Church takes pride in heritage
The pastor urged church members to graduate from knowing the constitution of their church to knowing Christ Himself.
NYONGANE – There were ululations, whistle blowing and traditional moves as members of Nyongane Alliance Church on the outskirts of Hazyview remembered their roots as part of Heritage Month celebrations.
Unlike the famous wearing of suits and formal dresses during the church services, most of the congregants were clad in their traditional attire including skirts, emahiya, hats, ne tidvwashi, symbolising their unity in diversity as some resembled the Swazis, Tsongas, Zulus and Sothos. Some of the older women also opted for their West African traditional designs.
The day was also marked by the celebration of one of the church’s youth members, Menda Sibiya, who would marry Charlie Mkhabela this coming weekend. Past Simon Mdluli also took the chance of giving advice to the soon-to-be new wife (makoti).
“This is the last Sunday she spends her night alone as from next week her husband will be by her side every day. If her husband snores, she mustn’t complain about his snoring as this will make him snore more like a truck, but she must pray about the issue and wonders will happen,” said Mdluli.
The new bride-to-be was also urged to be considerate and take care of her in-laws as it’s always advised in African culture before a maid gets married to her lover. “You must also remember to take care of your in-laws in your marriage,” added Mdluli.
During the sermon, Mdluli spoke lengthily on Christians being living testimonies. He read from Philippians 4 verse 13: “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”
He urged the church members to graduate from knowing the constitution of the church to knowing Christ Himself, as this would change their attitude and mindsets from considering themselves as nobodies to positive thinking. “In order to live your life full of testimony, you must forgive yourself and others. Be positive about it, stop mentioning negative things about your life,” “Stand firm in your Christian life knowing that all challenges that come are not to destroy you but to lift you up,” added Mdluli.
He also urged members to be cheerful givers as servants of the Lord.
“Your giving must be a testimony to others; it must influence others to give and must draw people to the house of the Lord. Your character, work, facial expression, name must all be a testimony to others,” he said.
The service was also marked with the serving of traditional dishes, mostly cooked in the traditional way of using three-legged pots over an open fire.
These included umbhidvo also termed morogo which is pumpkin leaves with peanuts, pure pumpkin leaves with no cooking oil called (umngcongcodvo), a mixture of dried maize beans and crushed peanuts, tinkhobe, potatoes, bitter leaves (inkanka) and other traditional food
