New minister joins St Paul’s United
Golibilwe Mathabatha is a new Minister at St Paul’s at Mulbarton
Mulbarton minister of St Paul’s United Golebilwe Mathabatha (35) was born and raised in Limpopo in a village called Ga-Mashite.
He was born into a family of nine, describing his life as interesting with challenges at the same time.
“After matric, I went to study psychology at Unisa, but I did not complete my degree due to financial constraints. Along the way, I lost interest in continuing my studies because I had a call to be in ministry,” explained Mathabatha.
“I think not completing the psychology degree was a blessing in disguise because while I was still studying I wasn’t happy with my course. Through it all, God showed me what I wanted to become.”
Choosing religion
Mathabatha’s early years were spent in a Presbyterian church, but later his parents moved to the Zion Christian Church (ZCC).
“I didn’t go to the ZCC church as often because I would go to Sunday school at the Presbyterian church with my friends. My parents thought I would outgrow it and join the family at the ZCC church, but it never happened,” said Mathabatha.
“My father was really upset about this. I was nurtured by Presbyterian church members and in my heart, I knew this was my home. It became a place where I grew up.”
Happy to be a minister
“In 2016 I went to study theology at Justo Mwale University in Zambia, which took four years to complete. After graduating I returned for probation in Witbank, another year studying in a congregation where I dealt with practicalities,” said Mathabatha.
After he passed his probation he was ordained.
“I received a call from St Paul’s United to come and lead the congregation on July 1.
“It is quite interesting to experience how involved the church is in their community. They are not just a congregation, they work with their community. They have project called the Blue Bucket, where the church donates food parcels to those in need,” he said.
Mathabatha said in a short period, one remarkable thing that attracted him to the church is to serve God and its people.
“God blesses us for us to be a blessing. I believe a church being a particular place is for a particular purpose. God cannot plant a church just for the fun it. If it is a fountain of peace, those around us must experience that peace, and this church is for that purpose,” he said.
