The cancellation of the annual pilgrimage will see bus companies like Putco and other small businesses along the way heavily impacted. The cancellation of the annual pilgrimage will see bus companies like Putco and other small businesses along the way heavily impacted.
The Covid-19 pandemic has forced religious followers to worship at home this Easter weekend. Meanwhile some religious leaders have been rebuked for trying to profiteer from their financially strained congregants during the nationwide lockdown.
This weekend many churches reported to be feeling the pinch of the restriction imposed by the government to prevent the spread of the coronavirus as Easter celebrations of this important day in the religious calendar have been disrupted.
Prophet Zwilezwe Radebe the founder of the Revelation Church of God (RCG) which has 65 member churches and a combined membership of 10 million people said since the introduction of a lockdown the convenience of technology allowed the leadership of to resort to conducting it's church services online in order to keep the connectedness of its congregants intact to the extent it can under the prevailing circumstances.
Radebe said that technology is unable to replace the vibrancy, authentic connectedness and energy of congregants when gathered in one place especially in an African and indigenous church like the Revelation Church of God.
Asked how the church was surviving financially during the lockdown Thembi Tulwana RCG spokesperson said: “The fact of the matter is that churches are NPOs (Non Profit Organisations) and are not supported by the government in any shape or form. However, we rely on the contributions from some of our church members who can afford to contribute to allow the church to continue paying rent, water and electricity including salaries of those employed by the church.
“We are cognizant of the fact that our government did not make any provisions for churches during the lockdown but has made provisions for other so called essential services sectors. There is also no relief provided by our government to Churches during this dispensation, but other sectors have indeed been offered assistance by the government.
“So, the shortest answer to your question is YES, our reliance for sustainability is through our faith and provision from our church members. Otherwise, there is nothing else to sustain us during the lockdown.”
Pastor Stanley Maake for the God's Way Family Ministry said since the lockdown his church embarked on a 21 days of fasting and prayer using WhatsApp to facilitate evening daily prayers. “I am on a daily basis sharing a short sermon audio on WhatsApp and Facebook live. Considering the cost of data, we opted to share the message of God as audio in order to save the cost to download. Our audio sermons are maximum 6mb for a 1 hour sermon,” said Maake.
During Easter he said the word of God was shared using the whatsapp, facebook. , YouTube and audio sermon. “It is most unfortunate for the members who do not have access to these online platforms. Even though we do send the word of God via our sms services, it's never the same as hearing the Word of God,” Maake.
Maake said they do not need any assistance from the government. “We are a non-profit organisation and as a result we do not anticipate losses due to non collection of offering and tithes. Remember, the church administers the funds and channels them back into the same communities in a form of good deeds,” he said.
Controversial prophet Sherpard Bushiri of the Enlightened Christian Gathering (ECG) church last week got a backlash from social media when he posted a video calling his followers to deposit their tithes and send him proof of payment. He immediately made a U-turn saying he was on a global fundraising campaign to raise money needed in the fight against the deadly pandemic which has claimed 92 941 deaths and infected 1 524 161 global according to the World Health Organisation (WHO). In South African 2003 confirmed cases 24 deaths and 410 recoveries have been reported so far.
Bushiri’s spokesperson Ephram Nyando said in previous Easter gatherings ECG services attract multitudes of people. “For instance, at the Pretoria branch, where our leaders worship mostly, we pulled over 70 000 people during last Easter Season,” he said.
Asked about the finances of running the church during this difficult time when people are financially strained Nyando said: “Our members, followers, partners and well-wishers understand the importance of their contribution to keep the church running. That is why they are always supporting their church to ensure the mission of winning souls is not disturbed because of the pandemic.”
Incredible Happenings ministry leader Prophet Paseka “Mboro” Motsoeneng said the government should have not completely shut down the churches but to have been using them as distribution centres for food and testing centers. “The only sad thing is that the government shouldn’t have shut down churches completely. What they should have done they should have used churches to places where people get information, places where people can get saniters, people can get perishable product food and contribute in terms of the education,” said Motsoeneng.
Motsoeneng added that his church has been distributing free saniters after partnering with a company (Gem Flash) which makes hand sanitizers which are essential in preventing the spread of the deadly virus and also assisting farmers in the Free State during the lockdown.
Meanwhile the church organisation leaders have called upon their members not to refrain from exploiting their congregants during this difficult times which has seen some businesses cut salaries for their employees. Bishop Thami Ngcana general secretary for Council of African Independent Churches said: “We discourage this practice in our churches membership as the organisation in partnership with the South African Council of Churches embarked onto Social Relief in terms of with its Pastoral Plan to feed the poor and the vulnerable families.”
Ngcana said the government can assist Churches during and after the lockdown financing the Social Relief project.
General Secretary for South African Council of Churches (SACC) Bishop Malusi Mpumlwana, said the SACC applauds and supports the difficult decision that the government has had to take in order to continue safeguarding the health and lives of our people. “This is Easter unusual for us, and a truly historic occurrence. But staying at home and saving lives must take precedence at this time,” said Mpumlwana.
and sought new and different ways to worship at this time. We call for even greater patience and compliance with the stiff regulations, especially for funerals.”