Woman cleric steps into the robes of her bishop father

Vho-Tendani Gogome Tshifularo (53) was ordained as bishop of the New African Apostolic Church during an event held at Malavuwe village on Saturday, 23 October.

The ordination came after Tshifularo’s father, Archbishop Tshisaphungo Samson Gogome Tshifularo, passed away at the age of 80 last year.

“I feel honoured and humbled to be the first woman bishop of the New African Apostolic Church,” she said. “I thank God who put me in this position to lead the church from where the late Archbishop ended. I am also indebted to the family and congregation for their support, for I know that they will continue to be there to walk this journey with me.”

During the ceremony, Tshifularo asked fellow congregants to continue to pray for her, so that she will lead them according to God’s will. She also urged the youth out there to consider attending church services, so that they can receive sound teachings in life. “It is high time that we cordially persuade our youth to stay away from the harsh streets.”

Tshifularo said that she would go to the mountains and caves to pray and seek more wisdom, just as her father had done. “We are faced with the Covid-19 pandemic, and this needs earnest prayers from a truth-filled heart,” she said. “As a country, we are also wrestling the monster that is gender-based violence to stop because it affects us all.”

Dr Johannes Gogome Tshifularo, the new bishop’s brother, promised that, as a family, they would lend her their total support.

The late Archbishop Tshifularo had been a hard worker who had cared for and looked after his four wives, 26 children, 70 grandchildren, and many great-grandchildren. He was revered and known for preaching about love, peace, unity and harmony.

Date:31 October 2021

By: Tshifhiwa Mukwevho

Tshifhiwa Given Mukwevho was born in 1984 in Madombidzha village, not far from Louis Trichardt in the Limpopo Province. After submitting articles for roughly a year for Limpopo Mirror's youth supplement, Makoya, he started writing for the main newspaper. He is a prolific writer who published his first book, titled A Traumatic Revenge in 2011. It focusses on life on the street and how to survive amidst poverty. His second book titled The Violent Gestures of Life was published in 2014.

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