60 years of faithful ministry
On Sunday April 2, 2023, the Hebron Christian Fellowship Church honoured and celebrated the 60 years of dedicated and faithful ministry of Pastor Paul Saul, a well-known and respected leader in religious and civil circles. Forty of those years have been spent shepherding the congregants at Hebron.
A few days prior to this, the Northdale Pastors Fraternal also showed their appreciation to this stalwart man of God by recognising his immense contribution to the spiritual upliftment of members of the community. He was presented with certificates and a memento to mark the special occasion.
Saul was born on May 23, 1942 in the north coast town of Stanger. From a young age, his parents instilled in him and his siblings, God-fearing principles and the importance of commitment to their local church. He completed his high school education at the then Stanger Indian High School.
Similar to the "Damascus Road" experience of the apostle Paul, Saul's decision to embark on the journey to full-time ministry was just as dramatic.
When he was just 17 years and two months old, while he was still in bed, he saw a vision of hell at three-o-clock in the morning. Although scared by this vision, he threw off his blanket and said: "Here am I, Lord". When he shared his experience with his parents and pastor, they all interpreted the vision as a call from God for him to enter the ministry.
He enrolled at the Durban Bible College and after three years of academic and practical training, he became the first Indian graduate of the Apostolic Faith Mission (AFM).
Five months before his 21st birthday, Saul was ordained and embarked on a distinguished career as a full-time minister. He initially served in Stanger
and Darnall. He also served in Clairwood and played a significant role in establishing AFM churches in Merebank and Chatsworth.
In 1965, he was tasked by the executive council of the AFM to establish a church in Tongaat. Despite limited resources, and not receiving a salary for the first six months, Saul's commitment and determination to the assignment resulted in the gift of a tent that accommodated 300 people. The tent was used in mass evangelism and was the catalyst for the establishment of other churches in the area.
On May 12, 1973, Saul married his wife Sheila who also graduated from the Durban Bible College. She has played an extremely supportive role in his ministry and is the support structure that has enabled him to achieve so much over the years.
After 11 years growing and nurturing the church in Tongaat, Saul heeded the call to head the Patmos Church in Pietermaritzburg. His focus here was to grow the church spiritually and numerically.
Saul's amenable attitude, teachable nature and the favour of God, saw him serve, with great distinction, as the general secretary of the AFM. He also served as the treasurer of the then Natal Indian District Council.
In 1982, Saul was inducted as the pastor of Hebron Christian Fellowship Church and has been at the helm for the past forty years. The church emerged from humble beginnings, and after conducting services in the homes of members, eventually moved into their own building in Balhambra Way in 2003.
Saul has deep rooted compassion and concern for the community and has played a pivotal role in social upliftment programmes. He was awarded the Social Responsibility Award in 2006, in addition to the many accolades that he has received for sterling community work. He also served as the deputy chairperson of the Mountain Rise Community Policing Forum (CPF) for three consecutive terms. He also serves as the deputy chairperson of the KZN Midlands Christian Council.
He is an accredited Marriage Officer, Justice of the Peace and served as the chairperson of the Court Assessors Forum.
He also inspired the establishment of the Hebron Community Centre, the community wing of the church which is a designated non-profit organisation. The centre partners with other likedminded organisations and hosts social and community intervention programmes on a regular basis.
At the dedication service to commemorate his diamond jubilee as a minister, Saul said that his longevity in the ministry is due to his obedience.
"I am obedient to my calling," he said.
His son, Pastor Trevor Saul, thanked his father for his dedicated and selfless service to Hebron Christian Fellowship and to the greater community.
"It is certainly not often for one to witness such a milestone in any vocation, so for Hebron it is certainly a momentous achievement.
"Your life experience is certainly one to take note of and is an example for many in a period where such examples and mentors are needed. We appreciate your mentorship and the advisory role that you still provide to the family at Hebron Christian Fellowship," he said.
Despite a major health setback in 2012 when he was afflicted by a major stroke confining him to a wheelchair for a lengthy period of time, Saul attributed his remarkable recovery to the Grace of God and the prayers of members of the church.
Today, the energetic and effervescent 80-year-old is still active pursuing his ministerial calling, focusing on intercessions and missions.