Righteousness and Justice (1989-1994)
Any account of this period in the history of Westville Christian Fellowship has to begin with a sense of the historical context in which we found ourselves in South Africa around 1988.
The lines were clearly drawn, and in the same way as the night is darkest just before sunrise, so the days were dark in South Africa. There was gunpowder lying all around, in the streets, in the schools, in the universities, on the borders, at the places where townships met with suburbs, and any number of incidents could provide the spark which would set off this extremely tense and dangerous set of conditions.
Nelson Mandela was the world's most famous prisoner. Unseen, and unknown by many South Africans. The ANC was still banned. South Africa's Defence Force was involved in Mozambique and South West Africa, reaching into Angola. There were sanctions against South Africa's goods. A State of Emergency, detention without trial and the full rigours of oppressive measures were in place. Apartheid was at full force. The days were dark.
Political violence was the absolute norm. There wasn't a Monday morning newspaper that didn't report of 40-60 people dead in political clashes around the country, but especially in KZN. Of course, this was not front page news, but usually second or third page, in a corner. Train violence seemed to have a dimension that no-one could quite understand. People disappeared in the night. People died regularly in Police custody. Demonstrations were met with fire.
This was a time of two worlds. The townships were hot. Chesterville as hot as any other. The suburbs were lush and nervous. Westville as lush and nervous as any. The Grand Scheme of Apartheid was at its strongest and at its weakest.
Enter the Prophetic Church.
"In the beginning was the Word." (John 1:1). In 1989 there was a Word. In 1989 there was a camp. In 1989 there was a Word at a Camp at Cedara. Westville Christian Fellowship was never to be the same again. Neither was the nation. We must not overstate, nor must we underestimate the effect that the Church had at that time.
Cedara Camp in 1989 was for everyone associated with Westville Christian Fellowship an expose of our own hearts. It was a camp where the Word cut us to the raw essence of our condition and state of affairs as South Africans. Up to that point WCF was like any other Charismatic Church of the 1980's. There was dancing, there was singing, there was prayer, there was lifting of hands, new songs, tongues, and whatever else God was asking us to do.
Enter the Prophetic Word. Peter van Niekerk challenged us about the real condition of our hearts, and the abnormalities that had become so much the norm in our society and daily lives. What colour is God? What colour is justice? How do we regard and treat the domestic workers around our homes? What about the government? Who are our neighbours? Are we as Christians expected to support an unrighteous government ?
This word and the wrestlings of this time became the DNA that has informed and coloured the Church ever since. It would be wrong emphasis to speak too much of the people who left the Church as a result of this word. But the measure of offence was great. The affront that it was to our comfortable charismatic Christianity, which was doing just fine thank you very much; just like the Whites Only Country Club down the road!
Justice and righteousness became the banner which was waving irreverently over our heads. Some people left, but more arrived, and the Church has never been the same again. Thank God for that!
Our selective blindness was skillfully/ prophetically cut from the edges of our eyes, and hey, we saw that there was more to South Africa than just green, leafy suburbs... especially ours. And so, we looked over the fence and behold, there was a township. There was Chesterville. There were people. There were Christians and non-Christians. There was increased opportunity for us to build the Church and extend the Kingdom.
There was a tremendous sense of purpose at that time. A sense that the Church had a vital part to play in shaping the heart of the nation, and in speaking out on issues of injustice in the nation.
This resulted in the Church going into Chesterville in October of 1989 together with the team from Zimbabwe (a separate story). I think that the response was a bit overwhelming as we held the first meeting in the Community Hall on a Friday evening. There must have been close to 700 people, and so many people gave their lives, people were healed and we sang, ..and we stepped onto a learning curve which was to remain for the next many years.
Initially there were meetings on Thursday evenings, where the numbers dropped considerably as people discovered what we were there for. These meetings were first handed over to Roger Owen, and then Mike van and Peter Watt. There was tremendous support from many of the Westville people, including Gladys, Esther, Norah, Tryphina, Alpheus, Kenneth, Themba, etc. I really believe that the prayer and intercession that took place over those years changed and shaped the spiritual climate over Chesterville township:- "The prophetic Word is the highest authority over a nation under God!" I believe that the Word that was preached and the faith and optimism that was expressed has had an impact that will never be lost.
However, probably most important and most valuable was the quality of relationships that were developed during that phase of the history of the Church, and none better qualified to tell than Phumlani Arnold Nthanzi. We could go on about Chesterville for many more pages, that community of paradoxes, of extremes, and of reality, but we will never be able to do justice to the full extent of influence and impact that this season has had on our lives and the nature of Westville Christian Fellowship.
Intricately tied up with this period was the one and only ZIMBABWE. This was the breeding ground of the "when we" generation. "When we were in Zimbabwe... you should have seen... this is how they did it... the meeting was SSSSOOOOOOOOOOOO long!"
Our involvement with Zimbabwe involved a team of people going up in August 1989, coming back with such excellent report that another whole group of people changed all of their plans for Christmas and New Year and went up for the Conference that was held in Bulawayo from 24 December 1989 until 2 January 1990. This was a conference of about 5 000 people where the man of God, Prophet Andrew Wutawanashe was the main speaker.
Joshua 1:1 "Moses my servant is dead." echoed in our ears for many months thereafter!
During this time, in October 1989, a team of people from Zimbabwe came down. This included the Elder Wutawanashe, Victor (the Servant), and some of the ladies. In summary probably, ZIMBABWE TAUGHT US TO PRAY!!!
Going back to Chesterville, in conjunction with the evening meetings, some of the ladies started going in with Sandy Phillips, and working with the sewing groups. A feeding scheme and a creche were started under our newly named project "Bamba Izandla". This is no doubt best summed up by, but before Willa, Andrea Smith is going to share on her initial reflections and exposure to Bamba Izandla
Of course, with the changing complexion of Westville Christian Fellowship, so there was a dramatic and rapid change in the demographics of the Children's Church.
During this time there were other activities that were taking place. There were the Camps down at Oribi Gorge, firstly with Alan Scotland and Bryn Jones ('90), and then with Major Johnson and Chris Chilvers ('91). All of this only further drove us along the path that we had been shown, and caused us to reach further to neighbouring communities. Our desire and intent to build a multi-cultural Church against the natural tendency of the time was fuelled continuously by the Word that we were receiving."The New Breed", "The Remnant Principle", "What Makes Civilizations Rise and Fall?", "Righteousness exalts a Nation". This was our battle cry!
Our songs became songs of warfare, and the Church cassette at that time was called "Sons of War".
Friday morning intercession in the James' lounge had always been a very civil affair, with little noise and much nervousness that you would move or make a sound at the wrong time. This changed very quickly after our exposure to Zimbabwe, and soon Friday mornings became a noisy affair in the Civic Centre, where we learned to wage war, to intercede with passion, and to make a corporate noise in prayer.
This was also a time when Ernst and Martha Voegeli and their children came to visit Westville for a six month period, care-of Hans Jann. Ernst had been a Methodist minister, and after exposure to what was happening here, he went back and duly resigned. The Voegeli's, and the Church that was started out of that time continue to be very dear to us, and we have had much contact since then, both there and here. They are our most enthusiastic supporters of Simunye 2000 at this stage.
On the music scene between '89 and '92 things were hot. There was Freddie Mercury; there was Sting... and then there was The Remnant. This ragamuffin band of long-haired-varsity-students comprised of Lindy (Phillips), Shaun Smith, Wayne Sanders (with a fringe!), Peter McCulloch, Chris Howell and Thomas Copley. It is hard to believe that they have turned into such good, upright citizens today... married with children!
Also on the music scene was the memorable trip to the UK by our Church band, under the auspices of Dave James. This took place at the end of December 1990, and included Nicole James, Thomas Copley, Nic Engel, Lindy Phillips (van der Meulen), Chris Howell, Judy de Wet (Wilkens), Yvonne & Colleen Anger, Robin Judd, Kate Bowen-Jones and Karen Munro (McGough). It also showed Mike van just how much he missed his then girl friend, and Lindy has never regretted the Band's trip ever since.
If you have ever wondered where the English term "keeping up with the Jones" comes from, it was forged during those days. There was Bryn Jones, Keri Jones, and then there was the Bowen-Jones. Replete with their timeless Puegot 504 station wagon (missionary model), Edward was to "lead" Westville Christian Fellowship into areas the eye had not yet seen. It was Edward and Jean Bowen-Jones who initiated our involvement into Cato Crest informal settlement and Bonela.
In Cato Crest this became Sunday afternoon meetings in the local school in the area, with Colin and Brenda eventually taking over from the Bowen-Jones. Arnold, Esther, Cindy, Lindy Buxman (Coombe), Craig and Lauren and Ros Ralph were also involved with the children and various aspects of our ministry into Cato Crest. It also involved many distress calls to Colin Coombe during the day at work, asking for the impossible to be achieved. When the roof blew off the Post Office for example, there was always the Coombes available to turn that into roofing for somebody's house in Cato Crest. Sunday meetings eventually became Tuesday meetings, and this is where Arnold and Tryphina first began to do translation.
Again, it was the missionary Puegot 504 which pointed the way into what look like a collection of "Smartie" coloured houses near the freeway. The initial idea was to go into the area to plant trees in the stark surroundings, and to take cakes into the homes of the people of that community. The success of this endeavour is reflected in Vicky and Bernice's family, as well as Bobby Pillay.
When Palmiet Informal Settlement was hit by a storm, it was Ros Ralph and Jenny Vos who picked up the mantle to go in and help the people of this area. The best person to relate this story must be Ros Ralph.
A rich encounter is probably the best way to describe our interaction with Zambia. Roma and Catherine Nyakambumba came to South Africa, which resulted in return visits by some of our ladies. All reports were of colourful materials, songs, relationships, raw hunger for God and of the awesomeness of Roma and Catherine as the leaders of so many Churches in Zambia.
The years 1989-94 can probably best be likened to the adolescent years of the Church. It was a time when we really tried to come to grips with our true identity as a charismatic yet prophetic Church, in the midst of the complexities of South African society. It was a time of magnificent change, both in the Church and surrounding society.
Some of the undergirding activities which happened during this period were the Tuesday night Men's Meetings in the previous Church offices, where we discussed many of the issues of the day. There was Quo Vadis at the Durban Country Club in 1992, and the Acts Course at Cyara in 1993. There was much-potential-spouse-material that visited Westville Christian Fellowship during that period, under the guise of Help Teams. This introduced many colourful figures into our lives, and some hearts. Stuart Ottolini, Nancy, Sally Jackson, Melanie, Jonathan etc are some of the names that spring to mind.
In the run up to the 1994 elections there was tremendous burden in the Church to contribute positively to the whole transition process. This involved activities such as Violence Monitoring in areas such as Bhambayi. This included Linda McLean, Nigel Branken, the Munros and Peter Watt. There was voter education, and arranging for discussion and question times for the different political parties in the old Focal Point.
I don't believe that enough can be said of the power and impact of the Friday morning intercession meetings at the Civic Centre. There are times that I remember that we were praying for the nation as if our lives depended on it. Our faith for the positive future of the nation and peaceful elections seemed to be against all odds. We can remember the murder of Chris Hani, when all the previous good work seemed to be undone. There were massacres such as at Shell House and in Boipatong, any of which could have de-railed the entire peace and reconciliation process. There was not always much evidence that supported our optimism. No matter what else happened in the Church and in the nation from 1988-1994, there can no doubt that intercession remained an arrow in God's bow, and was a force of stability and confidence building in the God who was hearing our prayers.
Then of course during the year of 1994 Westville Christian Fellowship went through the heart searching and painful decision to break from Covenant Ministries International and Southern Harvest Ministries, with whom we had related for about 8 years.
1989 to 1994. They were the best of times, and they were the worst of times. This was a time when the prophetic voice into the Church was most clear and distinct, and the direction that we should take was evident. This was a time of new discoveries, new songs, and probably most of all, new relationships. Not only in the greater Westville area, but also across the nation:-Lesotho, Bloemfontein, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Sashongove, Mitchell's Plain, Khayalitshe, Pietermaritzburg, Esikhawini, Richmond, Greytown, and many more people and areas that cannot all be remembered, nor listed.
Prophetically confronting Apartheid by Peter Watt
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