A special Night Vigil called the Night of Rescue was held at the Cenacle of Holy Spirit in Johannesburg on Friday 22nd, in Cape Town on 29th June and in Durban on 13th July.
The meeting was aimed at all those who had given up doing the work of God as assistants, pastors, members and pastor’s wives. Many former members answered the invitation, giving their lives back to God and many of them were baptised in water as a symbol of their new birth.
Encouraging all the people who returned to God, Bishop Gilson, responsible for the assistants in South Africa said, “We invited you because God still loves you. It is the Holy Spirit who brought you here because He cares for you. This is your home and be assured that you can continue with your life from where you had stopped,” said the bishop.
Universal News spoke to Busisiwe Ndlovu from Durban who left the church and later came back. “When I left the church my life became worse. My husband fell ill. He was in and out of hospitals and then died. When I received an invitation to the Night of Rescue I told myself that it was my chance to come back to the Lord. The bishop’s message was very helpful. I am happy that God gave me a second chance,” said Busisiwe.
Grace from Johannesburg was the first former assistant to be baptised in water. When she left the church, she became a sangoma. However during the Night of Rescue she revealed that her life had been more difficult than before and all she wanted was to die. She thanked God for saving her life.
Hamilton is a former pastor who was among the first UCKG pastors in South Africa in 1992. He explained how his rebellious character took him away from the church.
“I rebelled and disgraced the church of God. I left and started my own church, but it did not last for long. The evil spirit tormented me and led me from one place to another, walking long distances on foot. My family did not know where I was. One day I woke up in hospital and spent nine months there. My family was later contacted and took me back home. I went to many churches looking for help and did not get any until I returned to the UCKG,” said Hamilton.
Bishop Marcelo Pires, responsible for the work of God in South Africa, said a prayer for the fear of God to be restored to the hearts of those who had lost it.
Everyone present at the night vigil renewed their vows to God through partaking in the Lord’s Supper.