Ngorima, Bishop J. Muhwati, Evangelist Munemo, and Paul Saungweme—many of whom have now transitioned to glory—my heart cries out in prayer: May we, the next generation, catch this rare ingenuity, this unquenchable fire, and this holy zeal for the Lord while these patriarchs are still among us.

The Launch, the Interview, and the Encounter

A week before the grand event, Bishop Rupapa handed me an advance copy of his manuscript, asking me to read it thoroughly so I could interview him on stage.

Regrettably, buried under the weight of pending examinations and pressing professional deadlines, I only rushed through the pages at first. It is a hindsight I look back on with deep reflection—I should have paused the world to read every word before that night.

On the day of the launch, which coincided with his birthday, over 200 delegates gathered, overflowing our venue. Through divine favor, every financial obligation was fully met with excess funds remaining. But the defining moment of the evening came during the live interview.

I sat across from him with a structured list of carefully prepared questions. But the moment the dialogue began, my notes became irrelevant. Bishop Rupapa stepped into a deep, supernatural realm. He spoke not from academic preparation, but as an oracle releasing the atmosphere of heaven. The room was swept up in a spirit-filled sanctuary of grace; I sat back in sacred reverence, wishing he would speak for hours.

The next evening, Bishop Rupapa hosted our entire committee for a celebratory dinner at an exquisite restaurant in Chisipite. Over a rich meal of mushroom soup, tilapia, and fried rice, he poured out his gratitude to the team. It was a relaxed, joyous evening where we shared lighthearted moments with a man who had carried the weight of national and international ministry for decades.

“When My Pen Got the Ink”

It was only after the event, when I finally sat down undisturbed and devoured his book in two straight days, that I realized the true depth of what I had been privileged to touch. I could not put it down.

Having been an avid reader since picking up my first novel in primary school back in 1991, and having read over a thousand biographies in my life as an author myself, I can unequivocally state: When My Pen Got the Ink is not merely a record of human events. It is a living, breathing sermon.

Twice while reading, an overwhelming nudge forced me to my knees as the tangible presence of the Holy Spirit invaded my room. Tears streamed down my face as I read his raw, beautiful account of his walk alongside Archbishop Ezekiel Guti. A profound shift occurred in my spirit.

From his humble elementary days in Rusape, to his early years working as a gardener in Mutare, his glorious salvation in 1976, his youth ministry, entering Bible school in 1984, his pastoral journey, his elevation to Overseer in Chitungwiza, and his monumental 20-year tenure as Secretary-General—this book is a masterclass in wholehearted devotion.

To anyone who hungers for an unusual move of God, to anyone who desires to learn the sacred art of serving the Almighty with uncompromised integrity, and to anyone who simply wants to fall deeper in love with the Creator: do everything in your power to lay your hands on a copy of this life-transforming journey.

I thought I knew Bishop Washington Rupapa. But through his ink, I encountered the heart of a true father, the stamina of a proven general, and the enduring glory of a life totally surrendered to Jesus Christ. To God alone be all the glory.

Elder Nicholas Bhero