Early morning prayer service draws hundreds

Eggester Jokomo sits huddled near the church pulpit, eyes closed and her lips muttering an inaudible prayer. Around the 80-year-old, people of varying ages pray. A few women kneel at the altar, while others pace the sanctuary, praying loudly.

It is 4 o’clock in the morning, and the church is half filled with people focusing their energy on crying out to the Lord. One woman kneels beside Jokomo and presents her prayer requests. The two hold hands as Jokomo prays for her and assures her all will be well. They embrace when the prayer is over.

Welcome to early morning prayer at St. Mark United Methodist Church.

Known as rumuko in the local chiShona language, the St. Mark United Methodist Church prayer gathering now attracts members of other denominations, at times drawing more than 500 people of different ages to the church. 

“Early morning prayers are more powerful than those done at any other time,” Jokomo said. “That strength and determination which is required to enable you to rise from the warmth and comfort of your bed makes rumuko the trademark of a prayer warrior.”

The Rev. Vienna Mutezo, Harare Central district superintendent, said the rumuko programs are spiritual and orderly with a concentration on individual prayers.

“Attending rumuko is a sacrifice of time and home comfort, especially during the winter time,” she said. All circuits in Harare Central hold rumuko prayers, but most are on Sunday, and St. Mark has the most vibrant program, she said.

Jokomo is hailed as the pioneer of the St. Mark program.

“Initially I would come to the sanctuary to pray with Selina Masango, the late Approniah Mapfeka, Lizzy Murahwa and Lydia Mandizera early on Sunday mornings. We used the opportunity to pray for the church and our pastors. We also held Monday evening prayers, but the program failed when I was no longer able to walk unaided,” said Jokomo, who uses a walker.

In Zimbabwe, early morning prayers were originally held only by women.

“Rumuko is drawn from the Resurrection where Mary Magdalene and other women went to the tomb very early in the morning, with spices to treat the body of Jesus and found that he had risen. Women were the first to learn of the Resurrection, and we believe there is great power in the early morning prayers,” said Eunice Muponda, evangelism chairperson for the Zimbabwe East Conference women’s union.

A long tradition

From the establishment of the Zimbabwe women’s union in 1929, the late Lydia Chimonyo was known as a prayerful woman who communed daily with God around 4 o’clock every morning.  Since then, rumuko is an integral part of all women’s district revivals and conference conventions.

Men and teenagers take part now.

The St. Mark rumuko has become so renowned that Joshua Mufunde, who lives in the city of Chitungwiza, 30 kilometers (19 miles) away, attends the service.

“I have been inspired by the advanced ages of the worshippers and the level of commitment exhibited by the St. Mark parishioners.  I am hoping to launch a similar program at my church.”

Mufunde, a member of St. Andrew’s United Methodist Church, said his church currently holds rumuko on Sunday mornings. 

Jokomo and the St. Mark church lay leader, Davison Mauwa, attributed the phenomenal growth to the participation of one of the church’s evangelists, Fred Bande Mutemera.

Praying changing lives

Mutemera, 39, said he started attending rumuko six years ago, after he was involved in a car accident. 

“I had an accident in September 2009, and I started coming to the early morning prayers when I realized the court case was not proceeding the way I expected,” Mutemera said.

As the legal action dragged on for more than eight months, Mutemera experienced the power drawn from rumuko: “Coincidentally, each time I missed the rumuko prayers, the case would weigh heavily against me. I remember two occasions when I did not attend rumuko, my lawyer failed to appear at the courts and the magistrate issued a warrant for my arrest.”

Jokomo said the teachings conducted by Mutemera and other leaders have enhanced the early morning prayers because congregants keenly follow the daily lessons and do not want to miss them.

Babrinna Madyira, 49, said the daily teachings have enriched her family life: “We were taught about dreams by Mutemera. I had a son who consistently had nightmares and because I had a better understanding of what was happening, I was able to pray for him and break the chain of dreams he was experiencing,” she said. Four members of her family attend rumuko every day.

“We have witnessed many breakthroughs from the early morning service. Women who suffered from infertility managed to conceive after consistently attending rumuko. Other women whose babies were lying in breech position turned and were safely delivered,” Jokomo said.

She also testifies to the power of rumuko in resurrecting some aspects of her life: “When I started the program, people assumed I was a widow. My husband had abandoned our matrimonial home. He decided to return after 28 years,” she said.

Chikwanah is a communicator of the Zimbabwe East Conference.

News media contact: Vicki Brown, news editor, [email protected] or 615-742-5469.


Like what you're reading? Support the ministry of UM News! Your support ensures the latest denominational news, dynamic stories and informative articles will continue to connect our global community. Make a tax-deductible donation at ResourceUMC.org/GiveUMCom.

Sign up for our newsletter!

Subscribe Now
Mission and Ministry
John Kodjo (standing), a member of Mapamboli United Methodist Church in Kinshasa, Congo, tries to salvage things from his flooded home. Torrential rains and flooding on April 5 damaged over 1,000 homes in the area and killed at least 33 people. Kodjo’s family fled on the roof of their home. Photo by the Rev. Fiston Okito, UM News.

Floods devastate United Methodists in Congo

Thousands have been displaced and two United Methodist churches have been damaged by flooding in Kinshasa, the country’s capital.
Bishops
Bishops Daniel Wandabula (at left in purple robe) and Emmanuel Sinzohagera welcome Burundi President Evariste Ndayishimiye and First Lady Angeline Ndayishimiye to the installation celebration at Ingoma Stadium in Gitega, Burundi, on March 29. More than 4,000 people gathered to celebrate Sinzohagera’s installation as a United Methodist bishop in the newly created East Africa Central Conference. He will lead the Burundi-Rwanda Episcopal Area and serve as the central conference’s president. Photo by Priscilla Muzerengwa, United Methodist Communications.

Burundi celebrates new bishop, episcopal area

United Methodists from Burundi and Rwanda united for the installation of the area’s first bishop and establishment of the East Africa Central Conference.
Mission and Ministry
Alice Samuel (second from left), Northern Nigeria Conference women’s coordinator, distributes food during an outreach event in Yapilo Village in the Chonge District of the Shongom Local Government Area of Gombe State on March 29. In addition to providing relief supplies and free medical services, the women preached the Gospel and led prayer sessions in the community. Photo by Ibrahim Babangida, UM News.

Women’s group in Nigeria offers free medical care

More than 100 people received health care, medicine, food and other supplies during a day of outreach in the Northern Nigeria Conference.

United Methodist Communications is an agency of The United Methodist Church

©2025 United Methodist Communications. All Rights Reserved