Fraud, fake healing, lavish lifestyles and the abuse and manipulation of congregants. The list goes on. There’s no doubt that Pastors have been grabbing headlines for all the wrong reasons in South Africa.
But what if I were to present to you with the flip side? Pastors in this same country, and around the globe, who daily sacrifice their time, finance, and resource. Pastors who make sure that all those within their area of influence are spiritually nourished, mentored and skilled to be successful men, women and children who go on to impact their families and communities.
Durban based Pastor, Mark Naidoo is 63 years old and has been in ministry since 1988. When he made the decision to leave his job and enter full time ministry he was a Group Manager at an international Company. His passion and love for ministry overtook his desire to succeed in the marketplace.
After three years of full time Theological seminary, he took on the role of Pastoring a church. Although at the time the church could not provide him with a salary or any benefits, he chose to serve with passion and zeal. He had the full support of his wife who became the sole breadwinner in the home.
Together with their two young children they have spent their lives being of strength and support to their congregation. To this day, even in their 60’s, both Pastor Mark and his wife show no sign of abating. They wake up early every morning and spend their days counselling, praying for the sick, providing food for the poor and travelling to nations to share the gospel. I have seen them cut short many mission trips and holidays at their own expense when someone passes away at church or if there’s an emergency affecting one of their congregants.
If you ask them why they don’t set aside time to enjoy their retirement, they will tell you that they’re doing exactly what they enjoy – loving people.
There’s no doubt that being in ministry is a calling. Like Pastor Mark Naidoo, a large number of Ministers have given up successful careers to fulfil this calling by serving God and their communities.
Whilst many have been quick to criticise, defame and belittle Pastors, I must admit that the vast majority of Pastors I have met are genuine and sincere in their calling.
I have witnessed first-hand Pastors giving up their own personal resource to take care of their local congregations. From paying school fees, to caring for the sick, to taking care of funeral bills – these holy men and women of God passionately love and serve their churches. Much of a Pastor’s week involves teaching, nurturing and fostering the spiritual growth of his local church.
The majority of church leaders are spending late nights and early mornings putting together sound doctrine that ultimately elevates people out of their weaknesses and brings them into position of great strength.
Part of their teachings include ethics and morality, healthy lifestyles, prudent financial management, integrity in the workplace and respect for others. For true men and women of God, their jobs involve counselling, hospital, home and business visits, mentoring, teaching. They are also responsible for the stewardship of all ministry teams and resource within the church.
A Pastor is on call 24/7 and his time is never his. On several occasions my husband has had to leave home late at night to attend to an emergency. This ranges from going to a drug den to search for a father who hasn’t returned home, to being of support to a teenager who has attempted suicide. In times of need, a Pastor is the one person on speed dial.
Not all churches are mega-churches and resources can sometimes be very limited for smaller households of faith. It is especially in these smaller churches that Pastors ensure that the needs of the church are met, before their own. This may entail paying the rent, utility bills, staff, transport and other ministry expenses.
Congregants also approach Pastors with their own needs. Some need groceries and money for transport, while others risk being kicked out of their homes for not paying their rent. In all these cases, they look to the Pastor for help. He has to try to rake in thousands of rands to ensure families are not put out on the street.
I can assure you that this is not an unusual occurrence. I have personally witnessed Pastors go to great debt on their credit cards to fulfill responsibilities such as these. Saying no is almost unheard of. Those within the ministry regularly sacrifice their resource for others.
One Pastor I know personally took on the responsibility to pay for a congregants medical bills with his credit card, because the person was not on medical aid and desperately needed help.
These are the genuine men and women of God that we don’t see flashing on social media, but get bundled with abusers of the faith. They are true shepherds who don’t labour for financial reward but for the well-being of their flock.
While the CRL Rights Commission, Religious leaders and the public push for irresponsible church leaders to be held to account for their actions, I urge you to spare a thought for those Pastors who are genuinely and selflessly sacrificing their lives every single day for the betterment of others. These are men and women who deserve our honour, respect and support.
Melini Moses is an Assignment Editor at SABC Radio News. Together with her husband Pastor Justin Naidoo, they lead a church in Wendywood, Johannesburg. Her years as a Pastor’s wife has been both a great challenge and an amazing blessing. Most of all its opened her eyes to what Pastor’s families have to sacrifice every single day, the limitless love they need to have for others and the constant pressure they face trying to balance family life, church demands and for many, full time jobs.
