Gillitts church uplifts communities
From walking as a young boy in the streets alone and not understanding a single word in the church, Zolani Phakathi is now a senior pastor at the church.
PASTOR Zolani Phakathi was introduced to Sarepta Church at the age of six as the church had an outreach programme that assisted orphans in the Valley of a 1000 Hills.
Staying with his granny, Phakathi was among the beneficiaries.
One day, Phakathi decided to attend the church in Gillitts.
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“On my first trip, I was accompanied by my older sister. We walked from Embo, and the following service, I walked alone. I believe I was only seven years at that time, and I did that every Sunday as my sister did not want to come with me.
“A church member offered to transport me, and in those days, Embo was known for its crime, but that did not discourage the member.”
Phakathi said that, at first, he went to church as he knew he would get a meal, but as he grew up, he started feeling passionate about it.
“I recruited a friend of mine to come with me, and we joined youth programmes, and to this day, he is still a member at the church.”
When he finished matric, Phakathi studied Logistics Management and was still very much involved with the church as he was asked to be the interpreter.
In 2017, he enrolled and studied at the Bible College. In 2019, he was appointed as assistant pastor and was then announced as senior pastor in 2020.
Knowing the impact the church programmes played in changing his life made Phakathi also want to be involved in helping out communities through various programmes.
“We had a programme called Monday Motivation in KwaNyuswa to help young people stay out of drugs by equipping them with skills.”
The same year that Phakathi was appointed senior pastor, the country went into lockdown, but he said the church was still able to help out.
They also started another programme in Stockville where there is an informal settlement.
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“The place is closer to our church, and we felt we have to assist the community closer to the church.”
Among their programmes is Roots of Abundance which helps with financial skills and how to start a business.
With the population growing, he said they want to build a bigger crèche which will be a feeder to Gillitts Primary School.
Phakathi said church members, the community, Clifton Park CPF and Happy Valley Pre-Primary School assist them a lot with their outreaches.
“We get a donation of food and clothes which we then distribute in the communities that we work with,” he said.
He added that people need to know that their church is not just a place of worship but also is made up of a community that assists impoverished communities.
“My journey has been a blessing, and I want to continue with the beautiful work that the church has been doing in uplifting young people and serving the community. I wouldn’t be here if it was not for Sarepta – they paid our school fees and brought us stationery, and for that, I will forever be grateful.”
From walking as a young boy in the streets alone and not understanding a single word in the church, Phakathi is now a husband to Nompumelelo and has been blessed with two boys and a girl.
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