“Please give us a helping hand, before the rainy season comes.” This is a plea from one of the founding members of a growing Zionist Church at Makhuvha, outside Thohoyandou.

Nndineni Singo, secretary at the Apostolic Jerusalem Church in Sabbath at Makhuvha, said the church will collapse for the third time if they do not get help soon. “We have been struggling to raise money for roofing after completing the building some years ago. We need help before the rains come again, otherwise we will have to start from the ground again,” he said.

Nndineni said they used own contributions and managed to put the structure on the ground but their problem is that they cannot raise the R16 000 needed for the woodwork of the roofing. “We struggled as a small church to raise money, but so far we have managed to raise R6 000 of the R16 000 that is needed for the roofing, and with the rainy season approaching, we feel that all our efforts might just go down the drain.”

Church founder and head bishop at the church Bishop William Manyuha said his flock had been without shelter for a long time and they longed to have a place they can call home. “We have been wandering like lost sheep with no place to worship and this has put a lot of strain on our members, who have long sought for a place they could identify as their home,” he said. He said it was very difficult to lead people who lack a sense of belonging. “People need to belong somewhere and have something they can call theirs,” he said.

Manyuha is appealing for prayers from other churches and individuals that they join hands in praying for them to realize their dream of having their own church building. “Alone we will never make it; please help us so that we can complete our building and we can spread the word of God and complete God’s work,” he said.