OUT OF MY DEPTH
A MODERN-DAY SUPERHERO
THE GENTLE GIANT OF KWAZULU-NATAL BY PAUL CARTER
S
hadrack Khumalo is not your ordinary pastor. For one thing he stands just over 6 feet 7 inches tall, but that is just the beginning of what I’ve come to love about this very special man. He is a rare breed in South Africa: He is a Zulu who speaks Zulu and also f luent English, he pastors a church that looks like the community: 80% black, 15% white and 5% Indian, and he clearly isn’t in it for the money. The so-called “Prosperity Gospel” is ubiquitous in South Africa. Every day I meet someone who calls himself an Apostle or who knows an Apostle or who goes to such and such Apostolic Church. Most of the “Christians” I’ve met in Africa see the faith of Jesus as a short cut to wealth, power and prestige — but not Shadrack. Shadrack gave up a good job working for the government to take a position in a church that many of his friends and advisors told him not to have anything to do with. It had been a white church with a history of white leadership and no one was sure how the congregation would respond to their first ever Zulu pastor. The church went through a mass exodus of whites — but then also a mass inf lux of Zulus and Indians, as well as several whites who had been hoping for an integrated church in their area. It was painful, it was slow, but it was change in the direction of Jesus Christ; thanks be to God!
30 SEVEN MAY / JUNE 2019
When I look out over that and his natural understanding of congregation now, I see people Zulu culture. Many of these NGO’s coming together in genuine Gospel are run by European missionaries community. And when I look at or by white South Africans, and Shadrack, I see a man who is in it they need a person who is respected for the glory of God and not for the within the Zulu culture in order to applause or approval of men. get things done with the local tribal I also see a man who is not authorities in terms of rezoning so focused on building his own property or dealing with thieves or ministry that he cannot or will not trouble makers in the area. Pastor take the time to help other Shadrack could have younger brothers equip decided that he would have A MAN WHO IS themselves for Christian no further dealings with IN IT FOR THE service. Pastor Shadrack white people — he walks GLORY OF GOD was instrumental in with a limp because of an resurrecting the Zululand abusive encounter with AND NOT FOR School Of The Bible which the South African Defense THE APPLAUSE Force back in the days of intends to deliver lowOR APPROVAL cost theological education Apartheid, but instead, to African men interesting he chooses to forgive and OF MEN. in pursuing Christian to move forward for the ministry. He also wanted to provide glory of Christ and the good of all an accredited program for Africans his people — men, women, boys and that could lead to ordination and girls, white, black and Indian — in vocational ministry within more South Africa. established denominations, so he He is, in my estimation, a modern opened an extension campus of day hero. Mukhanyo Theological College at his May God grant this country a church in Empangeni. In addition, hundred more men just like him in he regularly drives out to the rural the days and years ahead. areas in order to encourage younger pastors in their ministry. In addition to all of this, Shadrack sits on the Board of Directors for two local orphanages. The NGO’s have recognized what a special and / To listen to Paul’s Into The Word strategic person he is, and they are devotional podcast visit the TGC Canada all eager to benefit from his expertise website; you can also find it on iTunes.
