Pastor opts to rather take church to the place where people sin

For years, Pastor Godfrey Ndou has been observing revellers enjoying their beer at a local tavern in Shayandima. He would pass by, greet them, and invite them to come to his church, but only one or two would show up the following Sunday. After interacting with some, he discovered that they were hesitant to attend church for fear of being labelled as outcasts, and some cited a lack of suitable clothing as a barrier to attending.

On Sunday, 10 March, Ndou took a bold step. Instead of waiting for them to come to his church, he brought the church to them. Thus, the Shayandima Mobile Church Outreach was born. “At one stage, I thought I would not be listened to, but the reception was warmer than I expected. There was order, and they listened attentively. I delivered a short sermon and gave them enough time to express themselves and to pray for them,” he said.

Ndou added that last Sunday, 17 March, had been a miracle. “We were surprised by the huge turnout, where we congregated with more than 50 people. I could see that they loved God but did not have the energy to go to church. Most of these people are regarded as outcasts because of their drinking habits. Some relatives have forsaken them, but God wants them in his fold. We also realised that many leave their homes without having a meal, and we then organised food from the local restaurant, and we all partook together,” Ndou said.

Community member Mr Mashudu Mudau praised Ndou’s initiative. “Who has ever thought of preaching for alcoholics at a tavern? I believe he has set a new way for other pastors to follow that would bring many to God,” he said.

Date:24 March 2024

By: Elmon Tshikhudo

Elmon Tshikhudo started off as a photographer. He developed an interest in writing and started submitting articles to local as well as national publications. He became part of the Limpopo Mirror family in 2005 and was a permanent part of the news team until 2019.

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