Called to be a pastor

Mosa Sono was born in 1961 in Johannesburg and, like Frank Chikane, was raised and educated in Soweto. He grew up in the Dutch Reformed Church, and at the age of seventeen was brought to an experience of salvation through being invited by his sister to the 'Youth Alive' ministry in Soweto - founded by Caesar Molebatsi, one of the best known 'relevant' Evangelicals in this country. During his matriculation year at high school (1979) he was involved with the Student Christian Movement and was also a Sunday School teacher in his church. At this time he was called by God into Christian ministry in a remarkable way.

He had just completed a Sunday School service in the Dutch Reformed Church he attended and was waiting for the main service, when he had a sense of expectation that God was about to do something special. He had a vision of himself standing behind a pulpit, and he was urged to go outside to pray. He had never thought about being a preacher before; at that stage he wanted to become a schoolteacher. He went outside and prayed; and then he went back into the church building for the start of the service. There were other young people behind him as he moved down the aisle to take a seat. Suddenly, he heard an audible voice speaking to him, and he turned around to look at the young people. God said: 'These are the sheep I am calling you to feed. I am calling you into full-time ministry to work for me'. He knew immediately that God was calling him to be a pastor; and all desire to do anything else with his life vanished. He was filled with an overwhelming love and compassion for the people of Soweto; and he began to weep.

At this stage the congregation was singing a hymn, which drowned out his sobs which were becoming increasingly louder. He again went outside; and when he had composed himself he sought advice from a minister, who did not seem to understand what had happened. As a result of this experience he wanted above all else to do God's work and to preach, and he got more involved in various Christian activities in Soweto. He was eighteen years old at this time. He became involved with Pentecostals, and a friend led him into the baptism in the Spirit.

From: Allan Anderson, Bazalwane: African Pentecostals in South Africa, published by the University of South Africa, 1992, Pretoria, pages 52-55

Index