Anabaptism helps carry on Mandela’s legacy, says South African church leader

Stanley Green
Stanley Green

MTHATHA, South Africa (Mennonite Mission Network) – A great tree has fallen. We lost our hero, our freedom fighter, our liberator, our peacemaker, and our father when Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela, 95, died Dec. 5, with his family around his bed.

Though I wish he could have lived to be 100 years old, I’m glad Mandela was able to see our country emerge from apartheid. I’m glad that he could see that his legacy lives on in all of us when we work for peace, unity, a non-racial and non-sexist society, love for one another, hope, and social justice. This legacy is in our hands now.

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Mandela’s vision has many similarities with Anabaptist/Mennonite theology. I’m grateful to Joseph Sawatzky of Mennonite Mission Network, who helped me study Mandela’s lifestyle to see how Mandela applied what Jesus taught, in the context of South Africa. I was able to apply what I learned at Bethany Bible School in my Pentecostal, charismatic church.

Mandela was a champion of justice, peace, reconciliation, and human dignity. Frederik Willem de Klerk eulogized him as a unifier. De Klerk, South Africa’s last white-minority president, shared the 1993 Nobel Peace Prize with Mandela as the two men worked together to assure a peaceful transition in South Africa from white minority rule to black majority government in 1994.

Mandela negotiated with South Africa’s white populations and promised them that they would not be harmed, even though there were people calling for vengeance. Mandela was able to convince his comrades that negotiations were the best way to proceed. He often asked, “Do you want to take over a nation that is in ruins?"

Soon after being elected president, Mandela paid a visit to the widow of Hendrik F. Verwoerd, the prime minister who orchestrated apartheid. Mandela and Betty Verwoerd drank tea together. Mandela also invited his Robben Island jailer to the presidential office for tea.

The man who prosecuted Mandela and sentenced him to 27 years on Robben Island was accorded VIP status at Mandela’s inauguration. Mandela promoted rugby, a historically whites-only sport, and supported the team by wearing a number 6 jersey.

Mandela once made an incredible statement to his own political party. He said, “If we were able to protest when the National Party [the opposition] was oppressing people, we will also protest when the African National Congress [his own party] oppresses people."

These are just a few of the ways that Mandela worked at peace and reconciliation. If Mandela didn’t risk his life, our country would still be ruined by prejudice. Mandela was a role model for me and many leaders. Truly, he was a gift from God.

South Africa’s President Jacob Zuma declared Dec. 8 as a national day of prayer and reflection. Dec.10 was Mandela’s memorial service, and his funeral will be held Dec 15 at Qunu, Mandela’s ancestral village, in Eastern Cape Province. His funeral will not be open to the public, but there are places prepared for the public to mourn and celebrate Mandela’s life.

We salute a giant leader who will forever be loved and honored. His legacy will live on in our lives.

Reuben Mgodeli, pastor of Healing Fountain Church, is also a member of Bethany Bible School’s executive committee and a member of the Anabaptist Network in South Africa.

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Mennonite Mission Network, the mission agency of Mennonite Church USA, leads, mobilizes and equips the church to participate in holistic witness to Jesus Christ in a broken world. Media may contact news@mennonitemission.net.