Sharon Manyonganise-Cherayi to Host The Great Exchange Women’s Spiritual Retreat in Ruwa
Gospel minister, worship leader and musician Sharon Manyonganise-Cherayi is preparing to bring women together for The Great Exchange, a two-day spiritual retreat designed to create space for healing, renewal and personal reflection. The gathering will take place on September 4 and 5 at Glen City Campus Retreat in Ruwa, with proceedings beginning at 5pm on Friday. The retreat is intended to give women an opportunity to step away from the pressures of everyday life and spend meaningful time reconnecting with God. Cherayi wants the gathering to become a safe and peaceful environment where women can pause, reflect on their lives and experience spiritual renewal. Through worship, reflection and shared experiences, The Great Exchange aims to encourage women to release burdens and leave the retreat with a renewed sense of peace, purpose and strength.
The central message behind The Great Exchange is captured in Cherayi’s desire for women to simply “breathe”. She said the retreat is about creating time for women to pause, rest, reconnect, look inward and allow themselves to be refreshed by the presence of God. Many women carry responsibilities connected to family, work, relationships, ministry and other areas of life, often leaving little room for personal reflection and emotional rest. The retreat is therefore designed to provide an intentional break from those demands and create an environment where participants can focus on their spiritual and personal wellbeing. Rather than simply attending another event, women will be encouraged to slow down and consider what they may need to surrender, heal from or rediscover.
Cherayi said The Great Exchange will encourage women to exchange the burdens they have been carrying for qualities such as peace, grace, joy and a renewed sense of purpose. The idea speaks to women who may be dealing with stress, fatigue, disappointment or personal struggles that they rarely discuss openly. By creating a setting where women can gather and share experiences, the organisers hope to encourage participants to recognise that they are not alone in their challenges. Spiritual reflection will form an important part of the experience as participants are encouraged to bring their concerns before God. The retreat will therefore focus not only on inspiration but also on creating an opportunity for women to examine their lives and consider how they can move forward with greater clarity.
The timing and setting of the retreat are also intended to support this sense of stepping away from everyday pressures. Glen City Campus Retreat in Ruwa will provide the environment for women to spend two days away from their normal routines while taking part in the programme. Proceedings begin at 5pm on Friday, allowing participants to transition into the retreat before the activities continue into the following day. A dedicated retreat environment can give participants more space to focus on prayer, worship, conversations and reflection without the usual interruptions of daily responsibilities. The setting also allows women to connect with one another and build relationships through shared spiritual experiences.
The Great Exchange represents an extension of Cherayi’s ministry beyond music and live worship performances. She has established herself as one of Zimbabwe’s contemporary gospel voices through years of involvement in worship ministry and music. Cherayi was previously part of Zimpraise, where she became known for her contribution to the choir’s worship ministry, including the popular song Sungano. Her time with the group gave her valuable experience as a worship leader and helped establish her presence within Zimbabwe’s gospel music community. She later pursued her own music career, releasing projects such as Rudo Rwajesu and Praise Be to God while continuing to develop her ministry.
Her career has also included collaborations with other prominent gospel musicians, expanding her reach within Zimbabwe’s gospel music scene. In 2015, she collaborated with Mathias Mhere on Ephiziba, a song that attracted attention among local gospel audiences. Collaborations such as this have allowed Cherayi to work alongside other established artists while strengthening her identity as an independent gospel minister. Her music has remained closely connected to worship and faith, providing a foundation for the ministry work she continues to develop. The Great Exchange builds on that foundation by creating a space where the spiritual messages often expressed through music can also be explored through conversation, reflection and personal interaction.
Cherayi has continued releasing worship music and performing for audiences in Zimbabwe and beyond in recent years. In 2025, she released Huya, adding to a body of work that reflects her continued commitment to gospel music. Her live worship work has also remained an important part of her ministry, allowing audiences to experience her music in a communal worship environment. Her 2025 live recording, Zvimbiso, formed part of the God the Lifter of Men project, with Cherayi serving as one of the executive producers and providing lead vocals on the song. Her continued involvement in both the creative and organisational sides of music demonstrates the broader role she now plays within Zimbabwe’s gospel and worship community.
Her growing influence was further recognised in 2026 when she received a nomination for Outstanding Female Musician at the National Arts Merit Awards. The nomination placed her alongside Nisha Ts and Shashl in a competitive category celebrating female musical talent. Recognition at an awards platform such as the National Arts Merit Awards adds to Cherayi’s profile as she continues to expand her work across music and ministry. However, The Great Exchange shows that her ambitions extend beyond musical recognition. The retreat allows her to use her experience and public platform to facilitate conversations about faith, relationships, purpose and the personal challenges women face.
An important element of the retreat will be the speakers selected to engage with participants. Cherayi said the organisers deliberately wanted to create a balance between seasoned wisdom and the experiences of younger women. The intention is to bring together people who have already navigated some of the challenges that younger women may still be preparing to face. Topics such as life, relationships, marriage and purpose can involve difficult decisions, and hearing from people with relevant experience can provide valuable perspective. By creating an environment where different generations can listen to and learn from each other, The Great Exchange aims to encourage meaningful conversations rather than simply offering one-directional advice.
Cherayi’s emphasis on intergenerational wisdom gives the retreat another important dimension. Younger women can gain insights from people who have experienced different stages of life, while older women can also hear the perspectives and concerns of a younger generation. This exchange can help create greater understanding around issues that women may experience differently depending on their age and circumstances. The focus on relationships, marriage and purpose also recognises that women often navigate several major life decisions at the same time. The retreat provides an opportunity to discuss these issues within a faith-based environment where participants can reflect on their own experiences and consider the direction they want their lives to take.
The Great Exchange is ultimately designed to give women permission to slow down and pay attention to themselves and their relationship with God. Its message of exchanging stress, fatigue and silent struggles for peace, grace, joy and purpose speaks directly to the need for spaces where women can rest without having to constantly meet the expectations placed on them. Cherayi’s experience as a gospel minister and worship leader provides a natural foundation for a gathering centred on spiritual renewal. Her journey through music, worship and ministry has also given her a platform from which to reach women who are looking for encouragement and deeper spiritual connection. As the September 4 and 5 retreat approaches, The Great Exchange promises to create an environment where women can pause, listen, learn, worship and leave with renewed strength for the next chapter of their lives.
