“Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.”
1 Timothy 6:12
Pastor Vuyo was a gangster, who ended up in prison after a foiled cash-in-transit heist. He escaped prison, but was found, and then got sentenced to 5 years of jail time.
During his incarceration, Vuyo came to faith in Jesus Christ, and as they say, “The rest is history!”
Some of you may remember back in 2018 when we first introduced you to pastor Vuyo. We helped him set up a church plant in ‘gangster land’ (Gugulethu). He is our ministry partner and founder of Centre of Hope Community Church. Apart from the church; Vuyo has been involved in various outreaches, and occasionally preaches at our church in Stone Hill during our evening services.
At the beginning of lockdown in March 2020, pastor Vuyo and his team started a feeding ministry that reaches out to their neighbors in Gugulethu – which Charl and Sonja initially funded. Pastor Vuyo saw the need and suffering of his people and decided to take action. And now he has managed to reach many individuals, both physically and spiritually!
Also, we are so excited to inform you that pastor Vuyo and his team are opening a new church branch at Crossroads Township. And as pastor Vuyo mentioned before: “The stronghold of this community is alcohol and drugs. Growing up in such a community is a bondage on its own. People do not see life apart from drinking.” It is truly inspiring to see someone taking a stand against this cycle, and opening doors for others to free themselves from this bondage.
What’s more interesting is that this new church plant is the very same house where Vuyo got arrested in 2004, when he was still a most wanted criminal in Cape Town. It’s a house that was commonly known as a drug den and a place of wild partying. Not a favorite house in the community. What a miraculous change – God is so good!
Vuyo asked the owner of the house (the drug den) back in 2020 to come and testify about what happened the day of his arrest, as he shares his testimony on Radio. After the testimony, the owner (Thobeka) was in complete awe, to hear how the Lord turned Vuyo’s life around. So, she decided to visit his church for the first time.
The Lord had a divine appointment with her, the Word pierced her heart and she surrendered her life completely to Jesus! She left the night party life and selling of drugs and completely devoted herself to Jesus. This couldn’t have been easy for her but the Lord stood by her side and gave her strength.
When Vuyo and his team started the outreaches; they realized that many people living in the community are broken and hopeless. They don’t believe in a better tomorrow, but God always has a plan. He had a plan for our sister Thobeka (previously known as a drug dealer). Now seeing what the Lord has done for our dear sister, everyone thought she was beyond redemption, but God comforts the afflicted and raises the dead (of spirit). He is faithful, everyone who calls on the Name of the Lord shall be saved.
She started to witness to her neighbors in the area about Jesus, just like Saul many people couldn’t believe it was the same Thobeka who used to sell drugs to their kids. Seeing how her life has turned around they also followed her faithful steps.
She now runs a manicure business for a living. Please pray that she stays committed to Christ, and for the Lord’s Name to be glorified through her life. On the 2nd of May 2021, they held their first service at Thobeka’s house. Praise the Lord!!
They also held a three-day soul-winning outreach and were happy to see more than 30 people responding to the Good News of our Lord, Jesus Christ. We’re still trusting God to keep working on more souls in this area.
“But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience as an example for those who would believe in him and receive eternal life”
1 Timothy 1:16
Please join us in prayer and celebration for pastor Vuyo’s recent engagement!
Blessings,
Olga
