Greetings By
Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi MP
President Of The Inkatha Freedom Party
Brothers and sisters in Christ, I greet you in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, who willingly drank the cup set before Him so that you and I might taste eternal life. How wonderful is our saviour; how gracious our Lord.
I was honoured to receive your invitation to attend this morning’s service before I travel on to KwaDukuza. This church has special place in my heart, knowing that Inkosi Albert Luthuli delivered sermons here as a lay preacher. Indeed, his first trip abroad was to India as a lay delegate of this church.
Inkosi Luthuli was a dear friend of mine, and my mentor. We spent many hours in conversation about South Africa, about faith, freedom and servant leadership. I visited him here in Groutville on many occasions, seeking his wisdom on political matters. Our friendship was so well-known that when he passed away, the Luthuli family and the ANC’s leadership in exile asked me to deliver the funeral oration.
When it came time to arrange the unveiling of his tombstone at the Groutville Mission Graveyard, the Luthuli Memorial Foundation in London asked that I assist Mama Nokukhanya Luthuli. I had stayed in touch with Mama Luthuli and had travelled with her to Maseru when she received her husband’s posthumous award from the Organisation for African Unity, which was presented by King Moshoeshoe II. On her behalf, I passed the vote of thanks.
When Mama Luthuli herself passed away, her family invited me to her funeral. I found myself very emotional all over again, remembering my deep friendship with this outstanding couple.
As a young man at Adams College I often worshipped at the United Congregational Church. Since then, I have had the privilege of speaking at conferences of the UCC of Southern Africa. I am therefore no stranger to this church and indeed feel that I am among family this morning.
As families do, therefore, I wish to convey the warm greetings of my Party, the IFP, to the congregation in Groutville. I am brought to KwaDukuza today by the generous act of a member of the IFP, Mr Musa Sibisi, who saw the need of a destitute family and took it upon himself to build them a house. Mr Sibisi is not extraordinarily rich, nor does have any self-interest in a grand philanthropic gesture. He is simply a man guided by his conscience, living the philosophy of the party to which he belongs.
The philosophy of the IFP aligns with the principles of Christianity. I have never hidden the fact that I am a Believer in Christ, and while I embrace friends of every faith, I find myself most drawn to the men and women who pray for our nation, serve our people, and live out their beliefs in acts of kindness.
Perhaps this is because I see the vast need in my country and know that prayer, kindness and a servant heart are necessary elements of a solution. There is a great furore in our country at present that this must fall and that must fall. But where are the builders? Where are the workers who are willing to labour in the fields of hardship to create a better country? Where are the people who are willing to serve with the sacrificial love of Christ?
I am reminded, when I look at the state of our country, of the words of Christ in Matthew chapter 9 verses 35 to 38. Let me read that passage –
“Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and every sickness. When He saw the crowds, He had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then He said to His disciples, ‘The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Pray the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into His harvest field.’”
I am grateful to count myself a worker in the fields of the Lord. I know that I don’t need to be a fulltime missionary to serve the kingdom of God. All I need is the heart of my saviour and a continual desire to meet the needs of His people. My own destiny has taken me into politics, where I lead to the best of my ability but in full dependence on the Lord. Your destiny might take you somewhere else. But wherever you are placed, serve and build and labour to push darkness back with the light of love.
I have hope for our nation. For I have spent time with men and women of faith, and I have seen their patriotism. Thank you for recharging my batteries with your invitation today.
May God bless this congregation.
