Page 5 - Cornwall 2 2021

ESTATE PERSONALITY

Pastor Siphiwe Christopher Mathebula earnestly believes that each of us

is called to be a good leader in the different areas of influence we have

and to fight for our nation as citizens. To further illustrate this belief, he

has written Devoted Citizen, a book that outlines the principles to live by,

and the role that citizens should play, in a successful democracy.

hat exactly does “Devoted During Covid-19, when the nation was placed in a state
Citizen” mean, I wondered? of disaster which later became a national lockdown
In the foreword of the book in March 2020, PMF responded to the needs of the
Panyaza Lesufi – MEC for surrounding communities by distributing food parcels
Education, Gauteng Provincial which translated to over 790 450 meals to date. PMF also
Government, summed it up provided food packages to over 1000 families of SAA
Wsuccinctly: employees.
“If individual citizens fail to play an active and positive
role, whatever programme that a government can put in His humanitarian heart was again demonstrated when
place is not likely to succeed”. he donated 11 400 copies of his book to the Gauteng
Department of Health. They were distributed to health
Devoted Citizen is a wonderfully easy read, and I found care workers and patients in quarantine centres across
myself nodding and agreeing as I read. I consider it a Gauteng Province.
must-read for those who love their country and need
a little impetus as to the ‘how’ to be a South African of The reason for Devoted Citizen, Pastor Chris says, came
value. Thus, it was my pleasure to be able to find out a about through a simple event that started a process of
little bit more about the man behind the book and fellow deeper significance. It happened that one day, while
Cornwall Hill Estate resident. at OR Tambo International Airport, he noticed a piece
of paper on the floor and thought, “This is not right,
Pastor Chris, as he is known, and his wife Phindi are rubbish littered around the terminal building will not
create a good impression for visitors or tourists”.
blessed with five children. The family has lived in
DEVOTED Nhlamulo and Ntsako, attend Cornwall Hill College. He picked it up and threw it into a bin. A lady witnessed
Cornwall Hill Estate for two years and their twin boys,
his act and complimented him saying, “You are a good
citizen”. This simple exchange sparked the thought,
Pastor Chris is a lead pastor and visionary of Hope
Restoration Ministries which he co-founded with his wife
what kind of citizens should we be? Within the
CITIZEN Phindi. It is a contemporary church with six campuses established framework of his vision for Hope Restoration
Ministries, that of restoring hope and transforming our
across Gauteng and over 12 000 members; the main
campus is based in Chloorkop, Kempton Park.
way of thinking as a nation, became the reason for the
book; a book outlining the principles of good citizenry
His passion is in seeing men taking their rightful
and equipping South Africans with the ability to enact
position in their families and within communities.
This is evident in his teachings to Men of Hope, a this.
PRINCIPLES TO LIVE BY men’s ministry which keeps men rooted in their Across the chapters, Pastor Chris delves into the 21
responsibilities as head of the family. He is a devoted
qualities of a devoted citizen and the far-reaching
citizen, pastor, author, columnist, leadership consultant
generations for the betterment of our country. While this
and a humanitarian. impact such citizens could have on others and on future
BY NICOLE ZERWICK • PORTRAIT BY IVAN MULLER may sound like a mouthful, he packages these qualities in
His humanitarian heart is clearly expressed through such practical terms and illustrates them with examples
the humanitarian non-profit organisation called People that leave one feeling, “I can do that”.
Matter to God, which he founded in 2019. PMF is one of
the first responders to provide disaster relief Upon closing Devoted Citizen, I whole-
and humanitarian support during times of heartedly agreed with Pastor Chris when he
crisis. Since its inception, PMF has played a big said: “It is a time when, more than ever, it is
role in bringing relief to: critical to have a bigger world view of one’s
• Victims of Cyclone Idei in Mozambique – sphere of influence and also to understand
where clothes, blankets, food, health supplies the responsibilities that one carries…”
and water purifiers were donated;
• Victims of Mpolweni in Pietermaritzburg – Copies of Devoted Citizen are available at
clothes and blankets were donated; selected Bargain Books, Exclusive Books,
• Victims of fire in Pomona, Kempton Park Protea Books, and Takealot Johannesburg.
and Alexandra township –donations of food, Individual and bulk orders can be placed
blankets and clothes. at nokulungan@hrm.org.za

Cornwall View • Issue 2 2021 5