South African pastor of ‘booze church’ Tsietsi Makiti said they were not scared of being locked up by the police and not scared of the Coronavirus as they believe in the Lord and in alcohol.
The loud wailing that impaired the air on Sunday was not a sign from the Heavens that the self-styled church leader had been waiting for.
In its place, it was a sound of the alarms from the police vehicles that met the church leader of the Gabola Church.
The church which is well known for being South Africa’s first and only church where beer flows freely during the service has been praying with many people for relief from the alcohol ban imposed by the Government during the lockdown.
Ahead of the lockdown, which began in March, the church leader said the Coronavirus was for rich people and they get it because they travel all around the world bringing the virus in South Africa.
The new church in South Africa celebrates drinking alcohol and holds enthusiastic, alcohol fueled services in bars, for those who have been rejected by other churches because they drink alcohol.
Gabola is not a member of the mainstream South African Council of Churches, which said it has no comment about it. Gabola is not affiliated with any other denominations.
About 80 percent of South Africa’s 56 million people profess to be Christian. In addition to Catholic and Protestant denominations, there are small independent ones with unusual practices like handling snakes. One pastor recently was found guilty of assault for spraying Doom, a popular insecticide, into worshipers’ faces, which was supposed to chase away evil spirits.
The condemnation by other Christian organizations did not bother the 30 worshipers attending a recent Gabola service, held in a bar in the sprawling Orange Farm township 40 km south of Johannesburg.
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A pool table served as the altar, adorned with bottles of whiskey and beer. Six ministers at the altar solemnly blessed the chilled jumbo bottles of beer bought by most churchgoers. A few drank whiskey, brandy or other beverages, all of them similarly blessed.
The congregation sang hymns praising the positive effects of drinking. Gabola means “drinking” in Tswana, one of South Africa’s official languages.
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