GIYANI – Tempers were rising high at the Unity Christian Centre Church on Easter Sunday, when the congregation chanted worshipping songs to protest against their pastor leaving his wife and children.

Three weeks ago, after delivering the Word of God, Pastor Daniel Mashimbyi of the Unity Christian Centre allegedly described to his congregation how hard it is for a family to fall apart, implying that things were not well between him and his wife. Then a week later, he introduced a new teenager bride to the congregation, announcing that he had paid lobola for her.

The pastor's new wife was introduced as Lilian Makhubele, who was working at the Shoprite Supermarket. It is, however, alleged that the church labeled her as the marriage breaker.

This allegedly caused a problem to the majority of the members of the church. The women then arranged for prayer meetings, but after the prayers, they agreed that should the pastor bring his new wife to the church, they must protest.

On Easter Sunday, the pastor came to church with his new wife. The congregation, however, started chanting gospel songs and moved out of the church. It is said that Pastor Mashimbye then appealed to the congregation to stop. The pastor's assistant, Pastor Bevula then offered the Word of God, but it is said that before he even finished, Pastor Mashimbye raged back into the church and ordered his assistant to stop the service. He allegedly also ordered the congregation to evacuate the church.

When going to press, it was not clear what steps the congregation were going to take in connection with the incident.