Most churches stay closed for safety
Some open with strict rules
Not as many churches were open on Sunday as the public may have anticipated.
In spite of the partial lifting of the lockdown, the larger Anglican, Methodist and Roman Catholic churches may still remain closed for some time.
Divine Life Restoration Centre in Komani was one of the few churches that resumed services on Sunday.
Bishop Camagu Ngxaso said conducting services via social media had its limitations.
We are used to fellowship,
“but doing so online was not the same.
Our usual attendance at
“
Sunday services is 200, but today we had only 50 people.
The church leadership advised those who were not ready to return to remain at home, especially members who are vulnerable to Covid-19. Church services also
“continued online,” he said.
Most churches faced financial constraints due to the lockdown.
Running a church is
“expensive. I had to speak to the landlord who leniently allowed us to pay what we could afford. People are traumatised
“because they lost jobs and their businesses went down.
Pastors have an essential
“role to counsel them and bring hope,” Ngxaso said.
The City of David Apostolic Worship Centre held an orientation for church members on what to do to prevent spreading the coronavirus.
Church leader Neil Isaacs said: We thank God for this
“opportunity even though it is restricted to 50. We easily accommodated about 500 people so this is 10% of our capacity. We will have three services on Sundays.
The church invited the
“health department to observe Covid-19 regulation compliance.”
He said they had spoken with landlords about rental payments and had made use of bank relief for church premises.
However, Isaacs said God would provide for the work he had ordained.
Mlungisi-based Methodist Church of Southern Africa Rev Mninikhaya Makumsha said:
We decided not to open this “month in Komani and Lesseyton. Komani is very cold and Chris Hani is a hotspot. Our church has many “elderly people as well. This decision will be “reviewed at the end of the month.”
Anglican Church of Southern Africa diocesan office of Khahlamba in Komani, Rev Elliot Masoka, said: The “Anglican Church has decided to consult its members about the readiness. We will not go back to church until the process of consultation is completed.”