Pastor stunned at unexpected gift

Elated former Ezibeleni Baptist Church pastor, Mandla Jeffrey Fololo, says he feels like Hannah

“receiving a child past her time ”.

Fololo recently received a 2011 Mercedes Benz compressor as a gift from a couple he assisted with counselling some years ago.

At my age I never thought I would drive such

“a car,” Fololo said.

I am humbled. This is a gift straight from

“above.

Today God has wiped my tears.

“

I have been struggling without a car and often “had to bother people for a lift. I had to hitchhike to meetings and conferences.

God said I will provide you with all the

“‘ riches and glory at the right time ’.

I retired, but as we have a shortage of pastors I “help out often. I still go to church meetings and conferences,” he said.

Fololo said he had met the couple about six years ago when they had come to establish a church in the area.

At that time the couple was going through a

“tough time and there was no one to assist them. I helped them with counselling.

“

I never expected this from them. They are not “even members of my own church.

I had forgotten about them, so I was quite

“surprised when they came to visit me.”

He said helping the couple was part of his calling, which required him to care for all people.

Fololo said it had always been his dream to own a Mercedes, which had now become reality.

Upon the Rock Centre Ministries Mthuthuzeli Kope and his wife Siphokazi, who are based in Pretoria, said they met pastor Fololo during their short- lived spiritual journey in Ezibeleni, where they had once planted a church. Siphokazi said: We were here for two years

“and moved back to Pretoria.

We were motivated by his love.

“

We needed his guidance as a church elder

“and the help he gave moved us to give to him.”