Church raises funds ahead of 50th anniversary
After years of trying, Jaiden Wilhelm Smith achieved his goal following three weeks of gruelling trials.
The Apostolic Faith Mission (AFM) church in Eldorado Park hosted a fun day fundraiser at Don Mateman Hall in EXT 5 ahead of its 50th anniversary celebrations scheduled for the end of October.
The event brought together families, community members and local entrepreneurs, who had an opportunity to sell their products and food at various stalls.
Presiding pastor Willem Rafferty said the initiative was organised during Heritage Month to bring people from different backgrounds together.
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He said the event was open to everyone, regardless of their religious affiliation, and aimed to create an opportunity for families to spend time together.
“We wanted people to come and portray everything with different foods, so that families can come together from different backgrounds,” he said.
Rafferty said the event provided an opportunity for local entrepreneurs and businesses, with more than 20 stalls represented at the venue.
The fun day featured activities for children and adults, including jumping castles and train rides, while visitors could also purchase food and browse the various stalls. The event was alcohol-free.
The upcoming 50th anniversary marks the anniversary of the church structure, rather than the establishment of the church.
Rafferty said that despite financial challenges, the congregation had played a vital role in expanding the church building into a double-storey structure.
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“When we started building, we had about R140 000 in our account. Just doing the foundation and the steelwork and building up, laying the floor, almost took up that entire R140 000,” he said.
He explained that congregants worked together to raise additional funds through the sale of food and other products.
Rafferty, who has served as the church’s pastor for 18 years, said he looked forward to the three-day anniversary event.
The event will take place from October 30 to November 1 at the corner of Bloedsteen and Niersteen streets in Eldorado Park.
It will begin with a worship session featuring different groups from various churches on Friday and conclude with a church service and lunch on Sunday.
The theme is: ‘God was faithful then, God is faithful now, and God is faithful forever.’
These photographs were taken by Itumeleng Modiba during the fundraiser at Don Mateman Hall on October 10.
