Archbishop Balanganani Mugwari says if one wants to lead people, one should be the servant of the same people.
Mugwari (69), of The Zion Christian Apostolic Church at Maniini outside Thohoyandou, is a living testimony of the servanthood as dictated by the Bible, after he single-handedly built a church for his flock.
Mugwari said they had built the first church in 1995 and it had been suitable at the time. "As time went on, members multiplied and plans were made to build a bigger structure. We bought bricks and other building material, but for years they have been gathering dust," he said.
The humble cleric said one day in 2016 he thought of making a difference for his flock and that was when the building started. "I struggled alone in line with teachings of the Bible, which says whoever wants to lead should first be the servant of the same people. I do not depend on collections from members, but I use a certain percentage of my income for this purpose and as you can see, it is only a matter of time before we invite you to the official opening."
He added that it was his humble contribution towards the kingdom of God "and we believe ours is not to be rewarded here, but in heaven."
Church member Ms Mashudu Mudau had high praises for the church leader. "Our bishop is a very humble man who leads by example. When he started this project, we knew he wouldn't give up until it is finished. Ours is to give support to him in whatever he does," she said.