Dan Fuphe

Dan Fuphe

A milestone will be reached in the pastoral lives of Apostle Isaac Nikisi Sithole, president and founder of the Oasis of Life Family Church, and his wife, Pastor Sibongile Sithole, when the R13,5 million auditorium opens in Daveyton, Ekurhuleni, on Saturday.

Among the dignitaries expected to attend this elaborate event are top government officials, leaders from various political parties, church ministers, Ekurhuleni Metro councillors, and local businesspeople.

The celebrations start on Thursday and will reach a climax on Saturday when the 4000-seat church is officially opened.

Sithole said that the journey he's travelled has not been easy.

"Seeking God and listening to His commands in order to fulfil my pastoral calling proved to be a great challenge," Sithole said. "But by the grace of God and the encouragement I got from my spiritual mother - Theodora Ndaba and others - this daunting challenge was made light and bearable."

His spiritual fulfilment, and that of many like him, are best expressed by St Paul in 1 Corinthians Chapter 1 verse 26, which says, "Brethren and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards, not many were influential, not many were of noble birth."

According to Sithole, though the idea of building a church was conceived in a dream in 1987, the plan was shelved and could not be implemented owing to personal reasons. At the time the church had only about 50 registered members.