August 25, 2004
By Lebofsa Masha
EVERY Sunday morning Old Potchefstroom Road and Mtangai Street in Pimville, Soweto, bustle with motorists and pedestrians making their way to the Grace Bible Church.
Begun 21 years ago as one of the first charismatic churches in Soweto, with a membership of 20 adults and their children, Grace Bible Church has now grown to more than 4 200 members.
The church choir
Mosa Sono, who became the permanent pastor of the church a year after it opened, says he was drawn to work in Soweto by the vast, diverse needs of the local people. "I always thought strongly that the gospel can change the quality of the people's lives," he says.
It took a long time for the church to find a permanent home: as its membership continued to rise the church moved from the Mavis Hall in White City to Isaacson Higher Primary School in Moroka, then to the Church Of The Holy Ghost in White City and later to an adjacent school. In 1986 the church had to relocate once more to the Jabavu Homemakers Festival Grounds.
With more and more people attending Grace Bible Church, "it was evident the gospel was being presented in a practical way", Pastor Sono says, and in 2000 construction work began on the first phase of the Grace Bible Church complex in Pimville.
Its 5 000-seater multi-purpose centre, with its landmark, elongated spine across its roof, is now an imposing presence in Pimville. "We wanted a building that breaks away from the conventional church look so people don't feel intimidated to come," Sono says.
The present structure, on four hectares of land, cost R17-million and is part of the first phase of development. It was designed by architects O'Neal and Associates, with Lushaka Constructions undertaking half of the construction work and - at the request of the church - outsourcing the remaining 50 percent to local small contractors.
The congregation moved into the church building in 2002.
The church building is 36 metres tall, and its steel roof is supported by foundation pillars that are between five and eight metres in depth.
While the main section seats 5 000, a further 600 seats can be placed in the foyer where there is an information desk and bookshop, which sells a wide range of Christian literature and audio and audio-visual tapes.
The second phase of the church's development will be the building of a detached multi-purpose hall, which will have gym and indoor youth sports facilities, according to the executive pastor responsible for corporate development, Setlakalane Molepo.
"We have a holistic approach towards what a church should do," says Sono, explaining that the church is not just for Sundays, and that the new facilities will be available for the entire community.
Breaking from the tradition of formal services, the church services at Grace Bible Church are animated and vibrant with much focus on the church's choir.
All the sermons are recorded and are available on tape and CD for sale immediately after services.
People from all walks of life from far and wide attend the services, with many of the members from the growing black middle class, says Sono. They travel to the church every weekend in their luxury cars from as far as Kagiso, Tembisa and Orange Farm to attend the Sunday service.
"People are traumatised and they are looking for answers," says Sono, adding that the church runs many outreach programmes ranging from an HIV/Aids awareness campaign to a home-based care support group and a health awareness day.
Various skills development programmes also form part of the church's pastoral care: class range from computers to literacy and entrepreneurial development programmes.
"We are also trying to connect with what government is doing in order to assist our people," Pastor Sono says. One example was the use of the church recently for a national immunisation programme.
Thousands regularly attend Sunday service
Many of the faces in the congregation are easily recognisable - radio or television personalities like Ike Phaahla, Nimrod Nkosi or actors and entertainers like Jerry Mofokeng, Joyce Skefu and Connie Chiume. Others are successful business people, well educated and elegantly dressed.
Church spokesman Pastor Ezekiel Mathole says the church - and its members - serves as a role model for those around, instilling a sense of pride and dignity in areas of the township which were left to be 'ghettoised'.
Mathole quickly dismisses any accusations of elitism. "With more opportunities opening up, the black middle class is growing and they are coming back to the township and affirming to others they too can achieve."
Pastor Mathole points out how many members of the church have, in recent years, gone out to make a success of their lives. "Poverty is not a blessing."
He adds: "They also give back financially - the church building we have now was built from the offerings."
People are now investing in the township, Mathole says, while Sono adds that in the past the township had been drained financially and of skilled people.
Sipho Mseleku, the chief executive officer of the National African Federated Chamber of Commerce, decided to make Grace Bible Church his spiritual home two years ago. He now travels from Sandton every Sunday morning to join in the fellowship at the church.
"The pastor here ministers to everybody and can accommodate the educated and uneducated effectively in one sermon," he says.
Discussing the relationship of spirituality and wealth, Meseleku says people often forget that "life comes from God and that at some point they need to connect with that reality".
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