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Gabola is South Africa’s unorthodox place of worship that allows its members to drink alcohol during services. It was founded in 2017 by Tsietsi Makiti to capture unchurched people who would normally be shunned by mainstream evangelical and traditional churches.
Tsietsi Makiti (R), the founder and leader of the church of Gabola, gestures while praying during the Sunday sermon at Bunny’s Tavern in Evaton on August 30, 2020. Image: AFP
EVATON – With bottles of their favorite alcoholic beverages in hand, joyous worshipers entered a thatched-roof room and sat down to listen to a Sunday sermon.
Welcome to Gabola Church, South Africa’s unorthodox place of worship that allows its members to drink alcohol during services.
Last Sunday’s service was held at Bunny’s Tavern in the working-class suburb of Evaton, 50 kilometers south of Johannesburg.
Gabola was founded in 2017 by 54-year-old Tsietsi Makiti to capture non-church goers who would normally be shunned by mainstream evangelical and traditional churches that disapprove of drinkers.
Pubs and restaurants generally serve as meeting places.
“Jesus has taught us to fish where many fish can be found. So in taverns, shebeens … that’s where the children of God are found who are rejected by other churches for their love of alcohol,” Makiti told the AFP.
“We accept anyone who is in love with alcohol,” he added, noting that the church has expanded abroad to Canada, Switzerland, Germany and Brazil.
In the hallway, the chairs are placed one meter apart in accordance with the coronavirus physical distancing protocols.
Worshipers drink while listening to the sermon.
The makeshift pulpit is decorated with bottles of gin and lagers.
The leader’s black and gold miter is adorned with two miniature bottles of Johnnie Walker whiskey and a popular South African liqueur called Amarula.
After the sermon, the parishioners, who must be 21 years or older, sang and danced all afternoon.
‘WE ARE CELEBRATING’
Continued bans on the sale of alcoholic beverages imposed by the government since March as part of the coronavirus restrictions had left religious services completely dry. The last ban was lifted in mid-August.
“The liquor is the only (thing) that connects us with our God, because if I am under the influence of the liquor, I am under the influence of the holy spirit at the same time,” said the leader who calls himself Pope. .
“Now that the alcohol ban has been lifted, everything is so happy. We are celebrating!”
He said the ban was a “bitter pill to swallow for the Church of Gabola. It was very cruel.”
The church is not a member of the South African Council of Churches (SACC).
“We do not recognize Gabola as a church of Jesus Christ in the holy spirit. There are many organizations that call themselves ‘church’,” said Bishop Malusi Mpumlwana, secretary general of the SACC, adding that people have a constitutional right to get together. and association.
Gabola translates to “drink” in one of the official languages of South Africa, Tswana.
They do not read the Bible and the leader said they are in the process of writing their own Bible.
No offerings or tithes are collected during the service. Members just need to bring their own drink.
‘GOD CAN JUDGE US’
One follower, Portia Nzimande, is unapologetic about her decision to leave the Orthodox churches for Gabola.
“Only God can judge us. What we are doing here is our life. We don’t owe anyone any explanation,” he said from outside the hall.
“We have fun because we pray and drink at the same time,” Nzimande said.
Followers reject suggestions that the gatherings are just a drinking ruse.
“It’s not an excuse … because we have members here who don’t drink,” said Siphiwe Mafunisa, a 42-year-old ‘archbishop’ of the church, who came from one of the church’s branches in Pretoria.
“So it’s not just for drinking, it’s just a church, a normal church, but we call it Gabola because most of us drink,” he said.
For 37-year-old restaurant owner Ephraim Seliane, “there is nothing like Gabola … because you are among people who do not judge you, who allow you to be who you are.”
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