My Side of the Story - Mbongeni
I have known Buhle for more than a decade. I have known her as a lover of God, an intercessor, and a soul winner. Over the years, we worked together on many things, and in business she was always there to assist whenever I needed someone on the ground.
Because we shared the same passion, we would often have moments of fellowship. Not for a moment did I think we would be where we are today. Whenever Buhle needed counsel, I was the first person she would call, even when we were miles away from each other. To this day, I still wonder why.
As time went on, we had the opportunity to work more closely together. Even then, the thought of marriage had not crossed my mind. Sometime last year, the Holy Spirit began speaking to me about Buhle being my life partner. At first, I thought it was just my own mind.
After months of casting out, rebuking, binding, and kicking, I finally understood that this was not just my mind, but divine guidance. That was when I began engaging her on a more personal level so I could get to know her better. After a few questions I had in my heart, without her even knowing, I just knew she was the one.
The next step was to hear what my pastor would say. To cut a long story short, the approvals came from my pastor, and my parents also gave their blessing with joy. To this day, I know it was truly the Lord who led me.
Now I understand how the Bible says, "He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him," because it takes the Holy Spirit to recognize your own. It is my prayer that if you have not yet found your own, you will do so as you read this story.
As I said, this journey is more than a decade long, and there are many parts I have not written down. But we have a date on the 22nd of August, and I will tell you more then.
Thank you so much.
My Story - Buhle
It was not in a crowded room or under dramatic skies that our paths crossed. It was in the quiet, ordinary moments that God was writing our extraordinary story.
Our paths first crossed when I was in my first year of high school. Mbongeni was in his final year, and in those days he was one of the boys who would always give the teachers a hard time. I never thought I would associate myself with him, and I did not know then that our paths would cross again later in life.
A year later, one Sunday during the school holidays, I saw him at my church. I was shocked because I thought he did not know God, but I was also happy, thinking that another soul had been added to the army of Christ. Being a radical soul winner, I greeted him and told him how happy I was to see him as a first-time visitor. I encouraged him to keep attending services and preached Christ to him.
Because time was short, I took his number so I could follow up every Sunday and make sure he did not miss any services. The next Saturday, I called to remind him to prepare for service, and that was when he told me he had relocated to another city. After that, we did not speak for a long time.
Years passed, and one random Sunday he attended service at my church again. Happy to see the soul in the house, I greeted him and started preaching again. It was in that moment that I found out he had become a strong Christ Embassy member and was now a teens pastor. It was the shock of my life, and I did not take him seriously at first.
After that, we began speaking more frequently about the work of the ministry and our passion for the gospel. I discovered that the rascal Mbongeni I knew in high school had become a completely different person because of the wisdom and reverence for God he displayed in word and in deed. I admired that deeply.
Our friendship grew, and I would often call him whenever I had a challenge, asking for advice and wisdom on different matters. I knew he would give counsel and solutions based on the Word of God every time, and there is not one piece of advice he gave me that did not work.
Fast forward to 2024: I lost my job, and as I always did, I told him and asked for prayers and guidance. That was when he told me he had a company and could take me in if I was interested. I accepted the offer immediately because serving under him was a great honor and privilege for me.
In the course of working together, I got to know him closely and understand the kind of person he is. I was always amazed and inspired by his passion, love, compassion, and patience for people. I was daily amazed by his prayer life, his reckless giving, and so much more. Not even in my wildest imagination did I think he would become my husband.
Now I understand why the Scripture says that God is able to do exceedingly, abundantly above all we can ask, think, or imagine, according to the power that works in us. Truly, all things are possible with Him.
One random day, he asked if we could go out for dinner. We fellowshipped as we usually did, but during that fellowship he asked many questions that got me thinking. Little did I know I was going through an interview. In the month that followed, I had similar meetings with Pastor, who also asked similar questions. Little did I know I was going through another interview.
Months later, the results of all the interviews came, and I had passed. I then went to see Pastor, and the rest is history. Since we have a date on the 22nd of August, I will tell you the rest of the story then.