A dream of one of the founders of the Living Gospel World Mission Church started to become a reality the past weekend when the sod-turning ceremony for the church's new auditorium took place.
The ceremony was held on Sunday (9th) at the church's headquarters in Tshilivho and the guests included traditional leader Thovhele Gole Mphaphuli, Vhembe District Municipality mayor Dowelani Nenguda, Thulamela mayor Sarah Rammbuda, Ms Meriam Ramadwa - who is a member of the National Legislature - pastors and bishops.
The president of the church, Pastor Robert Kharivhe, said the new building would be the culmination of a dream by the founder of the church, Dr Masole Ragimana. The new auditorium will be able to host 4 000 people. "It will be one of a kind, with a ground-floor seating of 2 500, and 1 500 will be accommodated on the first floor. This excludes the youth and Sunday school halls," he said.
Pastor Kharivhe said that this was one of the fastest-growing churches in the world, with more than 300 branches in 17 countries. "We are very excited to see the church growing on a daily basis, with many coming to the fold of God. Not long ago, the church could not accommodate all of us," he said.
Pastor Kharivhe told the congregants and special guests that they had initially acquired a space that could accommodate just over 100 people, but it very quickly became too small. As the church kept on growing, they realised that they would have to embark on a major construction project.
"God is doing wonders here, and we have every hope the project will be completed soon," he said.
The new building site was blessed by Bishop Sophie Khorommbi of the Charis Missionary Church. The construction work is set to commence immediately.
In her passing and greeting sentiments, Thulamela Mayor Rammbuda said the new state-of-the-art church was in line with their vision of making Thulamela a city by 2030. She pledged all her support to make the project a success.
Speaking during the function, Vhembe's Mayor Nenguda called on the church as an international and world church to continue uniting countries that sometimes do not see eye to eye. Nenguda also urged the church to pray for peace in the world, starting in its own district.
"We as leaders often engage in petty squabbles, and service delivery suffers. Pray that we have peace and that we provide water on a daily basis," he said. He praised the leadership of the church for coming up with such a big initiative.
In his message, senior traditional leader Thovhele Gole Mphaphuli praised the current leadership of the church for fulfilling the vision of the late church founders, Pastor Matsidiso Evelina Ragimana and Pastor Dr Masole Petrus Ragimana. "We are here to celebrate this huge milestone. When the founders of this church passed on, I had serious doubts as to whether this church would continue, but the opposite is now the case as we are about to witness one of the best developments in this area. Please do not demolish the old building, but keep it as a reminder and a legacy for future generations," he said.
The project coordinator, Mr Tshianeo Mathidi, said that the building would be funded from the contributions of the church's members. He said that they had no individual targets for congregants as everyone's contribution was a matter between the individual and God.