Manga Manga church business SARS, CRL intervene. South African Council of Churches where are you?

BOOK SIGNING... Signing one of the books I purchased at the churche's bookshop

Merry Christmas everybody, I hope you are enjoying the festive season with family and friends. 

FAMILY PICS UNDER A CHRISTMAS TREE... My son and cousins used to take pics next to their tree

From a junior pastor who is still at Bible College, still trying to awaken some of the South African Christian watchdog bodies.... After die warm klap ek het van die kerk, ek soek dae mense, hulle moet kom en help my deurmekaar kop. 

I miss the old South African Council of Churches. So much that I'm  gonna be remixing  Chico Twala's song soon and  "We miss you  (SACC) where are you? Until I get satisfactory answeres about this place of worship.

I mean, its been years since I was  trying to fit the  missing puzzle. Years of trying to get answers and understanding  on how we ended up commercialising everything  about Jesus in South Africa.

Tinny Tots... Kuhle first class in children's ministry.

How we as South Africans have allowed  racism, bullying, financial abuse, power abuse, gender based violence(GBV) and the abuse of the poor, women and children using the name of the  Lord Jesus and even God himself without any shame at all.

At the Rivers Church main church which I helped build

Do you mean in less than 31 years, we have quickly forgotten our God? 

What He can do that the intimidation by the bullies at this place of worship has paralysed us with fear so much that it is hard to reprimand them. Even when they publicly flaunt their racists acts in a country that has fought for years to end apartheid?

Rivers Church leadership, staff members and even congregants.  If they trully worship the Lord my God.

MY CAR Toyota Etios 2012 model that was damaged in the churches parking lot.

 If they are true Christians representing the Jesus Christ, the one who is birthdaying soon. Then they should be the ones serving and guarding the Christian ambassadorship close to heart. Worse if they truly know the history of South Africa and its religous practises.

 As a child who has grown up in Christian surroundings, being a Christian is something that you are in church and outside.

AFTER SUNDAY SERVICE THINGS... Kuhle and my little brother Xolani, he accepted Jesus Christ at Rivers Sandton, he died November last year 

The Christ like character is not a publicity stunt, or front that is carried for few minutes only in a multi million building of Sandton on Sunday.

THE LAST SNAP CHRISTMAS 2022 ... A snap next to a Christmas tree at Rivers Church

But something that you are even in your community, at work and wherever you go. You do not even need to announce that you are but your work and how you carry yourself should be different from how other people do things.

So, I did attend this church on my return to Johannesburg. In 2017, I was made partnership.  I volunteered, joined their connect group, worshipped with my money and even invited amongst others, my family to the church yet I was treated like a Pariah after I lost my job.

DISMISSAL LETTER.. In one of the services in 2018, Pst Andre Olivier preached about people resigning from job and claiming dismissal. He made an example that was so similar to my case which I shared with my connect group at the time.

To make matters worse. The claim from my former employee  that I had resigned because I was refusing to pay for a parking ticket somehow find itself in the Sandton pulpit where more than 3000 rich congregants of the affluent church heard of someone (me) who resigned for a parking ticket and claimed to be fired.... How undermining and humiliating was that?

IN 2023 the CCMA gave me an enforcement order to serve the company. The labour court and CCMA found the company in the wrong.

Anyway, the senior pastor of the church did not mention who that person was that Sunday. But gossip does spread like wild fire even in the place of worship too.

I know some pastors and congregants will come in for his defence that I am not that special to be mentioned by a rich pastor of  a richly blessed soil like Morning Side, Sandton.

2019 SISTERS CONFERENCE... So I supported all their event including the annual Sisters Conference of Africa 

But the remarks were made during the same time as  my court case. Stupid me had shared details, I mean blow by blow account of how things had unfolded in the company with the connect group I belonged to then. 

At the Rivers Foundation volunteer station

My Brothers and Sisters in Christ who would help me pray over this storm. This attack from the devil himself. Not knowing I am actually reporting to the devil himself and he is smilling at my defeat and waiting to finish me off.

 For your information readers, a connect group is  also known as Bible study group in Christian circles.

 (Please see the link)

https://africanbeadsstories.blogspot.com/2019/04/a-church-where-everyone-is-vip.html

Soon after the service word spread and some of the church members began throwing unwanted remarks and gestures mocking my stupidity. "People think we are rich you know" were the common remarks made to my son and I. No other means of moral support was to be given to this vulture.

HANDS THEY NEED... Me volunteering at their Rivers Foundation in Kelvin. I was fired over the use of a  mop in 2023 and helping another new cleaner

The staff  even went as far as searching my bag when I was volunteering at the foundation. The security broke my cellphone screen, I was still using a Samsung JP 5 purchased after I got rid of the car. At one time, they organised me a man to walk with me after the 5pm service. This was someone, I did not know and the arrangement was made in such a way that to me I felt as if someone thought I was a prostitute of some saught.

ALEX TEENS... With Alex teens who came for a workshop at the foundation. The announcement was made for us all to come and volunteer, only I and one of the mothers of the girls came to assist with snack for the girls. None of the staff, majority foreign nationals came.

This is after I had gotten rid of the car. I didn't know who was following me and why was I being stalked and receiving death threats. For my son and I safety, I felt it was safe to get rid of the car before someone kill us in it.

 So, as a person who grew up in South Africa pre democracy and know how active churches were in our community. 

GRADUATION DAY..... Commission day with the founder of JBC Rev Nat giving me the certificate of completion

The actions of this church has left me with many questions. I tried seeking answers from the church itself for years. But by December last year, I had given up. This was a month after  giving them a letter from the Johannesburg Bible College inviting the church to an open day and also maybe enrol the members to their classes if lack of knowledge is perhaps the reason of this kind of treatment.

HANDLING THE WORD OF GOD CORRECTLY ....Courses offered by the College for all ministry practitioners

A pastor  Roeitha Weyers confirmed by electronic e-mail that the Rivers Church  did  receive  the letter  last year November.

 I had hand  delivered to the church via an intercessor during one of their Sunday services last year. Yet I did not see any of the members or staff in the Kelvin and Alexandra  class.

So, with all that I have tried with the church on my own. I still have many un answered questions. I only heard from the pulpit last year, through a preaching by one of the junior pastors  that they wont even say sorry or admit wrong. Even when they know they were  wrong.

I'm guessing their richness, the church building which I also contributed in building as well the other campuses built in Durban, Kylami during my years there are making them too high to reach low class citizens like me. 

The Foundation gave me and my son these beads just after Covid19. My son needed school admission then after two years of none schooling. Eventually the Gauteng department of Education took him. The church didn't assist in taking him back to school instead we were laid off from volunteering claiming the place was now dangerous for him.

So based on my experiences, I have some questions where in the Bible did God asked Christians to threaten their brothers and sisters in Christ? Where and when did Paul or Jesus gave us status as Christians? How does the Bible call us to treat women and children? I wont even ask about finances, I hope this will be covered in details during my Bible studies next year as well as community involvement and church administration. But all these are questions that I have.

ASKING QUESTIONS AT THE ALTER..... I asked the questions again during their Miracle Offering Service of 2023 , this time on a piece of paper that I sent to the alter and kept a copy.

I still regard myself as a Christian even today. As a black law student too. Hence how the church have been treating not only me but its surrounding community of Alexandra Township had also been complaining.

My Baptism at Rivers Church in 2017.... I was laid off from the Foundation of the Church in 2022, the staff claimed to be needing time to prove beyond reasonable doubt that I was attending their church. 

According to some of the residence, they were chased out of the Rivers Foundation too by a group of foreign nationals employed by the church. This after they had also been helping the church voluntarily.

One of the things that drew me to giving money to their foundation and later offering voluntarily services was the work they claimed to have been doing with the Gogos poor children of Alexandra township.

Listen, I have been all over the that township with the hope of spotting the work done by the church or the people that it helps, till this day. I have not found people.

Though I came close in 2022 when one of the Zimbabwean national woman with two children and claiming to be from Emfundisweni Primary School. A school in 13th avenue , I think. According to the sisters who was able to get clothes, groceries and other business skills offered by the church. Her son went to the school and the foundation delivered sanitary pads for the school children.

Happy to finally able to get a beneficiary of the church, I ran to the school after volunteering. With the hopes that my suspicions of the place of worship will finally be laid to rest.

To my surprise, the high ranking school official didn't remember the foundation at all. They even gave me a list of all the donors of the school. Some came through government but nothing nadda from the Church or its foundation.

Yet the school was listed on the board as amongst the beneficiaries of the sanitary pads donated monthly.

I don't know about you but there are things that I can't just be  sweeped under the carpet.

 Especially with the emotional, financial scars and brokenness that they live you with. 

The recent judgement by Labour Court and CCMA

It is even worse that these are intentionally caused by the very same place we often run to for answers. Only to be moered and sjamboked like child under coperal punishment.

Or even worse, as a black person.

BIBLE COLLEGE GRADUATE....

So much that, no pastor can help me to answer those questions hence my last resort was the college.

 Maybe next year, I will be allowed to complete the course and come back with clear answers of what the role of the church is to me as a member.

When someone from my family dies, what is the role of the church? Not just any church but the one that I have been supporting whilst working and not working. Should a church lie to solicit money from the public and if found doing that who must call them to order?

I went to the CRL commision with my concerns during Covid19 and in 2022. I have done all the ground work asked by them and I have  even tried linking the church to a college.

Alex peace community meeting

In 2023, the church aided illegal immigrants of a building in  Johannesburg CBD. With no radio, cellphone and any means of communication. I helped at the centre to sort out clothes for the victims of fire.

On my return, I learn from the community of Alexandra that the occupants of the building had been asked to move several times by the government because the building was a health hazard. But they have been refusing for many years.

Meaning the church is working with lawbreakers.

Today the South African government is busy trying to clean the city, Johannesburg where one of our talent, Dj Warras was gun down. 

 Did Jesus approve of this? Is it part of the South African Constitution when was it added?

Please follow us on our social media pages:

 Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/people/Ndabeni-Creatives/100068073010812/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/khanyiswa.ndabeni.5/

Muckrack: https://muckrack.com/khanyi-ndabeni/articles

Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/khanyiswasa/?hl=en

Tik Tok:https://www.tiktok.com/@khanyikuhle

Youtube:https://www.youtube.com/@khanyindabeni1864

Youtubevideos: https://www.youtube.com/@khanyindabeni1864/videos

 Linkedin:https://www.linkedin.com/in/khanyiswa-ndabeni-8256b620/?originalSubdomain=za

X: https://x.com/ndabenik

Who are you to tell me how to run my church?

That was a question I was asked on Fathers Day last year. At the time I was still drunk on the word received from my church. I had honoured an invitation from my Bracken High School friend, Nalo. The girl who decided to shortened my name from Khanyiswa to Khanyi. So to accommodate all the white speakers who found it difficult to pronounce the swa, the last three names of my full name. So there I was in Soweto, at this different kind of church where R60 offering is collected at the gate. Before you could see the different evangelists, prophets,apostles and pastors of this different church took to the show grounds to wow congregants with their car spinning skills. The Bible was the line up of BMW 320 or BMW 3 series E21 cars renamed to Tezza, MA. ERA, Izinyoka nyoka and Skudunga. These cars to wow the crowd as they spin on the field until all tires were damaged or the sport referee calls them out as soon as he spot danger. When watching the sport live, you can't help but clutch your teeth and cross your fingers that the driver doesn't loose control and he come crushing on the bob wire fence. According to Floyd, one of the participants and name the sport as a BEE sport. The sport is costly. He bought his BMW E21 as a second hand for R40 000. He has his own mechanic and has spent almost R100 000 on just maintaining it. One of the courageous ladies, Phumzile from Protea North in Soweto said she loves the sport as it helps her release stress. Phumzile aka Lady P first saw the sport at the South African hip hop star, Pro Kid's memorial service. "I fell in love with the adrenaline rush that it brings. From that day on, I bought myself a car and whenever I want to release stress. I climb on it". Car spinning is not a new sport but it is a growing sport in the black community.

Every Wednesday and Sundays there are sessions held all around Soweto with competitions held in Durban and Cape Town. Please follow us on the various social media pages: Facebook: Khanyiswa Ndabeni Instagram: Khanyiswasa Youtube:Khanyi Ndabeni and here is the link with this article https://youtu.be/QXQ67xYqZEE Twitter: @ndabenik

A Church where everyone is a V.I.P

Underneath the multi million rand property, the Sunday line up of luxury cars at an affluent suburb  of Sandton is a South African led church that cares about the well being of people, family and the country.  

Pastor Wilma and Andre Olivier in their Sandton Church in South Africa. All pics taken from their social media pages mainly Instagram.

 It doesn't matter what  background you from, color, nationality or status in society you will find something that will attract you to stay in this  spiritual home.Yes it uses its glamorous state of the art building to lure lost souls and pray long enough that they see beyond the Sunday church event that sees singer and now author, Lloyd Cele amongst its worship leaders.

Idols SA finalist, Loyd Cele lead the worship team every Sunday.

 Humanity, humbleness and humility is the order of the day and triumph any pride or ego. But you will still  be treated as a VIP from the moment you step out of your car.

Every church service, pastor Andre meet and chat with guest and members of the congregation

Screengrab from the churche's instagram page

"Welcome to Church, enjoy the service, let me help you with your child mam and hop on the cart let me give you a lift inside" are  some of the first words you will hear from the moment you step out of your car. The car guards and ushers, some I'm told are doctors, engineers and almost any top profession you can think of. Since its situated in one of the wealthiest suburb of Johannesburg, South Africa the church attracts members from Africa and all over the world. But its senior pastor, Andre Olivier and his wife, Wilma were once drug addicts from Cape Town.

The church has bought the Kyalami on track. The venue used to host the annual LGBTI event, Feathers.

"When I started this church, I wanted everyone to belong. I remember during our first days, a security guard once came to me and ask if he can come to church. How could I say no to him," Pastor Wilma as she preaches to a fully packed audience of females who have gathered for her monthly girls meeting, Sisters of Africa. Before the meeting, the ladies are given a free pampering treatment, from massages, spar treatment and a market which often sells ladies clothes that are branded with positive inspirational messages.

last year's cover copy of the Sisters of Africa magazine

Both her and her husband are business minded and have authored numerous books published. They have collaborated those skills and material to cater for the congregation as they connect over a healthy snack or ground coffee often prepared and sold but the same members of the congregation who have committed their time to volunteer in the church. The church is attached to  Hillsong Church.

My instagram pic at sisters. My new friend is @resh1203 on Instagram please follow her.

 Rivers Church is a family church and caters for individual spiritual needs of each member of the family. With its children's area, Kids Zone a hit to all the visitors and  us single moms. The youngsters have their annual youth  summer camp that is praised for boasting confidence and building friendship amongst teenagers.

My son, Siphiwokuhle Ndabeni with an award he achieved after 

The youth camp also helps new families who have just relocated from all over the country and continent as the youngster are able to quickly make friends.

activities outside the Kids Zone

Another extension of engaging with the congregation intimately is through a connect groups which runs every fortnight Thursday. In these groups are scattered all over Johannesburg and hosted in members homes. This is where believers are provoked in their thinking of what the Sunday message meant to their lives but also challenged to apply the Biblical principals in their daily lives.

Above is a picture of me on the day I was baptized and Kimantha and Saagar are leading a connect group that I belong to.

A child dedication service taking place

I have been following pastor Andre's  preaching for the past two years, I could say he is a firm believer that change starts with an individual before impacting the community,country and the world at large.  His time on stage doesn't last any longer than 45 minutes preaching and all his Biblical teachings are practical. From how to deal with your finances as an individual and business to being the one who influence positive change in the work place or business. His messages are often well researched with him reading across all genre to find quotes of world leaders and ordinary people to tie in with his topic.

The church believe it exist to worship, reach, connect with people all kinds as well encourages volunteering

If you are looking for a spiritual home this Easter, this might be a home for you. Try them

The history of the magnet spiritual sanctuary that  draws thousands of multiracial crowd also has a history of humble beginnings and many obstacles including that of neighbours complaining about influx and being accused of preaching the gospel of prosperity.

A meeting taking place at one of the baby classes of the church. Children from the age of 1 upwards have their own classes and teachings are relevant for that particular group.

"It is through giving, I would like to call it sowing that we are able to build this campus and buy the one in Kyalami, Ballito and Centurion.  Everything we do, we do it for the people cause we want to win souls for the house of God"said pastor Andre in one of the sermons.

THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW BASED ON MY OBSERVATIONS

1. The fancy building and luxury cars might intimidate you but if you approach any of the members, they will gladly show you the way.

2. If you do stay you will be encouraged to be volunteer in any of the department of the church. 

pastor Andre encourages reading. I purchased these at a Sisters of Africa Conference two years ago. American based life coach, Valorie Burton is billed to speak again this year. I'm giving away two tickets. Simply like, share and comment on the article.

3. You will be encouraged to read books not only spiritual books but across all genres so you are aware of what is happening around you and strengthen your spiritual journey.

If you do become a member, there will be times when you are called to pray for the country and its leaders. But that is for an hour once every third month

5.While the ladies have Sisters of Africa Conference, there is a Men's Conference too. This year, Austrailian based pastor and Evangelist, Brian Houston of the Hillsong Church is billed to speak at the conference.

Hope you enjoyed this article, just a reminder we are all over the social space so please follow, like, subscribe and engage with us on these platforms:

Twitter: @ndabenik

Facebook: Khanyiswa Ndabeni or Ndabeni Creatives

Instagram: Khanyiswa2

Whatsapp: 0763607744 for tips and to order the beads we make

You Tube Channel: Khanyi Ndabeni

link:https://youtu.be/dSQRTvMJ8is

Our hashtag across all platforms #Everydaylifewithkhanyi and #iintsomi