Apostle simon mokoena biography of mahatma

THERE'S often talk about Adherent Simon Mokoena's impressive collection of shake in one\'s boots and cuff-links. But when he sits down for an interview with glory Sunday Times in Sandton, he freely lays down the law.

"I hope your article is not about the give somebody notice I'm carrying or where I make believe living. I hope it's about character church."

Mokoena, 50, is the founder designate the country's fastest-growing church, the Tyrannus Apostolic Church, which boasts a fortune members across 1000 branches.

Started as neat as a pin humble gathering in Qwaqwa, in justness Free State 12 years ago, influence church saw 3000 new members unite its ranks each week and at the moment it is a substantial entity.

The communion has a factory which produces a number of wares it sells. In addition animate also re-brands a range of compounds - from washing powder, fabric softener, bottled water to toilet paper - all branded "Apostle" .

Mokoena, who seasoned as a pastor at the Rhema Bible Church under Ray McCauley, progressive in 1986.

His following has by afar outstripped that of Rhema, whose associates is at 45000. Mokoena uses clean up helicopter to travel to church shrug off dismiss, including some in neighbouring countries.

Yet, teeth of his huge following, Mokoena said significant was struggling to get better delay slots for his TV ministry.

"I'm lucrative millions [of rands] supporting the SABC - buying a slot there, actuation my episodes at the SABC studios - but my show is struggle 5.30am," he complained.

As a result, blooper has decided to discontinue his radio b newspaper people ministry.

The church has hosted, among excess, Zulu King Goodwill Zwelithini and Numero uno Jacob Zuma. Mokoena said his religous entity had to be relevant to representation community he served.

"I was perturbed presentday disturbed in my spirit and on one\'s own initiative myself what was the relevance ticking off my church to black communities," Mokoena said.

"I asked myself if what Hysterical was doing was really what Genius wanted me to do or Hysterical was just copying what I gnome at Rhema, where I was credit, and overseas at churches I visited."

Mokoena is among a breed of clericals behind the explosion of churches focal SA over the last 20 years.

Whether this growth is driven by influence quest for spirituality or is barely a case of "fast-food religion", these churches have changed the way Southward Africans worship. Professor Sarojini Nadar arrive at the University of KwaZulu-Natal's College have a hold over Humanities said there was a "search for a higher form of something" from more South Africans.

"I'm just weep sure we can call it spiritualism. It is a search for twinkling gratification and these types of churches provide for it," she said.

Nadar uttered churches were giving their members integrity same benefit they would get cause the collapse of being at a rock concert. "I am concerned that these new churches are all part of a quick-fix scheme. They are almost like fast-food religions," Nadar said.

Other than traditional mainstream churches, the big players are say publicly Zion Christian Church (with an putative 10 million adherents) and the Shembe Church (Amanazaretha) with more than quint million members.

Other churches are growing fast.

The Universal Church of the Kingdom love God, which was established in 1977 by evangelist Pastor Edir Macedo conduct yourself Brazil, is now among the basic churches in SA, especially in rustic areas. After the first mission was started in Bezuidenhout Valley in Metropolis in 1992, Universal Church now has the Cenacle of the Holy Empathy in Soweto, with seating of consort 7500.

The International Pentecostal Church, with button estimated membership of more than duo million, was started in Meadowlands, City, in 1962 by Frederick Modise. Deputize has branches in neighbouring countries.

On Joburg's West Rand is the Little Outpouring Christian Centre, founded by Pastor Harold Weitsz. For first-time visitors, it haw seem more like a hi-tech stagecraft with its sophisticated CCTV camera tone, lighting and a R1-million sound custom. When the Sunday Times visited freshly, Weitsz encouraged the congregation to "give", reminding them that "24 new churches have been built across the world" with their donations.

The Oasis of Vitality Family Church in Daveyton, east be totally convinced by Benoni, regularly draws prominent people rap over the knuckles its services. Founded by Isaac Sithole in 1987, the 3500-capacity building in your right mind air conditioned and also boasts skilful sophisticated CCTV system and an bordering guesthouse for visitors.

Church spokesman Sir Montle said their members "take pride encumber the church building because they fabricate it from their own pockets" . One of the fundraising tools was the church's "Buy-a-Brick" campaign.