RELIGION IS HOME

A photo essay by Thato Gololo

Pastors are often larger than life figures. With mixed reputations, pastors are seen as thieves and scammers, or local leaders and support structures. To me, she is my mother. I grew up in this household and watched the routine that built the church and it's leadership. Reverend Mamorwa Maria Gololo runs a small church in the middle of Meadowlands but that has not stopped her from rallying the community for a weekend of celebration. This is a story of her Sunday. From her point of view and others.

Reverend Gololo's favourite verse is Psalm 125:1 "Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion, which cannot be shaken but endures forever." As such she attends weekly services at Mount Zion Prayer Hill in Beula Park, Germiston where a member of the church can be seen in prayer.

In 2018, Senior Pastor of Healing Haven Ministries, Reverend Charles Matsobane Gololo passed away. His wife, Reverend Mamorwa Gololo, was left to take care of the church he built. She was subsequently inducted as senior pastor of the church. She keeps a photo of him in the room they shared, overlooking her as she gets dressed.

Reverend Gololo, as she is affectionately known, latches her jewelry. She anticipates visitors on this day of celebration so she wears a tailor-made dress yet cannot decide on which piece of jewelry matches the occasion.

Rev Gololo sees Meshack (left), Kgotatso Mashile (center) and Keagile Mashile (right) upon arriving at church. These three people grew up in the church, with the late Rev Gololo having paid for Meshack's LLB degree in the late 2000s.

Mme Salome Mashile, 68, survived an incredibly risky surgery to remove a massive tumour from the back of her head. She had to relearn how to walk and speak for the last year. The celebration was in honour of her winning fight against cancer. Here she is taking holy communion served by Joyce Mogamise.

Rev Gololo and Mme Mashile embrace as they celebrate the successful gathering. Mme Mashile catered the event as she was welcomed back to the church after her year of physical and speech therapy.

Rev Gololo as she is affectionately known, serves holy communion to the grandchildren of Salome Mashile.

The celebration continues as Rev Gololo brings out the whistle and bible. Every week she aims to give life to this purpose. Of her own money she buys and prepares the food for the church because she does not want anyone to not have a reason to attend.

A dance circle forms in front of the church pulpit lead by Rev Gololo featuring some of the church elders. Since the Covid-19 pandemic, most members of the church left, leaving mainly the elderly as the only loyal, consistent members. Despite the financial struggles of pensioner members, the church is still a place of hope and celebration.

Rev Gololo returns to Mount Zion Prayer Hill to attend a different service. She frequently visits here to pray, reflect and reconnect with her spirituality.

"The horn is blown for war so when we pray, it is spiritual warfare. We are declaring victory." she says. To honour and commemorate her late husband as well as welcome her next prayer session, she begins and ends her day blowing a horn from an antelope.