By 7.30am many people have already arrived, to ensure they get a good seat. They can be seen hurrying down approach roads, smartly dressed in their Sunday best, as all churchgoers once were, before jeans and casual gear became acceptable attire for worship.
The latest trend is for some churches to make use of a hall, rather than a formal church. Such is the case with the Ethekwini Community Church, which meets in a cavernous warehouse opposite the municipality’s Parks and Gardens offices, just behind Brickhill Road. There are no frills, just a raised platform, plastic chairs and glaring overhead lights, but the atmosphere is electric.
By 10am it is positively pulsating, as the choir leads in song, and thousands of people get into the swing of worship. Ushers – who have been on duty since early morning, to ensure there is a warm welcome for everyone – show last-minute arrivals to the few available seats.
Last Sunday, there was a rousing cheer when the service opened with a reminder of Bafana Bafana’s performance against Angola the previous Wednesday. Mention was made of their game against Morocco that night. Whether the intervention of God was invoked for this specific game, I do not know, but we all know our national team is through to the next level.
Pastor Vusi Dube, flamboyant in a bright red suit, with white shirt edged in navy stripes at collar and cuffs, began to exert his charm. Comparing Mango airlines’ pre-departure injunction to “Sit down, we are moving out”, with SAA’s instruction to “Fasten your seatbelt”, Dube said the congregation was on the Mango road, moving forward.
“You can sit, but if your seat is too hot, you had better stand on your feet. Your life is never going to be the same again,” he said.
Everyone is catered for. Dube preached in English. Linda Somtala, more sober in a black suit, translated into Zulu, while Sebeni Khabule used sign language, for the benefit of those who cannot hear.
Why, though, the need for English in an all-African church? During a later interview, Dube explained that they were a diverse community. Many university students from around the country regularly attend. “Most do not speak Zulu. Sotho, Tswana, Pedi, Venda, are their home languages,” he said. Between 15 and 20 people who regularly attend services are deaf, so their needs, too, are catered for.
Before the visiting preacher (young evangelists are sometimes invited) started his sermon, the Blessed Acapella group of young men took to the stage. Their voices were stunning. When 14-year-old Thoni Hlangu chimed in, the audience became ecstatic. A rousing cheer was given when the tenors blended voices. It was like attending a professional performance.
Although the church has its own choir, during an interview after the service, Dube said they often invited other choirs to render gospel songs.
“We are worship-orientated, and attract people by gospel music. About 60 percent of our worshippers (about 3 000 attend every Sunday) are young people.”
Thina Zungu, winner of the SABC Crown Gospel Music Award for Best Gospel Songwriter, he said, was a member of the church.
Furthermore, the church seeks to empower and support young talent, so often gives different artists an opportunity to become known as a brand name. Dube explained that often those who had recently made a recording saw this as an opportunity to receive exposure.
A typical example of a gospel outreach was a concert given in the church one night this week when Blessed Acapella was joined by two other gospel groups, along with Zungu, as part of the launch of Youth Festival 2013.
Before moving to their present premises eight months ago, the Ethekwini Community Church met in a tent in Albert Park for more than six years. “We are that troublesome church,” said Dube, tongue in cheek, recalling the many complaints about them. “We are noisy, charismatic, and worship with joy and excitement.”
Our interview was conducted in the church’s Centre of Hope downstairs – a cool haven after the packed church.
This is where they counsel those who are HIV-positive, along with their families; young people who have problems with drugs or alcohol; and address community-related problems.
Dube’s wife, Dr Taki Dube – who specialised in anaesthetics, but now focuses on HIV issues – heads a team of six counsellors.
As part of their community outreach, the church also counsels people in prison. This can pay incredible dividends. According to Dube, one of their pastors, 29-year-old Lungisani Mafu, was in prison for 11 years on a murder charge, but released for good behaviour.
“Because of our visitation, we got him there (claimed him for God), and now he is one of us,” said Dube. Mafu now does a motivational talk on Ukhozi FM every morning at 06.50am.
“It is important to give everyone a second chance. Nobody is bound for hell. Everyone can change,” said Dube.
When it comes to young people, he believes they do not want to be changed, just to be loved.
“I am optimistic, and I hope that this city and country can still make good,” he reflected. “Our younger generation can make the difference. Between all the negatives, we can still build a positive, through giving young people love.”
Perhaps it is this approach which sees membership growing all the time, to the extent that the church will be holding its Easter meeting at Kingsmead cricket ground, to accommodate the expected crowd. Last year about 15 000 people tried to get in, and this year they hope to limit numbers to 12 000.
Asked whether they feared something akin to a soccer riot, Dube laughed: “Well, maybe.”
He admitted that he loves to tell a joke, and often peppers his sermons with comments that have his worshippers in fits of laughter. “Some people say I should do stand-up comedy,” he joked.
Meanwhile, he is too busy playing pastor to his ever-increasing flock to head for the stage.