Article source: Supplied
Thousands of people poured in from across South Africa, Africa and abroad to the KwaSizabantu Mission on Sunday, 8 October 2023, to pay tribute to Rev Erlo Stegen. Rev Stegen passed away on Tuesday, 26 September at the age of 88. Prominent local, provincial and national leaders as well as foreign visitors from as far away as Romania, Russia, Ukraine, Germany, France, Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland, Paraguay, USA, Australia, Zimbabwe and Swaziland attended the funeral. After many filed past the coffin, the service formally began at 10:00 and continued until 16:30 after which the burial service took place.
Grandsons of Erlo Stegen carry his coffin Sunday, 8 October 2023
The services started promptly at eight but continued until late in the afternoon with many sharing their experiences with the churchgoers. KwaZulu-Natal Premier Nomusa Dube-Ncube said in her message of condolence, ‘I am deeply saddened to hear about the passing of Rev Erlo Stegen. Rev Stegen’s contributions to the spiritual, economic and social fabric of KwaZulu-Natal were immense, and his loss will be felt deeply by all those whose lives he touched. His dedication to his faith and his tireless efforts in promoting peace, unity, and compassion have left an indelible mark on the hearts and minds of many. Rev Stegen played a huge role in stimulating the economy of the province for many years. Through his farm and factory – based in KwaMaphumulo, he employed many local people who provided for their families and next of kin.’
Zuma said, ‘We are all here in our numbers to pay our respects to this excellent servant of God. We all knew him as a man who worked hard for God and for the people. We knew him as a man of truth, a courageus man, true leader and outstanding spiritual leader, and very giving.’
Erlo Stegen started his ministry in Maphumulo over seventy years ago during the 1950s, while South Africa still faced challenges under the apartheid political system. He started to preach in Maphumulo, a small village in the Natal Inlands, KwaZulu-Natal. It is about 42km northwest of Stanger and 38km southeast of the Kranskop area. The rural area is still underdeveloped, and this lack of development prompted him to uplift the local community and share the gospel with them.
He started preaching with no resources but his calling. He used an old, abandoned cowshed for his preaching at first. He prayed for a revival with Scripture as his moral compass and his ultimate source of wisdom and guidance. Within a few years, multitudes of people came to the prayer meetings, saying they wanted to meet with God.The ‘church’ soon became too small for the growing number of converts. With all the people coming from afar, the small ‘church’ could no longer accommodate and provide food for the churchgoers. The mission station, called KwaSizabantu, meaning ‘the place where people are helped’ in the Zulu language, was then founded. Over time, KwaSizabantu has become completely self-sustainable and has grown into one of the African continent’s biggest (if not the biggest) missions.
Combined choir of co-workers, teachers and students of Kwasizabantu Mission at funeral service for Erlo Stegen Sunday, 8 October 2023
The pioneering role of Rev Erlo to uplift Zulu communities over a broad spectrum, especially in agriculture, economics, education, and humanitarian initiatives, stands out. Over the years he has enhanced the economic well-being of countless poor communities. He also taught business skills to the workers on an ongoing basis and pioneered and provided schooling and affordable tertiary education to remote communities over many decades. So far, he has cared for over 19,000 youths struggling with drug addiction while carrying the costs of reaching thousands of schools across the country, warning youth about the dangers of drugs. Through his intervention, some of the people who received help currently support their families and benefit from the numerous job creation activities. In addition, he has assisted HIV/AIDS patients and orphans.
KwaSizabantu has positively impacted the lives of millions of people across the world under the leadership of Rev Stegen. No wonder a prominent international award, the Robert W. Pierce Award for Christian Service, was bestowed upon Reverend Erlo on 9 December 2007. The award recognized his work among the Zulu nation as a missionary, preacher, educator, and man of compassion. Another prestigious award, the NWU Chancellor’s Medal, was presented to him on 23 May 2013 by North-West University, in recognition of his outstanding and continued contributions to educational development, community upliftment and outreach in rural and impoverished areas.
Stegen and his work have recently been attacked in the media and he was called a cult leader. However, numerous organisations have found that the allegations were unfounded, including the CRL Rights Commission. They found the confession of faith at the Mission is in line with evangelical churches. Stegen has shared the pulpit and at the radio station that he founded, Radio Khwezi, with thousands of other preachers over the years. He was also the mentor of countless spiritual leaders.
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Date published: 10/10/2023
Feature image: Children, sons-in-law and grandchildren of Erlo Stegen sing at the funeral service Sunday, 8 October 2023 at Kwasizabantu Mission
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