Paper short abstract:

The proposed paper draws from an study conducted among UFIC Pentecostals in Zimbabwe. The study explores ways in which leadership at a Pentecostal UFIC put in place strategies to help members construct houses and strengthen livelihood activities at a time the Zimbabwe state is incapacitated

Paper long abstract:

The proposed paper explores ways in which leadership at a Pentecostal Charismatic Church (PCC) in Zimbabwe brings stability to the everyday lives of its followers in times characterized by uncertainties, insecurity, and precarity. The emerging Pentecostal Charismatic Christianity and its leadership anchor its strategies within a 'this worldly' discourse. The PCC has transformed itself into a network of opportunities and support in times when the state and market have failed to create a conducive environment for the bulk of the citizens to prosper. Pentecostal leaders have transformed themselves into experts who teach entrepreneurial skills, financial literacy, and investment expertise that come in handy in times of uncertainty. Furthermore, the leadership has initiated a self-helping housing project that aims to assist followers construct houses in urban areas. The PCC's approach is pragmatic, spurring congregants to deal with the objective realties of their everyday lives. Lastly, the paper explores ritual practices that inform and underscore congregants' efforts to pull themselves out of poverty in a poorly performing economic environment. The paper situates PCC's strategies within Appadurai's politics of hope framework. By addressing issues such as housing, livelihoods activities and financial literacy, Pentecostal leadership are to some extend assisting in improving the lives of the people. The study is based on ethnographic data collected between 2016 and 2017. Data were collected through life histories, in-depth interviews, and participant observation.