MAKHADO (LOUIS TRICHARDT) – The focus of a reconciliation meeting held at the Full Gospel Church in Louis Trichardt on March 15 was, “We want to take hands with each other.”

These were the words of Pastor Stefan Pieterse, local Full Gospel pastor who met with Pastor Hans Mashila from Philadelphia Fire Centre in Giyani. With them were their co-pastors Hennie Visser, Kenneth Makhubela and Rudolf Mabasa.

“This is a breakthrough for two communities who are far from each other. Today’s meeting is to consolidate our agreements and to finalise how we are going to work together,” said Pastor Mashila.

The two churches have plans of great magnitude which involve not only communities but people from many nations. Together they will host a meeting in Giyani in June where Christians from five nations will be present. The purpose will be to teach, encourage and give impartation to people to worship God. The live recording of worship in many languages and international speakers are also on the agenda.

A three-day tribal reconciliation conference will be held in September. Apostolic workshops will be held to work towards problem areas in the region.

Pastor Hans Mashila has contact with leaders of other nations. He recently came from Mozambique where he encouraged pastors who are to plant churches in Mozambique. He has an impact on leaders in Zimbabwe and Botswana and in his Bible School are students from South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Swaziland.

Pastor Stefan Pieterse said that, when they first arrived in Louis Trichardt some three years ago, Pastor Mashila was the first spiritual leader to come and lay hands on them and encourage them.