Travel for miracles?

WHEN the news broke about the collapse of a hostel building at famous preacher TB Joshua’s Synagogue Church of All Nations (Scoan), many residents were shocked to hear that many of the victims of this tragedy were South Africans.

These people travelled all the way to Nigeria to have TB Joshua, a faith healer and prophet, pray for them. This raised the question: are you willing to travel to another country for a miracle.

Express spoke to a few residents to find out how they felt about this matter.

Dineo Mooa said she would never travel that far to receive a miracle or to be uplifted spiritually, because there are many prophets in Limpopo and South Africa.

“I believe that if God wants to heal me, He will do it right in my country instead of allowing me to risk my life far away,” she explained.

Emmanuel Maovhelwana said with so many pastors and churches available in South Africa, there was no need to travel that far for spiritual reasons.

“I believe that faith is all about the heart. There is no need to travel so far because to worship God lies in the heart and not at a physical location.”

Tebogo Malapane said that his fear of diseases such as ebola was the reason he would not go to other countries.

“No religion and spirituality would make me brave enough to go to other countries. I am scared of contracting diseases like ebola”

Witness Molapo said South Africans travelling to other countries was proof that people did not appreciate their own spiritual leaders.

“Why do we have to go to Nigeria when we have our own pastors? God is everywhere,” he said.

Joseph Ndlovu also said South Africans did not support their own.

“Unlike South Africans, foreigners support their own. Even when they make money here in South Africa, they ship it back home. South Africans reject their own pastors and support foreigners.”

Darius Molele said that if he had a good motivation, he would travel for spiritual reasons.

“It is not only South Africans who travel for spirituality. Here in South Africa, we also have people from other countries who come here to connect with God. Even during biblical times, people used to follow Jesus far away from their homes,” he said.

Wethu Mafokoane said travelling far for spiritual reasons helped with spiritual upliftment.

“Only the spiritually fulfilled can understand spiritual travelling. I would definitely travel to uplift my spirit.”

Buntu Nkhangeli said he would travel only if the problem he had would be solved in another country.

“If God could help me in South Africa, I would not have to travel. But if an international pastor had a solution to my problem, I would go there.”

Noko Chipana said that he would go only if he had too much money and did not know what to do with it.

“With lots of money, I would go but just for the word, not the miracles because I do not believe in miracles.”