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Sikhumbuzo Sibisi is a Senior Pastor at an inclusive church called Victory Ministries Church International (VMCI). Sibisi identifies as gay and leads the Kwa-Thema branch of VMCI. He works with his life partner, Sandile Sibisi, who is known to the congregation as Daddy Wedwala. With the world changing its views on homosexuality, the relationship between homosexuality and the church is arguably getting better. VMCI is being acknowledged and respected.
The mother church of VMCI was first established in 2006 in Durban, Kwa-Zulu Natal by Apostle Zungu and the late MaGatsheni Zungu. To date, it has ten branches including branches located in the Eastern Cape, Pietermaritzburg, Ermelo, Hammersdale, Pretoria, Johannesburg, Central Business District (CBD), the Vaal, Katlehong and Tembisa. The Kwa-Thema branch of the church was opened in March 2019, but officially launched in of March 2020.
“Many LGBTIQ+ identifying people have been banished, discriminated against or forced to change their sexual orientations by their churches. So when VMCI Kwa-Thema launched, it was to bring hope to the people in Kwa-Thema and surrounding areas,” said Pastor Sibisi.
Sibisi continued by adding that people deserve to serve God without any discrimination, especially the LGBTIQ+ community because God is for all. The pastor goes on to mention how the VMCI has grown.
“Being a pastor who is married to a person of the same sex has been a challenge when meeting with other pastors that identity as heterosexual,” Pastor Sibisi adds. “Luckily with the Ekurhuleni Municipality being supportive of homosexuality and the church, the church is growing and respected.”
VMCI offers prayer services to those in need, couples counselling, and a venue for people that are getting married. But due to COVID-19 the church had to change its venue which has delayed the growth.
“We are still hoping for more people to come once the pandemic is over,” concludes Sibisi.
This article was submitted on 4 November 2020. You may republish this article, so long as you credit the authors and Karibu! Online (www.Karibu.org.za), and do not change the text. Please include a link back to the original article.
