The experience of the Pretoria Church in KwaNgadi.

By Clayton Lowane

Dear brothers and sisters,

It was on 15 June 2012 at 21:45 when the church in Pretoria visited brothers and sisters at the Ibandla Lendlela Eyodwa church in kwaNgadi in KwaZulu Natal. Everyone from the church in Pretoria was so excited most especially because it was our first outing as the whole group and were going to fellowship with our brothers and sisters of the Ibandla Lendlela Eyodwa church. A group of ten adults and four children embarked on this wonderful journey. The names of brothers and sisters in the Lord that visited the Ibandla Lendlela Eyodwa church were as follows: Munyaradzi and Rachel Mujuru; Karabo and Tebogo Letshulu; Kingsley and Lindel Jere; Welheminah Marumo; Abel Maluleka; Matsoso Molwantwa; Clayton and Maggy Lowane. We arrived in kwaNongoma on 16 June 2012 at 05:00 in the morning and were well received by Phumlani and Thabi; Gogo; Salvador and Di. We would like to share with you our experience with the Ibandla Lendlela Eyodwa church.

On 16 June 2012 at 09:00 there was a kid’s club meeting for the Ibandla Lendlela Eyodwa church. The age of the kids that attended ranged from about 3 to 16 years. Maggy and Clayton Lowane from the church in Pretoria felt so privileged to have been a part of the kid’s club meeting. Although it was a Saturday, the kids were punctual for the meeting. Salvador led the singing and played the guitar, as the children sang along with Mama Celani from Ibandla Lendlela Eyodwa church, Clayton and Maggy. All the kids made the same moves with their hands and feet at the same time while singing which showed that they have been well taught. The songs that were sung were in Hebrew, Zulu, Pedi and English languages. The singing was so uplifting that it had quite an impression on Clayton and Maggy. All the songs were scripturally based such that the children were learning about the message of Christ as we were all praising God. Clayton and Maggy were deeply touched when all the children prayed one after another before the bible study of the day. This reminded us of a time in South Africa when the bible was taught in schools. The majority of South Africans in the former days learned about the message of the gospel at such a tender age just like the children in the kid’s club of the Ibandla Lendlela Eyodwa church. Our hearts were filled with immeasurable hope having heard the kids call on the name of the Lord at such a tender age.

Salvador asked Clayton for a brief introduction which also included his occupation and that of his wife Maggy. Maggy and Clayton introduced themselves as Salvi translated into Zulu in order for the kids to understand well.

Clayton explained his occupation and this of his wife Maggy to the kids and further encouraged the kids as he shared briefly about his childhood which included him having attended a kid’s club 18 years ago. He further told the kids that he was saved when he was 15 years of age. Clayton was so humbled when he was trying to explain what he does for a living by referring to a TV show that accurately describes his occupation when he learned that they do not even have televisions in their houses. What we learned from this is that we need to count our blessings and be grateful for what the Lord has given to us. It is common for us believers not to be content with what the Lord has given to us these days. After the introductions, Maggy Lowane had an honour to minister to the kids from the book of Jonah 1:1-Jonah2:4. She shared about the importance of obeying God and the consequences of not obeying Him. The learning was interactive and the kids were asked questions to which they responded. The kids had an opportunity to share the lessons learned from the passage. Their explanations showed that they had understood the story of Jonah the prophet. Clayton and Salvi also shared what they learned from the passage that was studied.
On 17 June 2012, all the brothers and sisters from Pretoria attended the church service of the Ibandla Lendlela Eyodwa church. Everyone had an opportunity to choose the song they wanted the church to sing. Phumlani the pastor gave us the direction of the sequence of events as we continued with the service. All the brothers and sisters from Pretoria were greatly challenged and encouraged to hear our brothers and sisters from the church of Ibandla Lendlela Eyodwa give their testimonies and encourage us from the scriptures. The challenge was in the fact that they neither have concordance, commentaries nor internet but the Spirit of the Lord working in their lives. There was a unity between us all in our scriptural beliefs which was a proof of the unity in the spirit with the Ibandla Lendlela Eyodwa church. This unity between us confirmed what the scriptures teach especially to the church from Pretoria that the Holy Spirit is our teacher. Clayton was given an opportunity to share from the book of Matthew 7:21-28; 1 Corinthians 3:10-11 and Ephesians 2:19-22. The topic that he encouraged the church with was Christ the rock, the chief cornerstone and the foundation. Phumlani translated to Zulu since Clayton shared in English. Mujuru was also given an opportunity to share from Exodus 20 amongst other scriptures and shared about the topic of ancestral worship. The meeting was interactive as Mujuru responded to questions about ancestral worship and the body of Christ learned more about this topic.

The Ibandla Lendlela Eyodwa church reminded us of the church as it was in the book of acts. We were so blessed to have shared a meal with our dear brothers and sisters of the Ibandla Lendlela Eyodwa.

We were touched by the quiet demeanor and humility of Phumlani who directed the program while sitting among other believers. As we spent time with Phumlani, we saw that he was not puffed up and had a heart of a servant. We have seen that the kids from the church in Ibandla Lendlela Eyodwa were very disciplined and attentive during the service and are going to engage with Phumlani, Thabi, Salvi and Di so that we can learn from them. We are always touched by the lives of Salvi and Di as they have forsaken the pleasures of this temporary life for the sake of the gospel.

The church in Pretoria would like to lastly express its sincerest gratitude to Phumulani, Thabi, Salvador, Di and the church at large for their hospitality, humility, kindness and love.
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.

From your brother in Christ,

Clayton Lowane

Shalom