Paige Cox
If you want to see Wesley, the real Wesley Pillay, you need only attend his Sunday service at the Dundee Methodist Church.
There you will find, behind the altar, a devoted husband, a people server and an honest man, with a secret love for ’90s R&B. Wesley’s journey to ministry started from childhood. He was born a third generation Christian- a topic he is frequently asked about. “Society expects us to fit into a ‘mould’ of what they deem conventional.” Wesley is breaking out of this mould. “When a person is not like you culturally, in terms of ethnicity and religion, you already have a perception of that person,” he explained.
Wesley’s parents were both involved in the Church and so he grew up in a religious environment. However, his personal relationship with God would only evolve at a later stage. In his school years, he suffered from a condition which caused him to have frequent nose bleeds. “I was very restricted, I couldn’t take part in sport or activities during break, because if I went into the sun my nose would bleed.”
One day however, his mother took him for prayer at a crusade. It was there, under an ordinary white marquee, that he would have his first personal encounter with God.
“From the night that I was prayed for, the bleeding stopped. Even now 30 years later I no longer suffer from nose bleeds…I knew then that there was a greater being looking out for me in a way that humanity couldn’t.” This experience sparked a thirst in him, a thirst to know this God that he believed in, marking the beginning of his journey to ministry. Now, years later, he has his honours in Theology and has moved from Durban to Pietermaritzburg and, just seven months ago, up to our beloved Dundee. Married for 17-years to Bronwyn, he has experienced the challenges of juggling one’s marriage and career.
“My wife is involved in the Church. She’s very much part of my planning for Sunday services, however, we had to get there, we didn’t start there.” At this stage, he can confidently say that ‘the key is to get your spouse involved, but you also need to make time for what’s important.
To say this is when I’m not taking calls, so that I can take my wife out to Newcastle for a meal.”
Like any story, Wesley’s is punctuated with periods of both happiness and heartache.
One event in particular that created a mountain of grief in his path, occurred at the young age of 19. It was 2am in July 1994, when the Pillay household heard a knock at their front door. The time alone was an ominous sign reinforced by the presence of several policemen on their doorstep. When asked for the man of the house, Wesley stepped forward as his father had been hospitalised earlier that month. The policemen, took Wesley a few metres from the front door, and delivered the news in hushed tones. “Now imagine me, a 19-year-old, at two in the morning, having to tell my mother that my father had passed away.”
To Wesley, his father was the man who had had the biggest impact on his life.” He was a simple, humble person and a man of integrity, never fighting with my mom in front of me. I looked up to those traits.” It is easy to see the influence that such a man had on Wesley. Today he is enjoying life in Dundee. “It’s a big change but I’m at the stage in my life where I want to slow down a bit. We only miss the beach, but as long as we get our curry powder and chilli we’re okay.”
Wesley has many plans for the future, in both ministry and his personal life. He believes that the Church has become too silent on many levels, ‘my understanding of the Church and the world is that we have separated spirituality from the reality of life,’ he added. He aims to “not only be a minister on Sunday” but get involved in the community as well as complete his academic studies.
His wife and him are hoping for children in the future, however he admits that “we are at the stage where, if it doesn’t happen it doesn’t happen, it’s not in our hands. But it shouldn’t make our lives any less enjoyable.” When Wesley has a spare moment, you can find him sketching or listening to R&B through his impressive sound system installed in his car, which often raises exclamations of “Hey Dominee!” when giving lifts to congregation members.
While he may not fit into the mould of your everyday Minister, Wesley’s presence in this town is an inspiration to both his congregation and other locals.
