Although he oversees 12 branches of the Rock of Salvation Community Church - in South Africa, Uganda, Kenya, Nigeria and the United Kingdom - Reverend Tebogo Mulaudzi remains disarmingly humble.

"Contrary to all other views about my achievements, I feel that my work for God is still at its formative stages," Mulaudzi said in a telephonic interview this week. He said his main church in Orlando West (Killarney), Soweto, attracts about 4000 congregants for weekly sermons and regular crusades.

"I remain humbled and determined to work hardest even when the church has grown to 12 branches in South Africa, Uganda, Kenya, Nigeria and the United Kingdom," he said.

Mulaudzi, who was born and raised in Soweto, 47 years ago, is also the current and arguably youngest president of the Baptist Convention of South Africa.

He has been a Baptist Church member since 1988 and qualified as a pastor in 1991.

"Our achievements are blessings from God as nothing bears fruit without prayers to the Almighty," said Mulaudzi,

"We have a large congregation because we preach the uncompromising gospel of Jesus Christ, and have dedicated our lives to prayers, through which God touches and even heals many people," Mulaudzi said.

Mulaudzi, who was also under the tutelage of respected Grace Bible Church head Bishop Mosa Sono, said he started Rock of Salvation Community Church in 1999 after he had had "an encounter with God through a vision of fire". This followed a messy life of abusing tobacco and alcohol "while I was on the pulpit in my younger days".

"I had always felt and known that I had been called by God, and each life episode had been of God's doing and blessing," Mulaudzi asserted.

He said his church started in Mzimhlophe hostel and only moved up the road to Killarney in 2004. The branches emerged over the past seven years. "The branches' 12 pastors were nurtured at the main church," Mulaudzi said.

Unassumingly, Mulaudzi conceded that, added to an adherence to stringent Biblical principles, his church is rooted in community development. The church's other services include hospital and prison ministries, Bible study sessions for youth, Saturday school for pupils, hospice-like visits to the frail, infirm and terminally ill, bursaries for the needy yet indigent pupils, and a daycare centre.

"These community development services are replicated at all the 12 branches of the Rock of Salvation Community Church," said Mulaudzi, who is married to fellow pastor Deborah. The couple have two children, 15-year-old Kganya, who is in Grade 10 and Tumelo, 23, who is pursuing a career in military logistics.

Sono confirmed that Mulaudzi had first served as a home cell leader, and that he later led the youth ministry, "helped develop our men and shone as a volunteer". "I am proud of him and grateful for the great leadership gifts with which God has blessed him," Sono said.

Evangelist Ananius Ralekholela of the De Deur-based Gospel Fire Ministries, who mentors Mulaudzi, said: "I love his humility. Success has not changed him. He relates well with other pastors, and is accessible to ordinary folk. He has a passion for community development and leads by example."

Mulaudzi's protégé, Apostle Lebogang Lebeko of the Zion Centre Church in Mohlakeng, Randfontein, said: "He is my mentor. All the things that have made my church and pastoring successful have been thanks to his teachings. He is my spiritual father and a great man of God."

victorm@sowetan.co.za