Reverend Thokozani Mthembu and his family have left the Ermelo Methodist Community Church after serving the church for four years.

He accepted a call to serve the Manning Road Church and recently moved with his family to Durban. 

He came as a probationer straight from seminary and was ordained as a minister in Ermelo. 

Ms Pam Pulinger, coordinator of the women’s fellowship, said: “Although he was young, his messages were deep, meaningful, mature and inspired the congregation.” 

She said he and his family will be greatly missed.

The Mthembu-family was sent off with good wishes for their new endeavors. 

Rev Mthembu said: “We travelled to Durban on 14 December to begin with our appointment.

“The community received us with warm hearts and we also felt welcomed.”

He added, with Ermelo-weather being cooler and constantly changing, they had to adjust quickly to Durban’s heat and humidity.

Due to the country going through the Covid-19 pandemic, Rev Mthembu only had one contact service with the new congregation.

He will still need to get to know the congregation when physical services resumes.

Rev Mthembu said: “Our message to Ermelo’s community is the words of Jesus to his disciples when he was about to leave them.

He said: “Do not let your hearts be troubled. 

“You believe in God and also in me” (John 14:1).

“There are many things troubling us during this pandemic.

“We are losing our loved ones almost daily, we are losing sources of income, there seems to be no hope. “

He added, these words call us to believe:

• Believing in God helps us to have faith that produces hope
• Believing in God helps us to have love and share it.
• Believing in God helps us to shine the light to all people. 

Rev Mthembu concluded, “May God continue to protect the people of Ermelo, fill them with love everyday and peace to walk this difficult journey.”

Read the complete article in the Highvelder.