Rev Erlo Stegen, the influential founder and director of the KwaSizabantu Mission in Kranskop, KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) died yesterday at the age of 88.
“Fondly known as Baba Mfunsdisi”, Stegen was born on the farm, Paardefontein, in KZN and responded to “the call of God at a very early age”, going on to devote “every moment of his life to God’s cause ever since and his supreme passion was to win men for Christ”, says the mission in a press statement released yesterday.
He formed a “powerful and lasting bond” with the Zulu nation and “his choice to believe as the Scriptures say, led to a great outpouring of the Holy Spirit in 1966” which “resulted in decades of revival”, says the mission.
The press statement says that “millions of visitors have passed through his ministry at KwaSizabantu Mission and received help and spiritual assistance”.
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“Erlo was an innovative and influential visionary. Many outstations of the mission were born from his ministry. He founded institutions of education and learning, established businesses and initiated humanitarian projects,” it says.
The statement says that Stegen faced persecution throughout his life but he loved and prayed for his persecutors. It says funeral arrangements will be announced.
Stegen’s six daughters, together with their families, cared diligently for him during his past two years of ill health, says Frontline Fellowship in a short tribute to the late mission leader, posted on Facebook yesterday.
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In a message of condolence, the premier of KZN, Nomusa Dube-Ncibe, says: “Reverend Erlo Stegen’s contributions to the spiritual, economic and social fabric of KwaZulu-Natal were immense, and his loss will be felt deeply by all those whose lives he touched. His dedication to his faith and his tireless efforts in promoting peace, unity, and compassion have left an indelible mark on the hearts and minds of many.”
The premier says that Stegen contributed to the economic stimulation of KZN for many years, through the mission’s farm and factory shop which provided employment for many, through Radio Khwezi community radio station and the mission school, Domino Servite School.
ACDP president Rev Kenneth Meshoe said in a statement: “Rev. Stegen was a man I highly respected for many years. His love for people was unquestionable. The way he interacted with the Zulu people with whom he worked, was an example for us all.
His passing leaves a great void. We have lost a ‘giant’ and an Apostle in the Faith. He did so much good, and it’s sad that many seem to overlook the good, rather focusing on mistakes and unproved allegations.”
In recent years KwaSizabantu came under scrutiny after media reports surfaced alleging widespread human abuses at the mission and that it operated like a cult.
In July the CRL Rights Commission released a report on its findings on the allegations, stating that it found that the mission’s “teachings, principles, and rules (doctrines)” are within the scope of freedom of religion as contained in the Constitution.”
It also ordered the mission to apologise to its former members who may have been hurt by its former practices.
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