Former Benonian follows her worldwide crusade

Bishop Shanitha Joubert lives in the Big Apple, serving as a pastor, after she lived in Benoni for 18 years.

She was born in Pietermaritzburg and moved to Benoni in 1991.

Joubert left for New York, in 2009, after working at the treasury and administration offices of the Benoni Council since 1997.

In 2004, she completed a course at Teamwork Bible College, in Benoni South.

“I had a great calling in my life for the underprivileged and had a passion for orphanages and orphans,” she said.

“I went (to New York) with the intention of helping Africa.”

She quickly rose to become a bishop at Harvest of Faith Gospel Ministries and was appointed president of the ministries’ World Missions in 2014.

As part of her new mandate, Joubert was sent on missions to countries across the world, including India, Trinidad and Tobago, Spain and Zambia, among others.

“In India you really see the suffering, poverty and pain of those people,” she recalled.

“You see children living in garbage dumps, who cover their hands with garbage bags.

“At one orphanage I visited, we gave the children soda and cake, which they had never tasted, so they didn’t even eat it, they just stared at me.”

The bishop described the beauty she found in each country she visited.

“I’ve met different cultures and people and tasted so many different cuisines,” she said.

“Tobago was fantastic, with white sand beaches and sea water so clear you can see little fish swimming around your feet while you stand there.

“It was phenomenal how the people responded to the message I brought.”

Joubert left for Ghana after her Benoni visit, where she will train and ordain pastors for the next six months.

“Many of the poverty stricken villages there want to learn about the Bible, but they can’t afford it,” she said.

“I’ll be speaking at churches every evening, covering leadership and motivational skills.

“I’ll also be teaching the youth about teenage pregnancies, drug abuse, alcohol and what the effects are, as well as encouraging education.”

Along with these issues, she will tackle the subject of rape with young men and explain how it affects both the victim and perpetrator.

Although Joubert explained that the Big Apple is, in her opinion, headed downward in terms of religion, she called living there an unforgettable experience.

“It’s difficult to adapt, New York is a city that never sleeps; if you want a bunch of flowers or some spices at 3am, you can get it,” she said.

“But even with it being so busy, it’s very safe there.

“There’s no crime like here, because they have very hard rules in New York.

“It’s a beautiful city, but good for young people to go to, as it’s so busy.

Joubert lives in Far Rock Away, in New York, which was hit by the floods caused by hurricane Sandy in 2012.

“I was in South Africa at the time, but everything I had was damaged and washed away in the storm and most houses were washed away, because in America the houses are all wooden,” she said.

Joubert visited Benoni while attending a women’s conference at Adonai Ministry, in New Modder, on October 10 and 11.

“Benoni will always be my home, I miss South Africa, but have no future plans,” she added.

“I hope to remain a humble servant for the Kingdom of God, serving others.”