Our Origin
History of the Church of God in South Africa
Whilst the Church was officially established in the USA in 1896, it did not reach Africa, until seven years later, that is in 1903 when Evangelist Albert Christian was given the charge to establish churches in South Africa.
In early 1902, Albert Christian returned to the USA. It is at this time that he met Prophet Crowdy in Philadelphia, and then joined the church. During this period in 1902, he was ordained to the office of an elder. At the 1903 Assembly held in Boston, Mass. Elder Albert Christian served on the Presbytery Board and was elevated to Evangelist. He was allocated the district of Cape Colony, South Africa.
At the 1904 Assembly, held in Washington, DC, Evangelist Albert Christian submitted two tabernacle reports, namely Uteinage tabernacle #1, and Cape Town tab. #2. It is at the end of this Assembly in 1904, that Evangelist Albert Christian was appointed a Bishop in his absence. Only two bishops were ordained during the time of Prophet W.S. Crowdy, namely: Bishop J.M. Groves and Bishop Albert Christian.
Bishop Albert Christian’s work reached near and far, at an amazing speed preaching and converting many. At one point Bishop Albert Christian met Prince Cornelius Masebe of the Bapedi Tribe. Bishop Albert Christian preached and converted the whole village of Mapela where Prince Cornelius Masebe was a native.
By late 1905, Bishop Albert Christian was making plans to return to the USA. Upon his return to the USA, Bishop Albert Christian was a guest at the Prophet’s house in Washington, DC. Whilst staying at the Prophet’s home, Bishop Albert Christian took ill and subsequently died before the Passover of 1906. He was only 38years when he arrived in the shores of America from South Africa, this was also his age at the time of his death.
Bishop Albert Christian was succeeded by Evangelist-at-Large Charles Mohlabane as the Church leader in South Africa. In 1909 Chief Evangelist Joseph Crowdy, sent Bishop John Msikinya to lead the Church in South Africa, and to continue the work of Bishop Albert Christian. Bishop John Msikinya was a native of South Africa who came in contact with the Church when he was in the USA studying at Lincoln University. In 1911 Elder Samuel Mashaka of Bengu converted Enoch Mgijima whom he baptized with many of his followers.
Many continued to preach to others, as the gospel was preached to them. Evangelist-at-Large Charles Mohlabane took the gospel to Natal where the Church today is wide spread. His efforts to take the gospel to Mozambique are not recorded or known as Evangelist-at-Large Charles Mohlabane was never seen alive again. His work from Cape Province to Natal, continued to grow in strength.
Evangelist-at-Large Charles Mohlabane preached and converted many who also did the same, thus spreading the Church throughout the land and some of the neighbouring states. For they all laboured, looking for a city, whose builder and maker is God (Hebrews 11).
Today, Church of God and Saints of Christ is an international organization made up of tabernacles located in the USA, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Swaziland, Mozambique, Malawi, Bermuda, Jamaica, Great Cayman Island, UK and Canada under Bishop Robert D. Grant the pastor of the church in Cleveland, Ohio. The churches in Africa are under Bishop J.S.S. Ntshangase.