Text by Bajabulile Dhlamini
Photos by Z Muholi
Waking up to a beautiful and sunny Sunday morning, Inkanyiso team and I prepared to attend a service at Victory Ministries Church International (VMCI). They were officially opening Vaal branch on March 3rd 2019 and ordaining to Deaconship an elder Fumi Nkosi, who comes from Soweto.
We got to church at 12h00, the ceremony had already started and we missed the ordaining ceremony. We were on time for the main service where welcoming was underway. We were welcomed by a word on the book of 2Corinthians 9v7 and then a worship session started, singing and praising the Lord.
I noticed a dish of water circulating the pastoral section and they all partook in the washing of hands, which seemed to be the tradition of the church.
Then the Senior pastor of VMCI Apostle Z. Zungu observed all protocol and acknowledged pastors and leadership in the house. He also welcomed all congregants. Pastor Moshodi was Co- sharing the pulpit as the interpreting Pastor. Apostle Zungu preached the word and delivered the sermon of the day from the book of Luke 15 whose emphasis is on the parable of “Lost and Found”.
“Luke 15 is the fifteenth chapter of the Gospel of Luke in the New Testament of the Christian Bible. It records three parables of Jesus Christ: the lost sheep, the lost coin and the lost or ‘prodigal’ son.
These parables introduce the importance of sinners for Jesus, and thus for disciples whose drama is built on the tension of an attempt to find something that has been lost. Anyone who has lost anything or loses anything on a regular basis can identify with this tension.” (Scriber’s interpretation)
Apostle explained the link and the importance of being found. He used daily expressions and experiences to exhibit God’s love and passion in finding the lost. He then made an alter call for those who wanted to accept the Lord as their personal saviour. Zungu prayed for them as they entered their new salvation path, ridding the old and being reborn.
Zungu also prayed for the Pastorate and officially declared the ” VMCI Vaal branch opened” with Pastor Mokgatla as the leader of the branch. Attending the ceremony and service was Pastor Mazibuko from Soweto, Pastor Royo from Katlehong, Evangelist Puseletso from Joburg cbd, Pastor Sibisi from Kwa-Thema, Evangelist Bafana Mhlanga from Nelspruit. They all broke bread and shared Holy Communion amongst themselves and the congregation after Pastor Mazibuko had blessed the “Eucharist”.
Pastor Sibisi who was the M.C took offering, pastor Ramathavha (youth pastor) made announcements and notices while Sister Mamokete closed with prayer.
©️ BVL @Sebokeng,Gauteng
03/03/2019
Previous from VMCI:
https://inkanyiso.org/2015/02/18/2015-feb-16-vmci-is-a-home-away-from-home/
https://inkanyiso.org/2014/02/08/2014-feb-4-newly-ordained-pastors-of-vmci-church/
https://inkanyiso.org/2014/02/04/2014-feb-2-bayanda-abefundisi-evmci/
https://inkanyiso.org/2014/01/11/2014-jan-5-ishaya-ngolunye-unyawo-i-vmci-kulonyaka/
https://inkanyiso.org/2015/04/27/2015-april-6-vmci-baptism-at-2015-easters-in-durban/
https://inkanyiso.org/2016/04/20/2016-march-25-vmci-unpacking-the-crucifixion-of-jesus/
inkanyiso.org 