Shadrack Khumalo is not your ordinary pastor.
For one thing he stands just over 6 feet 7 inches tall but that is just the beginning of what I’ve come to love about this very special man. He is a rare breed in South Africa: He is a Zulu who speaks Zulu and also fluent English; he pastors a church that looks like the community: 80% black, 15% white and 5% Indian and he clearly isn’t in it for the money.
The so-called “Prosperity Gospel” is ubiquitous in South Africa.
Every day I meet someone who calls himself an Apostle or who knows an Apostle or who goes to such and such Apostolic Church. Most of the “Christians” I’ve met in Africa see the faith of Jesus as a short cut to wealth, power and prestige – but not Shadrack. Shadrack gave up a good job working for the government to take a position in a church that many of his friends and advisors told him not to have anything to do with. It had been a white church with a history of white leadership and no one was sure how the congregation would respond to their first ever Zulu pastor.
The church went through a mass exodus of whites – but then also a mass influx of Zulus and Indians, as well as several whites who had been hoping for an integrated church in their area. It was painful, it was slow, but it was change in the direction of Jesus Christ; thanks be to God!
When I look out over that congregation now I see people coming together in genuine Gospel community. And when I look at Shadrack I see a man who is in it for the glory of God and not for the applause or approval of men.
I also see a man who is not so focused on building his own ministry that he cannot or will not take the time to help other, younger brothers equip themselves for Christian service. Pastor Shadrack was instrumental in resurrecting the Zululand School Of The Bible which intends to deliver low cost theological education to African men interesting in pursuing Christian ministry. He also wanted to provide an accredited program for Africans that could lead to ordination and vocational ministry within more established denominations so he opened an extension campus of Mukhanyo Theological College at his church in Empangeni. In addition he regularly drives out to the rural areas in order to encourage younger pastors in their ministry.
Here he is working alongside a young student from Zululand School of the Bible named Bongani.
Most mature pastors would not have anything to do with a man like Bongani. Bongani was saved while in prison for murder. He came to Christ listening to a sermon on the radio and has been on fire for the Lord ever since. By the grace of God he received an early release and immediately set up a church in his home. Most men of Shadrack’s age and stature would simply have told people to avoid this young, uneducated enthusiast, but Shadrack decided to take him under his wing. He got him enrolled in Zululand School Of The Bible and he regularly consults with him on church and leadership matters. Here he is with Bongani looking at a piece of property that Bongani one day hopes to set up as a separate church facility.
In addition to all of this, Shadrack sits on the Board of Directors for two local orphanages. The NGO’s have recognized what a special and strategic person he is and they are all eager to benefit from his expertise and his natural understanding of Zulu culture. Many of these NGO’s are run by European missionaries or by white South Africans and they need a person who is respected within the Zulu culture in order to get things done with the local tribal authorities in terms of rezoning property or dealing with thieves or trouble makers in the area. Pastor Shadrack could have decided that he would have no further dealings with white people – he walks with a limp because of an abusive encounter with the South African Defense Force back in the days of Apartheid, but instead, he chooses to forgive and to move forward for the glory of Christ and the good of all his people – men, women, boys and girls, white, black and Indian – in South Africa.
He is; in my estimation; a modern day hero.
May God grant this country a hundred more men just like him in the days and years ahead.
SDG,
Pastor Paul Carter
To listen to Paul’s Into The Word devotional podcast visit the TGC Canada website; you can also find it on iTunes.
This article was originally written for Seven magazine and has been published here with permission.