A slimmed-down Jimmy Abbott (55) wowed guests at a breakfast at Illovo Africa Lodge on Saturday, 30 August.
Jimmy, who at one stage weighed 375kg, is now much trimmer at about 130kg.
The ex-heavyweight boxer suffered a stroke 13 months ago and had to learn to speak again, although he is still unable to read. He also lost 70kg after his stroke.
During the testimony to his life, he told the 120-strong audience who ate breakfast with him that his testimony was the first English talk he delivered since he suffered the life-threatening stroke. He is still attending speech therapy lessons twice a week.
“Jimmy’s testimony, delivered in English, with lots of Afrikaans words thrown in when he was at a loss for words, was touching,” said organiser, Dave Potgieter.
“When Jimmy first became a pastor, Toti was one of his favourite places to preach and up to this day, Jimmy and his wife, Annette still love coming to Toti.
Just more than a year ago we hosted Jimmy at a men’s breakfast. His testimony was so powerful and touching, that we decided to invite him back this year.
People responded magnificently and we are so proud to be associated with Jimmy that we are thinking of making this an annual breakfast.”
