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I went to this church in Sunnyside and I noticed that there were then 2 Sunday services, one at 9:30 and another one at 11:00. Both of these services were fully packed, the church hall took about 300 people and there were extra chairs in the church hall and a big screen was by the entrance area where people who could not find chairs inside could sit and enjoy the service as well. I however I got me a sit inside, the 11:00 service. I was impressed that the church had grown so much, because it was not like that when I used to go there back in 2004/5.
When I got inside I saw that the pastor sat in front on stage, there was a huge chair there for him and another one for his wife. Then smaller chairs for the other leaders, I thought oh well, the hall is full anyway, so they might as sit on stage. Then in between the praise and worship pastor stood up and did a little sermon where he was talking about having faith in God. How much faith do you have in God? Do you trust that God will give you whatever you are praying for? But while having that hope do you give to God? How much do you give to God. You expect him to give blessings to you and yet you refuse to give proper offerings in the house of the lord.
At that time I did not realise anything strange about what pastor was saying. He called upon a young man who had just finished his degree and was starting to work. The young man was testifying about how he was teaching his younger sister to pay tithes, but as he was teaching her he realised that he did not have anything to show to his sister as an example of what God can bless you with if you pay your tithes. He then started prophesying for new clothes, a salary increase. He prophesied to his wardrobe that it will be filled with new clothes, his wallet and onto his bank card they they would have more money.
Indeed a few weeks after that he was promoted at his work and given a laptop that costs 15000 (this was in 2008) as a gift. He also received a R10 000 clothing voucher to match his new position at work (he said). After giving his testimony pastor was touched. Pastor told us that after he heard the story of this young man he himself is going to buy him a new pair of expensive shoes, and another mzalwane offered to buy him a new suit. I was like damn, I should come up with some success tithe story as well and see how much I can milk out from abazalwane
Afte that guy’s testimony the pastor continued with his mini service about faith, then he said people should give to God to show hope and how much they have faith “How much do you hope God for, give now unto the lord.” People started going to the front to give to the lord. Amen Amen. After pastor prayed for the hope money the praise and worship went on withtheir praising. Then the pastor went to his pulpit to begin the sermon for the day. Heh! I am not making this up neh? But what I saw that day resembled a scenario I used to see everyday on the streets o PTA especially at “church square”, where people would perform, sing, dance, magic tricks,etc on the streets and people would drop R2, R5, R10, etc.. you know it mos.
The same thing was happening at that church as the pastor was preaching people stood up and put R20, R50, R100, and even R200 next to the pulpit. When you felt the pastor’s sermon you did not just shout “hallelujah” but you got on your feet and said hallelujah with you money! “Put you money where you mouth is, Amen!” I was so so so shocked guys, I swear this is true. I would give the name of the church so you can go and see for yourself because it is still there, but I won’t (it is not in Sunnyside by the way, ndilahla nje umkhondo). And I must not forget this part where there were 2 big guys on either sides of the stage where the pulpit is and they looked like they were pastor’s body guards! *SMH*.
After the sermon was done then it was offering time. I was like “What? Didn’t we just give just now before the sermon? What the hell? What were we giving for before? Yhoo” I did not give, not at all. After the offering it was announcements, then bazalwane were reminded about the trip that ntate moruti (pastor) had to take to Kentucky in the US. Bazalwane were told in the previous weeks that they must help fund this trip. Once again people started giving, bigger monies this time. Other people were writing R5000 or R10000 cheques, it was money money money! Yhoo!! I left before the church was over, I don’t now if abazalwane gave for anything else after I left! I could not stand it anymore. And I was so ashamed to think I was once part of that church and used to admire that Pastor, he was from Kenya by the way.
That was it for me. I thought to myself why go to Church then the Pastor is just there pushing his money business. Other churches like the one in Sosha were full of people who just bragged. But after a few weeks I thought to give churches one more chance, I went to another church, also a big church and the Pastor is South African. The pastor was not married and he was young and known to be really powerful, his fans would say. The following Friday after that I went to a party and the pastor was there with his girlfriend, we were all drinking. He obviously did not know me but I knew him. Then I gave up, no mo church for me, I was just going to read my bible by myself in my room! If I feel the need to give offerings I was just going to give the beggars in the streets.
A friend of mine is a gospel musician so he asked me to go sing backup for him at some church in Pretoria East. I am always up for singing shame, I love it with all of my heart. I did not care that it was at church and I did not like church. Now what I saw on this church was the last blow. First of all it was in PTA East in one of the fancy suburbs there. People there are loaded and that showed because the parking lot was full of cars but inside the church hall were only a few people, meaning each and every person in there probably came in their own car.
It was offering time and I saw only a few people standing up to give offerings, and I thought to myself, oh well, these people seem to not like giving. I wondered what was up with that. I heard the news in the prayer “We thank you lord for these offerings by your children, we pray that you give them more in the name of Jesus Christ. Even those who gave via EFT dear lord, bless them” I opened my eyes and did not hear the rest of the prayer. What the f*cken hell? Offering via EFT? So you just open your cell phone banking on your way to church and transfer? I imagined that the tithes are done by debit order then, lol.
I was like wow! I am so going to have my own church. There will be an ATM in the church yard. By the offering basket will be an usher holding a speed point! And EFT will be available as well! You do not have an excuse for not giving offerings in my church, unless if you are broke and well broke people are not allowed in my church. You do not have offering money then please do not bother coming to the service, thank you very much! No cheating on those tithes asw ell, when you sign my church membership you bring your payslip!! We want 10% of you net pay and we will do a debit order!! Hayi kabi!!
For those who like to hear endings to the story here it is, the last time I was in church during a church service was in 2008. Now next time you hear me saying I am going to church you should be 100% sure that I am lying, I am going to perform or it is my own church I have started to make money