KNYSNA NEWS – The Uniting Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa's (UPCSA) Garden Route Congregation held its opening in Nzimeni Street, Joodse Kamp on Saturday 22 April.
The church came from humble beginnings, with its ministry in the Knysna area started by Nzimeni Rimpie Vazi, from Gqeberha, around 1959.
The church building was built in 2009 by the late Reverend Lulamile Patrick Obose of the Presbytery for Pastoral Care of Garden Route Congregation. Up till then, the congregation had been attending church services at homes in the community.
At first the church was a mere informal structure in poor condition, until Obose took the initiative and rallied support from the community to rebuild the church. Today the building stands proudly with its doors open to serve its community, its reopening also being a tribute to the previous hard work of the late Reverend Obose.
The occasion was a momentous celebration of the church's history in this community.
The church was "christened" with a moving performance by cluster choirs from different congregations. The theme of the sermon and throughout the day was bringing renewal to a community in time of need.
The congregation had donated a plaque, which was ceremoniously unveiled to solidify and embolden the church's new status. Approximately 200 people were present on the day.
The occasion brought together religious leaders from across the country, including the Moderator of the General Assembly of the Uniting Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa, the Rt Rev Sipho Mtetwa from Pietermaritzburg; the Clerk of General Assembly Rev Vusi Mkhungo from Johannesburg; the Chaplain of the Moderator and Moderator of UThukela Presbytery Rev Thabani Masikane from Newcastle; Rev Howard Hans, a retired minister from Gqeberha; and Interim Minister Rev Dr B Hans from Gqeberha.
Knysna Mayor Ndoda Aubrey Tsengwa attended the occasion and the church honoured him and his service to the people.
The Moderator of General Assembly Rev Mtetwa unveils a plaque that renames Plettenberg Bay congregation, to ZD Mahomana Memorial Congregation.
The church is the lifeblood of the Joodse Kamp community and serves as a place where the community feels safe in times of need. It is a missionary church and also assists the community with soup kitchens.
In addition to the reopening of the Knysna branch of the church, an unveiling ceremony was held on 23 April to commemorate the renaming of the Plettenberg Bay congregation by the Moderator of General Assembly, Reverend Mtetwa.
The church was previously named the Plettenberg Bay Presbyterian Church and is now known as the ZD Mahomana Memorial Congregation, to honour the late Reverend Zwelethemba David Mahomana for his contribution to this congregation.
This church, together with the Uniting Presbyterian Church in Knysna and the Thembalethu Presbyterian Church in George, makes up the main Xhosa-speaking congregations in the Southern Cape that form part of the UPCSA.
A plaque donated by the congregation was unveiled at the ceremony. Photo: Nwabisa Pondoyi
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