Difference between revisions of "Grace Community Church, South Africa"

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|Row 2 info = <center>1990's</center>
 
|Row 2 info = <center>1990's</center>
 
|Row 3 title = Presiding Officer
 
|Row 3 title = Presiding Officer
|Row 3 info = <center>Leon Pula</center>
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|Row 3 info = <center>Leon Pula<ref>"Africa." Africa Summary. Mennonite World Conference, 2011. Web. 17 Apr. 2011. <www.mwc-cmm.org/en15/files/Members%202009/Africa%20Summary.doc>.</ref></center>
 
|Row 4 title = [[Mennonite World Conference|MWC]] Affiliated?
 
|Row 4 title = [[Mennonite World Conference|MWC]] Affiliated?
 
|Row 4 info = <center>Yes</center>
 
|Row 4 info = <center>Yes</center>
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|Row 5 info = <center>7</center>
 
|Row 5 info = <center>7</center>
 
|Row 6 title = Membership
 
|Row 6 title = Membership
|Row 6 info = <center>1,023</center>
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|Row 6 info = <center>1,027</center>
 
}}
 
}}
  
The '''Brethren in Christ Church (BIC)''' is the primary Anabaptist-related group in South Africa. The Brethren in Christ congregation was established in South Africa in 1988 near the capital city of Pretoria. Currently the Brethren in Christ Church in South Africa has over 764 members in thirteen different congregations.
+
Grace Community Church is a Mennonite World Conference church located in Philipstown, South Africa. Philipstown, South Africa is located in the heart of a rural sheep ranching territory in the northwest part of the country.<ref>Dreaming A New South Africa. Dir. Patricia McFarlane and Stanley Green. Perf. Pastor Leon Pula. Mennonite Mission Network, 2006. DVD.</ref> Most recently, the Grace Community Church in South Africa has reported to have 1,027 members in seven different congregations.<ref>"Africa." Africa Summary. Mennonite World Conference, 2011. Web. 17 Apr. 2011. &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;www.mwc-cmm.org/en15/files/Members%202009/Africa%20Summary.doc&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;.</ref>
  
 
== Stories  ==
 
== Stories  ==
  
 
{{storiesblock
 
{{storiesblock
|PageName=Brethren in Christ Church in South Africa
+
|PageName=Grace Community Church
 
}}
 
}}
  
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=== Origins  ===
 
=== Origins  ===
  
In 1897 the first Brethren in Christ missionaries left New York for Zimbabwe in late November. Since they arrived just two years after the end of the second war of resistance to white colonial rule, the missionaries were viewed by the nationals as having the same ideals and culture as the colonists. The missionaries soon proved themselves and eventually the Zimbabwe Brethren in Christ Church spread to Botswana, Zambia, Malawi, Mozambique, and South Africa.&nbsp; <br>The Brethren in Christ Church in South Africa was established in 1988 near the capital city of Pretoria. The original congregation consisted of four different tribal groups that evangelized by hosting tent revival meetings and ministering in prisons and hospitals. <br>The pastor and organizer of this first church was Rev. Hamilton Madlabane. Anna Engle, who was a missionary working to translate scriptures, first introduced Madlabane to the Brethren in Christ Church. Madlabane then left for the United States and attended Messiah College. At college Madlabane met some Brethren in Christ friends who persuaded him to establish the BIC Church in South Africa. Until recently, Madlabane had been the leader of the Soshanguve Brethren in Christ Church for its entire existence. He has since died. <br>The second church created was the Hillbrow Brethren in Christ Church, which is currently located in the Johannesburg area. This group was originally formed by expatriate Zimbabweans living in South Africa as refugees that wanted a support group for one another. This small support group eventually created the church, as early leaders, David Masuku and Patrick Sibanda, made efforts to gather everyone together to worship. Their efforts eventually were successful when on January 22, 1991 their first BIC service was held in the home of Buhle Ndlovu. More people began attending, and the church became a uniting of both South Africans and Zimbabweans. This church did not have an official pastor for the first two years of its existence, but eventually the first pastors of this church were Simon Sibanda and Francis Moyo. <br>Three months after the Hillbrow Brethren in Christ Church began, Rev. Ndlovu, who was on the Zimbabwe NIC Executive Board, travelled to South Africa to introduce the two newly founded groups. This effort was unsuccessful, as their relationship did not work out well.<br>
+
The church began when Pastor David Makaleni decided to build a church and evangelize within the Philipstown community in the 1990's.<ref>Checole, Alemu, et al. Anabaptist Songs in African Hearts. Ed. John Allen Lapp and C. Arnold Snyder. 3rd ed. Intercourse, PA: Good Books, 2006.</ref> Makaleni became a legend in the area for carrying the gospel to many workers struggling to live on sheep farms. He drove thousands of miles to spread the good news. During his life, David planted nearly 20 cell groups and rid most of the plantations of the alcoholism that was creating an epidemic. <br>After some time, Grace Community Church had mentioned that they would really like to have some of their members ordained. Tim Lind, a Mennonite Central Committee representative, helped connect Grace Community with the Brethren in Christ Church in Zimbabwe.<ref>Checole, Alemu, et al. Anabaptist Songs in African Hearts. Ed. John Allen Lapp and C. Arnold Snyder. 3rd ed. Intercourse, PA: Good Books, 2006.</ref> During 2001, Bishop Shenk and his wife Nancy, travelled to Philipstown to ordain pastors and advise the church on how to install deacons.<ref>Checole, Alemu, et al. Anabaptist Songs in African Hearts. Ed. John Allen Lapp and C. Arnold Snyder. 3rd ed. Intercourse, PA: Good Books, 2006.</ref> <br>
  
[[Image:Hillbrow.jpg|418x278px]]<references />
+
[[Image:David Makalani.png]]<br>
 +
 
 +
Pastor David Makaleni <ref>Jones, Charles T. "Passion Burns in South Africa." The Mennonite 01 July 2003: 8-11.</ref>
  
 
=== Growth  ===
 
=== Growth  ===
  
After the church began in 1988, Bishop Jack Shenk and his wife Nancy played a vital role in providing the church structures that have helped the church to grow both numerically and administratively. Bishop Shenk is an individual that has been tasked by the Board of Missions in North American Brethren in Christ Church, and has a job to help the BIC Churches in the Southern African region as the Regional Administrator.<br>Like many other African churches, the Brethren in Christ Church in South Africa expresses and values their culture by singing and dancing during worship services. Through song and dance this group is able to connect with others to build a larger community, which is a factor in why they are so diverse. <br>The youth make up a vast majority of the growth of the church. However, these youth have not made a logical connection to the Anabaptist faith, however, and so this creates questions of what the church’s identity will be in the future.
+
==== Apartheid  ====
 +
 
 +
The Philipstown community continues to be an area of economic depression influenced by sheep farms.<ref>"Grace Community Church." Mennonite Mission Network. Web. 17 Apr. 2011. &amp;amp;amp;lt;http://www.me nnonitemission.net/OurWork/Partners/Pages/GraceCommunityChurch.aspx&amp;amp;amp;gt;.</ref> The sheep farms are the main source of wealth in the community, and as it was before the apartheid, the farms belong almost solely to white farmers. Because of this, these white farmers employ large numbers of African workers.<ref>"Grace Community Church." Mennonite Mission Network. Web. 17 Apr. 2011. &amp;amp;amp;lt;http://www.me nnonitemission.net/OurWork/Partners/Pages/GraceCommunityChurch.aspx&amp;amp;amp;gt;.</ref> While the church and Philipstown community can feel disgruntled in a culture that had been closed by color for so long, Grace Community Church has rapidly grown since apartheid. Pastor Leon Pula is the head of the church at the moment. For quite some time, now, Pastor Pula has been fervently involved in politics. During 2006 he was the only person of color in a senior government position and had already been a deputy chairperson for a branch of the African National Congress (ANC).<ref>Dreaming A New South Africa. Dir. Patricia McFarlane and Stanley Green. Perf. Pastor Leon Pula. Mennonite Mission Network, 2006. DVD.</ref> He has only been allowed to hold congress since apartheid is finally over. The African National Congress finally came to power in 2006 and the victory released a lot of emotion for change.<ref>Dreaming A New South Africa. Dir. Patricia McFarlane and Stanley Green. Perf. Pastor Leon Pula. Mennonite Mission Network, 2006. DVD.</ref> Pastor Pula continues to be a well known leader within the community and has continued to try and bridge the gap between the opposition party and the ANC. Although the church has grown tremendously since apartheid, the economy has completely plummeted since the opposing party lost power.
  
 
== Contemporary Trends  ==
 
== Contemporary Trends  ==
  
Currently the BIC church has branches in the following places: Freedom Park, Eersterus, Johannesburg South, Yeoville, Krugersdorp, Tembisa, Cosmo City, Ivory Park, Tsakane, Cape Town, and Pretoria. These branches have recently been given a General Conference status by the international Brethren in Christ Association (IBICA). <br>Lately, Zimbabweans have been making efforts to nurture the Hillbrow group. The Zimbabwe Brethren in Christ Church sent Pastor Benedict Macebo to help strengthen their newly formed sister church. <br>Recently, efforts have been made to build relations with other Anabaptist churches, including Grace Community Church in Philipstown, South Africa.
+
While the affects of apartheid continue to be present, the church members in Philipstown do believe that a change has been made. They would agree that they are living in a free country, because while it is still not good it’s much different that it was.<ref>Dreaming A New South Africa. Dir. Patricia McFarlane and Stanley Green. Perf. Pastor Leon Pula. Mennonite Mission Network, 2006. DVD.</ref><br>Recently, efforts have been made to build relations with other Anabaptist churches, including the Brethren in Christ Church in South Africa. However, even though these relationships have been made, neither BIC nor Mennonites have continued to nurture this church. Even still, the church continues to grow and study the scriptures to their best knowledge.<br>Pastor Leon Pula believes that the focus in the church right now is on the youth. The church would like to develop the youth to be able to keep the church alive and get them ready for leadership.<ref>Jones, Charles T. "Passion Burns in South Africa." The Mennonite 01 July 2003: 8-11.</ref><br>Pula and his wife, Leah, have had some success with facing other struggles within the community as well, such as drinking and fighting. They have led counseling, generating many success stories along with peace and healthiness.<ref>Jones, Charles T. "Passion Burns in South Africa." The Mennonite 01 July 2003: 8-11.</ref> <br>Setting up a ministry in the Philipvale Primary School has been another project for Leon Pula. This ministry is an outreach to the youth in the community, and the youth group meets every night.<ref>Jones, Charles T. "Passion Burns in South Africa." The Mennonite 01 July 2003: 8-11.</ref><br>
 +
 
 +
[[Image:Leon Pula.png]]
 +
 
 +
Pastor Leon Pula praying over a member in his congregation <ref>Jones, Charles T. "Passion Burns in South Africa." The Mennonite 01 July 2003: 8-11.</ref>
  
 
=== Identifying as Anabaptist  ===
 
=== Identifying as Anabaptist  ===
  
The church has committed itself to a message of compassion, peace, and reconciliation. Members in the Brethren in Christ church do not participate in wars. Learning to lead a separate lifestyle from that of the world is encouraged and necessary as an Anabaptist in this church. The church also puts a lot of emphasis on living simply, and forgiveness is a core part of their teaching.
+
The major way that Grace Community identifies as Anabaptist is trying to keep peace within the community. By showing and representing reconciliation, they want to show that peace is attainable between the whites and blacks. Their efforts to reduce alcoholism within the community have also generated similar themes of peace.
  
 
=== Important Individuals  ===
 
=== Important Individuals  ===
  
*Pastor Benedict Macebo - He is currently the pastor at Hillbrow Brethren in Christ Church in South Johannesburg. Pastor Macebo has done a lot of work with the Anabaptist Network in South Africa (ANiSA). He is an influential leader within the Anabaptist community, and has had success in creating connections within the different branches.
+
*Pastor Leon Pula - He is the pastor of Grace Community Church in Philipstown, South Africa. Currently Pula is involved in politics and is the only person of color in a senior government position. Pastor Pula continues to be a well known leader within the community and has continued to try and bridge the gap between the opposition party and the ANC. <br>
  
 
=== Current Challenges  ===
 
=== Current Challenges  ===
  
Probably the biggest problem of the Brethren in Christ Church is the capacity to finance all of the church programs. While the church continues to grow at a very good pace, many of the members are unemployed and do not help the church financially. While the church desires to plant 60 churches by 2014, they do not have enough money to develop a strong leadership program. Another issue within the church is the continued affects of apartheid. In this way, xenophobia within the church is sometimes a serious challenge. Some problems to mention would also be that tribalism is also felt in the church. Poverty is a constant frustration among members. The church is still at an infant stage, which is a challenge in itself. Crime is very prevalent in the South African society. Faith Healers also challenge the church as members are leaving the church in large numbers. One of the challenges facing the BIC Church in South Africa today is the growing numbers of youth in the church. While many churches would feel blessed to have such a young church, it can pose as a problem if the youth have not completely latched on to the Anabaptist ideals. This has come as a concern since the youth are the future of the church. A further challenge within the BIC branches is that there is a lack of knowledge about Anabaptism. The Anabaptist Network in South Africa (ANiSA) is an organization that is working to fix this, but hopefully the problem is not too big at this point.
+
Probably the biggest challenge facing Grace Community Church today is the repercussions of apartheid. The affects of apartheid create a constant struggle in the community, as well as in South Africa, because many of the black nationals do not have money and they are forced to ask white people for it. In a way this interferes with the nationals ability to live out their newly found freedom. Pastor Pula hopes that in the near future whites will come to worship at their church.
 +
 
 +
[[Image:Building.jpg]]
 +
 
 +
In 2006, 16 North Americans helped Grace Community to remodel their church. By doing so, people within the community could see hope in the fact that blacks and whites could work together someday. <ref>Hollinger-Janzen, Lynda. "In South Africa, Workers Dismantle Walls, Build God's Household." The Mennonite 07 Dec. 2007.</ref>
 +
 
 +
<br>Many people within and around the Philipstown community are reliant on alcohol, which results in constant struggle and unnecessary fighting. Pastor Leon Pula and his wife, Leah, are doing what they can to change this problem, but more could be done.<ref>Jones, Charles T. "Passion Burns in South Africa." The Mennonite 01 July 2003: 8-11.</ref><br>The HIV/AIDs crisis is also a serious struggle the church is facing.<ref>McFarlane, Patricia. "Tell Me About Grace Community Church." E-mail interview. 11 Apr. 2011.</ref> While there are many youth in the church that cannot fully understand their actions, a continued effort at showing the path to a new life in Jesus Christ is necessary. <br>
  
 
<br>
 
<br>
Line 60: Line 74:
 
== Annotated Bibliography  ==
 
== Annotated Bibliography  ==
  
*"About ANiSA." The Anabaptist Network in South Africa. 2009. Web. 17 Apr. 2011. &lt;http://anisa.org.za/about&gt;. <br>
+
*"Africa." Africa Summary. Mennonite World Conference, 2011. Web. 17 Apr. 2011. &lt;www.mwc-cmm.org/en15/files/Members%202009/Africa%20Summary.doc&gt;. <br>
 +
 
 +
::This website directs the reader to a document that lists the different Anabaptist and Mennonite World Conference churches within Africa. The document lists the African countries in alphabetical order, with a list of each church in the pertaining country. Under the church’s name is the number of members and how many congregations exist within each church.
 +
 
 +
*Checole, Alemu, et al. Anabaptist Songs in African Hearts. Ed. John Allen Lapp and C. Arnold Snyder. 3rd ed. Intercourse, PA: Good Books, 2006.
  
::This website helps connect the Anabaptist churches in South Africa. The creators’ goal is to help define what it means to be Anabaptist in a South African context, and allows churches all around the country to have a common place to connect. Along with general information on Anabaptists, ANiSA has contact information for a couple Brethren in Christ churches in the country.
+
::This is one of the most thorough books on Anabaptist history within the African context that I used during research. While it focuses on the whole continent, this book pays ample attention to the Mennonite and Brethren in Christ churches in Southern Africa. There was even a small section specifically on the Brethren in Christ Church in South Africa. This was a primary source.
  
*"Africa." Africa Summary. Mennonite World Conference, 2011. Web. 17 Apr. 2011. &lt;www.mwc-cmm.org/en15/files/Members%202009/Africa%20Summary.doc&gt;.
+
*Dreaming A New South Africa. Dir. Patricia McFarlane and Stanley Green. Perf. Pastor Leon Pula. Mennonite Mission Network, 2006. DVD.
  
::This website directs the reader to a document that lists the different Anabaptist and Mennonite World Conference churches within Africa. The document lists the African countries in alphabetical order, with a list of each church in the pertaining country. Under the church’s name is the number of members and how many congregations exist within each church.
+
::Trying to capture the struggles still faced by Anabaptists after the apartheid, Goshen College students travelled to South Africa to interview several people within Anabaptist churches. The interviews were mostly the pastors of the three different congregations that were highlighted in the film. One of the churches focused on was Grace Community Church in Philipstown. The influential pastor there, Leon Pula, provided some good insight into the changing community and church. This was a primary source.
  
*"BICWM | International Flag Processional Script." Brethren in Christ Church. Brethren in Christ World Missions, 2000. Web. 17 Apr. 2011. &lt;http://www.bic-church.org/wm/global-impact/resources/script.asp&gt;.
+
*"Grace Community Church." Mennonite Mission Network. Web. 17 Apr. 2011. &lt;http://www.me nnonitemission.net/OurWork/Partners/Pages/GraceCommunityChurch.aspx&gt;.
  
::While the need for a processional script is unclear, this website provides a little information on when the Brethren in Christ church began. It also lists a few things that the church has been focusing on.
+
::Listed on Mennonite Mission Network’s website, this brief description of Grace Community Church sums up the little history and relevance that is well known about the church. While mentioning some of the beginnings of the church, this site mostly focuses on the success and influence that Grace Community has within the region. This was a secondary source.
  
*Checole, Alemu, et al. Anabaptist Songs in African Hearts. Ed. John Allen Lapp and C. Arnold Snyder. 3rd ed. Intercourse, PA: Good Books, 2006.
+
*Hollinger-Janzen, Lynda. "In South Africa, Workers Dismantle Walls, Build God's Household." The Mennonite 07 Dec. 2007.
  
::This is one of the most thorough books on Anabaptist history within the African context that I used during research. While it focuses on the whole continent, this book pays ample attention to the Mennonite and Brethren in Christ churches in Southern Africa. There was even a small section specifically on the Brethren in Christ Church in South Africa. This was a primary source.
+
::This article in The Mennonite focuses on the efforts to help Grace Community Church to renovate their church. The church had a crumbling building, but after some people from overseas came and volunteered their time for a couple weeks, the church was able to be a better and safer meeting place. It was important to continuously mention that the church serves more like a community center within this small community. This is a news story and a magazine article.
  
*Macebo, Benedict. "I Want to Know More About Your Church." E-mail interview. 10 Apr. 2011.
+
*Jones, Charles T. "Passion Burns in South Africa." The Mennonite 01 July 2003: 8-11.
  
::Benedict Macebo is the pastor at Hillbrow Brethren in Christ Church in South Johannesburg. Through this interview Benedict presented his obvious and clear passion for the church, as well as provided some very direct and necessary information about the Brethren in Christ Church. He answered every question in the interview in full detail, delighted that someone was interested about his church. Benedict is a major leader within the South African Anabaptist community, and really knows his history but also where he wants to lead the church in the future. This was a primary source.
+
::Focusing on the same pastors and material that was mentioned in the video listed above, “Dreaming A New South Africa,” this article provides a few more statistics and more detailed information about Grace Community Church. What is important to mention in this article is that the founder of the church, David Makaleni, is interviewed, while he is not mentioned in the film. David has since died, and it is encouraging to have his perspective. This was a secondary source and a magazine article.
  
*Suderman, Andrew. "Tell Me About the BIC Church." E-mail interview. 10 Apr. 2011.
+
*McFarlane, Patricia. "Tell Me About Grace Community Church." E-mail interview. 11 Apr. 2011.
  
::Andrew is one of the web developers for the Anabaptist Network in South Africa (ANiSA). He knows a lot about the Anabaptist churches working within the country.
+
::Travelling to South Africa with the Goshen College team to film “Dreaming A New South Africa,” Pat McFarlane described a little about he experience and memories while visiting Grace Community Church. While she is not an expert, Pat gave a very down to earth and memorable response to the things she saw and experienced while in Philipstown.
  
 
== Citations  ==
 
== Citations  ==
Line 89: Line 107:
  
 
== Acknowledgments  ==
 
== Acknowledgments  ==
 
+
This information was compiled by Aspen Schmidt, working through the Anabaptist/Mennonite History course at Goshen College in Goshen, IN.</center>
This information was compiled by Aspen Schmidt, working through the Anabaptist/Mennonite History course at Goshen College in Goshen, IN.
 

Latest revision as of 04:26, 19 April 2011

Grace Community Church
Sf-map.gif
South Africa: World Factbook, 2009[1]

Location

Philipstown, South Africa

Date Established

1990's

Presiding Officer

Leon Pula[2]

MWC Affiliated?

Yes

Number of Congregations

7

Membership

1,027

Grace Community Church is a Mennonite World Conference church located in Philipstown, South Africa. Philipstown, South Africa is located in the heart of a rural sheep ranching territory in the northwest part of the country.[3] Most recently, the Grace Community Church in South Africa has reported to have 1,027 members in seven different congregations.[4]

Stories

Create new articles that tell stories about the Anabaptists of Grace Community Church and insert links to those stories here. Click here to learn more about stories.

History

Origins

The church began when Pastor David Makaleni decided to build a church and evangelize within the Philipstown community in the 1990's.[5] Makaleni became a legend in the area for carrying the gospel to many workers struggling to live on sheep farms. He drove thousands of miles to spread the good news. During his life, David planted nearly 20 cell groups and rid most of the plantations of the alcoholism that was creating an epidemic.
After some time, Grace Community Church had mentioned that they would really like to have some of their members ordained. Tim Lind, a Mennonite Central Committee representative, helped connect Grace Community with the Brethren in Christ Church in Zimbabwe.[6] During 2001, Bishop Shenk and his wife Nancy, travelled to Philipstown to ordain pastors and advise the church on how to install deacons.[7]

David Makalani.png

Pastor David Makaleni [8]

Growth

Apartheid

The Philipstown community continues to be an area of economic depression influenced by sheep farms.[9] The sheep farms are the main source of wealth in the community, and as it was before the apartheid, the farms belong almost solely to white farmers. Because of this, these white farmers employ large numbers of African workers.[10] While the church and Philipstown community can feel disgruntled in a culture that had been closed by color for so long, Grace Community Church has rapidly grown since apartheid. Pastor Leon Pula is the head of the church at the moment. For quite some time, now, Pastor Pula has been fervently involved in politics. During 2006 he was the only person of color in a senior government position and had already been a deputy chairperson for a branch of the African National Congress (ANC).[11] He has only been allowed to hold congress since apartheid is finally over. The African National Congress finally came to power in 2006 and the victory released a lot of emotion for change.[12] Pastor Pula continues to be a well known leader within the community and has continued to try and bridge the gap between the opposition party and the ANC. Although the church has grown tremendously since apartheid, the economy has completely plummeted since the opposing party lost power.

Contemporary Trends

While the affects of apartheid continue to be present, the church members in Philipstown do believe that a change has been made. They would agree that they are living in a free country, because while it is still not good it’s much different that it was.[13]
Recently, efforts have been made to build relations with other Anabaptist churches, including the Brethren in Christ Church in South Africa. However, even though these relationships have been made, neither BIC nor Mennonites have continued to nurture this church. Even still, the church continues to grow and study the scriptures to their best knowledge.
Pastor Leon Pula believes that the focus in the church right now is on the youth. The church would like to develop the youth to be able to keep the church alive and get them ready for leadership.[14]
Pula and his wife, Leah, have had some success with facing other struggles within the community as well, such as drinking and fighting. They have led counseling, generating many success stories along with peace and healthiness.[15]
Setting up a ministry in the Philipvale Primary School has been another project for Leon Pula. This ministry is an outreach to the youth in the community, and the youth group meets every night.[16]

Leon Pula.png

Pastor Leon Pula praying over a member in his congregation [17]

Identifying as Anabaptist

The major way that Grace Community identifies as Anabaptist is trying to keep peace within the community. By showing and representing reconciliation, they want to show that peace is attainable between the whites and blacks. Their efforts to reduce alcoholism within the community have also generated similar themes of peace.

Important Individuals

  • Pastor Leon Pula - He is the pastor of Grace Community Church in Philipstown, South Africa. Currently Pula is involved in politics and is the only person of color in a senior government position. Pastor Pula continues to be a well known leader within the community and has continued to try and bridge the gap between the opposition party and the ANC.

Current Challenges

Probably the biggest challenge facing Grace Community Church today is the repercussions of apartheid. The affects of apartheid create a constant struggle in the community, as well as in South Africa, because many of the black nationals do not have money and they are forced to ask white people for it. In a way this interferes with the nationals ability to live out their newly found freedom. Pastor Pula hopes that in the near future whites will come to worship at their church.

Building.jpg

In 2006, 16 North Americans helped Grace Community to remodel their church. By doing so, people within the community could see hope in the fact that blacks and whites could work together someday. [18]


Many people within and around the Philipstown community are reliant on alcohol, which results in constant struggle and unnecessary fighting. Pastor Leon Pula and his wife, Leah, are doing what they can to change this problem, but more could be done.[19]
The HIV/AIDs crisis is also a serious struggle the church is facing.[20] While there are many youth in the church that cannot fully understand their actions, a continued effort at showing the path to a new life in Jesus Christ is necessary.



Annotated Bibliography

  • "Africa." Africa Summary. Mennonite World Conference, 2011. Web. 17 Apr. 2011. <www.mwc-cmm.org/en15/files/Members%202009/Africa%20Summary.doc>.
This website directs the reader to a document that lists the different Anabaptist and Mennonite World Conference churches within Africa. The document lists the African countries in alphabetical order, with a list of each church in the pertaining country. Under the church’s name is the number of members and how many congregations exist within each church.
  • Checole, Alemu, et al. Anabaptist Songs in African Hearts. Ed. John Allen Lapp and C. Arnold Snyder. 3rd ed. Intercourse, PA: Good Books, 2006.
This is one of the most thorough books on Anabaptist history within the African context that I used during research. While it focuses on the whole continent, this book pays ample attention to the Mennonite and Brethren in Christ churches in Southern Africa. There was even a small section specifically on the Brethren in Christ Church in South Africa. This was a primary source.
  • Dreaming A New South Africa. Dir. Patricia McFarlane and Stanley Green. Perf. Pastor Leon Pula. Mennonite Mission Network, 2006. DVD.
Trying to capture the struggles still faced by Anabaptists after the apartheid, Goshen College students travelled to South Africa to interview several people within Anabaptist churches. The interviews were mostly the pastors of the three different congregations that were highlighted in the film. One of the churches focused on was Grace Community Church in Philipstown. The influential pastor there, Leon Pula, provided some good insight into the changing community and church. This was a primary source.
  • "Grace Community Church." Mennonite Mission Network. Web. 17 Apr. 2011. <http://www.me nnonitemission.net/OurWork/Partners/Pages/GraceCommunityChurch.aspx>.
Listed on Mennonite Mission Network’s website, this brief description of Grace Community Church sums up the little history and relevance that is well known about the church. While mentioning some of the beginnings of the church, this site mostly focuses on the success and influence that Grace Community has within the region. This was a secondary source.
  • Hollinger-Janzen, Lynda. "In South Africa, Workers Dismantle Walls, Build God's Household." The Mennonite 07 Dec. 2007.
This article in The Mennonite focuses on the efforts to help Grace Community Church to renovate their church. The church had a crumbling building, but after some people from overseas came and volunteered their time for a couple weeks, the church was able to be a better and safer meeting place. It was important to continuously mention that the church serves more like a community center within this small community. This is a news story and a magazine article.
  • Jones, Charles T. "Passion Burns in South Africa." The Mennonite 01 July 2003: 8-11.
Focusing on the same pastors and material that was mentioned in the video listed above, “Dreaming A New South Africa,” this article provides a few more statistics and more detailed information about Grace Community Church. What is important to mention in this article is that the founder of the church, David Makaleni, is interviewed, while he is not mentioned in the film. David has since died, and it is encouraging to have his perspective. This was a secondary source and a magazine article.
  • McFarlane, Patricia. "Tell Me About Grace Community Church." E-mail interview. 11 Apr. 2011.
Travelling to South Africa with the Goshen College team to film “Dreaming A New South Africa,” Pat McFarlane described a little about he experience and memories while visiting Grace Community Church. While she is not an expert, Pat gave a very down to earth and memorable response to the things she saw and experienced while in Philipstown.

Citations

  1. "South Africa," CIA World Factbook. https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/sf.html
  2. "Africa." Africa Summary. Mennonite World Conference, 2011. Web. 17 Apr. 2011. <www.mwc-cmm.org/en15/files/Members%202009/Africa%20Summary.doc>.
  3. Dreaming A New South Africa. Dir. Patricia McFarlane and Stanley Green. Perf. Pastor Leon Pula. Mennonite Mission Network, 2006. DVD.
  4. "Africa." Africa Summary. Mennonite World Conference, 2011. Web. 17 Apr. 2011. &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;www.mwc-cmm.org/en15/files/Members%202009/Africa%20Summary.doc&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;.
  5. Checole, Alemu, et al. Anabaptist Songs in African Hearts. Ed. John Allen Lapp and C. Arnold Snyder. 3rd ed. Intercourse, PA: Good Books, 2006.
  6. Checole, Alemu, et al. Anabaptist Songs in African Hearts. Ed. John Allen Lapp and C. Arnold Snyder. 3rd ed. Intercourse, PA: Good Books, 2006.
  7. Checole, Alemu, et al. Anabaptist Songs in African Hearts. Ed. John Allen Lapp and C. Arnold Snyder. 3rd ed. Intercourse, PA: Good Books, 2006.
  8. Jones, Charles T. "Passion Burns in South Africa." The Mennonite 01 July 2003: 8-11.
  9. "Grace Community Church." Mennonite Mission Network. Web. 17 Apr. 2011. &amp;amp;lt;http://www.me nnonitemission.net/OurWork/Partners/Pages/GraceCommunityChurch.aspx&amp;amp;gt;.
  10. "Grace Community Church." Mennonite Mission Network. Web. 17 Apr. 2011. &amp;amp;lt;http://www.me nnonitemission.net/OurWork/Partners/Pages/GraceCommunityChurch.aspx&amp;amp;gt;.
  11. Dreaming A New South Africa. Dir. Patricia McFarlane and Stanley Green. Perf. Pastor Leon Pula. Mennonite Mission Network, 2006. DVD.
  12. Dreaming A New South Africa. Dir. Patricia McFarlane and Stanley Green. Perf. Pastor Leon Pula. Mennonite Mission Network, 2006. DVD.
  13. Dreaming A New South Africa. Dir. Patricia McFarlane and Stanley Green. Perf. Pastor Leon Pula. Mennonite Mission Network, 2006. DVD.
  14. Jones, Charles T. "Passion Burns in South Africa." The Mennonite 01 July 2003: 8-11.
  15. Jones, Charles T. "Passion Burns in South Africa." The Mennonite 01 July 2003: 8-11.
  16. Jones, Charles T. "Passion Burns in South Africa." The Mennonite 01 July 2003: 8-11.
  17. Jones, Charles T. "Passion Burns in South Africa." The Mennonite 01 July 2003: 8-11.
  18. Hollinger-Janzen, Lynda. "In South Africa, Workers Dismantle Walls, Build God's Household." The Mennonite 07 Dec. 2007.
  19. Jones, Charles T. "Passion Burns in South Africa." The Mennonite 01 July 2003: 8-11.
  20. McFarlane, Patricia. "Tell Me About Grace Community Church." E-mail interview. 11 Apr. 2011.

Acknowledgments

This information was compiled by Aspen Schmidt, working through the Anabaptist/Mennonite History course at Goshen College in Goshen, IN.