Two elderly traditional healers in the Malamulele area shocked congregants on Sunday when they surrendered their bones, swords, medicine and certificates and decided to follow God.

This was during a service conducted by a young Pastor Nashford Chauke (26) of the Nashford Synagogue Church for All Villages.

Their tools of the trade were paraded before hundreds of worshippers who braved the scorching heat to attend the sermon. These were later burnt in the nearby fields in the presence of the owners, their relatives and members of the church, who were singing and praising God.

The two, Nwambarisa Mabasa (86) and Mphephu Chauke (69), gave moving testimonies before a packed space behind the pastor’s house. Ms Nwambarisa Mabasa could not stop talking about her new-found home in the church. She said that she had travelled all over the country and also in African countries to heal people, but could not find peace within herself. "I am a traditional healer, but I am sick. I cannot move properly as I have a problem with my legs, but I cannot heal myself,” she said.

She said she attended a service run by Pastor Nashford at Maphophe where she saw miracles and decided there and then to change her ways and follow God. “During the service I felt very much relieved, and when the pastor prayed, I just felt like I should forsake everything and join his church,” she said.

The other traditional healer, Ms Mphephu Chauke from Maphophe, also stated that she was sick “and could not help myself. Ever since I attended this man's service, I felt changed and I could feel the healing in me," she said.

Pastor Nashford said his church was modelled on that of his mentor, Nigerian prophet TB Joshua. He is a former member of the Apostolic Faith Mission Church. “Since we started this service, we have seen God do wonders, with many who quit drinking. Many with different problems were helped and many surrendered their lives to God. At the same time, we received negative comments, with some posting messages on Facebook that I am a devil worshipper. That has not stopped us as God continues to make changes in many people’s lives,” he added.