After South Africa was put under level 5 lockdown in March many planned events were cancelled but during that month, Willie Henderson, the owner of Witklip farm outside Vaalwater, had a dream that planning should continue for the Mighty Men Conference Waterberg scheduled to take place on his land in September.
In an interview this week, Karabo Moroka, a member of the committee and a speaker at the Mighty Men Conference that was held on the farm last weekend — becoming the first MMC since SA went under lockdown — recalled the time six months ago when Henderson shared his prophetic dream with the committee.
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“Looking at what was going on at that time, it looked like a pipe dream. But nonetheless, after some moments of hesitation, we all rallied behind him, trusting that God would see us through,” he said.
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By the end of August, under level 2 lockdown, authorities told the committee that in terms of regulations they could host a maximum of 50 people at their event planned for September 25 to 27.
“Our organising team and partners already made 40 people and you cannot make something like that for just 10 people,” said Moroka, sharing on the obstacles they faced as their D-day approached.
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“But it’s history that God helped us,” he said, referring to the introduction of level 1 lockdown on September 21 — just four days before the start of the Mighty Men gathering — which allowed for up to 500 people to attend an outdoor event.
In fact, only about 140 people attended the event, which was also live-streamed via social media.
But Moroka said they were grateful to God that they could host the first Mighty Men since the start of lockdown and believed that they achieved their goal of imparting hope in Jesus.
Live-streaming is helpful but it was good to meet face-to-face, where, as a speaker you get instant feedback on whether people are receiving your message, and you get to talk and pray with people afterwards, he said.
“For that reason, it was worth it. Also, I believe seed was planted for what is coming in the future — especially in the communities in the area. We did not have much response from them this time but I believe we will reach all the structures in the area next year. And these structures are multigenerational and across all races. So, we are really excited about taking it forward. This was really like breaking ground.”
Eugene Genis, the chairman of the committee of the annual Eastern Cape Mighty Men Conference at Jeffreys Bay, and a guest speaker at the Mighty Men Waterberg, said it was an honour and a privilege for him to have been part of the team that hosted the last Mighty Men before lockdown — from March 13 to 15 — and also to be part of the first Mighty Men since the start of lockdown.
He said the small number of people at the event was not a problem “because the Lord always comes for the one — He doesn’t come for the multitudes.”
“We had an awesome time in the presence of the Lord. Bondages were broken, strongholds were broken. Men were set free.
“It was a groundbreaking opening after the lockdown.”
