Christian leaders from across denominations gathered at Parliament on Friday to confess the nation’s historic divisions and pray for peaceful local government elections. Speakers called for a revival that, like South Africa’s 1860 spiritual awakening, is proven not by emotion but by changed communities.
The National Day of Prayer and Repentance was held at Parliament’s Nieuwmeester Dome. The Awakening South Africa Prayer and Repentance Movement, led by Rachel Kalidass, convened it. The nonpartisan gathering was the centrepiece of the City Connect 50 Days of Prayer, which runs from September 14 to November 3 ahead of the elections on November 4. It was timed to coincide with the start of the biblical Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot), with palms and harvest fruit displayed on stage and around the venue.
“In February I sat in the gallery during the budget speech and knew the Church needed to be in this house, not to take sides, but to pray for everyone who serves here, as Scripture asks of us in 1 Timothy 2:1–2,” said Kalidass. “What we confessed today must now be lived out in our streets. For the next 50 days we are asking every congregation to pray for its ward, town or city, its councillor candidates and the IEC and then to become the answer to those prayers”.
In the keynote on repentance, Dr Fransi van Wyk of Perez Ministries led the assembly in confessing the sins of racism, the laws of apartheid and wounds carried across generations. She prayed for “not a unity that denies our differences, but unity founded upon truth, justice, forgiveness, dignity, love and mutual respect.” She also led prayers renouncing Freemasonry’s historical association with the founding of Parliament, and repentance for bloodshed in the nation’s political history.
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Dr Gerald Kotze of Amazing Grace Ministries, speaking on the Feast of Tabernacles, recalled that the 1860 revival began with a young girl’s prayer. In the keynote on revival, Ds Jan Lubbe traced Andrew Murray’s role in that spiritual awakening. He described how Murray, a young minister trained in strict Calvinism, first tried to quiet the weeping and confession that broke out at a youth prayer meeting in his Worcester congregation. Murray came to recognise it as a work of the Holy Spirit through the lasting change in people’s lives.
That revival, he said, produced some 50 new ministers, and Murray went on to establish orphanages, poverty relief and what became Huguenot College in Wellington for women’s education. Murray later concluded that genuine revival cannot be manufactured, but begins in private prayer, in “the closet”.
State leaders echoed the call to practical fruit. In a message read on his behalf, President Cyril Ramaphosa cited 2 Chronicles 7:14 and pointed to poverty, unemployment, crime, corruption and gender-based violence as the nation prepares to vote in the 30th anniversary year of the Constitution. He called for an all-of-society partnership through the National Dialogue.
Welcoming delegates on behalf of National Assembly Speaker Thoko Didiza, Parliament’s spokesperson Moloto Mothapo read her message: “Prayer for the healing of our land should move us to confront wrongdoing, care for those who suffer and do what is within our power to make things right. For leaders, that includes listening when we fall short and remaining answerable to the people we serve.”
Deputy President Paul Mashatile sent his apologies and a message of support, recognising the role of faith-based organisations in “promoting social cohesion, strengthening the moral fabric of society and encouraging peaceful and responsible civic participation.” Michael Cassidy of African Enterprise addressed the assembly in a pre-recorded message, urging people to pray for the elections.
Rev Rodney Whiteman, chairperson of the Western Cape Provincial Council of Churches, led prayers for Parliament, representing the South African Council of Churches. Pastor Marcus Norden of SACOFF prayed for the Independent Electoral Commission; Pastor Ryan Laubscher of the Full Gospel Church prayed for the elections; and Pastor Tristan Pretorius of 3C Family Churches prayed for unity among denominations. The gathering closed with Holy Communion led by Pastor Terence Phillips of Every Nation Church.
Get involved
Congregations are invited to join the City Connect 50 Days of Prayer through daily intercession for the elections, the IEC and their local communities until November 3. The prayer guide for the campaign can be downloaded here: https://prayerandrepentance.com/city-connect.php. Daily prayer points are published on Gateway News and are available via a plan on the YouVersion Bible app: https://www.bible.com/en/reading-plans/76318..
Website: prayerandrepentance.com
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