Deputy president Paul Mashatile receives 'spiritual nourishment' with bishop over Easter

Deputy president Paul Mashatile on Good Friday joined thousands of congregants from the Grace Bible Church who gathered at the Orlando Stadium in Soweto.

Presiding bishop Mosa Sono reminded the congregants of the importance of being firm in their belief even during tough economic, political and social times.

“The age in which we are living is called the information age, computer age, space age and technology age. With so many things happening — corruption, natural disasters, unemployment etc. We want to remind the world that even in these times, Jesus is still our hope.”

The church was also celebrating 40 years of existence.

Having pastored Grace Bible Church since 1983, with only 35 people in a classroom, and a total offering of R120, Sono said “40 years later, we celebrate a Grace Bible Church that has over 70 branches”.

Families flocked into the stadium with cooler boxes, food and drinks to spend the day.

Mashatile was one of several ANC leaders attending services over the religious long weekend.

He said Sono was his spiritual leader “and I know that I can always count on him for spiritual nourishment which I will always require as I execute the tasks given to me by the ANC and President [Cyril] Ramaphosa”.

“I congratulate you on reaching a monumental milestone as you celebrate 40 years since the church started in Hlengiwe Primary School with 35 people,” Mashatile said.

“In our country, when our oppressors attempted to convince us that their hatred and intolerance had foundations in scripture, Christians of all denominations and hues stood up and said: 'Not in the name of Christ!'

“After all, how can anyone read any of the Gospels, or know the central message of the Sermon on the Mount, and still believe in the enslavement and exploitation of their fellow man? There is nothing more unchristian than injustice, inequality, racism, sexism, homophobia, and intolerance. There is nothing more Christian than love, tolerance, equality, fellowship, and caring for all humans and placing unrestricted value to human life.

“The political movement I belong to, and in whose service I have dedicated my entire life, the ANC, was founded and preserved by pious men and women, patriots who sacrificed so much and pursued justice not only as a political imperative, but as a central article of their faith. The ANC may be a secular political organisation, but it has always been one founded upon the progressive teachings of the faith.

“Freedom, tolerance, equality, justice, service to the people, and indeed 'a better life for all', all of these political goals, are religious, spiritual, and moral imperatives.”

TimesLIVE

Support independent journalism by subscribing to the Sunday Times. Just R20 for the first month.