The New Bible Deliverance Fellowship church was built 45 years ago. From left: Patricia Chetty, left, Sheila Naidoo, Bishop Ronnie Naidoo, founder, and Lazarus Chetty.
Image: Nadia Khan
IN A TESTAMENT to community resilience and faith, The New Bible Deliverance Fellowship in Greenbury, Phoenix, commemorates 45 years since the inaugural church building was erected.
However, the church, founded by Bishop Ronnie Naidoo, started in Tin Town more than 50 years ago.
He said due to the floods which swept through Tin Town on March 21, 1976, the families were provided with homes in Phoenix.
Naidoo initially worked as the supervisor at the cemetery in Tin Town.
“I lived in Chatsworth and travelled by motorbike to Tin Town every day. During this time, I became very close to the community, especially one of the residents. I stayed at his home a couple of times a week.
"His daughter became very ill, and he asked me if I knew anyone who could pray for her. At that time, I was not a pastor, but I was a Christian, and my faith was very strong. I called the pastor from my church in Chatsworth to come to Tin Town. After we prayed for her, she miraculously opened her eyes and soon recovered. The family then also started following Christianity," he said.
Naidoo said they started church services from his friend’s home.
“He had an open space on his property, which we used for church services. We built a makeshift church using timber and tin. I brought pastors from out of the area to conduct the services. I was later ordained as a pastor and conducted the services,” he said.
Naidoo said after the floods, the residents of Tin Town, including himself, were given homes in Phoenix.
Because I was living with the family whose home was damaged, I was also affected. When they were moved to Tent City, I continued to have church services there. After some time, we were all given houses in Phoenix. I was given a house in Redfern. The family I lived with were given a house in Stonebridge, and we had church services from their lounge.
“Soon after moving, I saw a piece of vacant land in Clayfield, and thought it would be a great space to hold services as our congregation was growing. I did not know if the land was owned by anyone. I set up a 300-seater marquee.
“However, a few years later I received a letter from the Durban Corporation (eThekwini Municipality) to remove the marquee as the land had been purchased. I was taken to court. However, I told to court that I would not remove the marquee unless I was given land to build a church. A few months later, in 1980, we received the current land on which the church was built, making it the first building erected,” he said.
Bishop Ronnie Naidoo, left, and Pastor Lang Chetty during the building of the church.
Image: Supplied
Naidoo said the church was built through his and the community's donations and efforts.
“I travelled to India to purchase saris, which were sold to raise money. From those sales I was able to buy 68,000 bricks. A school teacher donated 100 pockets of cement, while the carpentry was sponsored by an woman for whom I had prayed for .
“It cost R2,500 to level the land. I told the company I only had R25, and it accepted it. The company said it was because it was the first church building for Phoenix. The community also helped dig the trenches. We officially opened our doors in 1981. The congregation then was of about 300 people, but the numbers have dropped over the years,” he said.
Naidoo said the church played a significant role in the community.
“We not only held our services, but also feeding programmes, and still do once a month. Our church is used by the Phoenix Hospice Daycare Support Centre for cancer and HIV/Aids patients who are on their programmes. We also assisted them during their weekly events. More than 30 pastors have been ordained by me in the church.”
Naidoo said he was proud to serve the community over the years.
“It is through the grace of God that we have been able to keep our church doors open all these years. We are thankful that we have been able to make a difference in the lives of the community.”