Before I share my 'church hopping' experiences, I want to say this: I love our variety of Christian churches, from the Catholic Church to many Protestant denominations. As individuals, we are all so different, so it’s no surprise that there are many different churches. Each of us perceives things in our own unique way. For instance, if I look at a tree, I’ll notice different aspects and colours than someone standing right next to me. This doesn’t mean that either of us are wrong. My husband, Hendrik, has often said, “Church is like a pair of shoes. We all need a pair of shoes, but we won’t all choose the same style and size. The important thing is to find a pair that fits your size and style.”

 

I am very grateful for the Dutch Reformed Church, which I was expected to attend until I turned eighteen. It provided me with a solid theological foundation. But, as a God-fearing Christian, I felt unqualified to minister. Only ordained men were allowed to “do the stuff.” I don't mean the typical "serving tea" roles. I mean the actions and teachings Jesus imparted to His disciples.

 

I sought a place to belong when the first Faith Movement church began meeting in Johannesburg. Rhema quickly became popular and grew to be the largest church I’ve ever seen in South Africa. Unfortunately, I found it no different from the issues I had faced in the Dutch Reformed Church. Now, it wasn’t about qualifications but rather about anointing. I soon realised that, in addition to lacking an anointing, I also didn’t possess the required charisma. Other roles, like becoming an usher in a proper uniform, didn’t appeal to me. While some might love that kind of service, it wasn’t for me.

 

Speaking of Rhema, I want to share a story about a dream I had many years later, after marrying Hendrik. In my dream, I was driving in Randburg. I stopped in front of a dilapidated old building at the bottom of a hill. In my dream, my family was to renovate and move into this large building. I tucked this dream away in my mind, but a few days later, my niece visited us. While driving down a main road in Randburg, I noticed a hill on my left with a big road running at its base.

 

Suddenly, I remembered the old building from my dream and asked Hendrik to drive down that road. We soon discovered the old building, complete with a large “For Sale” sign, and parked in front of it. It was just as it had appeared in my dream—empty and in a sad state.

 

Then came the question: What now? I shared the story of my dream, and we decided to pray. We prayed that the Lord would intervene and bless my family with this property. It seemed a bit odd since my family wasn’t actively looking for a building, but we prayed nonetheless.

The next day at church, Hendrik spoke with Costa, our pastor, about my dream and how we had prayed for the old building. Costa then told Hendrik, "Did you know that Rhema Church was in a deadlock with a casino over that property? The final meeting was that Saturday?" We were all shocked. But, the Lord revealed a part of His heart for His bride. Rhema and all churches that worship Christ are our family. They are very precious to us.

 

As I write this, it may sound like I was shopping for a church, but that wasn’t the case. It took me over a year to settle my thoughts on the Faith Movement. Even then, I couldn't pinpoint why I felt compelled to move on. It just didn't feel like home.

The next church I started attending was a Pentecostal church. A friend invited me to join her one Sunday, and I decided to give it a try. I met some new people who were very friendly. I enjoyed the worship music. But, I felt a bit uncomfortable with the man at the front directing the congregation as we sang. While he was quite nice, I found the whole situation strange. Nevertheless, I decided to keep an open mind and returned every Sunday for two years.

 

Toward the end of those two years, I began to feel uneasy about certain things happening around me. A number of years after I left that church, I learned that the police had investigated the church's finances. The pastor was taken to court. I discovered the amazing gift of "discernment." It became a valuable lesson for me.

I also realised that different churches have varying theologies. Until then, I hadn't been very concerned. But, as I read my Bible more, I saw that not everyone agreed with my interpretations of the scriptures. At sermons and Bible studies, I found many views on God's Word. I had to wrestle with these differences and find a conclusion that resonated with me.

 

Just as I was about to give up on finding a home church, I learned that John Wimber was bringing a team from America to launch the first Vineyard Church in South Africa. This Invisible Church became more visible. It gave rise to the first Vineyard Church in South Africa.

 

In later years, I heard John Wimber say he would love any church that believes in Christ's deity. We should respect and cherish what we have in common, after all, we are all part of the Bride of Christ.