The Crosslinks Web Interview, February 2005

Sihle Mooi

Tell me about yourself?

I was born and grew up in Soweto, one of the townships in Johannesburg, South Africa. I have an older brother and sister and we were brought up single-handedly by my mom who is a devout Christian woman. For the last two years I have had the privilege to work full-time for a church in Durban preaching the Gospel to University students.

How did you become a Christian?

I was only 6 years old when I first became conscious of having a living relationship with Christ. My mother was so grabbed by the Gospel that she insisted that every night we should meet as a family to read the Bible together, to pray and sing. That is how I got to know about God and his love for us. One of the things that convinced me of the reality of God was that as we struggled to make ends meet as a family, God was a present help indeed.  He would sometimes provide for us in miraculous ways. So I learnt to call him 'Father' because that's who he was to me and my family.

How has becoming a Christian made a difference in your life?

Becoming a Christian and knowing what Christ has done for me has really changed my life in so many ways. In my teens there was nothing I wanted more than to be a great footballer, to be rich and famous. Learning about Christ's sacrifice for me made this dream pale into insignificance compared to the joy of telling people about Christ's love so that they can be saved from the Wrath of God which is coming. There is nothing in this life that compares with knowing that you are forgiven by God and that you are secure eternally.

Why have you come to the UK?

One of the biggest needs that the church in Africa has are trained preachers and teachers of the Word. We have a lot of Christian ministry going on but there is very little in terms of depth of understanding. Wrong teaching leads to wrong living even with the best of intentions. I'm in the UK to improve my Bible handling so that I can be a more faithful and skilful preacher. Through  the generosity of Crosslinks I am attending the Cornhill training course part-time and help out at the Crosslinks office the rest of the week.

What ministry are you involved with in London?

I'm involved in a church plant in Canary Wharf, St Peter's barge.  I get involved in various things like leading a Bible study and one-on-one ministry.

After Cornhill?

Soweto is one of the many poor and over-populated townships in South Africa, millions of people live there. Most of the ministries there are not sound biblically.  I would like to be involved in a church plant there which will give birth to other Bible-based churches.         

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