For 38 years granny Eveline Mboweni worked for Mighty Fellowship Ministry without ceasing
Granny Eveline Mboweni from Shigalo was yesterday overcome with emotions yesterday and wept when she was giving a speech to respond to the events of the day. The church dedicated the say to her and appreciated her role in the church for a period spenning 38 years. Mrs Winny Chauke said on behalf of the church:”This is the day dedicated to her as the tap roof of the church. For years she worked hard for the church and we are where we are today because of her contributions,” she said. She said the church started in 1988 with no formal structure. At one point, the service was held at one of her huts. “When we started forming bricks to build a formal structure, she was in the forefront,” she said. Another woman recalled when the granny was summoned to the Shigalo Tribal offices and arrested because the authorities at the time did not understand the role of the church and they said they were making noise. The church dedicated the day’s offering to her.
The church now boasts of two big churches, one branch at Malamulele Township and the original one still at Shigalo. She was also given a sofa as a present. Guest Gezani Winston Baloyi, a church member from Tiyani Full Gospel Church presented the sofa to the granny on behalf of the church. “The sofa (xitheve) is a gift from the church to honour you as the taproot (rimintsukulu ra sinya)and all that you contributed to the church. It is meant for you to relax whenever you feel like relaxing,” he said. Members of the granny”s family as well as the close relatives were treated like royalty. The church is headed by Bishop Dr PS Shirinda aka Gee Gee Chapu. The bishop is also a musician as well as a dancer from the time he performed dancing for the band of his brother the late General MD Shirinda who played with the Gaza sisters. MD Shirinda was one of the pioneers of Xitsonga traditional music.
