From the streets to the pulpit
Once a gangster, Peter Serone turned his life around and became a minister.
POLOKWANE – If ever anyone has completely turned their life around, then Peter Serone is the epitome thereof.
The young man from Seshego has become a firebrand in his own right. He is a public speaker, published author and a minister.
His books, Porn in Pornography and Leadership School, are derived from his own experiences with porn addiction. Serone, the younger of two boys, was brought up by his grandparents and mentally-challenged mother.
He shares that he does not have a relationship with his father, but never felt his absence.
“I had everything other children had, it was only in university where I started to see the difference.”
Serone (25) has lived far beyond his years. He started out as a member of a gang called Gotta Take Over, which advocated a fast life, with no regard for money.
There was a shift in 2009 in Gr 12 when he became a Christian. He founded God Takes Over, a youth ministry, changing the name from Gotta Take Over.
In 2011 it became an official ministry that targeted all ages, not only the youth. In 2012, God Takes Over Publications was added to the ministry and started publishing books by local authors. In 2016, the God Takes Over Group (GTO Group) was formed as an umbrella for ministry and publications.
Serone describes himself as a strong, stubborn and faith-driven man. “I live my life to serve future generations,” he says.
He has delivered motivational talks to numerous schools in and around Limpopo and the GTO Group has published six books which can be ordered directly from the group.
Some of the challenges Serone faces are time-related. There are not enough hours in a day to do everything that he has to do, but he says having a powerful team behind him has eliminated many of the limitations that he would face.
One of the highlights of his career was a ministry trip to Botswana, working with Take My Hand South Africa, which is focused mainly on education, organising spelling bees and donations of school uniforms to underprivileged children. He looks forward to an upcoming week-long missionary trip to Angola in December.
His message to the youth is: “Find your purpose, gift and talent. Be of good character. Your purpose will bring fulfillment, your gift will open doors and your talent will make you money. Your character will keep those doors open for you”.
GTO Ministry turns eight in December and there are plans for an extravagant gala dinner.
