UCKG members and pastors were left stranded outside church premises when they were evicted without prior notice or warning…
The church’s doors were then closed and since then, meetings have been held outside.
On Friday, 20th August at about 5 PM, the manager of the Motherwell Shopping Centre evicted church members and pastors without any prior notice or warning. Pr Elijah, responsible for the evangelical work in the province reported: ”We were about to start the service when the manager, accompanied by a few security guards, told us to take what we needed because they had to close the church immediately. When asked about the reasons, the manager simply stated that there were discrepancies surrounding the Church’s lease agreement and left it at that. We’re baffled because we’ve paid our monthly rent and saw no reason to be evicted.”
On Sunday, two days after the incident, approximately 500 members arrived for the 10 am service and found the pastors and assistants ready to pray outside the shut doors to the church premises. They sang and danced.
During the service the pastor encouraged the members to remain strong and not to give up. He explained that the church was doing everything in its power to resolve the issue and was certain that the problem would be sorted out.
Assistant Nomonde said that when she arrived at the church on Friday she saw members standing outside, waiting for the service. “We were not discouraged by what happened. We stood outside and waited for the service to begin because we knew that God would help us solve this problem,” she said.
Another assistant, Jessie, told Universal News, “When persecution comes, people of God must persevere and trust in God. When one door closes, many doors are open. Never fear.”
This is also the sentiment held by the Universal Church: persecution brings: spiritual maturity. As the members of the UCKG in PE remain strong in this time of persecution and difficulty, all bishops, pastors and assistants ndeavour to keep faith insuch situations.
By: Maggie Nyaunda
