Story Of The Church Building Bridges Of Hope And Healing In Phoenix, South Africa

Written by: Ps John Mathuhle

Those Who Give Hope Carry More Influence To Change Destinies
The recent riots and unrest in South Africa, which caused billions of Rands in losses, could not have come at a worse time on our nation. While struggling with the peak of a Covid Third Wave, these riots and looting resulted in a loss of about 320 lives, if not more. About 36 were killed during Phoenix riots – what is now referred to as the “Phoenix Massacre”.

Watching scenes of buildings and malls going up in flames as thousands upon thousands of people looted all they could get their hands on was like watching one those Hollywood apocalyptic movies of the end of the world.

It brought back memories of the 16^th of October 2020, where we almost broke into bloody civil war. Hundreds of angry farmers and EFF members, heavily armed, descended on our own small town of Senekal in the Eastern Free State. Had the Lord not intervened through His Church across the nation, it only had to take one bullet or one throw of a stone for the whole situation to break into a blood bath ­– that’s how close it was.

Many believers across our nation and even beyond stood with us in praying for our peace, and we still feel indebted to the nation and the world for standing with us in prayer.

It was in the spirit of solidarity, I felt compelled by the Lord to reach out to the community of Phoenix and surrounding areas in order to offer our support and encouragement as we shared our own miracle in Senekal.

 

Our Journey To Phoenix:
After a considerable time in prayer, I felt led by the Lord to reach out to affected communities in KZN. I immediately called a friend of mine, Barend La Grange from SOUTH AFRICA DAY, whom I recently joined in Alexandra few weeks ago where I led 22 of our volunteers from Senekal / Matwabeng Community Forum to join a cleaning up campaign.

We set off to Durban on the 30^th July and were joined by Foeta Krige, a retired SABC news executive who is also passionate about reconciliation and was among the ten who initiated and signed a declaration that apartheid was a crime against humanity after Mr De Clerk  ­– our former apartheid president – had denied it on national TV.

I had already arranged an appointment with a group called Phoenix Peace Talk, with whom I had a prior engagement with one of the Indian women of peace I picked up on Facebook, Lynette, to put together such initiative in order to become a voice of Healing. Lynette had brought together some like-minded people who either were living in Phoenix or from surrounding areas.

Upon our arrival, we shared with them our own experience of when we were faced with the same situation and how the Lord used us and other believers to safe the situation and bring peace and healing.

Among those we met was Thapelo Mohapi, a young black man who is a true voice of peace and reconciliation. Thapelo lives in Mjondolo, one the poorest townships near Phoenix. He lost his little shack, which was set on fire allegedly by those who wanted to silence his voice. We were very inspired by the testimony of this young man and the work that the team has already achieved so far.

A declaration of peace was drawn, where by the community of Phoenix signed to denounce the killings and commit to the process of peace and healing for the affected families and communities. This became a milestone in bringing healing to the wounds of these communities.

We were then invited to watch a soccer match organised for unity and peace between the community of Phoenix and surrounding townships. We were invited by Bishop Rueben Fillips, a stalwart and activist of social cohesion from the Steve Bikho Foundation – who had enormous contribution to our democracy and is still building bridges in our nation through moral regeneration and social cohesion programmes.

The Church Is Healing The Wounds And Building Bridges Of Hope In Phoenix And Surrounding Areas.
On Sunday the 1^st of August at 16h00 we got invited to a pastor’s meeting held at Mighty Revival Ministry in Phoenix under the leadership of bishop Johnny Isaacs, where about fifty pastors from different denominations came together to pray and define the role of the church in bringing hope in the brokenness.

We were specifically asked to share our own testimonies of how the Church in Senekal responded to the crises similar to this.

One of the most critical things to realise as the Church in a town or city is that we are the gate keepers and watchmen on the walls, anything that comes or goes out in the city must do so though the Church because we are one of God’s authorities – both in the spirit and physical realm in every city. We are to bring life and hope in the city and prophetically release God’s given destiny for our cities and towns.

The plan of the enemy is hostile to this vision and he will try everything in his power to Steal, Kill and Destroy the hope and destiny of the city if the church is not taking her rightful place in the spirit.

That’s what we realised in Senekal when we stood our ground and prayed to nullify the plans of the enemy. We called all the leaders in the town, black and white, to discuss their role in making sure that Peace reigns in Senekal.

Among the delegates we had the EFF, DA, FV+, and other political parties – and as a result of the positive meeting; the EFF agreed to cancel the march they had planned the following day prior to our meeting and they commited to Peace and restoration of the town, which was a great achievement considering the sensitivity of the situation we were faced with.

This became evident of the influence the church carries if she takes her place in society and exercises her authority to bring hope. Though it is not easy, but it is possible through the grace God has put on us.

The leaders were very encouraged by our testimonies and it has given them more energy to start the work of healing and foster peace. We heard that some of the pastors went to the families of those affected to pray with them and gave food just to show the love and comfort of Jesus Christ during this difficult time.

One pastor in particular by the name of Ps Joey Govender from Resurrection Life Centre, donated a brand new car to a lady by the name of Zandile Mthembu, whose car was set alight during the riots, as a gesture of building bridges between the Indian community and those surrounding areas.

The church in Phoenix is alive and busy building bridges of Hope between communities during this difficult time, there are many other stories of just ordinary Christians and organisations doing the same in an effort to bring peace and healing.

In just few days after we have left Phoenix, the provincial leadership of EFF called out a march in what they called “MARCH TO PHOENIX AGAIST RACIST INDIANS,” a slogan which had a potential to rekindle fresh conflicts between communities all over again.

But the Church of Christ stood up in wisdom and invited the organisers of the march, among them the provincial leader of the EFF Mr Vusi Khoza, to meet with the pastors to discuss matters concerning the march.

The meeting was a huge success and the organisers of the march agreed, for the sake of peace, to change the slogan to “MARCH OF SOLIDARITY TO PHOENIX” which was more acceptable and inclusive of all the victims of the riots.

The march took place on Thursday and was joined by several pastors and organisations fighting for peace in Phoenix. The march was most peaceful, nothing was broken, nothing was destroyed, all because the Church acted with wisdom and courage.

This showed the significance of a Church that carries hope in middle of the crisis, that it carries more influence to change history and save a nation from civil war.

 

Hearing these testimonies about the work of the church in Phoenix and Senekal reminded me of this scripture in Romans 8:19-20, “For the whole creation waits eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God”.

I truly believe we are living in one of the most significant dispensations of a great revival in the history of the Church. The brokenness and happenings around the world creates a perfect opportunity for the Church to plant seeds of revival, which will give great harvest in the Kingdom.

Our communities and the nation is bleeding and crying for alternative voices of hope to be revealed, the voices of wisdom, Hope and Healing that will lead them into the rest of the Father. We need to step up to be strategically positioned at the right time to give hope. In this time those who give hope will carry more influence to lead the nations into the kingdom rest of the Lord.

Let the Church of Christ arise; let us not miss this opportunity to be the bridge of Hope and Healing.

Creation Is Waiting For The True Church, The Son Church To Be Revealed And Bring Hope!

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Date published: 23/08/2021
Feature image: Ps John Mathuhle at March to Phoenix.

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