St Stephen General Apostolic Church

St Stephen's General Apostolic Church in Zion is a church that is found in South Africa, Swaziland and Lesotho. It was founded by Bishop S.W.S Moloi in 1936 in the town of Harrismith, Free State Province.
St Stephen's General Apostolic Church in Zion has over 30 branches spread all over South Africa in 6 provinces. The church also has braches in some parts of Swaziland and Lesotho. The church has achieved a lot of good things since its inception in 1936 like creating its own website and building churches for its members. It has recruited members in many different parts of the country and it one of the church's choirs have recorded their first album which is something that the congregation is very proud of; the group goes by the name Osindisweni Youth Choir.
History
St Stephen's General Apostolic Church in Zion was founded under the name The General Faith Assembly Zion Church in 1936 by Stephen W.S Moloi, a former member of the Faith Assembly Church. St Stephen members trace the founding of the church to a revelation which S.W.S Moloi is said to have received from GOD in 1934. The church was initially based in Ntate Moloi’s home in Harrismith, Free State Province. It grew very much and even established branches in Swaziland and Lesotho. When Bishop S.W.S Moloi (the founder) died in the 1960s the church started having problems and two of its Pastors decided to break away from the church and move the headquarters from Harrismith to Bethlehem, Free State. Reverend Radebe from Bethlehem and Mthembu from Cornelia took with them most of the congregation and they worked very hard to build a strong congregation. They recruited more members and the church gained strength with Rev Radebe as Bishop and Rev Mthembu as the National President of the church. The church continued to grow stronger and larger and in 2007 some members of the GFA church also brokeaway from the church and form what is now known as St Stephen's General Apostolic Church in Zion the name is in honour of the founder Bishop Stephen Moloi. St Stephen's General Apostolic Church in Zion is also registered in the South African Council of Churches as being founded in 1936. The administrative headquarters are now in Orange Farm, Gauteng but Harrismith is still known as the place where the church was founded.
The belief that the religious leader of the church (or bishop), can provide faith-healing in the name of Lord Jesus Christ.
Beliefs
St Stephen’s General Apostolic Church in Zion Beliefs
Members of St Stephen believe:
* In the holy bible
* That Jesus Christ is the son of GOD
* That a person contacts GOD through Jesus Christ in prayer.
* Purification from sins is obtained through prayer and repentance.
* The Bishop of St Stephen preaches on peace and respect, and the humility of Jesus Christ .
* Spirit possession is the work of the Holy Spirit.
* The use of different mechanisms for faith-healing. These include the laying-on of hands; the use of holy water and wearing of blessed cords or cloth.
* The colours of the church are: White, Powder Blue and Red.
Past Church Leaders (1936-2007)
* Bishop SWS Moloi (The General Faith Assembly Zion Church)
* Archbishop JJ Radebe (The General Faith Assembly Zion Church)
Current Leadership
Emeritus Archbishop:
* Archbishop Mlangeni
Archbishop:
*Archbishop Moloi
Current Bishops:
* Senior Bishop Lebakeng
* Bishop Shongwe
Current Vice Bishops:
* Vice-Bishop Ntombela
* Vice-Bishop Mgoqi
Regional Presidents
* Rev Radebe - KwaZulu Natal Region
* Rev Malinga - Eastern Free State Region
* Rev Tshabalala - Free State Region
* Rev Maputsoe - Vaal (Gauteng) Region
* Rev Thwala - Mpumalanga Region
* Rev Mokoena - North West Region
General Secretary:
* Mr Mthethwa
Church Chairperson
*Rev Mokoena
General Treasurer:
* Rev Mabusela
Church Inspector
*Rev Sithebe
General Secretary of (Manyano-Women's League):
* Ms NJ Mthembu
Chairperson of (Manyano-Women's League):
* Mrs Selepe
Senior Chairman of AMADODANA
* Rev Selepe

Chairman of AMADODANA
* Evangelist Sithebe
Chairperson of the Youth Wing
* Mr Duncan Lebona
Deputy Chairperson of the Youth Wing
* Ms Jabu Mthembu
HEADQUARTERS of the CHURCH
* Founding Headquarters - Harrismith, Free State Province, South Africa
* Administrative Headquarters - Orange Farm, Gauteng Province, South Africa
Branches in South Africa
GAUTENG
*Orange Farm
*Iron Side
*Mamelodi
*Daveyton
*Sebokeng
*Evaton
*Soweto
*Laanglagte
*Hammanskraal
KWAZULU NATAL
* Newcastle (Osizweni)
* Newcastle (Madadeni)
* Ladysmith (Watersmeet)
* Ladysmith (Riverside)
* Ingogo Farm
FREE STATE
*Harrismith
*Ntabazwe
*Tseseng
*Tshiame B
*Qwaqwa
*Mphahlalatsane
*Bultfontein
*Memel
*Vrede
*Welkom
*Bethlehem
*Frankfort
*Khalanyoni
MPUMALANGA
*Kwa-Mhlanga
*Secunda
NORTH WEST
*Mafikeng
*Rustenburg
*Dihatshwane
LIMPOPO
*Giyani
*Bushbuckridge
Branches in other countries
*Swaziland
*Lesotho
Church events and year calendar
* February - Executive Committee Conference
* March or April (Good Friday)
* August (Youth Conference)
* November (Annual Church Conference)
The venues for the annual all the above events change every year. They are held in different parts of the country.
The church will launch its annual newspaper next year and it will be sold at every church gathering.
St Stephen's General Apostolic Church in Zion (established in 1936)
"MODIMO OLERATO"

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