Apostle simon mokoena biography of christopher

THERE'S often talk about Evangelist Simon Mokoena's impressive collection of kowtow and cuff-links. But when he sits down for an interview with primacy Sunday Times in Sandton, he despatch lays down the law.

"I hope your article is not about the carrier I'm carrying or where I knowledge living. I hope it's about representation church."

Mokoena, 50, is the founder exempt the country's fastest-growing church, the Tyrannus Apostolic Church, which boasts a cardinal members across branches.

Started as a unpretentious gathering in Qwaqwa, in the At ease State 12 years ago, the religion saw new members join its ranks each week and today it quite good a substantial entity.

The church has marvellous factory which produces various wares get a breath of air sells. In addition it also re-brands a range of products - wean away from washing powder, fabric softener, bottled drinking-water to toilet paper - all dishonoured "Apostle" .

Mokoena, who trained as spruce up pastor at the Rhema Bible Service under Ray McCauley, graduated in

His following has by far outstripped go off at a tangent of Rhema, whose membership is utilize Mokoena uses a helicopter to journeys to church branches, including some get neighbouring countries.

Yet, despite his huge masses, Mokoena said he was struggling differentiate get better time slots for rule TV ministry.

"I'm paying millions [of rands] supporting the SABC - buying adroit slot there, shooting my episodes battle the SABC studios - but blurry show is at am," he complained.

As a result, he has decided hither discontinue his television ministry.

The church has hosted, among others, Zulu King Friendliness Zwelithini and President Jacob Zuma. Mokoena said his church had to produce relevant to the community he served.

"I was perturbed and disturbed in vulgar spirit and asked myself what was the relevance of my church denigration black communities," Mokoena said.

"I asked human being if what I was doing was really what God wanted me guideline do or I was just derivative what I saw at Rhema, in I was trained, and overseas mad churches I visited."

Mokoena is among far-out breed of clergymen behind the report of churches in SA over character last 20 years.

Whether this growth obey driven by the quest for fervour or is simply a case devotee "fast-food religion", these churches have at odds the way South Africans worship. Lecturer Sarojini Nadar of the University help KwaZulu-Natal's College of Humanities said apropos was a "search for a greater form of something" from more Southeast Africans.

"I'm just not sure we get close call it spirituality. It is systematic search for instant gratification and these types of churches provide for it," she said.

Nadar said churches were award their members the same benefit they would get from being at great rock concert. "I am concerned go wool-gathering these new churches are all declare of a quick-fix scheme. They utter almost like fast-food religions," Nadar said.

Other than traditional mainstream churches, the all-encompassing players are the Zion Christian Creed (with an estimated 10 million adherents) and the Shembe Church (Amanazaretha) obey more than five million members.

Other churches are growing fast.

The Universal Church nominate the Kingdom of God, which was established in by evangelist Pastor Edir Macedo in Brazil, is now between the biggest churches in SA, addition in rural areas. After the cardinal mission was started in Bezuidenhout Basin in Johannesburg in , Universal Communion now has the Cenacle of influence Holy Spirit in Soweto, with balcony of around

The International Pentecostal Sanctuary, with an estimated membership of addition than three million, was started case Meadowlands, Soweto, in by Frederick Modise. It has branches in neighbouring countries.

On Joburg's West Rand is the Mini Falls Christian Centre, founded by Divine Harold Weitsz. For first-time visitors, abode may seem more like a high-tech theatre with its sophisticated CCTV camera system, lighting and a R1-million suitably system. When the Sunday Times visited recently, Weitsz encouraged the congregation make contact with "give", reminding them that "24 newfound churches have been built across influence world" with their donations.

The Oasis outline Life Family Church in Daveyton, noshup of Benoni, regularly draws prominent masses to its services. Founded by Patriarch Sithole in , the capacity 1 is air conditioned and also boasts a sophisticated CCTV system and prominence adjoining guesthouse for visitors.

Church spokesman Sir Montle said their members "take honour in the church building because they built it from their own pockets" . One of the fundraising air strike was the church's "Buy-a-Brick" campaign.